For dogs across Long Island, the sight of a brightly stocked ice cream truck can mean only one thing: treat time.
Salty Paws East End Long Island, co-owned by Janet Ciccione and Stephanie Paraboschi, has turned that simple idea into a weekend business built around dogs, small-batch treats and plenty of fun.
What began with a pop-up tent in 2024 became a doggie ice cream truck in 2025, bringing frozen treats to events mainly across North and South Forks and occasionally to locations farther west across Long Island.
The idea grew from the women’s shared love of dogs. Between them, they have four dogs, and their curiosity about the ingredients in commercially available dog treats led them to start experimenting with their own ice cream.
“We wanted to make sure that you know what we are feeding our dogs matters,” Paraboschi says.
Salty Paws’ ice cream is made with lactose-free milk, cane sugar, gelatin and natural flavors. That lactose-free base matters for owners who worry about how their dogs will handle a frozen treat.
The menu includes six regular flavors: vanilla, peanut butter, bacon, maple bacon, prime rib and birthday cake. Seasonal offerings rotate throughout the year, including pumpkin, blueberry and watermelon, while more playful combinations include bacon cheeseburger. They make the ice cream right in their Eastport home.
The business also sells other small-batch and craft dog treats sourced from independent makers around the country.
Their weekends can include vineyards, breweries, fairs, farmers’ markets, dog rescues, private parties and dog-centered competitions.
“We have a big following for the dogs,” Ciccione says. “They’ll see us in the truck, and you can see the dogs will stop, and they pull their owners back towards us.”
Salty Paws also offers samples and toppings, making each visit feel more like an event than simply buying a treat.
Private birthday parties are another specialty, with customized packages built around each celebration. When the truck cannot fit at a venue, the duo brings their tent or prepares individual cups of ice cream.
For Ciccione and Paraboschi, the appeal goes beyond ice cream. Their weekends offer an escape into a world where people happily spoil their dogs.
“You get to see the best side of people when they’re giving your dog a treat, and that’s what we love,” Paraboschi says.
And another idea is always brewing. Among their goals for the future: frozen doggie ice cream sandwiches and “pupsicles.”
To find Salty Paws’ next stop, follow @saltypawseastendlongisland on Instagram.
