Patent ID: 8291867

Claim:
A garment for an animal having a first pair of appendages, a second pair of appendages, and a neck, the animal having a mid-body between the first pair of appendages and the second pair of appendages, the garment comprising: a central portion having a longitudinal axis and including a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a first side extending laterally in a first direction from the longitudinal axis and forming a portion of a perimeter of the garment, and a second side extending laterally in a second direction from the longitudinal axis and forming a portion of the perimeter of the garment, the second direction opposite the first direction; a first flap extending in the first direction from the first side of the central portion, the first flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges that with the free distal end of the first flap form a portion of the perimeter of the garment; a second flap extending in the second direction from the second side of the central portion, the second flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges that with the free distal end of the second flap form a portion of the perimeter of the garment; a first strap extending from the front end of the central portion, the first strap including a free distal end and two opposing edges that with the free distal end of the first strap form a portion of the perimeter of the garment; and a second strap extending from the front end of the central portion laterally spaced in the second direction from the first strap, the second strap including a free distal end and two opposing edges that with the free distal end of the second strap form a portion of the perimeter of the garment, wherein when the garment is worn by an animal the first flap and the second flap extend around the mid-body of the animal and fasten to each other such that the central portion and fastened first and second flaps form a shape conforming to the outside of the mid-body of the animal, and the front end of the central portion is positioned proximate to the head of the animal, wherein the first strap and the second strap each have an inside surface adapted to contact the animal and an outside surface adapted to face away from the animal, wherein the first strap and the second strap are extendible around the neck of the animal and fasten to each other with hook and loop fasteners, wherein the inside surface of the first strap includes a hook section of fastener and a loop section of fastener, and wherein the outside surface of the second strap includes a hook section of fastener and a loop section of fastener, and wherein the garment, when worn, applies pressure to the animal adequate to reduce anxiety, fearfulness, overexcitement, or a combination thereof in the animal.