June 29, 2006

Business goes to the dogs — lots and lots of them

By Charlotte Ferrell Smith

The Marketplace section of this weekend's Mountain State Art & Craft Fair will feature everything from honey, salsa and fudge to Lip-Lickin' Liver Treats and Biggie Boy Buffalo Bones.

The last two delectable items may be found at the Paw-Prints Doggie Cafe booth that will be filled with homemade foods for furry family members.

Proprietors Pam and Jim White of Alum Creek have been up until the wee hours of the morning baking in preparation for the fair. Since they went into business three years ago, sales have tripled.

"We knew plenty of people loved their pets, but we didn't expect to do this well this quickly," Pam said.

The 43rd annual Mountain State Art & Craft Fair begins Saturday and continues through Tuesday at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

The fair showcases West Virginia's artistic, cultural and agricultural talents. Patrons meet the artists, watch craft demonstrations and have a chance to purchase their wares. There will be musical entertainment, agricultural exhibits and plenty of food vendors.

A wide array of exhibitors will offer everything from baskets, ceramics, pottery and paintings to jewelry, leather goods, musical instruments, toys and skin care products.

Fairgoers can sample their way through the Marketplace, where they will find sauces, mixes, honey, salsas, mustards and doggie treats. And yes, the Whites have tasted their own treats.

Offerings include Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich, Garlic & Cheese Chews, Sunflower Snaps, Premium Pumpkin Patties, Cool Carrot Crunchies, Lip-Lickin' Liver Treats, and the Biggie Boy Buffalo Bone.

Treats are made with "human grade" ingredients using a special low-temperature baking process, so no preservatives are needed.

"I recommend not buying more than you will use in a month," Pam said. "Taste, quality and freshness will diminish."

Their homegrown business began after they lost two beloved pets, Otis and Red, to canine cancer. Pam, a teacher by profession, began researching the matter and found reports showing a link between poor quality pet food and health.

While on a camping trip, they adopted a stray Golden retriever and later added a Newfoundland puppy to the family.

When they began making their own dog food for Charli and Ironhead, they noticed a difference in their coats, teeth and eyes.

They decided to market a product for other pets.

They now turn out hundreds of pounds of treats every month in a commercial kitchen in a renovated garage.

Jim left his job as a sales manager in the car business to keep up with demand and Pam will eventually follow suit.

They recently opened a kiosk at Charleston Town Center mall and have been contacted by malls in other areas of the state asking them to open businesses.

Aside from fairs, their products can be found at Tamarack, Perdue's at Capitol Market, and online at http://www.doggiecafe.com/.

All products have been approved by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. Future plans call for dog birthday cakes as well as cat treats.

Pam and Jim White have opened a new kiosk at Charleston Town Center for their growing business of healthy dog treats. Paw-Prints Doggie Café will be booth number 421 at the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair.

Hundreds of pounds of doggie treats are homemade every month to keep up with demand.