Good Neighbor Podcast: Union
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Residents of Northern Kentucky! Based in Union, KY....The Good Neighbor Podcast helps the residents of Northern Kentucky get to know local business owners as people. We allow the business owners and influencers in NKY to tell the stories of how they started their business and why. We hear about their families, their personal interests and why they love living in and serving resident of Northern Kentucky!
Good Neighbor Podcast: Union
Holistic Pet Care: Karen Turner's Innovative Approach
Karen Turner, the passionate owner of Union Jack Bulldogs and Friends, shares her transformative journey from bulldog breeder to holistic pet care advocate. Tune in to learn how her dedication to her pets' health sparked a thriving business focused on natural and healthy treats. Karen reveals her transition from being a breeder to creating a wellness line that includes nutrient-dense food, paw creams, and shampoos, all aimed at enhancing the lives of our furry companions. Her story is a testament to the belief that pets are family, deserving of the best care and attention.
Experience the vibrant energy of a home bustling with five adorable dogs: Harley, Diamond, Marlo, Pearl, and Gem. We explore the unique health challenges faced by some of these beloved pets and how they have inspired a meticulous approach to nutrition and care. Discover the heartwarming chaos of a cottage kitchen where human-grade dog treats are crafted with love and local ingredients, ensuring quality and safety. This episode is a delightful mix of insights and anecdotes that any pet lover would appreciate, offering a glimpse into the dedication it takes to run a successful home-based dog treat business.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2:Thank you, charlie. Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host of the Good Neighbor Podcast. We talk to local business owners, neighbors, friends who are business owners, influencers, and today I have a newly made friend. We met each other maybe five minutes ago, but I'm intrigued by her business, and so I asked if she wouldn't mind coming on and explaining to the community who she is, what she does, because she is a union resident herself, just like me. So, without further ado, I would like to introduce you all to Karen Turner, owner of Union Jack Bulldogs and Friends, and she'll explain what that means. So, karen, welcome to the show, and please explain to the community who you are and what you do.
Speaker 1:Awesome. Well, thank you, mike, it's nice to be here and being here, so, yeah, so welcome to Union Jack. Bulldogs and Friends. I know that's a really long name, but what we really do is we are a dog wellness and bakery business and we provide, you know, natural treats. So basically that means no artificial flavors, preservatives, fillers, additives, any of those things into our dog treats, and so we really zone in on that healthy bit on it and we kind of make and source everything local and we dehydrate into low temps for our treats so we can get the high value treats that are nutrient dense to our fur friends. So that's what we do. And then, like I said, we have a little wellness line. We've developed some paw cream and some shampoo for our pumpkins, you know. So for the dandruffs and the cracks, especially with the winter coming, just protect them. So we're all about our fur friends and just making sure that they have healthy quality of life. So that's kind of why we start. That's what we do.
Speaker 2:So yeah, you mentioned winter and you know the dryness of the skin and all that stuff. The same goes for summer, I would imagine, with hot pavements, people taking their dogs out and burning their little paws and being aware of that.
Speaker 1:So yeah, definitely in the summer, yeah.
Speaker 2:I didn't know you had all the wellness products. I knew you had the treats, but that's interesting to know that you've got those other products too. So healthy inside, healthy outside, and yeah, that's good. How did you get into this business Initially? I know you wanted your the best for your pets, but what does the story look like that got you to where you are today?
Speaker 1:So we actually so Union Jack Bulldogs comes from I breed bulldogs, comes from I breed bulldogs. And I've kind of retired from breeding my bulldogs but they're the reasons why I started this journey, my little pumpkin pies. They're my pets, I just adore them. My kids and I always tease every time one of my children moved out. I inherited a new bulldog, so I have five, and I noticed in their diet that maybe I wasn't feeding them as well as I thought I was with some of the products that are out in the market. So I started searching for a vet who could help me do more of a holistic approach for my dogs, more of a holistic approach for my dogs. And so that kind of started our journey. Because I was noticing my little pumpkin diamond. She would just she shed. And when I say shed, everybody's like oh, the old dog shed Right. And I'm like, no, I can make carpet out of her fur every night.
Speaker 1:You know, so she was shedding and then her mama had like a bare patches it looked like razor burn on her fur and on her face and her little paws and I I just didn't think what we were doing was, um, enough nutrients. They were missing something. It's kind of like humans, right, what we put in is what we get out, right. So, um, and humans were very, we're very um in tune with what we do put in our body, you know. I mean, that's why there's all these different programs out there for us, right.
Speaker 1:Well, I didn't really see anything for necessarily for dogs, and especially the bulldogs, and so that led me into doing their food so I do do food on special request and made sure that it was veterinary approved. And then I started looking up the treats I was feeding them and I was like, well, if I'm going to give them this great nutrient dense food, let me see what these treats are like the greenies of the breath, mints and you know things that help their like turmeric and stuff what does that look like? And so that's really what drove me was that, because I also had a little pup pup, I call him Tinkers and he had seizures, and so I needed to be able to kind of help him with his seizures and stop giving him so much meds. I know he didn't need meds, but you know, what can I do to kind of prevent these things from happening and giving a better quality of life to my pup, pups and longevity, because you know we're kind of cutting back some longevity for the way we maybe feed them and treat them.
