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If you share your life with a canine family member, you know all too well how confusing it can be to pick out a treat for Fido. With dozens to choose from, it is often easy to just pick out the cheapest brand on the shelf but cheapest is not always healthiest as many inexpensive dog treats are heavily processed and can contain chemical additives, undesirable animal by-products, and even toxins. A local pet owner and businesswoman, Daphne MacKenzie began making homemade treats for her dog, Hunter to provide him a healthy snack option. At the time, she was working as a manager of a dental office and began giving the home-baked dog treats to patients who had dogs and the positive response she received made her decide to start a small dog treat business on the side. Established in 2016, Hunter's Healthy Treats are soft chewable treats made with limited ingredients.

MacKenzie later retired from the dental office position and focused all her energy on building her new venture which is based out of her Livonia home. Hunter's Healthy Treats are all natural and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. "It's a softer baked treat so it's not hard like a Milk Bone. Limited ingredients; it doesn't have a whole lot of fillers, there's nothing in it that's harmful for the animals and it's all human-grade, so that's what makes it unique," explains MacKenzie. "I know there are a lot of dog treat companies out there that are trying to do the limited ingredient, all natural way, but mine are 6 or 7 ingredients and that's it. No corn, wheat or soy and they're not hard; these are more like a cookie-soft."

Veterinarians and animal experts agree that quality ingredients are an important consideration when choosing treats for your dog. MacKenzie even took a class on canine nutrition to add to her knowledge of which foods are good for dogs and which are not. Basic ingredients include oatmeal, coconut oil, honey, and cinnamon. Hunter's Healthy Treats come in three flavors: pumpkin, peanut butter, and sweet potato. They come in sizes suitable for small, medium, and large dogs. MacKenzie also offers a crumb topping that can be added to your dog's regular food. The treats can be enjoyed by other animals including horses, goats, birds, guinea pigs, and rabbits. "It's a healthier alternative and they're a little bit more costly just because they are quality ingredients, just like when you go to the store, you pay more for to buy fruits and vegetables than you do junk food," MacKenzie adds.

MacKenzie believes small businesses are essential to the community and she often donates her product to charities and fundraisers to help community causes. "Big corporations don't see the effect that they have on the community, but if you support a small business, you're helping support that family. I appreciate

Hunter's Healthy Treats are baked in Daphne MacKenzie's licensed commercial kitchen in Livonia.

when people support me so I support other locals and I don't mind paying a little more because I know I'm helping them get their kids braces or be involved in community sports. When you support local businesses, you're supporting your neighbors," she says.

Hunter's Healthy Treats can be found at Premier Pet Supply's locations in Canton, Detroit, Riverview, and Westland, where a 13 oz. package sells for $12.99 and a 6 oz. package sells for $8.99. They can also be found at Masserant's Feed and Grain, Feed Rite Pet Supply, Hometown Pet Supply in Westland, and Chap's Feed Store in Livonia. Pricing varies minimally by store. MacKenzie has even branched out into Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, and Texas. Additional store locations can be found at http://www.huntershealthytreats.com or at http://www.facebook.com/huntershealthytreats/. Online orders are accepted.