May 29th marks halfway to our annual November Small Business Saturday celebration, so we wanted to highlight some local(ish) owned businesses that we carry in our stores!! We have chosen brands not only from Pittsburgh but some from the tri-state area overall.
Paws In The Sand - Woman-owned in Cranberry Township, owner and head baker Christine makes treats that are free from gluten, wheat, corn, oil, and eggs. Her treats are a huge hit with our furry customers and owners alike! Other products include pet toys, pet-themed gifts, cakes, and party planning! Visit her website for more information: https://www.pawsinthesandpettreats.com/
Barebites - A dog, cat, and horse company based out of Frederick, Maryland only wholesaling their products to retailers and no consumer sales. Barebites are produced with minimal processing and no chemicals, additives, or preservatives. All of their treats are 100% guaranteed. Visit their website for more information: https://www.barebites.com/
Americat - Based out of Wexford PA, this woman-owned company makes all products in the USA. Offering essentials that cats love and use, they hold their products to the highest standards in quality and safety. All products are sourced in the United States and are free of chemicals and toxins. They make many donations to local rescues in the community, and also help assist in adoption events. Learn more here: https://americatcompany.com/
Purely Simple - Debbie makes a variety of special products from her home in Zelienople, PA using 100% all natural ingredients. Our favorite being her homemade sweet potato chews. These are a best seller in our stores! Check out her full line at https://purelysimpledogtreats.com
PuppyCake - Kelly Costello formed Puppy Cake in the small town of Evans City, PA - right outside of Pittsburgh. Personally overseeing all operations, Puppy Cake had the #1 selling dog cake mix in 2007 and a new Birthday Kit that just won Best New Product in 2021. All products are made in their Evans city factory with hard-working people who put just as much effort and motivation into it as Kelly. Learn more about their cakes and ice creams here: https://puppycake.com/
Wild Meadow Farms - Hailing from Lancaster PA and beginning as a family owned business in 2001, WMF’s uses all ingredients in the USA and are sustainably sourced. They state on their website: “As a family, we enjoy sustainably-raised meat from local farms, milk from the local market, and vegetables from local road-side stands. What we eat is very important to us and we know you feel the same about your pet.” Like the other brands listed, their products are made with no grain, soy, fillers, wheat or animal by-product. They take their “Made in the USA” very seriously by going as far as only using product packaging, bags, and boxes from the United States. Other products under their umbrella are Gibson’s Dog Treats, Bounty Bites, and Lancaster Meat Co. Visit their website here to learn more about their products: https://www.wildmeadowfarms.com/
Choovio - Our neighbors in Conneaut, Ohio, Choovio is made with domestically sourced ingredients in a USDA Human Grade facility. They have a variety of unique blends including combinations of Chicken, Fish, Green Lipped Mussels, Turkey, and more making them a wonderful staple in our stores! Check them out in our stores and on their website at: https://www.chooviopets.com
K9 Granola - K9 Granola Factory was born in York PA, and although they quickly outgrew their small kitchens, their commitment to quality has stayed the same. As the family business continues to grow, their creator has realized the importance of designing flavors that are not only nutritious but delicious too. Choosing the highest quality ingredients and combining them with oats and honey to create fun loving flavors. Granola is not only in the name but our way of life! Learn more about them by visiting their website here: https://www.k9granolafactory.com/
Nuggets - Based out of Rochester NY and named after Danya’s beloved pet Nugget, this brand came to fruition from an unfortunate diagnosis of cancer in Nugget. In order to adjust his diet for an aging body and mind, they started making him bone broth and yogurt snacks rich in antioxidants which also provided a boost to his immune system. Licking these frozen snack cups also became very important to his mental health as it is a soothing sensation for most animals. During the last couple years of Nugget’s life, arthritis slowly deteriorated his spine until his passing in Feb. 2016 at the age of 15. In return however, Nugget gave them the blessing of a lifetime by handing over a legacy of helping pets snack healthier.
See their full product line and learn more about them on their website: https://nuggetshealthyeats.com/
Answers - Answers may just be our biggest of our local companies! With over 65 products, it is one of our best sellers with our customers! From their raw cat and dog food, to their treats and goat milk, Answers is a pretty big staple in our company! Located at the other end of the state in Fleetwood, PA, they are surrounded by farmland where they source their ingredients, giving local farmers lots of work! They ferment their products, leaving all the good nutrients our dogs and cats need to thrive! Come in and learn about Answers and take a look at their website as well! https://www.answerspetfood.com
Thoma’s Meat Market - The newest addition to our local companies is Thoma’s Meat Market! Located in Saxonburg, PA, Thoma’s is a family owned and operated butcher shop and meat market in business for over 70 years! We have recently brought in their whole and complete raw dog food as well as their beef femur raw bones! With three different food blends, lamb & chicken, lamb & beef, and their pork blend, there is something for everyone! Every ingredient in their dog food, aside from chicken quarters, is sourced from their very own farm! It does not get more local and fresh than that! While we carry their raw products, Thoma’s has a huge variety of meats for our human customers as well! Check them out at: https://www.thomameat.com
Sarris - Adding another new local business to our stores, we have partnered with our South Hills neighbor, Sarris Candies! We are currently offering their Woof Cream dog ice cream! Made with the freshest ingredients and hand made peanut butter, they offer 2 delicious flavors, blueberry and peanut butter that dogs absolutely love! They come in single 5 oz frozen cups, great to beat the summertime heat! Stop in and try one today then head on over to Sarris (or order online!) to stock up on all your sweet tooth needs! https://www.sarriscandiesretail.com