Speaker 1:So how do you go from like, oh, retiring from breeding into this? Well, that's how Union Jack Bulldogs and Friends came, because it's inclusive, like we, it's not just about the Bulldogs, it's about all our pet friends. Right, we look at them as family members. So you know we would do the best for them. So that's why we kind of just evolved into, like I said, union Jack Bulldogs and Friends and try to be inclusive to all the animals out there.
Speaker 2:So that's how I started this journey. I mean, everybody's got a story and that's that's why we get together here, so I'm happy to hear yours. You, you mentioned, I think you said, five dogs you have. Now I I saw the names Diamond, Harley and Marlo on your website At least those three. So who do you have currently?
Speaker 1:Harley Diamond, marlo, pearl and Jim. Ok, and Marlo had were the ones that Marlo had his little seizures and then Harley's, you know they were the ones that have a lot more um allergies, environmental allergies and reactions to um medicine that was provided to them and stuff. So they they're my primary focus um on on their nutrients. Not that, you know, jim and Pearl don't get it right um, but you know they're kind of the ones that really started because I they're my oldest pup, pups um. So you know, and everybody that came into the fold, um into our house, just kind of went on with you know how we feed and and how we treat them and give them their yummies, so and and you know, but yeah, so, yeah, five, but yeah.
Speaker 2:So, like I said, my kids tease me because I have five children and then yeah, so um, I just picture the the level of noise when somebody rings the doorbell. Maybe I'm wrong, Maybe they're, maybe they're quiet when the doorbell rings, or maybe, uh, chaos ensues. I don't know which is it.
Speaker 1:So I'm going to tell you that I have a few barkers and I have some that are not. Harley Barley is definitely the barker out of them, and so, yeah, the doorbell rings and all I hear is skitter scatter on the wood floors of all their nails, and they just want to greet and meet everybody. So I think it's more intimidating for the person that came up to my door because the pop-ups think everybody's their friend and so of course they want to give a lot of love, and so chaos that's how that looks.
Speaker 2:It's like being in a ball pit, except balls instead of the balls at like a McDonald's Playland it's. You're surrounded by fur and kisses, I'm imagining it's it's. It's kind of intimidating to some people but fun to others. I think it would be great, because I am a dog person. So I'll have to. I'll have to come meet them sometime.
Speaker 1:Yes, you'll. You'll have to meet all my little pumpkin pies, so yeah, I'd love to do that. Yeah.
Speaker 2:So, and pies so, um, yeah, so uh, the treats that you make, do you make them at home, in your own kitchen, or do you have a kitchen that you sub out somewhere? What's that look like?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we actually I call it a cottage kitchen.
Speaker 1:Um, so we make them all from my own home. We use the same process that you would expect from a commercial kitchen the safety measures, you know, the bleaching, the gloves, the things that would be, like, I said, what you expect from someone who's doing it in a commercial. So we use the same hygiene and production controls that you would find in that kitchen, just because, again, I'm more concerned with some of the cross contamination that can happen. So we have grain free lime and then we have, you know, ones, that with grain, which is oats that's what we use when we talk about grains, not white flour or anything like that and so there are some pops that are very sensitive to those things.
Speaker 1:And when then you do the wellness products right, when you do a chamomile product, which is a calming thing you just don't want any of that stuff to mix and cross, and so, again, we'd use the tight controls that you would find in a commercial kitchen. We just chose not to do a commercial kitchen at this time because of the cost to produce, and then that would charge more for treats, and you know, one of those myths out there is that natural treats are expensive and I can see where people would think that. But again, it's a myth. You know we pay great money for our own products.
Speaker 2:You know we would expect the for our own products, you know we would expect the same quality and standards for for our peppers, Right? So yeah, it sounds like, um the way you make them, that I could eat one too. I mean, do you try them? Do they smell good? I mean, do you do your own?
Speaker 1:taste. They smell good. I mean, do you do it your own taste? I do, actually, they're all. It's all human grade material, right, they're all human grade ingredients, but I can't legally claim that they're human grade because they're not made in that commercial kitchen, but they are made with human grade ingredients. We do all of our meat and our produce and dairy they're sourced from local as much as I can get, and then, you know, in locations basically where your local restaurants purchase their products. That's where we go and get it handled and so.
Speaker 1:But I do taste test them and I actually have my peppers love to taste test, but I taste test them. They're just not as sweet as a human would like, right. So they're baked goods and they're bakery treats, but they don't have that sugar component to it. Everything's natural ingredients, like you know, bananas or apples you know that I make into applesauce or something like that, so it doesn't have that high sugar content that we like when we get, when we think of bakery items. But yeah, you can, a human can eat them Might be disappointed.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, not what we're used to in terms of sweetness, but to a dog I'm sure they taste like a hot fudge sundae.
