With many people considering their pets as part of their families, Ashley Khalil has carved a niche for herself by helping owners celebrate their pets’ special occasions and good behaviours with healthy cakes and treats for the past six months.
Through Khalil’s pet bakery and supplies business Chunky Chews, pet lovers have a place that caters for their pets’ distinctive tastes.
Khalil, a two-time National Squash Champion, believes Chunky Chews is the only business of its kind in Guyana.
Growing up, Khalil was always surrounded by dogs. Her parents, especially her father, were really fond of the animals. In 2016, the squash athlete was diagnosed with depression. For almost a year she was not wholeheartedly dedicated to her sport but would play from time to time upon request. The following year, someone gifted her a Dachshund-Terrier and she named her Trixie. It was the best present she could ask for. Things began looking up after that.
According to the young woman, getting a new dog meant she did not have responsibility for taking care of just herself anymore. This new task was one she found joy doing and within a matter of months, she was off her sleeping pills as she was sleeping better. Some months later, she was taken off her antidepressants.
When Trixie turned one, Khalil wanted to make a celebration of it and after thorough research, she made a cake filled with meat which the dog lapped up. Friends of hers who also had dogs of their own were rather impressed and encouraged her to start a business making healthy cakes for pets.
The idea was sound but having to deal with squash practice, the gym, coaching other squash players and helping to manage the family business, ARK Enterprise Hardware, made the reality of starting a business seem daunting.
When she got a second dog, a Labrador mix she calls Kola, friends again brought up the idea of the pet bakery. She had to make some tweaks in her treats for Kola as she is a picky eater unlike Trixie. In 2019, during a squash competition, Khalil fractured her ankle and was forced to spend a great deal of time in therapy. In 2020, COVID-19 brought new challenges.
According to the young woman, she had not had bouts of depression since she recovered but 2020 was definitely a year that tested her capabilities.
After some experimenting with treats and storing them for months to see how long they would last, Khalil finally started her business in October 2020; she registered Chunky Chews as a business on November 2.
She did not know any other of similar business and could not be sure if its services would be in demand, but she knew in her heart, it was what she wanted to do, and according to her, if ever she wants to do anything, she always has the support of family and friends “200%”. When Chunky Chews opened to the public, Khalil was in for a surprise. Many pet owners were delighted to have such a service. The entrepreneur described the beginning of her business as overwhelming; she was not expecting to have so many interested customers.
Between October and December, Chunky Chews had ten orders. From January to now, the orders have tripled. In fact, for a particular week in March, Khalil recalled, she had to bake a cake every day.
Chunky Chews’ treats come in three flavours: Chicken liver, Tuna or Beef. The cakes are filled with Chicken, Chicken liver or Tuna. They appear to be covered in frosting, but that is actually sweet potato or potato. Chunky Chews does not only cater for dogs; the tuna cakes and tuna-flavoured treats are made especially for cats.
Khalil makes the cakes herself as she is very particular about how the cakes and treats are made. However, she does allow her family to feed her dogs or help with the thawing of the meat on her busy days.
Chunky Chews treats can keep for up to three months in the freezer and should be taken out of the freezer on a daily basis and thawed to room temperature before given to pets.
The treats come in three different sizes – small, medium and large. The small treats are less than half an inch, and the mediums are about an inch in size.
Khalil said one customer jokingly questioned whether she was putting catnip in her treats as her cat goes berserk for them. She does not put catnip in any of her treats.
The ingredients for Chunky Chews are sourced locally except for the natural food colouring, which is imported. Packaging, such as the bags for the treats, is also imported; all of the bags are resealable. The logo and design were created locally by Khalil and a graphic designer.
Right now, the baker is experimenting with vegetarian cakes as she has a client who has a vegetarian pit bull.
Among the many favourite reasons she likes operating Chunky Chews, is how creative clients get when they request birthday cakes for their pets. One client, she said, shared that her dog likes car rides and requested that she incorporate a car into the cake design. She had fun personalizing the cake. After that cake, similar requests came in for other dogs.
Chunky Chews is more than just a business. Khalil has pledged to contribute humanitarian services every quarter and first engaged in charitable activities in December by donating school supplies to children (35 girls, 25 boys) from Imbetero, Region One.
Earlier last week when Stabroek Weekend spoke with Khalil, she had just closed off donations for a clothing drive and care packages slated to be distributed this week to residents of Annai. A percentage of Chunky Chews’ quarterly sales goes towards these activities.
Khalil is looking forward to Chunky Chews having a storefront and a wider variety of treats in the near future.
Chunky Chews also sells leashes, harnesses and other pet supplies. For orders Chunky Chews can be reached via Facebook or Instagram @Chunky Chews.