Snack attack

Local dogs have never had it so good when it comes to dining. Sammy Snacks, a natural pet food and biscuit company run by Pamela Peterson since 1999, operates right here in town in a six-month-old retail spot on Carleton Road, though the products are also available in nearly 20 locations up and down the East Coast.
Best of all, Sammy Snacks’ treats, which have gourmet names such as Garlic Cheese, CranOat, Carob Chip, and Virginia Barbeque, can be eaten by puppies, adult dogs and… people!
Peterson says all the ingredients in Sammy Snacks (treats and food) are human-grade (the chicken and lamb are free range and hormone-free), and have been approved by the Department of Agriculture for human consumption. She claims the treats, which have low fat and low sugar, are already a big hit among dieters and diabetics.
And while the all-natural foods are certainly pricier than typical grocery store fare such as Alpo, they’re comparable to pet store specialty foods such as Science Diet and Eukanuba. Peterson stresses, though, that her competitors are gourmet mail-order dog foods, not standard pet store food which generally contains poultry by-products and ingredients that would be considered substandard for human consumption.
    Peterson says the food is manufactured in Texas (the closest plant that would use only human-grade ingredients) but the dog treats are made in town, by bakers Peterson hires through the John Jane Brain Injury Center.   
The company also sells accessories (such as a $15 galvanized food canister, which holds up to 30 pounds; t-shirts for proud pet owners; and even canine-centric stationary). All products are available online at  HYPERLINK "http://www.sammysnacks.com" www.sammysnacks.com and by free delivery in Charlottesville and the surrounding area, so your days of lugging 40-pound sacks could be a point and click or a phone call away from ending.