Cincy Businesses Create Paws-itively Delicious Pet Treats

BY KELSEY GRAHAM

PET OWNERS DON’T need much convincing when it comes to splurging on their animals, but nding treats with quality ingredients isn’t always easy. Luckily, the Queen City is home to locally-owned pet businesses baking up wholesome and tasty treats that keep both dog and cat tails wagging for more.

Drool-Worthy Treats at Pet Wants

It’s likely that many Cincinnatians take their pets to Pet Wants for the aromas as well as for the treats. Treats at Pet Wants are made on-site in Over-the-Rhine, and visitors can smell just how homemade everything is upon walking in.

“ e smells in this store are awful for people who stand here, but for dogs, this is where they want to be,” owner Michele Hobbs tells CityBeat. “We are ultimately a nutrition store. Everything that we make, we have what we a call a ‘hint of health.’”

Pet Wants’ housemade cut-out cookies may look like standard adorably shaped dog treats, but they’re lled with ingredients that Hobbs says help keep canines healthy. For example, the pHantastic e shop also uses human-grade foods in treats for canines and felines. e meat and seafood Pet Wants uses in jerky and freeze-dried “pawfaits” are sourced from both Luken’s Poultry Fish and Seafood and Northside Meats. Even the liver frites, which can help keep a dog’s coat shiny and healthy, are made with only beef liver and restaurant-quality yams for a wholesome and low-calorie treat.

Mint Cookie is a solution for stinky dog breath, but it also may be a treat for a pup with an upset stomach, thanks to the charcoal inside that helps rebalance the pH in the gut. Another nutritious treat is the SKINny Pig Cookie, which is lled with salmon oil and krill; both ingredients are high in omegas and can help dogs with dry skin, Hobbs says.

Pet Wants, 1409 Vine St., and 1813 Pleasant St., Over-the-Rhine.

Info: petwants.com.

Treats with Purpose at Brewhaus Bakery and Dog Bones

Brewhaus Bakery and Dog Bones is more than just a dog treat business. At its core, it’s a non-pro t with a mission to support students with disabilities and teach them work and life skills through the company’s business model program.

“All revenue supports our employment and training programs for our bakers in our inclusive commercial kitchen space,” Lisa Graham, who founded the nonpro t in 2014, tells CityBeat Brewhaus makes dog treats using spent brewing grains provided by Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky breweries, including Rhinegeist, Taft’s Ale House, Fifty West, and Mt. Carmel Brewing Co. Patrons also can order customized cakes and “pupcakes” for a dog’s birthday, gotcha day or other special occasion. Brewhaus bakers – including students –work with each customer to create the perfect design, with a tennis ball cake being a fan favorite for both humans and canines, Graham says.

Brewhaus recently moved from their longtime space in Madeira into a larger building in Mt. Washington, which Graham says has been a “game-changer” in expanding the small business.

“It’s such a collaborative e ort, and that might be the thing I’m actually the most proud of – just how many people come together for a great cause!” Graham says.

Brewhaus Dog Bakery and Dog Bones, 1623 Burney Lane, Mt. Washington. Info: brewhausdogbones.com.

Dog and Cat Treats at Pugalicious Pet Treats

Pugalicious Pet Treats started as a solution for owners Michelle and Patrick Burns’ pug, Ace, who su ered from food allergies. It was di cult to nd safe treats to feed him, they say, so they began making their own.

“All of our products contain novel proteins like duck and bison to give pets with allergies a healthy option that all dogs will crave,” Patrick Burns tells CityBeat

Among the selection is a variety of freeze-dried duck, bison and sweet potato toppers and treats, all made without preservatives. And they’re not just for canines; felines go crazy for the duck and sweet potato treats too, Burns says.

“Since we have limited ingredients in our products, they are suitable for cats and dogs,” Burns says. “We initially targeted dogs for the treats, but customers started giving the duck treats to cats, and their cats loved it!”

Burns says that the simple ingredients mean Pugalicious treats are healthy options for dogs with allergies and even for pets who struggle with eating.

“We’ve had many comments from customers about our duck toppers, saying it was the only thing that worked to get their elderly pet to eat,” Burns says. “ at makes us feel very proud to provide that solution for our customers.”

Pugalicious Pet Treats can be found at local businesses such as Red Dog Pet Resorts, Pet Wants, Earthwise Pets, Westside Brewery and Wüf Pet Spa. Info: pugaliciouspettreats.com.