They say every dog has their day, but with these tasty treats, it could be everyday.
Long-time Bradford business owner, Nancy Young, recently partnered with the Community Living Association of South Simcoe (CLASS) to sell hand-made dog treats at her store, Nancy’s Nifty Nook, located at 152 Holland St. E.
As someone who has been in business since 1988, Young is familiar with helping local organizations and said she’s worked with CLASS before.
“I like to support the community,” she said. “It’s important for people to shop in the community and support the community.”
The association has been running the CLASSy Canine Cookies program since 2012 which aims to teach the association’s clients new skills in a social setting while also offering a sense of pride and accomplishment as they make the cookies.
That includes the peeling, cutting and measuring of ingredients as well as mixing, rolling and cutting the dough, before everything is baked and bagged.
Plus, all proceeds are returned to the association to help provide a wage to as many as 30 clients who participate.
“By purchasing our cookies, you are providing paid employment for those we support at CLASS. Also shopping locally benefits the community,” Diane Kruck, senior support worker for CLASS said via email. “We hope when customers go into Nancy's store to buy a bag of cookies, they will also spend money on other items recognizing the partnership with our organization.”
While the treats are available year-round, the shapes change with the seasons and holidays, featuring themes based on Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter and more.
Upcoming Easter shapes include: carrots, bunnies, butterflies and flowers.
Even though delighted dogs and pampered pooches may not notice the shapes, Kruck said owners can still enjoy their “very cute” appearance before they’re gobbled up.
The cookies are available in bags of two different sizes — 227 grams for $4 and 454 g for $7 — and feature a mix of five flavours: apple and cheese, fish, vegetable, peanut butter, and beef.
While the cookies can also be bought at locations in and around Alliston (including CLASS, Murphy's Farm Market & Bakery, Sheldon Creek Dairy and Concession Road Mercantile), the only location offering the biscuits in Bradford is Nancy’s Nifty Nook, where Canadian-made products are prioritized.
The cookies are made from whole-wheat flour, bulgar, wheat germ, oats, cornmeal, peanut butter, apples, cheese, fish, eggs, parsley and vegetables.
CLASS is a non-profit charitable organization that supports people with developmental disabilities and has been serving the South Simcoe area since 1962.
For more information, visit class.on.ca.
