Local News - November 2003

Dog food business is a treat

Published November 5, 2003

By AMY WADSWORTH, Staff Writer

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Dogs in the neighborhood are howling for more.

Canine Temptations is a new Denver business, offering fresh baked gourmet dog treats straight from the oven.

The recipes are created by Leslie Burleson, a stay at home mom with four children.

An self-proclaimed animal lover, Burleson wanted to find a job where she could work with animals and still have time for her children.

“I have always loved animals, I grew up with them,” she said. “This allows me to do something with them and still be able to be with my family full-time.”

Burleson, originally from Illinois, worked at the humane society there for three years. There she learned how to make dog treats for the animals. After moving to North Carolina seven years ago, Burleson decided to continue with making dog treats.

Now she says she alters the recipes a little bit and tries them out on her Great Dane, Tigger.

“I know that if he will eat them, then they are good,” she said. “I taste test them on all my darlings.”

Burleson also has a golden retriever named Fire Truck and a Pomeranian named Prancer.

The dog treat business is currently operating out of Burleson’s home, but she is working towards getting a storefront.

“I would really like to open a store in Denver,” she said. “That is my goal.”

Burleson’s motivation for creating homemade dog treats is in the removal of preservatives like the ones found in store bought treats.

“My treats have no salt or sugar,” she said. “There is nothing in them that is bad for them.”

Burleson said the dog treats are baked in the oven “just like a cookie.”

The dog treats cool on racks and are then placed in jars ready for selling.

Burleson said she has several customers that she either delivers or ships to.

She even has some customers from out of state.

Canine Temptations really kicked off at Denver Days, the community’s first fall festival held in October.

At the festival, Burleson had a booth set up displaying her dog treats.

Burleson loves the freedom her new found creation gives her.

“I don’t have to worry about work,” she said. “If one of my kids are sick I can just pick them up from school and bring them home.”

Canine Temptations operates like a regular business throughout the work week, starting at 9 a.m., except at 2:30 p.m., when Burleson shuts down in order to pick up her children from school.

Burleson has 18 different types of treats and she said she is constantly trying new things.

The most popular flavor so far is Jack’s Liver Smacks, which feature liver, eggs, cottage cheese and wheat.

Some of the dog treats are even named after dogs that Burleson has had in her life.

Jack’s Liver Smacks are named after a golden retriever she once owned, Max’s Meaty Treats are named after a black lab and Husky’s Veggie Bits are named after a collie once owned by her husband.

Burleson’s husband, Dion, a paramedic for Mecklenburg County, helps out with a lot of the paperwork for Burleson.

The business hopes to have a Web site in the near future. For more information email k9temptations@charte

r.net or call 980-721-6532.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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