No, it’s a bakery FOR dogs.
By: Stan Denski
Photo By: Stan Denski
For the Love of Dogs: A Dog Bakery When we first heard that a dog bakery was opening in Irvington we were very surprised to find that our friend Joe, who has always been a cat person, was excited and looking forward to it. When we asked, he explained that he’d read somewhere that, if baked properly, batter-dipped Cocker Spaniel tastes almost exactly like free range chicken. I should add that our friend Joe is from Carmel, which we believe explains, well, pretty much everything. Increasingly, Irvington residents are happy to see new businesses springing up along the stretch of Washington Street between Ritter and Audubon, and particularly happy to see many different kinds of businesses. A guitar store, a percussion store, two restaurants, a coffeehouse, bookstore, computer store and internet café are now nestled in among the many antique shops. On the South side of Washington, in the middle of the block, you may have noticed a menu board on the sidewalk. It reads, “Dogs welcome. Cats by appointment.” For The Love Of Dogs – A Dog Bakery is located at 5537 East Washington Street and is a locally owned bakery exclusively for dogs. Operated by partners Chris Hill and Rich Smith, the bakery was opened in the middle of March 2005 out of the ashes of an antique shop that was hanging on by a thread. Searching for some way to attract people into their antique shop led Chris to put out some samples of the dog treats he’d been making at home for their three dogs, Dakota, Evita & Lucy. Soon the little packages of treats were flying out of the shop (while the antiques remained glued to the floor); it was just a matter of reading the paw prints on the wall. The goal now is to convert the shop to entirely dog-related products by August of this year. If you happen to be out walking your dog in the summer heat there is a large trough of fresh water out in front for any passing canine to drink. Inside you’ll find all sorts of toys and health-related products. In back, you’ll be amazed to find a big leather couch and a large-screen TV that shows dog movies all day long and, yes, your dog is allowed on the furniture. In the front, at dog level, is an assortment of clay buckets holding 31 flavors of dog biscuits baked from human-grade ingredients and with flavors like peanut butter, blueberry, chicken, sour cream and garlic and more. I’ll stop here and let you and your dog discover the full menu of treats available. But I won’t end without highlighting two regular events hosted by For The Love Of Dogs. The first Saturday of the every Month from 11-2 the bakery opens its doors to the Sheltie Rescue of Central Indiana. Every month a few of these beautiful dogs – a Sheltie is sort of miniature Collie – in need of a good home are available for adoption. In addition, the bakery donates a percentage of its sales to the rescue. Even a greater service to the community begins on this July 10th when the bakery will offer a monthly Wellness clinic that will offer various vaccine and other health-related packages for both dogs and cats at discount prices. If you haven’t had your pet to the vet yet, or it’s been longer than you’d be willing to admit, you should drop in and ask for details. The clinic will be offered on the second Sunday of each month. For The Love Of Dogs: A Dog Bakery is open 7 days a week. As you can see from the photo, our dogs are regulars. |
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