RUTLAND — Abby’s Famous Dog Treats has a special treat for November: Woofles, made with turkey, carrot and sweet potato.
“We love the name,” Diane Duratti said of the Woofles. “We use a commercial waffle iron to make waffles and cut them in small pieces.”
Although the treats are made for dogs, people could eat them too, Duratti said, referring to all her dog treats.
High quality, locally sourced ingredients are mandatory.
“The ingredients in our treats are quite simple. We use pumpkin puree, sweet potatoes, kale, apples, eggs, bacon, salmon, peanut butter, whole wheat flour and rice. We do not use preservatives of any kind. We try to purchase our sweet potatoes, kale, apples and eggs from farmer’s markets or local farmers. We grind rice to make flour. All the ingredients we use, you and I eat every day,” Duratti said.
“We bake our treats and then use a dehydrator. Using a food dehydrator to remove moisture from food items such as fruits, vegetables and meats creates naturally concentrated, rich and delicious-tasting food.
“Using a food dehydrator extends the shelf life of our treats,” she added said.
The business, which operates at local farmer’s markets and offers items online, was inspired by Abby.
Abby is a dog who was discovered in a parking lot in Georgia and embraced by dog rescuers there, coming to live with Duratti in 2017.
Duratti had been a special education teacher at Sullivan Middle School in Worcester, and she loved to cook. Each month, the team she worked with made breakfast sandwiches to sell to staff to fund special projects and events for students.
“Knowing my love of cooking and my love for dogs, Emma Gardner, a co-teacher, gave me a cookbook for dog treats for Christmas one year,” Duratti said.
A few years later, in 2017, “Abby was just a puppy and attending dog training. The trainer used hot dogs as a reward. Everyone likes a good hot dog, especially with mustard and onions, and hot dogs have a certain appeal that has captured the hearts (and tastebuds) of many,” she said.
“However, hot dogs are not good for dogs. Using the cookbook from Emma, I started making dog treats for dog training. And thus the beginning of Abby’s Famous Dog treats.”
Duratti said treats were initially named after stars who owned dogs: the Oprah, the Ellen DeGeneres, and the Miley Cyrus (this was grain free) were a few.
“I quickly abandoned this idea, realizing potential legal hazards.”
She started selling the treats at farmer’s markets after a craft show.
“Like so many other small businesses, COVID shut Abby’s down in 2020. In the latter part of the year, my golf partner of many years, Dale Snyder of Rutland, joined Abby’s. It was serendipitous. A Navy veteran of 20 years, Dale brought leadership, inventory control and business planning to the table,” Duratti said.
“Now Abby’s focuses on farmer’s markets and community craft fairs in Central Massachusetts. Because of Dale’s business acumen, Abby’s has strong customer relationships and an ever-growing clientele.”
Of course, treats must be tested. Following in Abby’s paw steps, Duratti now has a new expert in that field.
“Jake, our Jack Russell Terrier mix, is our official taste tester. To be honest, he turns nothing down. His current favorite treats are Poochi Sushi and Apple Carrot Bacon Tarts. Dale also tries every treat,” Duratti said, stressing that they are perfectly fine for humans.
“We mainly sell at farmer’s markets and community craft fairs like Boylston. We sell at the Sturbridge Farmers Market on Sundays and the Hudson Farmers Market on Tuesdays. We’re looking to expand in the Central Mass area in 2024,” Duratti said.
At the end of the farmer’s market season, they sell online through Facebook and direct contact at abbysfamousdogtreats.com. Gluten free alternatives are available on request.
“Our most popular treat is Poochi Sushi,” Duratti said. “It is loaded with salmon. Salmon is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which support the immune system, may decrease inflammation, and can keep your dog’s coat looking shiny and healthy. We use a rice flour base, which is great for sensitive stomachs.”
Their second most popular treat is Apple Carrot and Bacon Tarts.
Then, of course, there are the Woofles.
