By JACK PALMER

palmer@crescent-news.com

HICKSVILLE -- At least two nights every week, Hicksville resident Kimberly Collins heads for her kitchen to bake delectable homemade treats.

The mouth-watering flavors include Peanut Butter, Crunchy Munchy Wheat, Beggars Beef Bone and Herb Woofies.

The treats are edible by humans, but Collins' preferred customers are dogs and cats.

"I make dog treats and even one type of cat treat," explained Collins, 20, who is developmentally disabled. "My mom helped me get started because she wanted me to keep busy."

Known as Kim's Gourmet Pet Treats, the business started about three months ago. The treats have already received rave reviews, according to an unscientific survey of Hicksville dogs.

"Right now Peanut Butter is the No. 1 seller," stated Collins.

She peddles her products at farmer's markets on Tuesday mornings in Hicksville and Saturday mornings in Butler, Ind. They are also sold by Hicksville Marathon and Buckeye Bordering.

The treats are packaged in 8-ounce bags for $5 each. Each bag contains about 35 one-inch treats. Three- and five-inch treats are also available in all flavors.

"This whole thing started around Easter," said Collins, daughter of Greg and Diane Collins. "I made an Easter basket of dog bone treats for my dog, Roxie, and she loved them."

The unusual and creative entrepreneurial endeavor still had hurdles to overcome before it became reality.

"The dog bone business is not as simple as you would think, since animal feed is regulated by the Department of Agriculture," said Diane Collins. "You have to register with the agriculture department and each recipe must go through a periodic bone analysis to determine if it meets the proper standards for pet consumption, including the specific fat and protein limits.

"Kim's business is more regulated than the people selling produce at the farmer's market," her mother added. "That's really not surprising, since most people tend to take their pets very seriously."

The business is also required to list all product ingredients on the label.

"Kim likes to keep her treats as fresh as possible, because they are made from all natural ingredients," said Diane Collins. "There are no preservatives whatsoever."

The younger Collins is a 2006 alumna of Hicksville High School. She attended the Four County Career Center's work transition program where she had the opportunity to experience a variety of jobs -- working at a Super Valu grocery, Lugbill's Hardware, Sauder's Heritage Inn and the Hometown Restaurant.

After graduation she landed a part-time job serving food and washing dishes at Hicksville Elementary School's cafeteria. She also volunteers at the Bargain Box and helps plant flowers around the community.

"I just found out I was rehired at the school for the 2007-08 school year," said Collins. "That's just two hours per day, so I will still have time to work at my business."

In addition to her main products, Collins said she would fill special orders from area dog and cat owners.

"These treat bags are great for special occasions like holidays," she stated. "They would make a real good Christmas gift for your pet."

While Collins has received assistance from her mother, others have provided help as well. For exaample, Tim Armitage's pre-engineering class at Four County Career Center designed a prototype to assist Collins in cutting out the one-inch dog bones, allowing her to cut out 12 one-inch dog bones at a time.

Her aunt, Deb Guilford, provided help by serving as sales person in her first test market -- the teacher's lounge at Hicksville Elementary School, where Guilford teaches.

"People have been very supportive," said Collins. "They have given me lots of encouragement and suggestions. So has Roxie."

For more information about Kim's Gourmet Pet Treats, contact Collins at 419-542-7025 or collinsgdkkk@verizon.net.