"Does your pet have an up to date rabies vaccine? Would you like to permanently identify your pet with a microchip? Join us this Saturday, January 9th from Noon to 2 PM at Fix For Life, 511 W. Baddour Pkwy in Lebanon for a rabies vaccines and microchip clinic. An appointment is not required. "
I have a hard time finding treats that are soft enough for Peanut to eat, since he only has four teeth and is usually more gumming his food....
After testing over 10 kinds of dog treats, we found 2 brands that were soft enough, but not the most delicious or best for their health. I have seen sweet potato treats and knew they were good for dogs (and people), but I couldn't find a recipe for soft sweet potato treats.
So I went to the store, bought two sweet potatoes, and created:
Senior Soft Chew Sweet Potato and Oatmeal Cookies!
Recipe:
2 Sweet Potatoes, peeled; boiled; mashed.
Add 1/2 to 1 tsp of: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger (I used crystallized);
Add one tsp of: honey, brown sugar;
Also add: one egg;
Mix.
Add 1 1/2 to 2 cups Oats; Mix well. Should feel like oatmeal cookie dough.
Roll into balls, spoon, or shape as desired (I used a bone cookie cutter, but it's messy, slow, and the dogs don't know- although it's very cute). I also recommend using foil instead of oiling the cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F (convection oven setting, if possible) for 8-12 minutes, when tops are browning.
*Note: they will be more bouncy than soft when they are done. Let them cool on the pan so that they continue to cook out of the oven, this way they will be chewy and perfect for senior dogs who may not have all their teeth :)
If you make these, let me know how it turns out and how your furry friends liked them. Ours did. Feel free to pass this link and recipe on to your friends!
It's looking like enough people would be interested in a senior dog project for Tennessee to begin regular meetings soon!
I'm hoping to design an eye catching poster to put up around town in pet stores, vet offices, doggy daycare and training facilities, shelters, rescues, coffee shops, and any where else business owners will let me post one :) I have some ideas sketched out, but they need work.
Peanut and I sent a care package to Senior Sweetie "Peanut," a 10 year old female dachshund being fostered in Mississippi (her foster parents have renamed her Peanut, she was Jasmine). My Peanut made sure all the treats we sent were able to be chewed without teeth, since both he and "Miss Peanut" (short for Mississippi Peanut) don't have hardly any teeth left.
Eager Taste Testers: Charlie and Peanut
Guest Taste Tester: Treasure! (and Peanut, jealous that I am paying attention to not-him)
We're excited for a brand new year, and I'm armed with loads of information and a willingness to keep learning and find out how to give this project the push it needs :)
If anyone is interested in working with or helping senior dogs or senior animals in general, as well as foster and hospice care, and community outreach (connecting lonely pets to lonely people in nursing homes, hospice situations, etc.), please contact me.
I am trying to get more "man-power" to start a non-profit organization to benefit senior dogs in Tennessee. There is currently no such organization, but there are senior dogs in shelters state wide that will never find new homes.
Help is needed to: Write grants, raise funds, make a web page, create programs, hold events, promote education and awareness.
MISSION:
All dogs to have a happy, comfortable, and loving home to live out their golden years. No dog will be euthanized simply for its age or an inability to afford proper health care.
GOALS:
Find forever homes for older dogs. Spread awareness of the advantages of senior dogs. Setting up a fund to assist with vet bills of senior dogs. Community Outreach: Seniors 4 Seniors programs In the (distant) future: providing 24 hr rescue, foster, and hospice care.
"In the works":
We are currently in process of applying for 501 (c) (3) non-profit status. (More FUND-RAISING needed.) When we have enough support, we will hold regular (probably monthly) meetings to prioritize tasks and goals, as well as share ideas and progress.
Saw this on Craigslist; pass it along so this baby can get home. Thank you.
"I found an older beagle this morning walking down the road--very sweet--a little stinky from being outside but otherwise in good shape. No collar and have not seen her before. She seemed distressed in the rain and not very savy about cars. I was concerned about her getting hit or attacked by pitbulls in the neighborhood so I brought her home and she is warm and dry. Please call if she is yours! Lisa 615-481-6461"
Despite my lack of hearing and coherence from this sinus/ears/soon to take over my entire head infection, Dog Days went well. I had planned to walk around more and talk to relevant organizations that might have interest in helping or any advice, but feeling not so hot I was glad I brought a chair.
Peanut and I set up an imaginary booth, i.e. some signs taped to a folding chair, and handed out information about the MTSDP. Here is the flyer we handed out:
Hopefully we generated some genuine interest- I would really like to start having monthly (or so) meetings with even goals (gasp!) to be achieved by those meeting times. The more help we get, the more we can get done, so the more (and bigger) goals we can set. It's a snowball effect, so all we need is to get it rolling!
Good news, it's past July 17th and she's still alive... we think.
That brings us to the bad news; she's run off again.
"Haley escaped by pushing out the fence in our play yard. She was last spotted on W. Caldwell. She has been seen by the interstate as well as in Stonegate Trailer Park. She is wearing a black padded harness with a thick black nylon leash attached. We need to get Haley Back. If you see her please contact the shelter immediately at 615-773-5533. "
Without the system of volunteers we need to thrive, I'm going to have to do some backtracking. That means less fun things like spreading awareness, getting senior dogs adopted, and networking. Instead I need to step back and do all those pesky business things to get our non-profit status really going.
If anyone knows anyone that can donate their time and services to complete the legal paperwork, that would be fantastic.
Even if I am able to write and file all the paperwork on my own, it is still costly to submit these requests. Application fees vary from $100 - $500 EACH.
PLEASE consider donating to help cover these legal fees so that we can roll forward and actually get back to helping dogs in need.
