Inspiring Conversations with Sherri Corwin of Mixed Mutt Creamery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherri Corwin.

Hi Sherri, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Everyone in the world can certainly agree that 2020 was quite hard at times. We moved from Colorado to Kansas City with our two rescue dogs, Starbuck and Branches. We bought our fur-ever home in Waldo to be close to our new grandbaby.

Within two weeks, Starbuck suddenly couldn’t walk and we tragically lost her just days later. She was 12 years old lab-osaurus (we don’t know what she was mixed with, but was a big girl)! Two weeks after that, I suddenly lost my dad. Then, I lost my job.

Everyone was so sad in the house and our other doggie, Branches, had never been without Starbuck. I rescued a puppy virtually from a local rescue, the very same one that we had rescued Starbuck from (Wayside Waifs). We named her Sierra and she had been very sick with Parvo, but made it and is now amazing!

We also decided as we were training this puppy, we should find her a friend so they could grow up together just like our Starbuck and Branches did. Branches is ten, some kind of herding dog, Jack Russell mix, and has really found her spark with the two newest pups around. Our last dog, Delila, is all black with a few small splashes of white and when I went to see her, she was just listed as a mutt – they had no idea what she was, but she was perfect.

We really love our pack! They have brought all of the joy, smiles, & happiness back into the home, all while living their best lives. You’re probably familiar with the saying “Who Rescued Who?”… I have never felt that to be so true.

​So that is our doggie journey to date.

I’m following my heart & my dream!

We have four children: two girls & two boys & our granddaughter, who I can’t wait to have at Mixed Mutt Creamery learning to make doggie ice cream with me.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
At the beginning of 2021, I still found myself without a job and I really didn’t even know what was going to bring my passion and joy to the table. It is scary to interview when you are over 50, most of my background has been in the service/retail industry but I didn’t want to go back to the restaurant industry especially still coming out of covid. I told my husband one morning that I really think I wanted to try to make a business around the doggie ice cream (I had been making it on and off for about five years). I think the decision for the business was easy – the hard part was what else did I want to sell in the shop for sustainability for a business and where do I even find these products? What do I need to obtain a feed license to make the doggie ice cream? (the Dept of Agriculture was great and wonderful to work with, and are truly there to answer all your questions to make a safe pet product) I had never had a business license in Missouri – what does that process look like and what do I need? There were a lot of moving parts to act quickly on and I wasn’t sure how long the process would take but luckily, it all went pretty smoothly – then the weather in Feb. – we had that artic freeze. We had planned our Grand Opening and really couldn’t change the date – my freezers and ice cream cups did not arrive until the day of opening – The freezers arrived the morning of opening day and the 20000 cups we had branded to use came in that afternoon ….all completely printed wrong.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Mixed Mutt Creamery?
Mixed Mutt Creamery is the definition of doggo deliciousness! Founded in 2020, we like to say we are bringing joy to all of the doggos in Kansas City and we hope to continue doing so for years to come. My Dog Ice cream is Lactose-Free, Wheat Free, Limited Ingredients – organic or natural, no preservatives & no dyes. Our dogs are so important to us – I don’t think I realized how much until we lost our Lab last July 3, 2020 – the sadness was overwhelming in our house. When we rescued two more the joy and laughter was back and we just wished we could do more.

When I first thought of the concept of Mixed Mutt, it was to bring your doggo on a date, a time to celebrate the special bond you have with your dog. So not only do we have fun treats, toys, collars, beds and more for your dog. We also have fun treats, coffee, candles, t-shirts and more for the dog & cat lover. I think it is a truly unique shopping experience for my customers, and you can bring the doggos in.

What I am most proud of is our connection to the rescue & shelter communities – we are working with a lot of them here in the area to provide our ice cream at the shelters, the outreach program, the homeless community pets. We have donated over $5000 so far in money & gift boxes and I hope to continue to do even more. We host different rescues for adoption events at Mixed Mutt. My commitment to help the rescue/ shelter pets find their forever home will continue to be a large part of what I would consider my success in my business

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The Pet Industry is growing year over year. I have a great product that will stand up to the times.

The Rescue mission becomes increasingly urgent as we come out of the pandemic and more pets are returned to shelters. Our shelters and rescues are busting at the seems right now and are in such desperate need of help on every level. My message is to take the time to seriously consider when you are thinking of adopting a pet…do you have the time for the pet, are you going to be able to take care of the pet for the lifetime of that pet, are you committed to love the pet no matter what (when its old, blind not that playful fun puppy), are you going to treat your pet like a family member? That pet is going to unconditionally love you a lifetime, please love them back.

Mixed Mutt Creamery is the Ultimate Doggo Date Spot to spoil and love your Doggo (and I haven’t forgotten the kitty cats).

Contact Info:

• Email: mixedmuttcreamery@gmail.com
• Website: www.mixedmuttcreamery.com
• Instagram: #mixedmuttcreamery
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mixed.mutt.23