Established in August 2003, Hot Dog! LLC is a small, privately owned company that provides niche products and services via the web. Started by Shane Brady, a computer software developer, and Kelly Garbato, a graphic artist and author, the company is named after their beloved dachshund, Ralphie - the inspiration for several of Hot Dog!'s projects.

Born in Herkimer, New York, Shane attended the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a major in computer science from 1993 to 1997. Soon afterwards, he joined forces with Virtumundo, a fledgling internet advertising company. Still at the V (now called Adknowledge), he's enrolled at RIT part-time, working towards his M.S. in computer software development and management.

A native of Rochester, New York, Kelly earned her Bachelor's degree from St. John Fisher College and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2001. A psychology major, she received the St. John Fisher Award in Psychology her senior year. She relocated from Rochester, New York to Kansas City, Kansas with Shane in 2002, and is currently working full-time on several of Hot Dog!'s projects. She's primarily responsible for graphic design and web content.

Together, Shane and Kelly founded the Kansas City and Rochester Freecycle Networks, both regional branches of the environmental organization Freecycle, which strives to reduce landfill waste while also helping those in need.

Longtime animal lovers, Shane and Kelly live with three companion animals:
Ozzy, an ornery stray rescued by Shane's roommate from RIT;
Ralphie (Hot Dog! extraordinaire), adopted from Dachshund Rescue of North America in 2001;
Princess Peedee, an uber-hyper rat terrier adopted from LL Dog Rescue in 2003; and
O-Ren Ishii, a "toy" rat terrier just as deceptively diabolical as the assassin she's named after, adopted from Animal Haven in 2005.
They hope to open their home to more abandoned dogs, as well as rescued farm animals, in the near future.

Many of Hot Dog!'s planned projects are related to animals and people's love for them. The human-animal bond signifies an important relationship for many individuals, and the company's goal is to acknowledge and honor this special connection. Hot Dog!'s freshman endeavor is Peedee Publishing (yes, named for Princess Peedee!), an online publishing company that specializes in environmentally and socially responsible and post-anthropocentric literature. Additionally, the company is currently developing Angel Pawprints, a web site where grieving families can celebrate the lives of their lost companions. The site includes an area where individuals may dedicate a memorial to their beloved pet, as well as a reference section filled with poetry, books, music, and movies that will help in the grieving process. A similar web site for human companions, called Always Remembered, is in production as well.