Doggy Donuts founder Natalie Redman feeds a donut hole to Bindi, her mother's one-year-old Australian Shepherd, during her pop-up shop in Evolve Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — This Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the War Memorial Building will be filled with Valentine’s Day gifts being sold by a wide variety of vendors, selling everything from food to candles. One of the many sellers at the Fifth Annual Shepherdstown Valentine’s Market will be a newcomer, to both the market and public, in-person sales events in general.

That newcomer, Doggy Donuts, experienced its first in-person sales event last Saturday and Sunday, during the Doggy Donuts Pop-up Shop in Evolve.

According to founder Natalie Redman, a Shepherd University alumna, the business began in Redman’s kitchen two years ago.

“I originally started making dog treats when I got Coven in 2020,” Redman said, referring to her second husky, one of three dogs she owns.

Redman’s two other dogs are Kismet, who is also a husky, and Casper, who is a rescue dog.

Valentine's Day-inspired donut holes were disappearing off the shelves, during Doggy Donuts' pop-up shop in Evolve last weekend. Tabitha Johnston

“I then began making them for family and friends, who loved them,” Redman said, mentioning she began giving away her dog treats in 2021. “I then realized I could probably sell them!”

While Redman currently works full time at The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute in Shepherdstown, she said she would love to someday be able to have a shop dedicated to selling her dog treats. Currently, her dog treats are regularly on sale in one shop, Dublin Roasters Coffee in Frederick, Md. Redman also plans to begin selling them regularly every Sunday at the Shepherdstown Farmer’s Market, when the regular market season begins.

“This is my creative outlet! I’m not a very artistic, creative person — I work in a lab, so I don’t really get to utilize my creativity often, so this is my area for creative exploration,” Redman said. “This is what I hope to do with my career. I’d love to open up a shop and sell my treats, and be surrounded by dogs 24/7!

After nailing down her donut recipe, Redman then began using it to make donut holes, as well. She has recently expanded her dog treat recipe box, with a recipe for cut-out and rolled cookies. Her cookie recipe includes wheat flour, vanilla and molasses, while her donut batter includes coconut, peanut butter, honey and oats. Her dog treats can be decorated in honor of a particular celebration, such as a dog’s birthday or Valentine’s Day, or can be topped with a variety of dog-friendly, popular flavor combinations, such as chicken and waffles or chocolate-dipped strawberry.

“I love my dogs, and will constantly buy them things like this at the store. I love baking, so this [has combined] all of those interests!” Redman said.

Edible cookie valentines were on sale, at the Doggy Donuts Pop-up Shop in Evolve over the weekend. Tabitha Johnston

Doggy Donuts can be connected with online, at https://www.facebook.com/deezdoggydonuts and https://www.instagram.com/deez_doggy_donuts/.

Chocolate-covered strawberry was one of the Valentine's Day-inspired donut flavors being sold at the Doggy Donuts Pop-up Shop in Evolve over the weekend. Tabitha Johnston

Some of the different donut flavors on sale at the Doggy Donuts Pop-up Shop in Evolve on Saturday, included chicken and waffles, Lucky Charms, bacon and waffles, caramel-dipped apples and blueberry waffles. Tabitha Johnston

Valentine’s Day-themed cookies were on sale at the Doggy Donuts Pop-up Shop in Evolve over the weekend. Tabitha Johnston