OUR STORY
V.I.P. Beds has been in business for over 35 years! This wool bedding has been sent countrywide since 1991, making many very important pets cozy and comfortable for many years.
Our Story
A Legacy of Comfort: From Barbie to Today
VIP Beds began in 1991 in Waipukurau, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Our story started with a gift of wool pearls and a real love for animals. Barbie Cassidy, a caring veterinary nurse and Labrador breeder, saw many big dogs struggling with sore joints or needing expensive medicine. Barbie realised dogs needed beds that were not just soft, but supportive and warm. Synthetic filling wasn’t enough, so she chose natural wool and set out to create something better. One quiet night, Barbie made the first VIP dog bed. She worked with a local saddler to craft two prototypes, one for a Jack Russell and another for a Labrador. Both sold straight away. This confirmed there was a clear need, and so VIP Beds was born. Since then, the focus has always been on making supportive beds for pets that help improve comfort and wellbeing.
The Secret Ingredient: Wool Pearls Every VIP Bed features wool pearls—small, loose wool balls inside the mattress. Unlike regular wool or synthetic filling, wool pearls are designed to keep their loft. The wool pearls gently shape themselves to a dog’s body, bringing steady support and helping relieve pressure on joints. Only New Zealand wool is used, well-known for its warmth, breathability, and natural support. Thoughtful choices guide every step of the process, with a commitment to caring for pets and the local environment here in Hastings.
A Homecoming and a New Chapter
After thirty years, Barbie’s work is entering a new era. My own roots are in Hawke’s Bay. After living in the United States, I returned home to Hastings with my Golden Retriever, Cash, and Ragdoll cat, Penn. This journey reminded me how essential dependable, cosy pet bedding is. As the new owner of VIP Beds for very important pets, I carry on Barbie’s tradition. Every bed is still handcrafted in New Zealand, using high-quality wool pearls and skilled New Zealand craftsmanship. Cash and Penn now help as Chief Comfort Officer and Senior Snuggle Consultant. I am proud to keep making New Zealand-made, supportive beds made to support cats and dogs throughout their lives. When choosing VIP Beds, you join a community built on trust, care, and a true passion for every pet’s health and happiness.
Wool Pearls - the secret ingredient to a comfortable and supportive dog bed...
Wool pearls (also known as knops) are tiny balls of cross-bred wool fibre, created when small tufts of wool are whirled in a machine using centrifugal force and blown into partially formed ball shapes. This unique process enhances wool's already impressive insulating properties - its warmth, and its ability to repel water by attracting and holding natural grease and oil. Unlike compressed wool, wool pearls (knops) retain enough movement to provide support inside their covers retaining their loft over time.
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