Hungry hounds, rejoice: Ice cream truck for dogs to debut at London pet party

The world's first ice cream van for dogs will open for business at a "pet party" in London's Regent's Park on Saturday.

The van will serve canine-friendly flavors such as "Dog Eat Hog World" -- a chicken and gammon sorbet -- and "Canine Cookie Crunch," a more traditional vanilla ice cream, albeit sprinkled with dog biscuits.

"The weather has been so hot, we thought dogs deserved a cooling treat as much as anyone else," said Sally Bezant of event organizer Boomerang Pets Party.

She said a team of pet nutritionists had been through a complicated scientific process to determine the tastiest and safest flavors for the dogs' dessert.

And although the unusual flavors were tested on a panel of dogs, they can be eaten by humans.

"It's safe for humans ... I've tried it myself," she told Reuters, adding, perhaps diplomatically, that doggie ice-cream tasted "different."

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-- Alessandra Prentice, Reuters

Photo: A basset hound tries to get a lick of her owner's ice cream. She'd be happy to know that dog-friendly ice cream is hitting the streets! Credit: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times