Former State Senator Goes to the Dogs

Cecilia Tkaczyk to launch new dog-focused business at PET Expo, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, May 30

May 29, 2015 – Uniondale, Long Island. Cecilia Tkaczyk, a third-generation farmer who raises heritage sheep and served for two years as a State Senator, has begun a new venture to bring her love of sheep to dogs and their wool-loving owners, while supporting local farmers and rural economic development.

Tkaczyk is launching her new business, CeCe’s Wool, LLC, this weekend at the Pet Expo at the Nassau Coliseum, Saturday, May 30, at booth 217.

CeCe’s Wool, LLC, incorporates locally sourced wool into natural products for pets. The business launches with a focus primarily on dog beds, with plans to expand into toys for dogs and cats.

“I wanted to create a company that focuses on sustainability and support local farms and businesses,” said Tkaczyk. “Our carbon footprint is small but our economic impact will be significant.” Almost all of CeCe’s Wool products are made in upstate New York and incorporate wool from local farms. A portion of the sale of every dog bed will go to support the Center for Sustainable Rural Communities, an organization dedicated to building vibrant, livable rural communities.

Tkaczyk formerly represented five upstate counties in the 46th Senate District: Montgomery, Schenectady, Albany, Greene, and Ulster.

“As I traveled around upstate New York, I met many fellow sheep farmers who don’t have a market for their wool, so they end up throwing it away,” Tkaczyk said. “The idea of using wool as a filling for dog beds dawned on me when my own dog’s bed needed an upgrade. I thought wool would be ideal for our house’s cold floors in the winter -- and my dog loves his new wool-filled bed.”

Wool is nature’s perfect fiber,” says Tkaczyk. “There are reasons wool and wool fiber have been used for thousands of years.”

Wool has superior insulating properties that keep the wearer warm in winter and cool in summer. Wool is a natural and renewable fiber that lasts many years with proper care. Wool also has anti-microbial properties, resists dirt and dust mites, and is biodegradable.

Information about the new business can also be found at ceceswool.com