#MeatlessMonday - Pumpkin Dog & Cat Treats #dog #cats #recipe

I love Halloween, but it's not a favorite for my dogs or my cats. With the crazy costumes, decorations, and constant trick-or-treating strangers - I think the holiday just freaks them out. 

Today's Meatless Monday post is dedicated to our four-legged companions. Take a moment to give them extra hugs and attention around Halloween. They deserve it!

Pumpkin is rich in vitamins A, C and E, and has plenty of zinc, potassium, magnesium, and fiber. Your dog will love these treats! You never know with cats, but suffice to say, these treats are healthy for them too.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Dog or Cat Treats

15 oz. can pureed pumpkin (not pie filling)
3/4 cup uncooked cream of wheat (if your pet is sensitive to wheat, use rice cereal instead)
1/2 cup dry powdered milk
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300F
Mix all ingredients together. 

Drop small spoonfuls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet
Bake at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes

Store in airtight container

Destiny

I've been away from my blog for awhile now. The holidays were quite busy, not to mention my kiddos were sick the whole time! I've also been working hard at finishing my edits for STRUCK and finishing up my next book VOICES so it can be submitted by the end of January. In other words, juggling life and work.
One major event that happened over the holidays, was that our dog started to have accidents in the house at night. That would be "major" for me since I'm usually the first one up--which meant I got to clean up! Thank goodness for wood floors. We've had Jasmine for ten years and this has never happened before. So, between kiddo trips to the doctor and the ER, getting my edits in on time, and trying to enjoy Christmas...Jasmine had to go to the vet. Fa-la-la.
I was crossing my fingers, hoping it wasn't her kidneys, which veterinarians really can't fix. We lucked out in a way, it turns out she is diabetic. Aside from an change in diet, we now poke her twice a day with insulin. Not a happy task, but it's made a world of difference in her quality of life (and the quality of my wood floors, haha).
So, I got to thinking. What would have happened if some other family would have adopted Jasmine? Would they have managed her diabetes? The insulin is quite expensive, as is the food. I can't imagine not going the distance on a pet, but I know that 20 years ago, there's no way I would have been able to afford to. Ten years ago, my husband "just happened" to hit the animal shelter minutes before Jasmine and her sister were scheduled for euthanasia. The sister ran away from him, but Jasmine...she gave my husband the benefit of the doubt. The shelter workers basically dumped her in my husband's arms--free of charge.

Doggie destiny. We got an awesome dog, Jasmine gets a family that can afford her insulin. Right place at the right time.