We had the good fortune of connecting with Rosa Miranda and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Rosa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Dogs are family. I’ve always been passionate about them and after adopting my dog Lola, my life changed for the better. I wanted to give Lola a long and happy life – but after some time I noticed she began having health issues.
Naturally, I started doing research on what factors contributed to a dog’s health, and of course, food played a critical role. Once I had a good understanding of what ingredients were beneficial or harmful for them, I realized that the majority of dog treats I was buying at the store were filled with additives, artificial ingredients & harmful preservatives.
I needed to make sure Lola was only fed what was right for her. So after weeks of research, I decided I would make treats for her, made with only purposeful, natural, and simple ingredients. Lola loved those treats and I stopped feeling guilty or worried about what I was feeding her because I knew exactly what all the ingredients were and how good they were for her.
Lola’s health led me to think about other dog owners and I wondered if they also had pups with sensitive stomachs. Turns out it’s a common problem that many dogs face. And that is how Treat Society was born. Out of love, passion, and care for dogs.
What should our readers know about your business?
Treat Society started because of our passion and care for dogs. Our mission is to make dog treats that are made with ingredients that serve a purpose. Our treats are made with 5 all-natural and healthy ingredients, with no preservatives or additives – we are excited to give dog owners peace of mind when it comes to feeding their dogs.
We started out small, by reaching out to dog owner friends and gifting them bags for their pups. After receiving great feedback we began building a community online. Our brand ambassadors (who are the cutest pups ever) were also gifted bags and we began nurturing those relationships. Through our online community, we began building relationships with other small business owners who are also in the pet industry, We also met some amazing local Colorado pet stores and we then took a big step by joining the farmers market in Colorado Springs. It’s been such an honor to meet people in our community.
Our journey hasn’t always been easy, but it has been nothing but rewarding. We started in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. I was working from home and spent all my free time creating the dog treat recipes you see today. In June 2021 we had our son, Adrian, and we put the business on hold for about 2 years. During that time I found myself thinking about Treat Society constantly, and I wasn’t ready to give up my dream. So in March of 2023, Treat Society’s doors were opened once again. We have since then re-connected with our online community, participated at the Colorado Springs Farmers Market, and several local pop-ups, and have gotten our treats into stores across the nation.
To this day, I continue making all our treats by hand, with small batches in our kitchen at home. There are many weeks I find myself making treats until 4 a.m., or working 80+ hour weeks, but I would not give it up for anything. Our community has trusted us with our product and we are here to provide them with nothing but the best quality, service, and care possible.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely start with the Old Colorado City Farmer’s Market. It’s one of the best ways to get to know the community and a fun way to spend the morning, not to mention the food and coffee there are delicious. I would recommend visiting Garden of the Gods next, of course.
When it comes to hiking, which is a must in Colorado, I would take my friend to Blodgett Peak, it’s beautiful and easy enough for a dog-friendly or family-friendly hike. I would also take my friend to Rampart Reservoir. It’s truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in Colorado. After an hourish hike, you get to the water which is surrounded by pine trees, its a beauty. Maybe offer some paddle boarding while we are there? I would also take them hiking to Seven Falls, one of my favorite places if you are up to a 2-3 hour hike.
For other fun day activities, If my friend has a dog I would take them to Bear Creek Dog Park – literally the best dog park I’ve ever been to or head to pub dog for some drinks.
In terms of nighttime activities, we would stop by Coati, for some food and drinks or head to White Pie for some good pizza. Or if in the mood for Mexican food, Vaqueros or Pig Latin are my fav. mexican restaurants in the springs.
In the morning I would take my friend for some good coffee at the Kingship Landing Hotel or to Wayfinder. Those places have the best coffee in town, in my opinion!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout my husband, Austin. Without him what started out as an idea, and passion project wouldn’t be where it is today.
Austin was there from the very beginning. Helping every step of the way, from creating our logo, taking pictures, staying up with me until 4am making treats to selling at the Farmers Market, and teaching my introverted self, how to sell. He has been nothing but supportive, enthusiastic, and passionate about Treat Society.
It’s been an amazing journey so far, and having him by my side through the ups and downs has been my greatest gift!
Website: https://www.treat-society.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treat_society/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treatsocietydogtreats
Image Credits
Kira Whitney Photography