Shay Nese’s 6-year-old daughter was fine after mistakenly eating a dog treat last summer. But Nese, who is a dogsitter, began worrying about what if it had been her youngest, who has a peanut allergy.
That’s when she got the idea to launch Surfside Paws, a dog treat company that uses a limited number of ingredients and avoids common allergens such as peanuts and wheat.
“It’s important to have a product out there that’s safer for families,” Nese said.
Not only does the website, which launched in December 2024, have dog treats, but there’s also bandanas, toys, leashes and collars for dogs.
Nese partnered with other women-owned businesses to add the handmade bandanas, toys and collars to her website.
Nese bakes the treats herself at home, and each order is inspected and hand packed. Nese says she also sells Surfside Paws products at craft fairs and is looking into adding another line of dog treats this summer.
“I want to make it all healthy, wholesome and good quality for dogs,” Nese said.