Homemade Treats: Kitty Edition!

Most often, you'll find that your kitten likes to eat soft, small treats. They have smaller mouths and teeth than their best friend, the puppy. Here are some adorably kitten friendly treats that will also help you use up that brown rice flour! 

ID4Pet Mustache Must have Kitten Tag

Chewy Cat Treats for Cats

makes about 50 small treats

1 large egg

1 4-oz jar chicken and brown rice baby food (or something meaty which may include canned wet cat food)

1/4 cup parsley, coarsely chopped

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 tablespoons water

1 cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup cooked white (or brown) rice

other things you might add other treats like : 1 tablespoon of catnip or a hearty tablespoon of extra wet cat food.

Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, baby food (or wet cat food), parsley, olive oil,  and water.  Add brown rice flour and cooked rice.  Stir to incorporate.  The mixture will be thick but spreadable.

Spread mixture onto prepared baking sheet creating a rectangle that is about 1/3 of an inch thick.  Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven.  Let rest until cool enough to handle, then slice soft dough into bite-sized pieces.  Return pieces to the oven to bake for another 8 minutes.  Remove from the oven.  Allow to cool completely.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge.  I store my treats in the fridge just to be safe.

& for the sophisticated palate...

Cheese Treats!

3/4 cup shredded or grated cheddar cheese

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup sour cream or yogurt (plain)

1/4 cup cornmeal

5 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

While your oven is preheating to 350 degrees F, combine all the ingredients into dough (add a touch of water if needed). Knead the dough into a ball and then roll it out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into one-inch pieces and bake for 25 minutes on a greased cookie sheet. Cool on a rack and serve. Makes about two dozen.  

Courtesy of JoytheBaker & PetAdviser

Ninja Dog

As much as I love making all sorts of fun tags for dogs and cats, Service Dog tags always seem to have the most inspiring stories about the remarkable abilities these dogs possess to help their owner. Whilst watching a popular Ninja competition show last night, I heard the store of Kyle Cochran and Leeloo. If you weren't able to watch their story on TV, here it is below !

Warrior Dog: American Ninja Warrior Uses Service Dog To Help Train

Kyle Cochran is a 26 year-old insulin pump sales specialist in San Diego, California. At least, that’s his day job. When he is not working, he is working out in preparation for the chance to be the first American Ninja Warrior Champion.
Kyle Cochran is no usual contestant, however. He has Type 1 Diabetes, but he is conquering it with a little help from his service dog, Leeloo.

From Hunted…
A woman found Leeloo, a Lab-Whippet mix, running from a pack of coyotes in the foothills behind her house in Northern California. The good Samaritan took her in and fostered her through a rescue until a home could be found.
“I was looking for a dog to train to be a service dog. My dad found her picture online,” Cochran says. “I fell in love when I met her.”

To Hero
“She has made me fall in love with dogs again,” Cochran says. “After I lost my first dog, it was hard for me to consider getting another because it was a painful loss. She brings so much warmth and love into my life every day.

Leelo is now trained to be Cochran’s diabetes service dog, alerting him when his blood sugar level changes. She gives him the freedom to train without having to stop and test frequently.
“She helps me train for ninja warrior by staying by my side during the training to make sure that my blood sugar stays in the range that it needs to be in,” he explains. “It’s really easy to spike or drop in blood sugar when training as hard as I do and it’s so comforting to know that she’s right there to protect me.”
And when she is “off duty,” Cochran takes her to dog beach where he says she just “goes wild.”

An Inspiration
Both Leeloo and Cochran are an inspiration for others who suffer from diabetes – to not let it beat them.
“My advice to kids with diabetes would be this: never see diabetes as an obstacle to slow you down or hold you back. Diabetes is a gift and beautiful opportunity to live a life that inspires everyone around you,” Cochran says. “Let your diabetes make you stronger. Let it grow your love for other people who are challenged by their own obstacles and difficulties. And most of all, let Christ be your friend and your guide in this wild life; you will never be lost.”
You can cheer Cochran on as he attempts the semi-finals July 7 on NBC. He assured us that Leeloo will be there to help him and if he makes it to the finals, she will go too.

