Thanksgiving Stuffin'

So it's almost Thanksgiving, and here you are avoiding your shopping and cooking chores by grazing the Internet...(Hey, I know that one!)

Here's a suggestion that will help you get back to your errands and make a lot of dogs and people very happy on Turkey Day. When you cook up those yams or make up your famous stuffing recipe or mash those potatoes, set aside a small portion in a bowl before you add the seasoning. That little stash of good-stuff is going to be a big hit to some lucky dogs.

Dig out those unwanted kong balls that have been collecting dust bunnies under the bed, wash'em out and stuff them with a layer of your T-day goodies and maybe some cottage cheese or yogurt to top it off.

Pop the lot in the freezer on Wednesday night, and map out a plan to escape your relatives for a few minutes on Thursday morning.

While most of the country will be waking up to the Macy's parade and kitchen chores on Thanksgiving, your local animal control workers are going to be knee-deep slogging sh*t in crowded kennels and feeding a shelter full of hungry dogs. If they're lucky, they may have a box of milkbones to dole out to the orphan crew before they go home to their families. But if they're REALLY lucky, they'll have some of your exquisitely stuffed kongs to pass out to the neediest dogs.

Most shelters are closed on Thanksgiving morning, so when you show up banging loud on the door with a box-full of T-day goodies, you might be met by a cranky kennel worker who expects you're dumping a box of hungry kittens on her. But when she sees what you really have, you will make her day. And you'll give some lonely little doggers the best morning of their week. (You may want to give the a heads-up phone call in advance, btw.)

More kong stuffing recipes: here

If you end up doing this, please report back! Your favorite kong recipes and your T-day shelter stories are welcome.

Above left: Vick dog 'Ellen' (now at Best Friends) investigates her first-ever stuffed kong back when she was still kenneled at the Hanover Pound in VA. What a treat. Animal Farm Foundation donated a boatload of kongs and goodies to the V-dogs back when they were still hidden from the world and it meant a lot to dogs and shelter workers alike.