Dog bakery celebrates its 10th anniversary

Bogey, a 2-year-old Pomeranian, won best dressed for his fox outfit at Sweet Paws Bakery’s 10th anniversary Saturday.

Best dressed was one of several categories dogs competed in at the event from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dogs sought a bag of homemade treats in exchange for their best kiss, tail wag, tricks and grooming. Sweet Paws Bakery, a locally run dog bakery located at 5330 SW 91st Terrace, provides Haile Plantation Village Center with a self-serve dog wash, boutique and small dog daycare. The shop also sells homemade dog treats, designer collars, harnesses, apparel, durable toys, spa products and beds.

Colleen O’Fallon, the owner of Sweet Paws Bakery, and her mom, Pat, bake treats every night. O’Fallon said she came up with the recipes for her dog treats by finding recipes for cookies and other human treats and adapting it to a dog’s diet.

“I didn’t like the treats I was seeing at PetSmart; they were filled with fillers and salt and sugar, and I was like, ‘That should not be in treats for dogs,’” she said.

O’Fallon tests her treats on her cocker spaniel, Parker.

“If he doesn’t like it, it doesn’t go out on the shelves,” she said.

O’Fallon hosts the anniversary event every year and always invites some of her customers to advertise their businesses at her event.

“(My customers) always supported me so I feel like I should support them as well,” said O’Fallon.

Katie Davis, a customer and an independent consultant for Swamp Kisses, set up a booth to promote her makeup business and sold lipstick.

Davis’ golden retriever, Oakley, won best trick, winning over the audience and judges by sitting, spinning and standing on his hind legs on Davis’ command.

The event raised $125, from the $5 entrance fee for competitors, for Gainesville Pet Rescue Inc. and Haile’s Angels Pet Rescue, O’Fallon said.

“We hope to just keep reaching out to the community more and doing more community events and donating more to the rescues in the area and just doing more charity events for them,” she said. “And then just hopefully meeting new doggie owners.”

Katie Davis’ golden retriever, Oakley, poses after winning best trick at Sweet Paws Bakery’s 10th anniversary on Saturday. The event raised $125 for Gainesville Pet Rescue Inc. and Haile’s Angels Pet Rescue from a $5 fee collected from competition participants.