My Porch Dawg sells baked dog treats at farmers markets.
By Robby Nelms, StarNews Correspondent
Published: Monday, August 17, 2009 at 9:23 a.m.
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Alan Murphy credits his dog, Abby, |
Alan Murphy, owner of My Porch Dawg, was in the real
estate business and taking baking classes at Cape Fear
Community College for fun.
Then the company he worked for shut its doors. While
in baking classes, he would practice his techniques at
home. "I realized I was putting on weight one night while
I was cooking, and my dog Abby rubbed up against me,
and I thought - why not make dog treats?" Murphy said.
So he began making treats for his dog and his friends'
dogs. "They all like them," he said.
With that, My Porch Dawg was born.
"The name came from just kicking ideas around. We
wanted it to be simple, which is what our product is all
about," he said. "I thought about old southern homes
with a dog on the porch, and it had the feel of a simpler
way of life."
The treats only have a handful of ingredients in them,
and they are all slow-baked to dry them out and
increase
their shelf-life without using artificial preservatives.
Only in business for about three months now, Murphy
and Abby are selling their treats at both the Waterford
and Poplar Grove farmers markets.
"The farmers markets are a great place for a small business
like ours. We already have weekly customers, which is great.
"Also, the other vendors and farmers have been so supportive
of what we're doing. It's a really close knit group of people,"
he said. "The farmer's markets are just cool; people come
for the produce and there is just so much more out there - like dog treats."
The treats are also available at their Web site, www.myporchdawg.com.
"We just got our first Internet order the other day, so we're excited about that," Murphy said.
My Porch Dawg isn't just about making treats and money. "I really want to give back," said Murphy.
He said he plans on working with shelters and hopes to feature rescue dogs, like Abby,
on his Web site.
"I also want to take them out to the markets to get them out and into homes in the
community," he said.
Murphy credits the culinary program at CFCC with inspiring him to take this leap, as well
as Abby brushing up against his leg.
"She's like our mascot," he said.
He's even taught her some tricks to do at the markets to get people to their stand.
But who can blame her? She's also the taste tester.