State Sen. Rod Whittemore, R-Skowhegan, and others help load pallets of Tick Repelling Safety Dog Vests onto a truck at Dog Not Gone Visibility in Skowhegan on Wednesday. Company owners Bill and Julie Swain’s dog Max sports one of the vests.

Staff photo by David Leaming As employee Alice Quirion stitches dog vests, Dog Not Gone Visibility Products company owner Bill Swain thanks state and local officials who supported the company before they loaded a truck with vests to be shipped to Wal-Mart, the first national contract for the Skowhegan company.

Bill and Julie Swain speak about the success of their Dog Not Gone Visibility Products company in Skowhegan on Wednesday.

Skowhegan Selectwoman Betty Austin congratulates Bill Swain, owner of Dog Not Gone Visibility Products, before trucks were loaded with dog vests, foreground, for shipment to Wal-Mart stores on Wednesday.