Digby's Tricky Halloween Treats - Pumpkin Spice Dog Cookies!

These yummy dog cookies are great for both canines and humans alike - Digby loves them and so do we! They don't take long to make and they are super crunchy, and, best of all, they're gluten free.

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin (I pureed what was left after we scooped the insides out of the pumpkin we are carving this year)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups rice flour (You can use wheat if that's all you have though)

2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees Celsius).
2. Blend eggs and pumpkin together; add salt, flour and cinnamon.
3. Add water as needed to make the dough somewhat workable (We didn't need any).

The dough should be dry and stiff, don't be concerned with crumbs being left in the bowl. You will need to mix this with your hands because it is too stiff for an electric mixer.
4. Roll to 1/2-inch thick.
5. Cut into shapes. 

6. Place 1" apart on ungreased cookie sheet (they don't spread at all though but you do want to have airflow around the cookies, so closer than that will work - just don't let them touch!).
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes on one side, then turn over and bake another 10-15 minutes.

**Recipe adapted from Food.com 

If you want to use Digby's awesome label, feel free to save the image below.

Happy Howloween! Make sure to share pictures of your pooch enjoying these treats on Digby's Facebook page.

Guest Columnist - Ask Imbi! From "Little Monster Alfie"

Hi Ms. Noodle Brains,

My name is Alfie and I am 1 year old. I have SO much happy energy! My mommy lovingly calls me a little monster. Whenever I see a person, I try to jump on them. I just love people so much and I love getting attention. If my mommy tries to prevent me from jumping, I cry.

Aside from my jumping, I also like to nibble on hands. I don't bite hard, but sometimes I get so excited that I try to hold people's hands in my mouth. Because of this a lot of people are afraid of me, especially kids. My energy levels are so high that I just can't control my happiness. It starts with a tail wag, then a full body wag, then I start jumping and then the hand nibbling.

My mommy has tried to help me through exercise. We play a lot after work (I have lots of toys), we go on walks, and we go to the dog park as often as possible (usually just weekends because mommy works late). But I am like an energizer bunny!

How can I control my energy and make people not afraid of me? I will try anything!!!

Love,
Little Monster Alfie

PS- my mommy and I love you Mr. Van Winkle and Ms. Noodle Brains. We love hearing about starving times and bacon;)

The 13 Project

 The 13 Project - by Pretty Fluffy

"THE 13 PROJECT

The 13 Project is a Pretty Fluffy initiative that involves 13 acts of kindness towards animals before 2013. Inspired by my involvement in last year’s 12 before 2012 project, I wanted to make the tail end of 2012 count. We have exactly 13 weeks left of this year, so what better way of embarking on a list of 13 achievable and worthy goals before the year is out.

To join, all you have to do is come up with a list of up to 13 ways you can help animals before the end of 2012. You don’t need to be a millionaire, you don’t need to have a website, or be a member of a rescue organisation…All you need is the desire to make a difference. If you’re time poor, make your list just one goal – or 3 or 5 things."

When I heard of the 13 project I knew I wanted to be a part of it - but I was a little skeptical about how much I could actually do to help animals. For one person to make a big difference is an impossible task, but then I realised something. The idea of the 13 project is not for one person to make a whole lot of difference, but for a whole lot of people to make a difference for even one animal. Whether it be walking or playing with a shelter dog or even adopting one into your life, there are a vast number of ways we can all help out.

Before I launch into details on Digby's Bacon Drive, I'd like to share the rest of my list first. It's not much, but that's the great thing - it doesn't have to be. I've only got five and they are nothing compared to what other people are doing, but they're meaningful and achievable and that's the main thing.

These are my goals for the 13 project...

1. Donate Digby's old toys to a worthy animal rescue organisation.
2. Help to educate people! When a child approaches my dog I will make every effort to teach them the right way to approach a dog, no matter how small the canine may be.
3. Volunteer. I will give one hour of my time to the Wellington SPCA's Dog Squad, raising awareness and funds to help the animals in their care.
4. Take pictures of some shelter dogs to help them find a new home.
5. Raise over $100 for Digby's Bacon Drive**!

I told Digby all about the 13 project, and why it's important - he didn't know about all of the dogs out there who didn't have a loving family to spend their days with. This really spoke to Digby, and so he's asked me to help all of the dogs living their lives in a shelter to party big before they meet their new family!

I asked him what he loved most about living in a family and he said "Bacon!" (why was I surprised?) so I've decided to start a campaign to bring bacon to the animals who are living at the Wellington, New Zealand SPCA.

