Caring For Fido on the Cheap, Part 2

Col. Potter has seen an increase in owner surrenders due to the economy and that got us to thinking ... how can we provide great care for our furry friends and perhaps save some money at the same time? Below is a partial list provided by our volunteers with more to follow in the upcoming days. If you have a great pet tip, please share it with us by leaving a comment on our blog! (To read other tips, click the following link: Caring for Fido on the Cheap, Part 1)

1. Every two weeks I make a small turkey. Lots of leftovers for us and the dogs. I buy chicken livers by the bulk and bake them in a cast iron skillet for the furkids. I boil a dozen eggs both for hubby and the furkids. I also buy fresh green beans by the bulk and cook a pot of them for the week.



2. I've been trying to buy foods that are healthy for me and that I can share with them. So far I've found it is cheaper than buying canned dog food. Walmart always has marked down meat early in the morning. Cottage cheese is also a hit and they love Banana chips for treats!



3. I buy the extra large bag of Great Value shredded cheese (freeze part of it) and use the rest to top kibble for their evening meals.



4. Today, I had bought a cheap left over end of pork roast. Cooked it in the crock pot, divided some out and added rice, chopped pork roast and a spoon of pumpkin to their kibble - clean bowls - lickety split!



5. I learned recently that there are Pet Food Banks out there for people who are really struggling right now to make ends meet and keep their pets. The one I first heard about is in Lawrenceville, GA, it is called Daffy's Pet Soup Kitchen (a non-profit group). I'm sure there are many more of these around the country. Area businesses are drop off sites for food, toys, and other pet needs and they are really helping a lot of people.



6. Don't forget CRAIGS LIST and FREECYCLE, ask for items you need such as crates, x-pens, fabrics or yarn for sweaters or dog coats.



7. Recycle your dogs toys that are still in good condition but for some reason your dogs don't play with them. SWAP with friends.



8. We walk our dogs for potty breaks and therefore have to clean up after them. We always use the newspaper bags, but one a day is not enough. But the doggie waste bags are too expensive. So we use the Hefty Baggies sandwich bags (red box with alligator on box). These are old school - plain square bags with twist-ties to close. They are bigger than regular sandwich bags so even a man's hand easy fits inside for pick up purposes. They are a little hard to find, but we buy ours at Wal-Mart - box of 150 bags for less than $2 a box.

Remember, if you have a great tip to save money share it with us! Please feel free to post it in the comment section. Check back later for more "Caring for Fido on the Cheap" tips provided by our volunteers.

If you would like to volunteer with Col. Potter and join our dog friendly network where you can work with other cairn owners from all over North America, email our Director of Volunteerism by clicking here, or fill out the volunteer information form by clicking here.