San Diego student markets Donald Trump chew toy for dogs

A San Diego law student has created a way for American voters and their pets to release some frustration over this year’s presidential election.

Josh Morse, a first-year law student at California Western School of Law, is the creator of Chomp-A-Chump. His one-man shop sells $9.99 chew toys that bear a striking resemblance to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. He hopes to expand into offering dolls in the form of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

“They’re pet toys with a purpose,” Morse said. “It’s not to be taken seriously. It’s a light, funny and farcical way to look at this political season.”

Morse started the company in May but the idea came to him in the fall of 2015, while watching a GOP debate with his a six-year-old Australian Shepherd, Cody.

“He usually only barks at animals on TV, but for some reason he started barking at Trump and no one else,” Morse said. “The light bulb went off in my head. I’m going to design a Donald Trump parody chew toy.”

He said he didn’t act on the idea right away, but when Trump gathered momentum in the election, Morse spent hours watching YouTube instructional videos to learn how to design a toy and create the product.

The final version has a heart tattoo that reads “PUTIN” and a “Wall Building 101” book in the back pocket.

It was originally designed as a chew toy, but Morse said consumers have found other uses — a door stop, a desk ornament or just something to squeeze when stressed out at work.

Morse said he sold his first thousand toys in 23 days. He hopes to continue to sell his remaining stock soon, to help combat student debt and give back to local animal shelters.

“My goal is to drop off bags of Frisbees, balls and ropes to all the shelters in the area.” he said. “If it wasn’t for [Cody] I wouldn’t have come up with the idea, so it was kind of a way for me to give back.”

Giving back is a common theme for Morse, who said he was five years old when his abusive father abandoned his mother and left her with three children to support. The family was living on the street when Morse ran away.

He said he got a second chance when an Ocean Beach couple took him in.

“They said I could stay for the weekend and that weekend turned into 11 years,” he said. “That’s why I try to give back whenever I can. If someone hadn’t helped me out, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.”

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