Meet Melis Kilinc | Owner and Founder of Lucius’ Dog Bakery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melis Kilinc and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melis, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I realized that most dog treats have sugar, unsafe chemicals, preservatives, and even car wax (carnauba) in them, I wanted none of that for my fur babies, Lucius and Nugget. So, I began baking for them! First I made peanut butter cookies. Then inventory extended to Dognuts, Mini Bundt Cakes, Pupcakes, Birthday Cakes, Waffles, Iced Cookies, Ice-creams, Barkuterie Boards, Dog Macarons and many more.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets Lucius’ Dog Bakery apart from others is that it features 100% human grade ingredients that are completely safe for dogs. All of our orders are homemade, made to order and hand decorated. We also have no hormones, no added antibiotics, no artificial flavorings, no preservatives, no synthetic vitamins or minerals, no fillers or bulking agents, and no soy. We are most proud of and excited about these things!

I got to where I am today, business-wise, because honestly, when I open my eyes every morning, I smile with happiness at the prospect of getting to work on my next venture within Lucius’ Dog Bakery! I truly am working within my passion. I absolutely love what I do! It is not always easy, because sometimes there are difficult, even scary, times. But, I overcome those challenges, and push through to the other side, by rallying myself mentally, and continuing to work hard. The beautiful lesson I’ve learned is that the Bakery is always worth every single effort.

I want the world to know that my primary focus is not financial, it is fido. I began my Bakery, because dehydrated dog treats are difficult for senior and young dogs to eat, and the ones that I came across did not have much flavor. I created soft, easy to eat, healthy, and tasty treats, for dogs of all breeds and life stages, from puppies to seniors. I also want the world to know that your dog means as much to me as my dog means to me. Therefore, know that when I am baking Lucius’ Dog Bakery treats, it is truly from my heart.

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.
Because Houston is known for its culinary and cultural diversity, there would be many restaurants, lounges and places of interest on the list. Some of these would include Pico’s and The Original Johnny Carrabba’s on Kirby, Killen’s BBQ, Diversion Cocktails, the Galleria Mall, the Texas-shaped pool atop the JW Marriott Downtown, Anvil, Ipic, and CityCentre.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My fiance, James Ramos, has definitely impacted Lucius’ Dog Bakery in a major way! He has supported my business process by showing up for me at market place event pop ups, and by helping me with recipe development, bottom line reconciliation, and product choices. He has also supported me personally, throughout the development and growth of the bakery by being a constant source of motivation.

Website: www.luciusdogbakery.com

Instagram: @luciusdogbakery

Facebook: Lucius Dog Bakery

Image Credits
the one that I am standing by a table with my products. The photographer’s name is Gloria Sasso @_gloria_sasso_ (Instagram)