When Brianna James started making natural, homemade treats for pets, it was out of a desire to give cats and dogs healthier options. But now, her small business has taken on an even deeper meaning – she is using it to raise funds for Rosie, her beloved Yorkshire Terrier who recently had to undergo costly medical care.

The nine-year-old dog took a hard fall on January 14. She suffered internal injuries, fractured part of the fibula in her left hind leg, and lost two toenails.

It was a heartbreaking experience for Brianna, who adopted Rosie when she was only eight weeks old.

“I was destroyed. I can’t describe how much pain and confusion I was in, but I was mostly concerned about her when the accident happened,” she said.

At Endsmeet Animal Hospital, after much discussion over what could be done, Rosie underwent surgery.

“That part of the bone was very, I guess, complicated to [operate on],” she said. “It was very hard to do.”

As there is no pet insurance in Bermuda, the 22-year-old had to pay out of pocket for Rosie’s care.

She is hoping animal lovers will support her by stocking up on Auntie Bri’s Pet Treats to help pay off the remaining $2,091 in medical expenses.

She began selling them after years of research into what would be good for pets and what they would find tasty. The “all natural and organic” treats are aimed at both dogs and cats.

“I've always had a love for animals and baking. Once Rosie got older I made a decision to make treats, for her mostly. She really enjoyed them and so I wanted to share that with other dogs as well,” Brianna said.

“When I bought treats from the store I noticed that there were a lot of ingredients that I couldn't pronounce. So I did a lot of research, and I did a lot of baking. I had a couple of fails, but I just kept on. I was determined to make good treats for Rosie.”

About 18 months ago, with lots of research and baking experience for humans and pets behind her, she started her company.

Customers soon came calling, even though Brianna’s original goal was simply to create healthy snacks for Rosie, her pride and joy.

She had spent a year on a waiting list before dog wardens contacted her family about a litter of Yorkshire Terriers available for adoption.

“She was bred illegally and so they had to confiscate the whole litter and her mom,” the young entrepreneur explained. “They called us and they told us we could come and pick whichever one we wanted.

“It was very hard to pick because they were all cute, but Rosie, she stood out the most and we really think we picked the best one. And if you ask anyone who knows me ‘Who is Rosie to Brianna?’, they will say, ‘That's her daughter’.”

Apart from Rosie, Brianna has three cats; the three-pound terrier rules the roost.

“She is the boss out of all of them. She can be a diva sometimes, but she's very loving and everybody loves her,” she said.

“She’s very compassionate [when it comes] to other people and she gets on well with other animals, but not as much as with people. She's mostly been around cats, but she thinks she's human sometimes.”

With the surgery behind her, Rosie is now on the road to recovery. Doctors say her internal injuries will heal on their own, though her stitches are still limiting her movement.

“We’re taking it slowly because she's still in the first stages of recovery but each day she's getting better. She can walk but [she limps on] that leg that got hurt,” Brianna said.

“We do a little exercise with her but she still has her stitches in. In a couple of days, she's going to get them out.”

Help towards Rosie’s medical expenses would be “much appreciated”. As it stands, Brianna is extremely grateful for the prayers and financial support she has already received.

“Anything that can be done we’re thankful for,” she said.

• Anyone interested in buying Auntie Bri’s Pet Treats can contact Brianna James onFacebookand Instagram @ auntiebris_pettreats