Puppy love – Tails wagging for Valentine’s Day

Boou Bakery + Pet Shop in Conception Bay South is throwing a Valentine’s party for furry friends on Feb. 13. 

A woman standing behind the check-out counter of her pet bakery. "Boou Bakery + Pet Shop" is written on the wall behind the woman.
Rebecca Cross, owner of Boou Bakery + pet Shop in Manuels, is preparing a Valentine’s Day celebration for pets. The pet bakery often holds special occasions for animals. Madeline Westcott/Kicker

Madeline Westcott
Kicker

Valentine’s Day is not just for humans. Boou Bakery + Pet Shop located in Manuels, Conception Bay South, will welcome pets and their owners for a day full of fun on Valentine’s Eve.  

Jordan Hillier, a shop staff member, said the shop hosts events for every holiday.  

Over the last several months, the shop has hosted themed events for holidays such as Halloween and Christmas – a howl-o-ween spooktacular and an ugly Christmas sweater party.  

This Valentine’s Day is no different. The shop’s upcoming event: a Valentine’s party for pets on Feb. 13.  

Hillier said the team has been busy preparing for the event, making handmade valentine cards and little loot bags for all the attendees. 

The bakery’s menu offers freshly baked treats, homemade jerky, pup cups, ice cream, and an assortment of cakes and cupcakes that are all pet friendly. 

The pet bakery has added a Valentine’s collection of goodies such as hot chocolate, strawberries-and-cream pup cups, and strawberries-and-cream cookie sandwiches.  

On top of these offerings, Boou Bakery has introduced apple raspberry bites and strawberry coconut treats – heart-shaped, of course. 

The shop’s owner, Rebecca Cross, was quick to name the most satisfying part of the events: “The happy dogs, always.”  

Cross was inspired to bake pet-friendly treats after getting her dog, Brandie, in 2013. Cross said her dog was very picky, so she started looking into ingredients and testing flavours to see what her dog liked. 

Her baking “Snowballed,” said Cross, when friends, family and neighbours became interested in buying her homemade treats.  

This support encouraged her to become a vendor and set up a stand at local markets, such as the St. John’s Farmers’ Market.  

Even gender reveals

After nine years of home-based baking and attending markets, Boou Bakery found its fur-ever home. Cross hosted the grand opening of her first storefront location at 119 Conception Bay Highway in June 2024. 

It is heartwarming anytime someone sends the store a picture of their pets, said Cross. Pictures of pets celebrating their birthdays are her favourite. 

Recently, the pet bakery has been preparing lots of cakes for gender reveal parties – for human babies, of course.. A gender reveal party using a cake is a unique way for expecting parents to announce the sex of their baby. 

Typically, the gender reveal cake will look neutral from the outside, and the inside is either blue (for a boy) or pink (for a girl).

Cross will bake the cake for the pet: when the pet bites into it, it reveals the sex of its owner’s baby.

Customers will send a video of their whole family and their dog gets involved with the gender reveal.

“That is always really sweet,” Cross said. 

Her favourite part is her clients, especially their cute pets.

“They bring so much joy and happiness to our lives,” Cross said with a smile.

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