Author: Callie

If It Weren't For Fido Essay Contest Grand Prize Winner

Today, BestBullySticks is proud to share with you our Grand Prize winning "If It Weren't For Fido" essay.  When we read Sarah Payne's story around our offices, we were all reminded of the ways dogs truly transform our lives. We know you'll enjoy reading Sarah's story. 

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Some folks just seem to know how to be humans. I think I was standing behind the door when that was being handed out. I miss a lot of the cues of what people mean beyond what they say and it makes it difficult to find friends. That's a lonely way to live. I've been lucky, I met a man that some how gets me but that doesn't help me to understand things better. Even as a child, my only friends were animals in general and dogs in particular. I remember many family get togethers where I ended up alone in a corner or basement with my aunt's dogs. It sounds lonely but I fit better with them.

As an adult, my husband and I have always had dogs. We have rescued any critter needing a home from three legged hamsters to crazy cats to abused bulldogs. We've never had a home without a dog. It makes me feel more at ease and I love the larger breeds. When I come home to a wagging tail it some how makes the day in the human world easier. I might be awkward out there but home with a dog snuggled beside me it feels okay that I've always had trouble connecting to people.

We had planned to have children. That's what people do. We grow up, fall in love, get married, have kids, look forward to grandkids. I think a part of me has always hoped that if I had a child that I'd some how find I could understand people better. That maybe, somehow, by watching my child grow up and learn how to navigate the big, wide, world I'd learn too. I could see my husband, my kids and the dogs playing in the yard and it seemed like a good dream. Read more

With the weather heating up, you and your dog are likely to need more ways to cool down. This week, we are excited to share a refreshing and healthy dog treat recipe from Sugar the Golden Retriever! Sugar and Mom, Rosalyn, were kind enough to let us share their Frosty Yogurt Berries Bone Parfait dog treat recipe! We know your dog will enjoy the frozen, tart berries and yogurt as their new favorite way to cool down this summer.

Ingredients

• ~1 tablespoon of Greek Yogurt
• ~1 tablespoon of Plain Yogurt
• ~2 teaspoon of fresh blackberries juice (=3 pieces of blackberries)
• 4 x-small pieces of strawberries
• 1 teaspoon of homemade toasted coconut honey oats (using old fashion oats, coconut oil and honey)

Directions

Use a Bone cookie cutter as a mold. Place it on a flat surface. We used a clear plate.

1. Pour into the mold ~ 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt.* Freeze it for about an hour.

*This is the first time we used Greek yogurt for frosty paw recipe. It does not freeze well unlike the regular plain yogurt.*

2. Pour ~2  teaspoons of the fresh blackberries juice. Smashed blackberries can be added too. Freeze it for about 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Place little pieces of strawberries.

4. Pour ~1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Freeze it for 20 minutes.

5. Place the tasted oats on top. Freeze it for another 10-15 minutes.

It was my treat for the day (whole day). Mom believes in portion control. She cut it into four pieces. I had one piece for breakfast, mid morning snack, after nap snack and evening meal dessert. It was DELISH! TASTY! The little pieces of strawberries inside and toasted oats were delightful. Using Greek yogurt as the first layer gave a thicker texture  but it tasted GOOD!

Bone Appétit & Enjoy!

Thank you to Sugar & Rosalyn at Sugar the Golden Retriever for letting us share this amazing recipe and photo!

To find the perfect pooch snack browse all of our healthy dog treat recipes in our Weekly Drool Recipe category. Or, go with a tried and true favorite like a bully stick!

National Mill Dog Rescue recently received a donation from BestBullySticks.com and we always love learning more about the rescues we donate to and sharing their stories with our customers and fans. We didn’t know we would be so affected by the stories that were told, but are so grateful for National Mill Dog Rescue’s experience, care and love they pour out on dogs. Keep reading for more about National Mill Dog Rescue, their beginnings, their inspiration and their successes.

When & Why did you start?

National Mill Dog Rescue was established in February 2007, in honor of a forgiving little Italian Greyhound named Lily. Theresa Strader, NMDR’s Founder and Executive Director, rescued Lily from a dog auction in Missouri. Prior to that day, Lily had spent the first seven years of her life as a commercial breeding dog, a puppy mill mom. Determined that her years of living in misery would not be in vain, Strader started NMDR, giving a voice to mill dogs across the country.