Read more at http://theilovedogssite.com/warrior-dog-american-ninja-warrior-uses-service-dog-to-help-train/#TwKwhxYsHY1UehVf.99

Courtesy of Kristina Lotz at TheILoveDogsSite

The Savior and the Saved - The Story of Elena and Sadie

 

This story came in from one of my very special customers. Her story touched me, so I will share it with all of you :)

Sadie right after being rescued

Elena found little Sadie, a lost and scared puppy, sniffing a car exhaust and didn't hesistate to take her in, even at 7 months pregnant. Soon after, she lost her baby to a miscarriage, but found that with the help of Sadie, she was able to stay sane. 

Sadie two months after being rescued

 The puppy became her daughter, of sorts, as anyone can relate to if they have their own pets. Although Sadie had separation anxiety at first, it did not take long for her to realize that Elena & her family would never leave her stranded again. At first, the part Chinese Crested, Mini Poodle, Pebroke Welsh Corgi mix did not eat treats, play, or obey to commands. These days, the super smart Sadie can not go too long without getting a special treat, or else, she might end up throwing her toy at you! She has never been healthier, and cuter, especially after visting the groomers just the other week. 

Sadie after going to the groomers 

 

Sadie might have been the one who needed to be saved, but she has proved to become a phenomenal help to Elena and her family in light of such a tragic event. 

Thank you, Elena for sharing such a personal and beautiful story to show just how powerful the bond between human and animal can be. 

Be sure to keep your pet tags up to date to make sure you'll never lose your pet!  Check out www.ID4Pet.com for the greatest selection of New and Cute Pet Tags

Laboring Dogs: Celebrating Dogs Who Work Like Dogs

My best friend, Fran, sent me the article today. I found it really interesting and I would like to share with everyone.


In honor of Labor Day 2012, we would like to honor the all the amazing, hard-workin,' working dogs who have been keeping pooch productivity at maximum levels!

1) Bed Bug Super Sniffers - These super sniffers inspect hotels, college dorms and office buildings, suburban and luxury homes and apartments for bedbugs. These uber-sniffers and their canine cohorts are graduates of a bonafide Bed Bug Scent Training Academy and can inspect a room for pests in minutes, whereas lesser mammals like human beings need hours to conduct a visual inspection.

2) Special Ops War Dogs: These specially trained furry soldiers are trained to attack anyone carrying a weapon and have become apivotal part of special operations as they crawl unnoticed into tunnels or 6a00d8341bf67c53ef014e883ff212970d-400wi rooms to hunt for enemy combatants. The cameras on their heads beam live TV pictures back to the troops, providing them with critical information and warning of ambushes. The military has trained these amazing dogs, just like the Seals, to be dropped via helicopter into hostile territory from 25,000 feet in the air.

3) Border Patrol Beagle Brigade- Did you know that none other than the diminutive Beagle is responsible for keeping our borders secure? While known to be slightly stubborn and prone to howling, Beagles are actually some of the most valued members of the Department of Homeland Security Detector Dogs division, where these adorable hounds patrol the nation's airports to keep our food sources safe by sniffing out meat, fruit and vegetables banned in the U.S.

4) Search & Rescue Dogs and The National Search Dog Foundation - National Disaster Search Dog Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that aids in disaster response in America by recruiting rescued dogs and partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters. This wonderful program is provided at no cost to fire departments and ensures lifetime care for every dog in the program: once rescued, these dogs never need to be rescued again.

5) Therapy Dogs - Pet therapy dogs bring the unconditional love and tactile benefits of animals to people in facilities such as abused children's shelters, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and senior centers. Animals often bring out the best in people and can calm hyperactive children or stimulate movement and interaction in those with physical disabilities. Check out Mackenzie, a registered pet therapy dog who spends his time in a hospital in New York City cheering up kids!

Source : animal planet