I’ve recently become a mom… a dog mom that is! After a friend of mine posted on Instagram about an organization called Safe and Sound Satos that rescues abandoned street dogs in Puerto Rico, I knew I had to be involved. I signed up to foster a sweet lab mix puppy named Rose, and as you probably could have guessed, after just one day of fostering, decided to adopt her for good.
It’s been an adjustment to find waste-free solutions for Rose, but I’m so excited to share with you some of my favorite products and tips that are helping me to continue my zero waste lifestyle with a pup by my side.
When my friend Gabriella – the head baker at the soon to be completely single-use plastic free Smith Canteen – shared with me that she cooks up homemade dog biscuits for customers who bring their pets into the coffee shop, I knew I had to get the recipe. Lots of dog treats and biscuits I came across at the pet store came packaged in plastic, and were also packed with wacky ingredients and preservatives. These biscuits are made from just four wholesome ingredients (they’re safe for humans to eat too!) so I can feel good about feeding them to her.
Here’s the recipe (makes about 30 dog treats):
Equipment needed:
- cookie sheet
- silicone baking mat or compostable parchment paper
- wooden rolling pin
- dog bone shaped cookie cutter (optional but fun!)
- bowl for mixing ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup chicken stock
- ¼ cup ripe banana, optional
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. If using a banana, mash until no longer chunky in the bowl first before adding other ingredients. If omitting the banana, you may need to increase the amount of stock you use. Start by using the amount called for, then increase as needed. You’re looking for a smooth, cohesive dough that is not too sticky.
Lightly flour your work surface with whole wheat flour and roll out dough to a ¼ inch thickness. Use the dog bone shaped cookie cutter to cut out little cookies. You can also simply use a knife or pizza cutter to cut whatever shapes your doggo will like.
Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of your treats, until golden brown. If you use parchment paper, make sure to compost it!
Allow to cool fully before feeding to your drooling dog who’s probably been hanging around the kitchen waiting for you to “accidentally” drop scraps on the ground. Store treats in an airtight container for up to a week, or freeze the extras to keep for up to a month!
What other zero waste recipes do you make for your pets?
LEARN MORE ABOUT FOSTERING + ADOPTING THROUGH SAFE AND SOUND SATOS
