Fur babies looking over products from All Natural Homemade Dog Treats By Amanda. Photos: Supplied.
What began as a small act of kindness by Albion Park’s Amanda Mackay five years ago, has grown into a full-time treat-making mission dedicated to supporting rescue shelters and helping dogs in need.
Amanda started All Natural Homemade Dog Treats By Amanda by baking dog treats to support struggling shelters and rescue groups while volunteering at an animal shelter, but the success of the weekend fundraising project turned it into a full-time business a year ago.
Today, the baked goods business makes everything from pupcakes to pupa chups, donating funds to rescue groups and individuals struggling with veterinary bills.
“About five years ago I was volunteering for a rescue and, of course, rescues always do it tough and are in need of money,” Amanda said.
“I decided to make some treats to try and raise money for them.
“I started off small at farmers markets and their fundraisers. I kept going with it, and it took off with a life of its own.”
Having long been supported in the venture by her husband and a close friend, she quit her full-time job a year ago to turn the side project into a business.
Although, she admits she’s not a conventional business owner.
“Most of the money goes to rescue groups or even individuals doing it tough and need help with vet bills or dog food,” she said.
“The first couple of times I was excited to make $100 or $180 and donate that to rescue groups. I thought, ‘This is fantastic’.
“Now, it’s grown so much I can donate $500 at a time to rescue groups.”
Her creative product line started with pupcakes, donuts, blueberry yoghurt blocks and apricot bones, and has now expanded to peanut butter delights with a carob outer shell and peanut butter middle, pupa chups with a grain-free chicken stick to make it entirely edible, rice puddings, beef and carrot muffins, chicken pizzas, trifles and dehydrated jerky.
Amanda’s creations even tempt humans.
“I’ve just made a new popcorn recipe which the owners are loving as much as the dogs,” she said.
“Quite a few of my treats you can eat as well because they have human ingredients.
“My mind’s always thinking, ‘What can I try next?’ and I like doing different things you can’t get anywhere else.”
For Amanda, it’s about a commitment to all-natural ingredients and a heart for helping animals.
“I’m not in this to become a millionaire. I give away most of what I bring in,” she said.
“I just want to continue to support the rescue groups, plus individuals that are doing it tough and help dogs in need.
“I’m just a little cog in the wheel – the main heroes are the rescue groups who are the true angels out of this. They’re the ones who do it tough.”
Selling at Illawarra and Shoalhaven markets and shopping centres, Amanda is also developing a website to expand her reach online and raise more money.
“I love it when I’m at a shopping centre and a 10- or 11-year-old comes up and wants to buy a donut for their dog,” she said.
“I love that they’re spending their own money. Quite often I give them it for nothing anyway.
“We quite often get fur babies pinching a donut. The owners are usually mortified, but we love it and never charge for sneakily consumed items. It makes our day.”
Previously, she selected a dog from the Shoalhaven Animal Shelter and took it out for the day – an activity she wants to return to.
“We’ll take photos on the beach, take it out for lunch, down to Pet Barn for a new collar and lead for when it gets adopted and a toy, and then highlight it on my treat Facebook page,” she said.
“We had a great success rate of the dog getting adopted from people seeing our posts.
“We would also pay $200 off five or six dogs’ adoption fees to make it more accessible for them to get adopted as well. That’s something I want to get back into.”
Her ultimate message is to “adopt, don’t shop”, encouraging potential pet owners to consider rescue animals.
“There are a lot of dogs and cats out there that need a really good home,” she said.
“There are a lot of rescues out there putting the hard yards in to save them, so think about your local shelters and rescue groups when you’re after a new family member, instead of buying.”
All Natural Homemade Dog Treats By Amanda is often at Stockland Shellharbour, Nowra Centre Plaza and Figtree Grove, along with Kiama Seaside Market, Kiama Farmers Market and the relaunched Illawarra Market at Dapto. Follow on Facebook for dates.
