Kathy Ramsburg is like a lot of folks. She leads a family life, a professional life and she loves animals.

 

Unlike a lot of folks, she’s turned the combination of those three into a business that most recently opened up its first retail location. On March 1, the Meadowbrook Mall welcomed its newest business entry in The Hound Dog Snackery.

 

The business offers grain free and natural foods and treats for pets as well as unique pet gifts and novelty items. What really makes The Hound Dog Snackery Unique is that many of the products offered are made by Ramsburg and staff.

 

For those thinking that may entail a large mixing bowl, some meat and other ingredients being put together and packaged, that would be an incorrect assumption. Not only are the items clinically tested and approved before going to market, Ramsburg’s background allows her to think up items that will meet the specific needs of dogs that have special needs or for those that want a healthier diet and snack option for the dogs or other animals.

 

Ramsburg graduated with honors from Pierpont Community & Technical College with an Associate of Science degree. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Fairmont State University with focuses on Chemistry, Biology and Microbiology. While studying for her Bachelor's degree, Ramsburg became employed at a laboratory as a chemist and trained with a senior microbiologist with more than 17 years of experience.

 

“I actually worked in a laboratory in Bridgeport. Myself, a couple of senior chemists, an experienced microbiologist and an animal biologist were all around we talked about the preservatives in dog treats,” said Ramsburg. “We put our heads together and began the process and on the weekends the goal was to come up with something that didn’t have the chemicals.”

 

The chemist background helped tremendously and continues to help. Ramsburg’s understanding of quality control and analysist led to much of the company’s own product line that doesn’t include the preservatives often found in cheap treats and products. And it also led to products for dogs that may have allergies to things such as chicken and grains.

 

“We’re not just doing this out of kitchen and not rolling product. We pay attention to what’s going into it. There’s a lot of science involved,” she said.

 

While she’s been working on product for nearly a decade, the LLC sprung to life in December of 2015. The product has been available at wholesale outlets – and continues to be available – for some time and also at various events that cater to animals. Along with the new mall location, the product is available at 11 other retail outlets – including Bridgeport’s Eastern Pet Supply. They can be found on the company’s Web site, which can be found by clicking HERE.

 

The business offers its own product line. They also offer products from business partners.

 

Meadowbrook Mall Property Manager Marcello Lalama is happy to have another unique business added to the Bridgeport retail hub. He said the two-cart kiosk is located by American Eagle at the mall.

 

“They’re getting their feet week and we hope they have a long stay here,” said Lalama. “Right now, they have a three-month lease, but we hope it’s longer. This is a really unique store and if you have pets, you should check it out.”

 

Although just open a little more than two weeks, Ramsburg said so far so good.

 

“They’re going pretty well,” said Ramsburg when asked about the early business. “A lot of our customers are asking how long we’re going to be here and we hope it’s for a long time.

 

“We already have a strong business base. We have wholesale customers in Bridgeport, Milton and Charleston,” she continued. “We have people that use our product all over the state.”

 

Now, local folks can find those same products when out shopping at the mall.

 

 “You’ll find doggie cigars and doggie beer, which aren’t actually beer or cigars, but unique items,” she said. “We’ve just recently got approval to manufacture dog food. It will be a while before we have that for sale because we have to get it tested even though the initial approval of our recipe has been given the greenlight.”

 

Along with the product being produced by local minds, it’s being manufactured by local people. Ramsburg said the product – and eventually the dog foods – is made in Jane Lew.

 

Lalama said the store adds greatly to the diversity of the mall. He said that while some of the major retail hubs, such as Target offer pet products, this particular pet specific business is the first in a while and different from anything in the past.

 

“This attracts a unique niche in the market, but it can cater to anyone with a pet and anyone that’s a lover of animals,” he said. “Petland at the mall used to cater to that market with a different product, but that was a long time ago. This is a great addition to our mix of businesses.”

Ramsburg is the owner of the business. The rest of the staff is listed in the “About Us” section of the Web site linked above.

 

The store can be contacted at 304-365-1088. The hours of operation are the standard mall hours Monday through Sunday.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows some of the product that is offered, while owner Kathy Ramsburg is shown in the middle photo. Mall Property Manager Marcello Lalama is shown below.