Speaker 1:Hopefully. They seem to gobble them up. I can't keep them in my house, so how often do you fire up the kitchen?
Speaker 2:How often are you baking?
Speaker 1:I. Typically it really depends on the schedule. So I have some orders that have to be filled. So I would tell you that in a Monday through Friday work week quote unquote work week, I'm probably in the kitchen most of those days. It takes quite some time to make a batch of treats and they're all small batch made. And because they're small batch made, you know they're basically made on demand. Or if I have an event, so like I have a fall festival coming up that we're going to be part of, and so then you know, of course you're going to create for that event A couple of the farmer's markets that you can find me at. So I yeah, for a lot I'm actually in the kitchen, probably more than most people would expect, but in order to keep the quality. That's kind of how we do our things Small batch made, made to order.
Speaker 2:So you mentioned the events. I imagine people can find the events that you're going to be at by going to your website and checking out the events link. Is that correct?
Speaker 1:Correct. Yeah, they'll see where we'll be and also what stores. We're actually working on getting into a couple of boutiques around town and so you can. If you can't make it to an event or or you can't place an order online, you can find them at some of the local retail places that we're working with. But if you're in the tri-state area, we do free delivery, so you can always get enough treats for those those pepperonis at any time.
Speaker 2:So people can order directly from your website, I'm assuming.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah. And then, like I said, we offer free local delivery, but we do ship nationwide, so no problem for anyone to get some great treats for their dogs.
Speaker 2:So you have a heart for your puppers, as you call them. Yes, you seem like a great dog mama. Yes, you just have a heart for animals in general, I imagine. So I think you mentioned to me that you also offer boarding. Is that still the case?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so you know, people kind of ask what I do for fun on the side or anything, and honestly, I bring in our friends, right. So I actually board dogs. I'm in my home and so, yes, chaos is here, but it's just loving. They have free range and free run and we have a huge, huge property yard that they get to hang out and so just my puppers, some others to play with and socialize with, so I call them play dates. So I do daycare and then I also board from the house and then you know that you know your dog is being well taken care of and maybe you know it's a different choice than some of the other options that are out there or being left at home and having someone just stop in and say hi to them. So, yeah, so we we typically have, you know, quite a few dogs in the house and hanging out with us. So that's kind of what I do. It's about puppers.
Speaker 2:So, yes, but we can't, we can't forget about our feline friends, about our feline friends, and I think you mentioned to me earlier that you're starting to maybe get into cat treats as well as the dog treats, correct?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we are in development of trying to find ways to include felines our little furry cats, friends and kittens into our all-inclusive and friends right, and so we're doing a little bit of research on what would work well for them nutrition-wise and healthy-wise and also make them happy with them and making sure that we don't again do anything that adds preservatives or coloring or anything. So we're hoping that that feline line comes out in November, right before the holidays.
Speaker 2:Well, good, Well, sounds like you're doing everything with a warm, gentle heart and soul, and so I'm glad to know that there are people in the community that have the options now in terms of what they're feeding their animals, where they're boarding their animals and just somebody who they can turn to, maybe for some advice as well. If you've kind of got the heart for that, I imagine that people go to you for advice, Do you have? I guess let's just go here and say if somebody wants to reach out to you, what is the best way to reach you?
Speaker 1:So we're on all the social channels and then, of course, our website, and so the social channels kind of talk about reaching out for advice. We're actually really trying to create that to be a community of devoting pet parents, where it's not just about the treats and the shampoos and the pull butter, but it's really to answer those kind of questions, or what can we do to build that community where like-minded parents, pet parents, are really just trying to give a quality of life, the longevity of life? So, but we are, we're on TikTok, instagram, facebook and then, of course, our website, and the best way to reach me is through the website and just drop a little, let's chat and and we'll do a let's chat and see how we can work with you or answer any questions or concerns you might have or anything that comes along when it comes to our, our friends.
Speaker 2:Yes, Well, karen, I'm glad we got to meet and spend some time together today. If you, listening out there, want to be part of the community that Karen is building, go to her website at unionjackbulldogscom and you will see everything that we've just spoken about and you can reach out to her and be part of that community, and you can reach out to her and be part of that community. And so with that, karen, our time together is ended. For now, I do encourage people to go to your website and do a drill down into all the things that you can provide and are currently providing in the community, and I thank you for everything that you're doing for our furry friends out there.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, Mike for having me, and thanks to everybody. I look forward to it. Have we covered everything to your satisfaction Is there anything that we haven't talked about that you want to make sure people know? I mean, we are a woman, veteran, owned business who, ultimately, ultimately you know what Ultimately I just do this because love for our fur friends.
Speaker 2:So I think we covered everything that you know we talked about a lot, so thanks for spending time with us and for everybody out there. This is the good neighbor podcast. Aaron is one of our good neighbors, so I will just remind all of you that until we speak again, I want all of you to be good to your neighbor.
Speaker 1:So until next time, bye everybody, thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast Union To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show. Go to GNPUnioncom. That's GNPUntunioncom, that's gntunioncom, or call us at 859-651-8330.