Daily Inspiration: Meet Keelie Armstrong

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keelie Armstrong.

Hi Keelie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Millie’s Treats was founded in 2020 after I became a first-time dog mom to my pup, Millie. Like so many pet parents, I wanted to know exactly what was going into the treats I was giving her, but I quickly realized how difficult it could be to find options made with simple, trustworthy ingredients. That inspired me to begin researching dog nutrition, safe ingredients, and the proper process behind creating high-quality treats for pets.

What started as baking homemade treats for Millie soon turned into sharing them with friends, family, and fellow dog parents in our community. From there, Millie’s Treats officially grew into a licensed gourmet dog treat business focused on creating handmade treats using 100% dog-safe and beneficial ingredients that pet parents can feel confident about giving their pups.

Since starting, Millie’s Treats has continued to grow far beyond what I originally imagined. We’ve been honored to be voted Best of Georgia Pet Store multiple years in a row, partner with organizations and events across Georgia. Along the way, one of the most rewarding parts has been building a community of dog lovers who truly care about their pets like family.

Today, Millie’s Treats is more than just a treat business, it’s a brand built around creating joyful experiences for dogs and their humans, whether that’s through our handmade treats, themed collections, pop-up events, or community partnerships. At the heart of it all is still Millie, the pup who inspired everything from the very beginning.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Running a small business is never truly a smooth road, and I think that’s something every small business owner learns very quickly. There are always challenges behind the scenes that people don’t see; balancing growth, learning new skills, managing time, wearing multiple hats, and constantly adapting as your business evolves. As rewarding as it is, entrepreneurship comes with a lot of trial, error, and perseverance.

One of the biggest challenges for us specifically was navigating the licensing and education side of the pet treat industry. When we first started, I quickly realized that there was so much more involved than simply baking treats for dogs. Learning about feed licensing, regulations, labeling requirements, guaranteed analysis testing, approved ingredients, and the proper way to legally and safely produce pet treats was honestly overwhelming at times.

What made it especially difficult was that a lot of the information isn’t always easy to find unless you already know exactly what you’re looking for or who to ask. Honestly, many people don’t even realize that pet treats require a Pet Feed License in the first place, which makes researching it even harder. You can’t simply operate under a regular food license or cottage food license when producing pet treats, and that’s something I feel many new businesses are unaware of in the beginning.

There were many moments of researching, asking questions, and teaching myself through the process. But looking back, I’m grateful for that challenge because it pushed me to continue to grow and build Millie’s Treats the right way.

That experience also gave me a deeper appreciation for the responsibility that comes with creating products for pets. Pet parents deserve transparency and trust, and I’m proud that Millie’s Treats has always prioritized safety, education, and doing things properly, even when it meant taking the harder road to get there.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Millie’s Treats, we specialize in creating handmade gourmet dog treats and memorable dog-friendly experiences that bring together pets, their people, and the communities around them. While our foundation has always been centered around high-quality, dog-safe treats, our business has grown into so much more than just what’s inside the bag. Today, we’re known for creating fun, themed experiences through our seasonal collections, community events, pop-ups, and partnerships throughout Georgia.

One of the things we’ve become especially known for is our presence during baseball season through collaborations and events with amazing partners such as The Battery Atlanta, the Atlanta Braves community, Dress Up at The Battery Atlanta, The Ozzie Albies Foundation, and many other incredible businesses. As a lifelong Atlanta Braves fan, having opportunities to work within that environment is something I truly never imagined could become part of my career. It has honestly felt like a dream come true, and we’ve been incredibly grateful to continue “riding the home run” with it each season.

Baseball season has become such a special part of the Millie’s Treats brand. From dog watch parties and pop-up events to farmers markets and themed activations around Atlanta, we’ve loved creating experiences where our fellow Braves fans can include their pups in the excitement. Our baseball-inspired “Canine Concessions” collection has also become a fan favorite, allowing dogs to enjoy playful ballpark-inspired treats alongside their humans during the season.

One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing how much Millie’s Treats has grown beyond Middle Georgia and into the Atlanta community. Even though we are proudly Middle Georgia-based, a large portion of our customer base and event community now comes from the Atlanta area. Watching people recognize our brand, visit us at events, and make Millie’s Treats part of their game day traditions with their dogs has been incredibly rewarding.

What I believe truly sets Millie’s Treats apart is that we focus not only on creating treats, but on creating experiences and memories. We want every interaction with our brand to feel joyful, welcoming, and community-driven, whether someone is shopping online, visiting us at a market, attending a dog watch party, or sharing a baseball game day with their pup. That connection with both pets and people is what continues to inspire everything we do.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
One of the things we love most is seeing cities and communities become increasingly dog-friendly and welcoming to pet owners. It’s been incredibly exciting to watch both the Atlanta area and many surrounding communities continue to create more spaces, events, and opportunities where dogs are truly included as part of the experience. Being able to bring Millie’s Treats into those environments and help create those moments for people and their pups has been one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

In many ways, that growth is actually what originally drew us more into the Atlanta area. While we’ve always proudly been a Middle Georgia-based business, our home area simply didn’t have as many dog-friendly opportunities available at the time. Atlanta gave us the ability to grow into larger dog-friendly events, partnerships, and experiences that aligned with our vision for the brand. Now, one of the most exciting things is seeing that same type of growth beginning to happen closer to home as well.

From a business perspective, I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s a “negative,” but more so a hope for the future of small business communities as a whole. During the COVID era, there was such a strong sense of people rallying behind small businesses, supporting one another, sharing resources, and truly valuing community over competition.

As businesses continue to grow and evolve, I think there has also been a shift where competition can sometimes become louder than collaboration. I don’t just see this within one city or one area, I think it’s something many industries are experiencing as we move further away from that time. Even educational conversations or efforts to share helpful information can occasionally be misunderstood as criticism rather than support.

My hope moving forward is that more businesses, especially within the pet and dog nutrition world, continue to embrace the idea that we all ultimately share a similar passion: wanting better for pets and their owners.

I truly believe there is room for everyone to succeed, and that industries become stronger when businesses support one another, educate responsibly, collaborate creatively, and focus on building community together rather than against each other.

Pricing:

• Millie Graces Pupper Butters $12.50
• Odin’s Sweet Puptater Chips $12.00
• Bakery Items $12.50-$30.00
• Baseball Biscuit Collection $12.50-$15.00
• Branded Biscuits (for businesses & events) $187.50-$300.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.milliesdoggietreats.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milliesdoggietreats
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milliesdoggietreats