How This Dog Mom Turned Her Laundry Woes Into a Dog Bed Business
As pet gear goes, your dog’s bed is sacred: It’s their safe haven where they curl up for naps, doze off to sleep at night, and hide their favorite bones and toys. But it’s also a part of your home that can get dirty fast—and washing a dog bed can be, well, a real pain.
Molly Mundt, co-founder of FurPetVo, wanted to fix that. Her expertly designed beds, blankets, and crate covers aren’t just gorgeous to look at—they were developed with ease *and* sustainability in mind.
A textile designer by trade—and a lifelong dog lover with two pups of her own—Mundt’s mission is to make life easier and more beautiful for pet parents, all while preserving the beauty of planet Earth.
Get to know Molly, how her dogs inspire her designs, and the true story of how a trip to the laundromat led to launching furpetvo.com.
The Laundry Epiphany That Started It All
BeChewy: First, tell us the story of how FurPetVo was born. We hear it involves … laundry?
Mundt: It does! I live in San Francisco—a city notorious for its steep hills. About 12 years ago, I was living in an apartment without a washer or dryer, so I had to haul my basket of dirty clothes up and down those steep hills to and from the laundromat. There were three dogs in my home at the time—my Jack Russell Terrier named Bean and black Labrador Retriever-mix Macy, and my roommates’ yellow Labrador Retriever named Ribs—so I would often pile their beds on top of the laundry basket, making the journey even more cumbersome.
One day, while struggling up yet another hill with my arms full of dog beds, I thought, “Why don’t they make covers for dog beds? That would make this so much easier.”
When I got home, I sketched a design for a removable, washable dog bed cover that slips over an existing bed—simple, functional, and built for real life. That sketch was the very beginning of FurPetVo.
More Than Just Easy Laundry
Making laundry hauls easier is definitely a worthy goal—but FurPetVo’s dog bed covers offer much more.
From the start, sustainability was central. The covers are designed to go over *any* existing pet bed, so you can refresh your home’s aesthetic without buying an entirely new bed. No waste. No clutter.
You can also use the covers over FurPetVo’s Stuff Sacks—mesh inserts you fill with seasonal items like sweaters, blankets, or extra linens when not in use. It’s a space-saving, eco-conscious solution that doubles as a cozy, supportive resting spot for your pet.
There’s a dog-friendly bonus, too: When you line the Stuff Sack with your own clothes or soft textiles, your scent lingers on the bed—a familiar comfort many dogs find deeply reassuring. This gentle familiarity can ease the transition for rescue or foster pets adjusting to a new home and family.
Sustainability Hacks Every Pet Parent Can Try
Mundt: I have so many! First: remember that cheap things are expensive—meaning, investing in longer-lasting products now helps you avoid replacing them more often later. Try not to buy things you know will end up in the trash. And if it seems too good to be true, it usually is. For example, a “buy two, get one free” deal? Ask yourself: Do I really need a third one?
I also remind myself that simple is best—and that applies to a million little things. Walk instead of drive when you can. Borrow what you need instead of buying it. Little choices add up to big impact.
Designing With Dogs—and Culture—in Mind
BeChewy: You’re the artist behind the patterns on FurPetVo fabrics, right? Where do you find inspiration?
Mundt: That’s right—the patterns are all hand-drawn by me. Inspiration comes from everywhere: strolling through neighborhoods, browsing local shops, watching how people express themselves through clothing and style. I’m obsessed with museums—I love the de Young Museum, which always has the coolest rotating exhibits. Immersing myself in creativity and culture constantly sparks fresh ideas.
BeChewy: How do the dogs in your life influence your designs?
Mundt: The FurPetVo “office” is a warehouse where most of us work—and many team members bring their dogs. So I’m surrounded by small dogs, medium dogs, big dogs—all with wildly different personalities. It’s fun to imagine what patterns they’d love most.
I also look closely at my own dogs’ quirks and colors. The dogs who were with me when FurPetVo first launched have since passed, but now I share my home with Pickle, a spiky orange Terrier mix, and Bacon, a black-and-white Chihuahua. Their fur tones help guide our color palettes—because if it looks good on them, it’ll feel right in your home, too.
I just enjoy making things dogs *and* customers love. I love dogs—crusty dogs, cute dogs, crazy dogs, all the dogs! And knowing that people choose the things I draw, bring them into their homes, and find their lives a little easier or prettier—that’s why I do this.
Four Fast Questions With Molly Mundt
- What’s the best thing about living in San Francisco? The view from any direction! Cool architecture, the bay, the bridges, the hills—all of it.
- What’s your least favorite chore—is it still laundry? Honestly? Grocery shopping. Going in person is such a chore, but I get stuck in a rut if I order online. Non-food shopping, though? I’m ready any time!
- Quirkiest pattern you’ve ever designed? A library pattern—shelves full of books, vases, and curiosities like a ship in a bottle. It wasn’t super popular, but it was a real challenge, and I adored it.
- Pattern or print you’d love to design if there were no boundaries? I’d love to design a mostly white pattern—but of course, because I’m designing for items used by dogs, that one will have to stay in my mind.