Treats are one of those little extras that shelter dogs don't get enough of, so while I try to find a way to help them find homes we're putting the word out to you, Digby's online friends. We'd like to buy them some treats. Not just any treats, but the best kind - bacon!

By contributing to Digby's bacon drive you'll be bringing a dog over in our little corner of the word a happiness that they will surely be missing. We'll make sure to photograph the final result - Digby delivering the bacon to his friends at the SPCA just in time for Christmas.

And now I'm putting a challenge to you: Can you do just one thing to help just one dog? Let me know how you plan to help out and challenge me to do the same. Digby wanted you to know that sending him treats totally counts!

**To donate visit http://digbyvanwinkle.chipin.com/the13project

Guest columnist - Ask Imbi!

Digby has invited his Australian friend Imbi (more commonly known as Noodle Brains) to help out on his blog! He took the opportunity to seek her advice on a very serious issue. Not only is she here for Digby, but she's here for you, too! Details on submitting your own question will be at the end of this post.

Imbi and her family (fuzzy and bipedal - Phyllis is both) can be found on Facebook, Instagram and at miyowandbarkley.com.

 Imbi is ready to answer your questions! Doesn't she look lubbly and thsmart?

Dear Imbi

I think something strange is going on at our house. The humans are acting all weird. Instead of taking me to the beach every day after work they're taking me for a walk in the street and then when we get home I'm expected to eat instead of play, even though it's light outside now. They're packing all of our things into boxes (even my glasses and plaid shirt!) and taping them up. I don't want to give away all of my things! Thankfully the treat jar has been untouched but they just keep going! Soon we'll run out of things to put in boxes - will they then just get more things and fill our entire lives with cardboard?

Sometimes I try to stop this behaviour by destroying the boxes. There's more of them hiding in the other room and the more I chew the boxes and rip them to shreds, the more they bring home! I think the humans might be unwell. My question is, should I take them to the vet, or try to nurse them at home? And what do I do about the beach until then? I'm missing my friends and I'm worried that the humans will never recover and we'll have to live in a box, too!  I can't live in a box. What will all the other dogs think?

Help!

Digby

Dear Ginny: from Skye the West Highland Terrier

Image taken from @skyethewestie on Instagram

Dear Ginny,
                 
I'm Skye the Westie (Westhighland terrier) and lately this dog keeps attacking me. I'm very scared as he bites me. He's a King Charles and is a lot bigger than me. If you were in my situation what would you do? I don't like going on walks anymore and when my owner calls me to go I won't so instead she had to walk me around the back garden. Do you have any tips to get my confidence up? I'm a really big fan of yours.

Woof woof,
Skye -xxx-

Ask Ginny: Where is my youngest human? From Ellie Mae

Dear Ginny,

My name is Ellie and I need your help urgently! I think that something has happened to my youngest human. I cannot find her anywhere and I'm very upset.. It's been over a month, and no sign of her. She used to come home everyday about the same time and let me in the house to lick her and bring her my toys to throw. Something is terribly wrong. I sat by her door and scratched until the two older humans let me in, and I was shocked to find all the shiny things to chew on in her room are gone.The two older humans seem sad and they keep saying the word "college." I don't know what "college" is but I think it took my human, and I want her back! I'm too young to lose her. What do I do? What would Bat Ginny do? Please help!

Yours in suspense,
Ellie Mae

Pet of the Week: Buddy the Brussels Griffon!

Introducing Buddy, Digby's brother from another mother, who lives in a parallel universe (or that's what Digby thinks. He's actually across the ocean).

Buddy's humanbeast Katherine (@tiptop1997 on Instagram) says:

we adopted him when he was about 16 months old because the owners no longer wanted him and left him at the vet. When we where adopting him we learned that his previous owners had been abusing him, and several times Buddy had tried to escape so the owners though he was to much of a burden and left him at the vet for someone who wanted him.

When the vet told us that we adopted him and named him Buddy, and he fit right in with Sophia (which they later had some puppies and that's how we got Eddie:)) Buddy is a great dog, he's always happy and loves to run around and play with our two American Bulldogs named Bella and Damian and lovers to go on walks! :)

But the sad thing about Buddy is that before we adopted him he sat in a cage most of his life so after we had adopted him he got arthritis in his back to legs and hips so it's hard for him to walk and run around most of the time :,(.

Buddy is an amazing dog and I'm so glad we adopted him, he's a great member of our family and I love him so much <3 :)

How anyone could just abandon this boy I have no idea, but it sounds like he got very lucky indeed!