Get Chester’s Canine Cookies started!

This is Chester and Jamie and they were very lucky to get 11 years together. Chester, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, came into Jamie's life back in 2007.

Where it began...

"I remember going to meet Chester for the first time like it was yesterday. He was just four weeks old at the time and was the size of my hand. The litter were feeding with their Mum when I arrived. I remember thinking, how do I choose between eight beautiful puppies. As they finished feeding, there was one puppy, clinging on for the last drop of milk - he likes his food! At that very moment, I knew he was the one. Four weeks later I returned to collect him and that is where our journey began"

"Chester was the naughtiest puppy growing up - BUT, his big puppy eyes and sweet nature meant he got away with a lot. As I said the first time I met him, he loved his food - and loved a treat!"

More than just a pet...

"Chester was my best friend. The one consistent thing in my life for nearly 12 years. Always there with a wagging tail and love when I returned home from work - we had a very special bond"

Something wasn't right...

"He was 11 years old, I had been very lucky with him as he hadn't ever really been unwell of suffered with any health problems. In March 2018, I began to notice that his appetite was much lower and he just didn't seem himself. Suddenly overnight, he took a turn for the worse. After extensive tests and overnight stays at the veterinary surgery he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and at his age the outlook was not good."

Goodbye my friend...

"On the evening of 26 March 2018, I had to make the extremely difficult decision to say goodbye and let him go. To date, one of the most heartbreaking moments in my life. But, I knew it was absolutely the best decision for him as he would no longer be suffering. Anyone reading this that has been in the same position will know exactly how this feels"

Chester's Legacy...

"From that day, I always wanted Chester to leave a legacy of some form, but I didn't know what. I wanted to do something that would help me remember him and many ideas - he loved to pose for the camera so considered dog photography, he always had a spring in his step after getting a haircut, so considered dog grooming - but, it was his love of food that gave me that light bulb moment. At this time, I was moving house and working a full time job, there wasn't time to sit and come up with a plan, so I put my ideas to one side." 

Two years later...

"26 March 2020, the two year anniversary of losing Chester, an old video popped up on Facebook memories - it was him snatching a piece of popcorn out of my hand. It made me smile and laugh. The country was in lock down and I wasn't working my full time job and had time on my hands, so decided to start thinking about the ideas again."

"I was always a little worried about some of the off the shelf dog treats and the ingredients they used and preferred something a bit more 'natural' so started to make him homemade dog treats and he couldn't get enough of them - they were always a little experimental with the flavours (of course, ensuring they included foods safe for him to consume) and liked the idea that the flavour was something that we as humans would also eat rather than the standard turkey, beef, chicken and duck. After spending several weeks researching, reading about homemade dog foods, ingredients suitable for dogs and the health benefits they have and studying for a Certificate in Natural Dog Nutrition & Wellbeing, I decided to bite the bullet and take this seriously. "

Chester's Canine Cookies is born...

"Chester's Canine Cookies are homemade dog treats using 100% natural ingredients, with NO additives or preservatives and NO added colouring."

Currently, we are working on flavour ideas and the production techniques and more importantly taste trials with some of my four-legged friends. 

Our hope is to launch in September 2020 with initially three flavours - with the aim to increase this to five core flavours and a monthly 'special'.

We are wanting to raise £5000 initially to get us started And you can help!