Sneaking your dog food at the dinner table is a time-honored tradition. But it has always come with the concern that human food might not be so healthy for your pet.
Former broadcast journalist Lauren Ruggiero wanted to remove those worries. So, two years ago she set out to create a snack that owners could give to their canines guilt free, satisfying their cravings in a way that didn’t jeopardize their health.
Her company Buppy Pets produces gluten-free dog treats made from ingredients that you might find in the kitchen, such as peanut butter, fruit and even pizza crust. The treats can be consumed by humans as well, so owners and pets can snack together.
“I did a bunch of research about what pets were eating and what was actually in their treats. I was floored. I could not believe all of the preservatives I was putting into my dog,” Ruggiero told Rhode Island Inno. “No wonder they have such short lives. I did some research and put recipes together that I would actually want to eat myself.”
The result were snacks with absolutely no preservatives. Each recipe is made from fresh ingredients, and then baked with an oat flower base that gives the snacks a one-year shelf life and naturally gluten-free stamp.
"I did some research and put recipes together that I would actually want to eat myself.”
Buppy Pets currently has five different types snacks, all of which are made with four main ingredients. There is Banapa-Snaps (rolled oats, fresh bananas, organic applesauce, ground cinnamon); Pizza Bites (rolled oats, tomato juice, fresh parmesan cheese, dried oregano); Pumpkin Nutters (rolled oats, fresh pumpkin puree, all-natural peanut butter, ground cinnamon); Chick Ched Marys (rolled oats, organic free-range chicken broth, fresh cheddar cheese, dried rosemary); and the top seller PB&J (rolled oats, whole organic blueberries, all-natural peanut butter, ground cinnamon).
Meticulous detail has been put into each recipe so every ingredient offers maximum health benefits.
“For instance, there is light cinnamon and dark cinnamon,” explained Ruggiero. “Light cinnamon is very beneficial for dogs when it comes to blood sugar regulation, healthy teeth and gums and their skin coats. But dark cinnamon is a little bit less protein-rich."
Another common misconception, according to Ruggiero, is that grain is bad for dogs. But what people don’t realize is the grain most people are thinking is problematic is processed variety. The whole oat grain Buppy Pets uses is very good for dogs, Ruggiero said. The company also makes sure to never use peanut butter that contains the sweetener xylitol.
Even the name "Buppy Pets" is thoughtful. Ruggiero used the moniker "Buppy" as it's a term of love and endearment —it has been her dog’s nickname since it was a puppy.
In two years, the company has come a long way.
Buppy Pets got accepted into MassChallenge and is currently sold in 33 stores across New England. Ruggiero has hired a team of bakers and works out of the food startup incubator Hope & Main in Warren. And most recently, Buppy Pets was named one of Rhode Island Inno's 2020 Inno on Fire winners.
She has also been working with the lean manufacturing company Polaris, which shows businesses different efficiencies they can incorporate into their own processes.
Polaris helps businesses make the most of their staff and time without changing the amount of money being spent. Since working with the company, Ruggiero said Buppy Pets has doubled production.
Ruggiero’s goal is to continue to expand and eventually find a distributor so Buppy Pets can bring owners and pets together all over the country.
