EVANS CITY — Getting a call from a television executive doesn’t happen every day, but if it does, jump on whatever opportunity he’s offering.

That’s what Kelley Costello, owner of Puppy Cake, did in the summer of 2011, when she drew the attention of a bunch of sharks, not real sharks, business sharks.

Her company makes dog-friendly cake mixes, and her advertising caught the eye of the executive producer of the ABC television show “Shark Tank,” a reality program where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch ideas to potential investors.

Scouts from the show saw the ads and decided to give Puppy Cake a chance.

After an initial phone interview, Costello filled out a 10-page application and made a three-minute video to promote her product.

Her final interview was on the phone again with two “Shark Tank’s” executives.

Costello was later informed she would be flying out to California the following week.

She also was told there was no guarantee she would be on the show, and further, even if she was filmed giving her pitch to the ‘sharks,’ there was a chance it would not air.

“Only two thirds of the people filmed were going to air on the show,” Costello said.

Still, Costello decided to make the trip, and even with a free flight, hotel and transportation, she said it was no vacation.

Once in California, she did not leave her hotel room because she was practicing the information she would pitch to the “sharks.”

Costello was filmed and appeared on the broadcast, but none of the “sharks” bit and invested in her product. Nonetheless, Costello said it was worth the risk.

After the show aired, she was approached by potential investors, and her sales quadrupled from 2011 to 2012.

Puppy Cake went from selling 5,000 boxes in 2011 to selling nearly 5,000 boxes a month, Costello said.

The business continues to grow, doubling in size from 2012 to 2013.

Because of the sales and investors, Costello was able attend trade shows.

“Trade shows cost anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000,” she said. The shows are a great way to promote business, but Costello was unable to afford them before the show aired.

She also took the advice of one of the “sharks” and diversified her products. She introduced a new cake flavor, red velvet, and added Puptato Chips to her line.

Costello’s cake mixes come in four flavors: peanut butter, red velvet, banana and carob, a dog-safe chocolate substitute.

Puppy Cake is available in more than 500 stores. Costello said she has shipped all over the United State and parts of Canada. She recently filled an order for someone in Ireland.

The demand for her product is steady, and she employs three people full time in Evans City to fill the orders. Costello said she has up to 15 employees when she receives larger orders. When those orders come in she will call people to come in part-time to help fill the orders.

One of those employees is Amber Caldwell of Evans City. Caldwell said she worked eight weeks to fill orders, and even though she does not have a dog of her own, she recommends the product.

“Pretty much everyone I know has a dog, so I shared with them,” she said.

Blanche Lozar of Zelienople was employed to help fill a large order, and while she no longer has dogs of her own, like Caldwell, she recommends Puppy Cake products to others.

“I am buying Puptato chips for my sister-in-law’s dogs,” Lozar said.

She said she enjoyed working at Puppy Cake because it was a structured and calm environment.

Caldwell said she likes working for Costello.

“She is dead serious about quality,” Caldwell said.

Costello is also serious about her company and the people who work there.

“People in Evans City are great,” Costello said. “They have great work ethic.”