Portland, Maine-based plastic products maker reigns in overseas production.

Byline: Edward D. Murphy

Oct. 30--Planet Dog wants to put a leash on its global operations.

The Portland-based company has moved production of its molded plastic products from the Dominican Republic to Springvale and plans to move production of its sewn products from China to domestic manufacturers by 2010.

"The economics of it have been better, producing those products in China, but -- and it's a big but -- in the last six months there has been a big change in how consumers view products made in China," said Catherine Frost, director of marketing and product development for the dog products company.

Planet Dog's reversal of course on sending production overseas is still unusual, but other companies are beginning to look critically at the true savings and costs -- tangible and intangible -- of sending the work offshore and how consumers view products made elsewhere.

Pet owners are likely to be especially sensitive to the country of origin for the collars, dog beds and toys they buy, Frost said. Dozens of brands of dog and cat food were recalled last spring when ingredients purchased from China were found to contain melamine, an industrial chemical that caused an unknown number of pet deaths.

"Working with China is not without its issues," Frost said.