Like all good stories, mine began with a furry creature.
Gizzls was started in my kitchen in 2019 with a mixer, an oven and a rescue kitty named Gizzy, with the belief that our furry friends deserve better.
Gizzy, a rescue part Maine Coon, part pavement special, is a big bundle of adorable fluff, but all of a sudden he lost a lot of weight and stopped grooming himself. As vanity is his middle name, this was very alarming.
The worst case scenario
He was diagnosed with a serious UTI (urinary tract infection) and further tests revealed he had chronic kidney problems.
The idea for Gizzls was born.
A sick kitty is a fussy(er) kitty. I wanted to give him treats that were tempting as well as nutritious.
On the store shelves, all I could find were treats with ingredient lists longer than my vet’s bill and shady things – with unpronounceable names and packed with unhealthy fillers – that you certainly don’t want give your sick kitty.
So I got baking!
I baked treats with short ingredients lists that heal. To ensure that the correct amount of goodness goes into each recipe, all of the treat ranges are developed with a pet nutritionist, herbalist and a holistic vet.
When it rains, it pours
Around the same time, Gizzy's doggy sister – a hugely energetic 3-year old German Shepherd called Indie – was diagnosed with early-onset arthritis that would only get worse with age. She had started limping and not wanting to jump up on the bed or play with Gizzy, two of her favourite things in the world.
The vet prescribed cortisone injections for her every 6 weeks and being so young, I was very worried about the long-termside effects.
Back to the drawing board and I started baking healing treats for dogs too!
Sustainability
Gizzls is passionate about ensuring all pets lead a happy, healthy life, and we can’t do that without protecting the environment that they (and we) live in.
We are committed to creating healthy, sustainable pet treats without greenwashing. We use locally sourced, sustainable ingredients that are nutritionally complete and use eco-friendly, recyclable packaging for all our ranges.
All our treats are 100% natural and hand-baked at the Gizzls bakery in the Cotswolds. No animal by-products, meals, corn, wheat nor anything artificial, be it preservatives, colours or flavours, will ever find their way into our products.
The ostrich meat is sourced locally at an EU-approved abbatoir to ensure it’s not only free-range, but also sustainable, ethically sourced and free from hormones and antibiotics.
The vegetables and fruits are sourced from local farms that don‘t use pesticides.
Where we are now
The bakery is now bigger, but our batches are still small and our ingredients are still the best. And we still hand-cut every single treat.
The Gizzls brand value is very simple: we don’t produce any product that I wouldn’t be happy giving to my own cats and dogs.
Meet the taste testing team
Inca
The naughty tortie. A little love bug and very cuddly, but not afraid to sharpen her claws on you. LOVES her food and Chloe. Wishes Monty would be rehomed.🖤
Monty
The monster. Spends all day plotting new ways to terrorise Inca, is completely in love with Indie, loves a cuddle and delights in being a complete a**hole. 🤣
Chloe
The princess (and Gizzy's sister). Totally neurotic, doesn’t put up with anyone’s nonsense (especially Monty’s), freaks out at her own shadow, only loves Inca and rules the roost. 👸
Indie
The goodest of good girls. A gentle giant GSD who loves Monty with a passion, is my ride or die and our chief taste tester. 💖
Max
Mad as a hatter and the youngest member of the taste testing team. Has all of us wrapped around his paw, hates the morning, thinks the sun shines out of Indie's fluffy butt, cat-like fussy and general prima donna. 💅
My beloved Gizzy