__________________ Merrick _________________
HERALD
$1.00 $1.00
DECEMBER 29, 2022 - JANUARY 4, 2023
What’s What’s
Vol. 26 No. 1
He’s a dog-loving entrepreneur
INSIDE INSIDE
By ROKSANA AMID
I
A heavy rainstorm caused coastal flooding in neighborhoods along the South Shore. Page 3
Seniors at John F. Kennedy High School did themselves proud in a science competition. Page 6
A North Bellmore North Merrick Little League softball team had a remarkable away-game run. Page 14
For BrEAKING NEWS go to liherald.com
f you attend any of the South Shore’s street fairs, there’s a good chance you’ll see a crowd of dogs, big and small, eagerly waiting for Ira Reiter. Ira and his wife, Hillary, create some of the area’s most popular dog treats. The Reiters are members of both the Merrick and Wantagh chambers of commerce, and Ira, the president of the Merrick chamber, volunteers at Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation, in Wantagh. From all accounts, he makes the most of a selfless nature combined with an entrepreneurial spirit, and for all that he does for the community, the Herald is proud to name Reiter its 2022 Person of the Year. Although the 56-year-old has always loved dogs, the beginning of his career wasn’t so warm and fuzzy. A native Long Islander, Reiter grew up in Elmont and Levittown. He studied marketing and business administration at Nassau Community College and St. John’s University, and then worked as a salesman of camping supplies and then commercial trucks, a job he left to dedicate his time to his own business, the Barking Biscuit. His wife works as a hairdresser when she’s not helping him bake. Ira and Hillary both grew up with dogs, and Ira has always loved baking treats for his pets and those of his friends. What began as a passion project for the couple has taken the pet food industry by storm. They launched the Barking Biscuit in November 2019, and although many businesses suffered when the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, the Reiters flourished, helped in no small part by the “pandemic puppy” phenomenon, as people across the country adopted dogs for companionship to help them through widespread lockdowns. The pandemic has eased, and these days the Barking Biscuit’s truck can be found at most events sponsored by either local Chamber of Commerce. The Reiters’ business has expanded, and its treats can be found at shops such as the Point Lookout Deli and BubblesN-Bones in Massapequa. They also take part in charity events, including the Long Island Hospitality Ball. Ira’s advocacy doesn’t stop there. For
HERALD PERSON oF THE YEAR
IRA ReIteR He’s a staple in the community — not just Merrick, but for the surrounding areas, like Seaford, Wantagh and Bellmore. Chris Carini Hempstead town councilman the past 11 years, he has been a volunteer at Last Hope, where he focuses on dogs’ physical and emotional needs and conducts background checks on potential adopters. “Dogs are a commitment,” he explained. “They become part of the family. They should be treated like
family.” Working with the shelter, Reiter said, is an immensely rewarding experience, but he added that seeing some of the dogs he has grown attached to leave when they are adopted is a bittersweet feeling. As he prospered during the pandemic, he donated over 800 bags of treats to essential workers who had dogs at home. He focused on people who worked night shifts, feeling that they weren’t getting as much attention as others. He also donated treats to the Nassau County Police Department, and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder nicknamed him “the dog biscuit guy” — Reiter called in regularly to see if the department needed more treats for its canine unit. He donates portions of the Barking Biscuit’s profits to a number of dog rescues each month, and has given them prominent exposure at chamber street fairs. Joanne Anderson, Last Hope’s outreach coordinator, said that Reiter has been instrumental to the shelter’s successful operation. His people skills help a great deal when working with animals and their potential adopters. “He’s very outgoing,” Anderson said. “I’ve worked with him at the street fairs, and he’s been so accommodating to us.” Hillary has been a big supporter of her husband’s endeavors. The couple met 14 years ago, and bonded over their love of dogs. Hillary, who has two children from a previous marriage, said that she’s thankful for her husband’s big heart, and that he has treated her children as if they were his own. The Barking Biscuit doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar storefront. Hillary and Ira do all of their baking at home. After they take a morning walk with their dogs — Gracie, a white Chihuahua; Oscar, a dachshund; and Riley, a Chiweenie — Continued on page 4 Courtesy Ira Reiter
Ira Reiter, above with one of his rescue dogs, is the Herald's Person of the Year.