In 2011, Holly Bridge started making healthy and all-natural dog treats in her home kitchen.
“My dogs are my children, so I have always been mindful of what I feed them, especially when we couldn’t pronounce some of the ingredients with store-bought treats,” Bridge says, adding that this inspired her to start making wholesome treats for her dogs, as well as her friends’ pups.
Bridge received such positive feedback from her two- and four-legged friends that she decided to start a bakery for dogs called Happy Tails Barkery, and sell her high-quality and tasty dog treats at local farmers' markets.
As the business continued to grow, in 2020 Bridge opened a brick-and-mortar location in Gilbert, where she specializes in making and selling a wide variety of dog treats that are as delicious as they are healthy.
“We get to create a ton of fun pastry-style treats for our bakery case that are all made in-house, like cannolis, Puptarts, Woofie Pies, Pupcakes, and donuts.”
While the selection in the bakery case changes weekly, one thing that never changes is Bridge’s commitment to creating wholesome treats. Everything at Happy Tails Barkery is free from corn, soy, salt, sugar, food dyes, fillers, and preservatives.
In addition to the bakery, shoppers can find Happy Tails Barkery’s products at over 25 stores, including Von Hanson’s Meats and D’Vine Gourmet in Chandler.
“Additionally, we wholesale to all Pet Planet stores across the Valley, including the Pet Planet on Gilbert Road in Chandler, and we also sell on our website,” Bridge says. “We also partner with local artisans and other small businesses to give our customers a variety of local options in the shop. And I’m proud to say we just finished customizing bones for the Westin Kierland, Hermosa Inn, Arizona Biltmore, and the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.”
At the bakery, Bridge says the “Fetch and Go!” cakes, along with the other treats in the case, are always popular, as they give busy dog parents the chance to get a last-minute treat for their pups.
“Additionally, we love giving back to local rescues. All broken treats are donated, so nothing goes to waste, and shelter dogs get enrichment,” she says.
Looking back, Bridge is delighted with her decision to expand her business from a weekly farmers’ market to a bakery that is open six days a week.
“Opening a brick-and-mortar store was the best thing we could have done. It gives people an opportunity to bring their dogs in to sample all our healthy offerings,” she says. “I especially love when customers bring their dogs in for a simple sample or to take a photo by our wall mural. Many people come by just to socialize their dog and say hi, and it’s just a fabulous feeling that warms our hearts.”