Moving away from home is always hard. The feeling of coming home to an empty apartment with nobody expecting you is worse. But, the worst of moving home is leaving your pet behind. Coming home after a bad day at work with the intention of drifting away to sleep is forgotten the moment you see those chubby legs running toward your vehicle.
One look into those gleaming little eyes and all of a sudden the white sweater that you swore you would not soil is ready for a fresh set of murky paw prints, accompanied by a long, rather jumpy hug that screams, “Where have you been? I’ve missed you all day!”
For centuries the relationship between human beings and animals has been something that was written in the stars. Animals have proven to be selfless saviours for ages. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, it was our turn to do our bit for the voiceless.
Having experienced a shortage of animal treats first-hand in July 2020, two young animal lovers Nixon Dsouza and Lenora Macedo, took it upon themselves to go the extra mile to try and make pet treats themselves.
“Having 6 dogs and 2 cats combined, we started Sir Lancelot’s Kitchen as a home business in 2020 and worked entirely through Instagram. After loads of research and trials, we came up with some treats, which were instantly loved by our dogs.
In addition to that, we also got so many positive reviews from friends and family and decided to make this a full-time business. Today, we own a pet store in Thivim,” said Lenora. Thus began their business venture, Sir Lancelot’s Kitchen.
The intriguing name of this business is inspired by their black cat Lancelot, who they affectionately address as Lancy. “Lancelot was a knight and is associated with royalty and bravery.
We wanted him to have a very royal and unique name. The business is named after him since it revolves around him. All the treats have to be Lancy-approved before they are launched!” she laughed.
The menu currently caters only to dogs and cats. Some of the treats are chicken jerky, buffalo jerky, chicken organ meat jerky, fish jerky, and chicken and fish twirls.
They also have meal toppers to enhance the flavour of your pets' meals and dessert options like cupcakes, brownies, peanut butter and cheesecake. They also courier their treats pan-India.
“We once had the opportunity to attend a dog’s birthday party. It was our first time ever, and we had so much fun! We curated customised hampers for our furry friends.
Delicacies like cupcakes, cheesecakes and treats were part of the menu. Sometimes when people place an order, we remember the pet’s name more than the owner’s!” recalls Lenora.
Nixon spoke about how it was initially a difficult task to build their customer base as this was not something that Goa had seen before. But as for the customers, just like any other paw-rents, they could not say no to these treats that were loved by their fur babies.
Today, they have a dedicated clientele that faithfully orders from them and a community that has grown stronger over the last two years. They have even catered to 3 generations of dogs.
Sir Lancelot’s Kitchen currently consists of 5 members who manufacture all the treats themselves at Mapusa. All the treats are natural, preservative-free, and made from the highest quality meat and ingredients. If you are still unsure, you should not be, because Sir Lancelot’s Kitchen is vet and FSSAI approved.
“Our treats retail at various pet stores and supermarkets across Goa. We work closely with a couple of renowned vets across Goa and fondly remember Dr Kiran Kumar who was a mentor to Sir Lancelot’s Kitchen and whose suggestions and plans are still spoken about by team Sir Lancelot’s Kitchen even today,” adds Nixon.
Once an animal has been adopted by a family, it automatically gets the family surname, and one thing that family does not compromise on is celebrating birthdays. Feeding your puppy Mr Cubber Gomes a chocolate cake is a definite no-no. Not even on cheat-meal days.
On days like these, turning to Sir Lancelot’s Kitchen is your saving grace. Not only do they bake cakes of various flavours, but also customise them based on the diet and age of the pet. Looks like the tables have turned, and it is now your turn to watch your pet’s face as it relishes the yummy cake.
“Sir Lancelot’s Kitchen saw its first cake in Bangalore in 2019 for Lancy's 1st birthday. At the time, everybody took it as a joke and so did we. But here we are today. Dogs and cats hold a special place in both our hearts, and this business is truly driven by passion. When hiring our team too we ensure that pets play a vital role in their lives. We are loving every moment of this journey. Still somewhere at the start with a long way to go,” concluded Lenora.
MUST TRY: Chicken Jerky (suitable for cats and dogs)
PRICE RANGE: ₹130 - ₹1200
CONTACT: +91 7798631868/ +91 9168281204
