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Pet
Pampering - Popular With Animal Lovers
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by:
ARA
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(ARA) - When people need pampering, they’ve
long retreated to their favorite spas, treated themselves to special
gifts and savored their favorite foods. With increasing frequency, more
and more pets are enjoying the same kinds of tender loving care. In a
recent survey by the American Animal Hospital Association, a majority
of pet owners said they had cooked special meals for their pets, given
them holiday and birthday gifts, and played special music for their
animals.
According to the survey, 93 percent of pet owners said they felt that
love and attention contributed more to their pets’ quality of life than
anything else.
“As a longtime pet owner, I know what an important part of the family
pets can be,” says lifestyle expert Sandra Lee and creator of the
Semi-Homemade(R) philosophy. “People do more for their pets sometimes
than they do for themselves, and they’re always looking for new ways to
shower their pets with affection.”
By combining affordable items available at stores like Wal-Mart with
personal creativity -- the foundation of Lee’s Semi-Homemade(R)
philosophy -- pet owners can indulge their pets with flair. Sandra Lee
offers the following tips for dog, cat, and bird lovers:
* All dogs love to eat. Cook a special meal to celebrate your pet’s
birthday, to celebrate a special holiday, or to soothe nerves after a
harried trip to the vet. Homemade snacks such as Bone-nanza Bones (see
recipe below) will leave your pet feeling perfectly appreciated.
* Dog parks are all the rage these days, but it’s always risky to
introduce pets that aren’t familiar with one another. Instead, consider
coordinating a dog party among friends and neighbors in the backyard or
a local park. Pets can interact while owners mingle. Doggie treats made
from scratch or selections such as a Dentabone or jerkey strips can be
the party favors for pooches.
* Cats love to groom. To help kittens maintain their claws (and save
furniture), make a personalized scratcher. Cut 45 to 50 strips of
corrugated cardboard so that they fit snugly into the lid of a shoe
box. Attach double-sided tape to the inside of the lid, then pack the
strips vertically and tightly into the lid. Press down lightly to
adhere the strips to the tape. Finish by sprinkling the top with dried
catnip. Or visit your local discount retailer for a variety of
feline-loving toys and treats.
* Parakeet owners can make an edible ladder that is both nutritious and
fun. The ladder can be made using Popsicle sticks tied together with
lengths of cotton twine. Coat the ladder with parakeet food by using a
pastry brush to cover sticks with egg whites that will hold sprinkled
birdseed in place. The ladder should be baked for five minutes and
cooled for two. This process should be repeated until all surfaces are
covered and seed coating is thick. It should be allowed to cool
completely before being placed in the cage, approximately 30 minutes.
* For those who are not pet owners but love nature’s little creatures,
treat them to a “Critter Granola” that will appeal to a variety of
outdoor animals from bunnies to birds. Simply combine 2 cups each of
popped popcorn, spoon-size shredded wheat cereal, sunflower seeds,
rabbit pellets, and wild bird seed. Place in an outside-appropriate
container.
Sandra Lee shops Wal-Mart stores for the materials referenced above and
the ingredients listed below.
Bone-anza Bones* (Makes 10-12 dog bones)
Ingredients:
1 jar (6-ounce) turkey and rice baby food
1/4 cup prepared savory beef gravy
1/4 cup water
2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 egg white
1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tablespoon whole milk (optional egg wash)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax
paper. Mix all ingredients (expect egg wash) together in a large mixing
bowl until a dough forms. Place dough on a floured work surface. Roll
out dough to 1/2 inch thick. Using a bone-shaped cookie cutter, cut out
10-12 bones. Transfer bones to prepared cookie sheet. Brush bones with
egg wash (optional). Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cool completely.
Storage and Leftovers: Store in a resealable bag in the refrigerator
for up to five days.
For more information, visit Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade(R) Web Magazine
at www.semi-homemade.com.
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
Circulated by Article Emporium
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