The Bulldog Bakery Story

Many of you are long time clients of mine. I have seen so many of your children grow up – literally from the baby shower, to the 1st birthday to the 10th birthday and then to high school graduation. Back when I started doing cakes it was to supplement the family’s income and soon it was to BE my income after my divorce.

Over the course of the 21 years I’ve been making cakes, we’ve all raised families and I feel like I’ve been part of all of those celebrations. It’s been such a delight watching your family grow up. Some of those first cakes were for your kindergarteners and I’ve since done their wedding cake! In 2018, I moved on to a full-time job, but I still do cakes as a second “job”. My full-time job is for a nonprofit that serves the seniors of Collin County, and I couldn’t love it more. It’s been just another outlet for the love to flow to those that need it.

In 2016 I got my first puppy, Bella. She was a well-bred, AKC registered, very expensive English bulldog. She was like a new baby for me. At the time, I was experiencing parental alienation from my own two children and going through such grief because we were once so intensely close (many of you may even remember them helping out at the Hands On Design storefront in Allen). That puppy saved me and gave me a reason to give my love to something that really needed me, like my children once did. Shortly after, I went through my second divorce and my life seemed to have nothing left of real value….except that sweet little puppy Bella. A few months later, I felt like Bella might like to have a friend for company. Then my first rescue, Bertha, came to live with us. Bella and Bertha were YEARS apart in age, but were the best of friends. Then came Thor. Then Luna. Then Rocky. Then Mia. Then Pheobe. Then Sasha. Then Maximus. Then Zeus. And most recently, Capone. They all have a story that is unknown to me except for Bella whom I was lucky enough to get to raise from a wee pup. I’ve always wished I could know their stories – where they came from, how they ended up in a shelter or a rescue, or why their owner would choose to give them away.

These dogs, even the ones that were a challenge from day one, have RESCUED ME. They helped me survive the loneliness of living without the children I loved so much. They gave me someone to care for, to feed, to walk, to sleep with. Of course, the care and vet bills for these rescues has to be paid for somehow. That was where Hands On Cakes helped me. Every dollar from every cake I’ve made since 2016 has gone toward the costs of rescuing these animals. Some of you have met these dogs over the years when coming to pick up a cake. I’ve had a couple of dogs that have been fairly low maintenance and not in need of a lot of veterinary care. However, most rescues (especially the ones that were strays) come with a myriad of health problems that are just kind of waiting to surface. Some were a hot mess from the day they came to live with me. Thousands of dollars have been spent over the years paying for food, treats, training, dog beds, dog toys, medica-tions, surgeries, hospitalizations, and basic annual vet care. The money made from every cake has gone directly back into the efforts of rescuing these “throwaway” dogs. Of course, most of them have been English bulldogs. But there has also been an American Bulldog, Boxer, Cane Corso, Border Collie and a Pitbull.

The Bulldog Bakery is the name of the mission of Hands On Design. Now selling (and tested by most every dog I know!) pupcakes and dog cookies. They are made with all natural ingredients, no sugar, no salt, nothing artificial. Even the frosting is made from natural Greek yogurt, coconut oil and peanut butter. Period. And the best part is that your purchase supports the rescue of some pretty amazing dogs!