Hale Pet Door — The Founding Story

One Customer’s Request, One Big Idea

Hale Pet Door started with a simple question asked during a routine glass installation: “Can you add something so my dog can go in and out?” Bill Hale, a skilled glazier with a problem-solver’s mind, took on the challenge. He built a solution — and in that moment, something bigger was born.

What began as a one-time fix quickly turned into a new vision. Bill saw the need for better pet doors that were more durable, safer, and built to last. So, he took a leap of faith, leaving behind his glass business to create something entirely new.

Big Risks, Bigger Determination

The early days weren’t easy. Bill risked everything to build his company from the ground up, facing bankruptcy not once, but three times in five years. In spite of this, he never wavered. Bill believed that if he built the best pet doors out there, customers would come. And they did.

Over time, Hale Pet Door became a name people trusted — for its craftsmanship, its commitment to pet safety, and the immense passion behind every product.

A Family Business, Through and Through

Family was always at the heart of Hale Pet Door. Bill and his daughter, Alli, spent countless hours together, traveling for installations, improving their materials, and ensuring every pet door met Hale’s high standards. Some of Alli’s earliest and fondest memories are of sitting in the living room with her family, assembling parts by hand, everyone pitching in, all working toward a shared dream.

One moment stands out: when Alli was nine, she tagged along on an installation for a woman in a wheelchair. The woman’s playful Black Lab needed a way to get outside without waiting for help. After the pet door was installed, the customer teared up at realizing how much easier life would now be for her and her dog. Bill didn’t charge her a dime. For him, it was always about more than making a sale.

Keeping the Legacy Alive

When Bill passed away, Alli knew she had to step up — not just to run Hale Pet Door, but to carry forward the values her dad had built it on. This meant never cutting corners, always putting pets first, and treating every customer like family.

Hale Pet Door still operates with the same dedication to expert craftsmanship it always has, using a rigorous three-step quality control process to ensure every pet door is safe, secure, and reliable. The company’s commitment extends beyond pet doors, offering community outreach programs that provide opportunities for those in need, just as Bill always believed in giving people — and pets — a second chance.

Looking Ahead: Smarter Pet Doors, Same Heart

The world is changing, and so is Hale Pet Door. Alli and her team are leading the way with innovations like Bluetooth-enabled and electronic pet doors that integrate with smart home technology. These advancements will make life easier for pet owners — especially those with mobility challenges — while staying true to what Hale Pet Door has always been about: quality, safety, and happiness for pets and their owners.

Bill’s legacy lives on in every Hale Pet Door product, every pet that gains a little more freedom, and every customer who experiences the spirit behind the brand. What started as one simple request became something much bigger — a company built not just on craftsmanship, but on heart.
But don’t just take our word for it. Explore Hale’s wide range of high-quality pet doors and see firsthand how we’ve been “Making Pets Happy Around The World Since 1985™.”