As true members of the family, special days for dogs are often celebrated too. But where to get a special treat? Three places that offer cakes for pets
Let them eat cake! The dogs, that is…
Because why should humans have all the fun on birthdays, anniversaries and special events? Surely our four-legged family members deserve a treat too?
Here are three Cyprus ventures creating healthy, hand-made cakes for your deserving four-legged friend.
PET-A-LICIOUS
Rafaella Kyriacou cites her years of “experimentation with recipes, a crazy passion for baking, and an unlimited love for animals” as the driving force behind Nicosia-based Pet-a-licious, which crafts cakes for canines.
“Nine years ago, one of my dogs developed diet-related skin allergies,” she explains. “So I began checking every label on her food and treats. And then it hit me: we try to be healthy, eat whole foods, nourish our bodies… But what about our pets? We’re just feeding them whatever’s promoted: treats full of colorants and preservatives, known to cause health issues for both humans and animals.”
Rafaella (an environmental scientist and part-time animal shelter volunteer) began researching and experimenting, developing her own healthy recipes using top-quality human and pet safe ingredients. “I shared them with fellow dog-owners,” she adds, “and in 2018, I launched Pet-a-licious.”
The proud owner of four dogs and three cats – “our four-legged babies work as our professional connoisseurs and taste test each and every one of our products before launching them!” she laughs – Rafaella works from home, creating a wide range of treats for dogs, cats and rabbits.
“At the moment we offer cakes, cupcakes, and biscuits with the occasional limited edition products such as doggy tsourekia for Easter, ‘dogmas cakes’ for Christmas, and Valentine cookies,” she reveals. “Many of the treats are completely customisable: we can offer gluten free, grain-free and vegan choices upon request. All our treats are made from top quality ingredients (no colorants, preservatives or nasties), with added spices and vegetables that offer many health benefits to our pets’ health, such as turmeric and beetroot.”
In order to ensure freshness, treats are made only to order, often for furry birthdays or anniversaries. “We offer a complete package including cakes, cupcakes, treats and even party favours for your four-legged guests,” reveals Rafaella.
Canine cupcake packages start at €15, and cakes cost from €20; the bestseller is currently the chicken and sweet potato cake: “The combination of the sweet potato’s taste and beautiful orange colour, with the meaty taste of our chicken and vegetables cake is definitely a crowd pleaser!” says Rafaella.
Visit the Facebook page ‘Pet-a-licious’
PUPCAKES BY TAKKA
Paphos-based Pupcakes by Takka is the newest of the dog treat ventures, the brainchild of Theodora Alfredou.
“I’ve recently repatriated from New York, where cakes and cupcakes for dogs are a big thing,” she explains. “I already work with animal products” – Theodora is the Director of Operations at Alfredos Animal Feed Store in Mesogi – “so when one of my dogs had a birthday a couple of months back, I decided to put together something special. “It took off from there,” she continues, “and today, I’m making home-made treats for dogs and cats.”
Her bestseller is currently the Pumpkin Pupcake with peanut butter frosting – “dogs LOVE peanut butter!” she enthuses. And all her grain-free cakes and cupcakes for the canine consumer are made with seasonal, locally sourced, organic ingredients, which include grain-free chickpea flour, pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, apples, chia seeds, potato, coconut oil, organic peanut butter, low fat Greek yogurt, and eggs from the family’s free-range chickens.
Everything is made by hand by Theodora herself, and the process involves whisking and then baking the ingredients, decorating with a potato purée, yogurt, and peanut butter frosting, and then decorating the cake or cupcake with a grain-free treat or biscuit.
“Grain-free flour is far better for canine digestion; chia seeds add Omega 3s; while fresh eggs, veggies and fruit (farmers from my village) contribute to an immune system boost,” explains Theodora, who is passionate about keeping animals in tip-top health. “One of the things that customers love is that Pupcakes have a shelf life of three days outside the fridge, and eight days when refrigerated,” she adds, “and also that we can also make custom orders according to your dog’s preferences or dietary restrictions.”
Pupcakes by Takka also helps local Animal Rescue NGO in Paphos, fundraising through the sale of their treats. “Cupcakes are two euros, and birthday cakes start at 15 euros,” says Theodora, “and 50c from each pupcake and two euros from each cake order goes to the shelter. So we’re helping rescues along with our own pets: all dogs and cats are just Pure Unconditional Love; they provide serenity and a great source of play and exercise. Let’s spoil them!”
Visit the Facebook page ‘pupcakesbytakka’
ORGANIC DOG CHEF
Founded five years ago from home, Organic Dog Chef now works out of a professional kitchen and boasts two official stores, in Limassol and Larnaca. And what began as part-time venture for founder Gregoris Georgiou has turned into a full-time business that employs nine others.
“Organic Dog Chef is the first organic pet store in Mediterranean,” claims Gregoris. “We’ve brought a new concept which cannot be found in any other pet store, baking on a daily basis our fresh organic treats for pets.”
Inspired by his passion for healthy nutrition for his own pets – “a dog can change the whole atmosphere in a place. The love that a dog offers to you is really special” – Gregoris offers organic supplements, organic pet care, organic treats, and organic toys at his stores.
But it’s his canine cakes and cupcakes which are a particular favourite, apparently: made from human grade ingredients, and containing supplements such as spirulina, turmeric, coconut flower, coconut oil, banana and chia seeds that benefit the health of our four-legged friends.
“Cakes are not only for special occasions. Most of our customers offer cakes to their pets on a daily basis as a reward,” he reveals, while declining to give a price range or discuss commissions, preferring instead to focus on his human customers.
“Almost all of our customers are regulars: every day we see more and more customers visiting our stores. For us that’s really important. In the future, we hope to have an organic dog chef store in every city in Cyprus and then to open in more and more countries offering our philosophy and products. Our mission is to promote a healthy lifestyle that focuses on biologically appropriate species diet, following scientists, holistic vets and pet nutritionists around the world.”
Visit https://www.organicdogchef.com/
