When people say that John Blackwell V’s business is going to the dogs, it’s a compliment: his healthy, homemade treats are canine-friendly, and the proceeds help support POET Animal Rescue.
Blackwell, 9, of Wyandotte, who is on the autistic spectrum, started his business April 2, on Good Friday, as a way to help dogs in need of forever homes, when his family adopted, Rosy, a rescue dog, from POET Animal Rescue.
His first step was to research what foods are healthy for one’s canine companions, which led him to create such tail-wagging favorites as carrot apple dog treats, strawberry banana cookies, pup pretzels and mini-doughnut crunches with pumpkin and canine cake dog frosting.
He also created Ruff Not nose and paw balm, which is basically dog lotion.
“It’s for their nose and their paws,” his mother, Stephanie Blackwell, said. “It’s a pun, because ruff/rough – they will be rough-not.”
All the ingredients of the dog treats, with the exception of the canine frosting, are staple human foods.
“And guess what?” John Blackwell V said. “My little sister still eats the frosting! All the treats are made with human-grade ingredients, except the frosting.”
Some of the people foods they avoid in dog delights are chocolate, onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes and apple peels and seeds.
“You don’t want too much seed stuff in there,” Stephanie Blackwell said.
Hannah Blackwell, 4, started making necklaces to also help raise money for POET Animal Rescue.
“They can be for both – she wears them, and the animals wear them, too,” her mother said.
Stephanie Blackwell said that Hannah likes to dress up their dogs – Rosy and Remmy – with her costume jewelry, and she makes paper crowns for them, as well. She also likes to help her brother by packing treat orders in boxes, then sealing them shut with stickers.
John Blackwell V said he is happy they are helping POET Animal Rescue.
“I feel like I am doing something really good,” he said. “Every little bit counts.”
He said he will soon be adding dog collars and bandanas to his product mix.
Stephanie Blackwell said she, her husband, John Blackwell IV, and her 12-year-old daughter, Hailey Brower, are proud of what her son John has achieved, especially with his autism.
“John was diagnosed, and he struggles in certain areas, but we don’t want people to think of him as disabled,” she said. “It’s a different ability, and he can do anything, and that is what we have encouraged.
“When he said he wanted to do this, he had $20 to his name – it was his birthday money — and ingredients at home. He spent $20 on boxes, and he’s making a go of it, and we could not be prouder.”
Stephanie Blackwell said young children are frequently told what they cannot do, and those labeled with a disability are told that, too.
“We want them to see what they can do, and to chase their dreams,” she said. “Whether you have a disability or you are young, you can make a change, and you can do what you want in life.”
Stephanie Blackwell built the Pup-Verse website, at pup-verse.com, and said she gets paid “in hugs and kisses.”
Orders placed online may be picked up, delivered nearby, or shipped.
They also occasionally have a booth at local events, which they will announce online about a week beforehand.
For more information about Pup-Verse, go to its Facebook or Instagram page, or send an email to pupverse1@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Blackwell
Pup-Verse homemade, healthy dog treats help support POET Animal Rescue."eat" - Google News
August 16, 2021 at 01:03PM
https://ift.tt/37IgW7D
9-year-old Wyandotte entrepreneur helps canines eat healthy - Southgate News Herald
"eat" - Google News
https://ift.tt/33WjFpI
https://ift.tt/2VWmZ3q
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "9-year-old Wyandotte entrepreneur helps canines eat healthy - Southgate News Herald"
Post a Comment