During her years as a breeding dog, Lily spent all of her days confined to a small, cold wire cage in a dark, foul-smelling barn. Never was she removed from her cage for exercise or socialization. In her dreary confines, Lily was forced to produce one litter after another with no respite. Like all commercial breeding dogs, she was a veritable breeding machine whose worth was measured in only one way - her ability to produce puppies.

By seven years of age, Lily was worn out. Commonplace in the industry, she had received little to no veterinary care throughout her life, the result of which, for her, was terribly disturbing. Due to years of no dental care, poor quality food, rabbit bottle watering and no appropriate chew toys, the roof of Lily’s mouth and lower jaw, had rotted away. Her chest was riddled with mammary tumors and she was absolutely terrified of people.

Strader brought Lily and twelve others home from the auction and declares that even for a highly seasoned rescuer, the following months were the education of a lifetime in rehabilitation. That she would take up the cause for the mill dogs was never in question and National Mill Dog Rescue was promptly underway. In five short years, NMDR has amassed over 1,300 volunteers and has rescued over 6,300 puppy mill survivors.

Run almost solely by volunteers, NMDR has pledged to put an end to the cruelty of the puppy mill industry. Through widespread informative efforts, NMDR hopes to educate the public to acquire their companion animals through reputable breeders or better yet, from shelters and rescue groups across the country. Read more

It’s not hard to please most dogs, but when you have something they really love, you know it. They’ll pace the floor, whine, bark or even drool. They’ll definitely drool for the homemade dog treats from Sonja at Honey Bee’s Recipes. She whipped up a great recipe just for her pup, Luke, and today’s she’s sharing it with you! Here is Sonja’s recipe for Liver & Rye Dog Treats!

Homemade Dog Treats ~ Liver & Rye

Prep time:  1 hour Cook time:  30 mins Total time:  1 hour 30 mins
Serves: 100 cookies

Ingredients

• 2½ cups of rye flour
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• ½ cup of water
• ½ cup of chicken livers
• 3 tbsp of canola oil

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Dust the baking sheet with rye flour.

3. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse for about 1 minute, or until the dough forms a ball shape.

4. Remove from the food processor and knead briefly into a well-formed dough ball.

5. Transfer directly to the baking sheet.

6. Flatten the ball and shape it carefully into a square. Read more

BestBullySticks Weekly Drool Recipe is from Jude and the 3M’s (aka 3M Bakery). No, they’re not a singing group, but a health conscious doggy mom and her three pups, Mac, Maesie and Matilda. She shared an amazing wheat-free and gluten-free dog treat recipe with us and we of course wanted to share it with you. Chock-full of healthy ingredients, this great recipe is sure to become a new treat favorite in your house. Jude also gives these great explanations of the great ingredients in her treats!

Coconut contains No Trans-Fats, is Gluten-Free, Non-Toxic, Hypoallergenic, and also contains Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antifungal, and Anti-parasitic healing properties.

Cranberries contain a unique array of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients and research is continuing into what appears to be excellent anti-cancer properties. They are well known in protecting against Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s) in your pet.

Cherries provide beneficial properties for a range of inflammatory-related conditions in your pet. A recent study by University of Michigan researchers revealed a cherry-enriched diet reduced inflammation markers in animals by up to 50 per cent.

Pumpkin seeds are known to reduce inflammation associated with arthritis without the side effects of using anti-inflammatory drugs. They are also a natural treatment for tapeworms and other parasites.

Sunflower seeds are incredibly rich sources of many essential minerals. Calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and copper. Many of these minerals have a vital role in bone mineralization, red blood cell production, enzyme synthesis, as well as regulation of cardiac and skeletal muscle activities.

Sesame seeds contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin. Both of these substances belong to a group of special beneficial fibers called lignans, and have been shown to prevent high blood pressure and increase vitamin E supplies in animals. Sesamin has also been found to protect the liver from oxidative damage.

Maple syrup is an antioxidant powerhouse. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island found that maple syrup is filled with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that may help prevent several chronic and inflammatory diseases like diabetes and cancer. It settles digestion issues and helps with muscle recovery as it is an excellent source of manganese, which helps repair muscle and cell damage; it also keeps bones strong and blood sugar levels normal. Read more