‘Bone’ appetit: Local businesses strive to accommodate canines
The “pup cup” has become standard fare at many fast-food restaurants for those out and about with their four-legged friends, and a North Strabane couple has developed a healthier twist on the concept.
Lori and Ed Dominick started Scoop Dog Canine Creamery just a couple of months ago, and already have local businesses selling their dog-specific ice cream.
“A lot of pup cups and ice cream you would get from a drive-thru are made for people and rebranded for dogs. Lots of sugar. Lactose isn’t good for dogs. We wanted to make a product that is healthy for the dogs,” Lori Dominick said.
Beyond being healthy for dogs, Lori said the business grew out of a desire to help their son, Chevi Dominick, 26, who is autistic, work toward an independent future.
“I also want to hire individuals with disabilities,” she said.
Scoop Dog began as an idea over the summer. Lori said she and her husband went through the Ideas 2 Enterprise course at Ignite business incubator in Washington.
By September, they were self-manufacturing their product. Scoop Dog’s ice cream is made from goat milk. Current flavors include pumpkin maple bacon and peanut butter banana.
The Dominicks make the ice cream in their basement.
“Currently, we don’t have a brick-and-mortar. That was my original idea. We decided to back it up a little bit, start in our home and start building our business,” Lori said.
She said they can produce around 500 containers of dog ice cream in a week. They do not currently have an online order form, but have started having local businesses stock the product, such as Pampered Paw Resort in South Strabane Township.
But if you’re thirsty, you can also take your dog to the patio of The Washington Brewing Company and get some Scoop Dog to go with your lager.
“Dogs are always welcome,” said Angela Burgess, who owns the business with husband John Burgess. “(Scoop Dog) is just kind of a natural progression.”
Washington Brewing has been selling Scoop Dog products since Oct. 1, which go along with doggie burgers and chicken bites.
Before they had a patio, the brewery would host “barks and brews” events where customers were encouraged to bring their dogs. But now dogs are a more permanent fixture, as long as the weather is nice enough to sit outside.
Burgess said the response to Scoop Dog ice cream has been “excellent.”
“We like to support other local businesses,” she said.
At DiMarco’s Bistro & Cantina along Morgantown Street in Uniontown, summertime is marked by a “barks and brews” event each Thursday.
Owner Jarred Volek said they have been dog friendly since opening a patio a few years ago. During barks and brews events, they offer food and drink specials.
“We do dog-themed beers,” Volek said. “We would do a jumbo foot-long hot dog, one loaded with beef and cheese.”
Rizz’s is another dog friendly spot in Uniontown, and has been for the 17 years it has been in business.
Though the eatery has had the policy for almost two decades, owner Ben Venick explained it wasn’t until about six years ago when people were regularly bringing dogs to their patio, and the trend really took off during the pandemic.
In that time, dogs have gained even more privileges at Rizz’s. Don’t be surprised to walk inside and see a dog enjoying a burger.
“When it was raining one time it was like, OK, what do we do? From that day on, wherever you want to come, you can go,” Venick said.
Dogs who are guests at Rizz’s “always get a burger,” according to Venick.
Venick said being dog friendly indoors and outdoors has been popular with customers, and they have regular canine customers. He knows one dog that stops in with its owners at least once a week.
“It’s to the point now it runs around with the employees. It’s pretty cool,” Venick said.
Their reputation for allowing dogs also brings in people who may just be making a pit stop on a road trip. Venick recalls one couple traveling with two dogs stopping in after reading online they could bring their canine companions.
“People even from out of town, they come to Rizz’s because they know we’re dog friendly,” Venick said.