Community Corner
Happy Dog Barkery Hosts Central Indiana Lab Rescue and Adoption
LOCAL BUSINESS CATERING TO FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS
Downers Grove, Illinois—Local entrepreneurs and sisters Beth and Cheryl Staley left jobs in corporate America in 2004 with the goal of working with their own pets and owning their own business. Beth Staley was motivated by her own dog’s allergies. A baker since childhood, her Labrador Retriever Payton, was suffering from severe food allergies and there seemed to be no existing healthy treats on the market for Payton.
Eight years later, located in the heart of downtown Downers Grove, the Happy Dog Barkery specializes in baked dog and cat goods, made on premises, for our four-legged friends—including finicky and ingredient-allergic pets. Happy Dog Barkery has been voted one the best dog bakeries 4 years running by the readers of Chicagoland Tails and West Suburban Living Magazine, an accomplishment they are proud of.
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Store dogs Koko and Hazel are proof that the Staley sisters have succeeded. The women pride themselves on making some of the finest treats available in the Midwest, including Birthday Cakes for their canine customers. And their pet customers agree, each “visitor” to the store receives a cookie sample—usually of the sisters’ own famous liver cake.
The Barkery is also well-known for carrying an extensive line of natural made and raw foods, in addition to a well-stocked section of dog chews, all made in the U.S.A. Toys, natural pet hygiene items, supplements, leads, collars and beds are all available as well. The store also features a “human-gifts” and Cool Cats section as well.
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“It’s hard to believe that it has been eight years since we left our corporate jobs to create our little slice of doggie heaven,” said Beth Staley, co-owner of Happy Dog Barkery. “We have faced some challenging economic times, but it seems that people’s love for their pets have helped our business succeed,” she added. “As a matter of fact, March saw our most successful birthday cake month ever, we had 126 pet parents celebrate their pet’s birthday/adoption anniversary by special ordering a cake—and that does not include the dozens of customers who opted for a special birthday cookie or cupcake!” said co-owner Cheryl Staley.
The Happy Dog Barkery will be hosting Central Indiana Lab Rescue and Adoption (CILRA) on Saturday, May 5th from 10 to 2 pm. This wonderful organization will be available to answer any questions you might have on how to 1) adopt a new family member, 2) become a volunteer or 3) donate to this wonderful cause.
CILRA is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. They’ve come together because they love the Labrador Retriever breed and want to help find new loving homes for those Labs who find themselves in unhealthy, unhappy or dangerous situations. CILRA likes to think that the day they take a dog into rescue is the best day of that dog’s life. The time and effort they put into helping dogs find new homes is a small payback for the countless hours of enjoyment their own dogs have given them.
Come out to visit Central Indiana Lab Rescue and meet some of their friends that are up for adoption. Don’t forget to bring your canine companion to enjoy some of the delicious homemade treats from Happy Dog.
The Happy Dog Barkery is located in Chicago’s western suburb, Downers Grove, at 5118 Main Street. Further information on the store is available at www.happydogbarkery.com, at (630) 512-0822 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/happydogbarkery.
For more information:
Happy Dog Barkery
5118 Main St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Central Indiana Lab Rescue and Adoption
