Peabody business owner to sell homemade treats

PEABODY – A new store is coming to 194 Washington St. and it’s sure to get the city’s four-legged residents drooling, sniffing, and wagging their tails.On Saturday, Dec. 1, owner Dulcie Decillis will open the doors to The Dog Bowl, a dog food supply shop. But buyers beware – you won’t find any Puppy Chow or Gravy Train in this dish.For years, the 52-year-old Peabody resident has been preparing home-cooked meals for her dogs.”I started in my own kitchen with my own dogs,” Decillis said. “With the (toxic) dog food scare, I wouldn’t give him anything, but what I made. I (wouldn’t) even give him a Milkbone.”Instead, she fed them a mixture of ground hamburger, carrots, and rice. Over time, she noticed significant changes in her dog’s fur, skin, and overall well-being. She began tweaking her recipes to ensure the healthiest blend possible.”It took a lot of research, a lot of reading, a lot of going online,” she said. “Knowing what each ingredient does for the dog?Combination of it is great. It really is.”And, with the recent dog deaths related to toxic ingredients in dog food, Decillis thought, “Why not share my recipes with everyone else?”So that’s just what she’s doing. Her store will offer a variety of homemade frozen foods and snacks, all of which have been approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Her products contain 16 ingredients that Decillis swears are all-natural, fresh, and edible for humans. In fact, her son-in-law has dabbled in the dog food a few times.”I don’t want to (put) down commercial food, but if you knew what was in it you wouldn’t want to feed it to your dogs,” said Decillis.Decillis’ products come in the form of frozen patties, similar to hamburgers, that contain real chicken, beef, and vegetables. A turkey-based meal should be available soon, as Decillis is still working on bringing down the protein and fat levels.There isn’t a single preservative added, but because her products are vacuum-sealed and frozen, they still have a shelf life of about two years.”You just take a few packs out (of the freezer), keep them in the fridge, slice the side of the bag and microwave it,” said Decillis. “Or, put the whole bag into a pot of boiling water, whichever works for you, and serve at room temperature?It’s easy and very convenient.”It’s relatively competitive in price, as well. Decillis offers two options for meals at $4.50 apiece: one package contains four, quarter-pound patties for smaller dogs; the other contains two, half-pound patties suitable for large dogs.”I wanted it to be dog food,” Decillis said about the food taking the form of patties. “Good old, healthy dog food. I didn’t want it to be like I was sitting out to dinner ordering a meal.”Snacks vary in price and selection from chicken wrapped around carrots to beef wrapped around green beans.”I love to cook, I love animals, and putting this together has been great,” said Decillis. “I’m really excited. I can’t wait to open the doors and share it.”The grand opening is on Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Decillis said there will be plenty of samples to go around.Regular store hours will be Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.