Contributed YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR — Kenzie Everhart is joined by her sidekick, Nova.

BLOOMINGDALE — One local student has turned her love for animals into a growing business by creating homemade treats for the four-legged friends.

Kenzie Everhart, a senior at Edison High School, takes part in the animal science program at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School and formed Pleased Pooches last January. She sold her first set of treats in February and said her business has been thriving. The daughter of Jeremy and Nikki Everhart of Bloomingdale, she operates from her home and obtains orders on her Pleased Pooches Facebook page.

“My services include homemade dog treats with a variety of flavors such as cranberry, peanut butter banana, pumpkin and carrot, and I am in the process of working in new flavors. I also make dog birthday cakes and doughnuts,” she said. “Along with those I made an all-natural paw balm for moisturizing dry paws and noses.”

She said she started the business because she loved making dogs happy, plus she read articles about how processed treats could harm the animals.

“I make natural treats where my clients know that all ingredients are 100 percent safe for dogs, dehydrated or baked, and are made with love,” she said.

Pleased Pooches’ logo was designed by a friend and features a white boxer in a baking hat to pay homage to Everhart’s dog, Nova.

Meanwhile, she entered the animal science program at JVS because she has owned numerous animals throughout her life and loved the interaction.

“I knew from a young age that I would want to work with them. I have figured out that I need animals as much as they need me,” Everhart added, saying the JVS has helped expand her horizons. “The program at the JVS has prepared me tremendously. I could thank (instructor Emily) Moore in more ways than one for helping me throughout my journey and always believing in me. She is truly the best teacher out there and anyone who gets the chance to have her as a teacher will understand what I mean. Her teaching style is amazing, and I am always learning something new. She has definitely gotten me out of my shell and showed me that I belong somewhere.”

Moore was equally complimentary, saying Everhart has been an inspiration.

“Kenzie is a very hard worker, in and outside of class and lab. She is very knowledgeable about grooming and I frequently ask her to teach the junior and senior classes some of her tricks of the trade. She is very ambitious, and last year as a junior she asked if she could participate in the School to Work program.

“At her STW placement, Ruffstic Pet Care in Wintersville, she has learned not only grooming but also honed her customer service and time management skills. She keeps up with her schoolwork even though she works after school, on weekends and is excused from school one day a week to work,” Moore continued. “It’s not surprising that her ambition has steered her to this business venture where she makes homemade treats and pet care items and also offers pet sitting. She uses her business page to show off her grooming talents while working at Ruffstic and she markets her business on Facebook through a creative custom logo.

“I can’t say enough about Kenzie. She’s a great representation of how the JVS and the animal science program can prepare a young ambitious person for a lifetime of success.”

Following graduation, Everhart plans to continue working as a professional dog groomer at Ruffstic Pet Care and obtain a business degree, plus she hopes to expand her business and open a storefront of her own. For information or to place orders, visit the Pleased Pooches Facebook page.