A love for rescue animals and beer is the inspiration behind Woof 66 Treats — and what brought co-founders and neighbors Nicole Jones and Amy Langord together.
“[Amy] came outside with her pit bull rescue [dog] right when I moved in,” Jones says. “I thought, Oh, my gosh, we are going to be best friends.”
One day, while hanging out at Flagstaff’s Mother Road Brewing Co. with their dogs, Jones and Langord came up with the idea that turned their friendship into a business partnership. “We decided to combine our favorite things: dogs and beer,” Jones says.
Jones, who used to live in Austin, Texas, knew there was a way to use spent grain from the beer brewing process to make dog treats. The wheat and barley are taken out right after the initial mashing process, so there are no hops or alcoholic elements in what is used for the treats. And since the grain is usually thrown away, repurposing it is not only a convenient option, but also a sustainable one. “We started talking to the bartender at Mother Road, then the owner, and it just evolved from there,” Langord says.
Both women have experience working with dogs and understand their nutritional needs. Jones is a full-time veterinary assistant, while Langord has been volunteering at animal shelters for years. The treats are baked with only a handful of natural ingredients, the most important of which could arguably be love.
“We make them ourselves at home, and we have constant treat orders,” Langord says. “The exciting thing is seeing people buying treats and seeing dogs enjoying them.”
Given the simple and organic ingredients, even humans can enjoy Woof 66’s treats. “My son actually prefers to eat them with just a little bit of honey,” Jones says. “They’re human-grade and really good quality.”
Woof 66 also gives back to the animal rescue community by donating a portion of its sales to High Country Humane, a rescue agency in Flagstaff, and the Arizona Animal Welfare League in Phoenix. New dog owners also receive a treat bag to take home when they adopt from High Country Humane. “I think a big rewarding part of it for us is helping out the local dog shelters,” Jones says. “We are local and sustainable while helping rescues.”
Both Jones and Langord are Northern Arizona University grads who recently moved back to the high country and found it a perfect place to pursue their passion project. “What I love about Flagstaff is that it’s a small community supporting small businesses,” Langord says. “We also have tourists come up that become regular online customers after buying the treats.”
Woof 66 treats are available in two dog-approved flavors: pumpkin and peanut butter. Both treats come in playful shapes and sizes, such as pumpkins and Historic Route 66 signs. They’re primarily sold online but are often available at local farmers markets. The treats are also sold at Mother Road and A Dog’s Walk Bakery in Flagstaff.
While dogs can’t leave reviews, Jones and Langord appreciate when humans pass along the message for their furry friends. “When people send us pictures of their dogs and they’re really happy, that’s a super-rewarding part for us,”
Langord says.