Slice a healthy carrot-chicken pupcake for your dog’s next birthday
The Hindu
As the demand for preservative-free celebratory treats for pets rises, bakers are creating vet-approved dogserts, dognuts and lollypaws
Bruno and Max celebrated their first birthday at their home with a chicken liver-oats-cheese cake, a mutton carrot cake and ‘pupcakes’ in different flavours. “I wanted them to enjoy the treats with their street pal Brownie,” says Jessie Priya, who adopted both rescue dogs, adding that she chose “doggie face cakes instead of the regular bone-and paw-shaped ones.“
Jessie is one of the many loyal customers who order from Rukmeni Sarathkumar’s Paws N Tails-The Pet Bakery in Chennai. “Once a client had asked for a Captain America pet cake. It was the theme for his son’s birthday and he wanted a cake with the same theme for their pet so that they could cut the cakes together. I made a chicken-carrot cake with the colours of Captain America’s shield,” says Rukmeni, who started her pet pâtisserie a year ago.
Stating that she gets at least 15 orders for pet cakes every month, Rukmeni says so far the best-sellers are her chicken-carrot cake and chicken liver-oats-carrot cake. “It started with making treats for my golden retriever, Simba. As friends began placing orders, I launched this enterprise, adding cakes, ‘pupcakes’, ‘dognuts’ and ‘lollypaws’ to the menu,’ says Rukmeni, who also has a miniature Pomeranian, Silky. She adds that Simba is not fussy about food, while Silky is choosy. “Silky loves chicken liver and mutton flavours. And she doesn’t touch any vegetarian food!” she says.