Germantown friends open a bakery just for dogs

GERMANTOWN (WITI) -- The kitchen is a busy place at Gayle Mandt's house, as she along with her friend and business partner, Cece Chavez, have spent countless hours baking.

"It's fun, it takes your mind off of stuff and makes you feel creative," said Chavez.

The two met back in 2008 from the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program and immediately bonded over their love for animals.

"I don't have my own children so I mean we've become great friends and I've grown to love her like a daughter," said Mandt.

Mandt and Chavez began baking dog treats and donating them to animal shelters as a fun activity to do together.

After getting an overwhelmingly positive response, they decided to turn it into a business.

"We were going to do a volunteer activity at a Birthday party for a local dog that we didn't realize was very well-known, it was an ad we had responded to and that's how it kind of morphed," said Mandt.

The Lovin' Oven Pet Bakery began taking online orders just 8 months ago.

Their menu now includes doggie ice cream cones, cookies, peanut butter balls, and red velvet pupcakes.

"We don't use any preservatives. So basically we're using things like peanut butter, whole wheat flour, molasses, flax seed, so you could eat any of our treats," said Mandt.

To make sure all of the treats are top notch Mandt's rescue dog Jake has become the official taste tester and he's definitely not complaining about it.

"After you give it to him he has a smile on his face," said Chavez.

Satisfying the sweet tooth of all their new four-legged friends.

In 2013, Mandt and Chavez donated more than $2,000 in retail value to area animal shelters and nonprofits.

For more information on The Lovin' Oven Pet Bakery CLICK HERE.