Volunteers deliver cool treats to Dogtown pups

Amid saving lives in the bustling world of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a recent mission was underway that was all about keeping our doggy friends cool.

It’s been hot — too hot. We’ve had more scorchers than you can shake a chew toy at; 36 days in July and August alone had temperatures registering at over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. And taking the dogs for a stroll on sizzling sand is not a good idea for anyone.

[How to Keep Dogs Cool in Hot Weather]

But we had a few tricks up our sleeves. Of course, there were air-conditioned havens, kiddie pools, and hoses galore. But we weren’t satisfied with the ordinary; we aimed to make the pups bark with joy while they were chilling out.

Enter Dan and Susan Fishbein, the dynamic dog-loving duo of Dogtown. These two have been volunteering at the Sanctuary for a long time, and they’ve become such an integral part of our crew that we’re considering giving them honorary tails.

On a particularly sweltering day this year, Dan and Susan took their devotion to a whole new level by whipping up some seriously cool treats for all — yes, all — the Dogtown residents. Known as Susan’s Frosty Paws recipe, or Pup Cups, these are not your run-of-the-mill treats. They are doggy gourmet and an enrichment activity in one. Nothing calms the canine brain like consuming a treat that takes somewhere in the arena of 1,000 licks to finish. Plus, Susan and Dan had fun making and delivering them.

Makes: 70-80 Pup Cups

Ingredients:

• 4 large (48-50 ounce) containers of plain Greek yogurt
• 6 ripe bananas (the riper, the better)
• ¾ cup dog-safe peanut butter (no xylitol)
• ¾ cup honey (or skip it for a lower-calorie treat)

Directions:

1. Pop those bananas in a food processor and blend them.
2. Add the peanut butter and honey (if using) to the bananas and blend.
3. In a jumbo-sized bowl, combine the yogurt and the banana blend; stir until it’s a well-mixed match made in doggy heaven.
4. Scoop the mixture into 3-ounce paper cups. Or you can use ice cube trays, silicon molds, or muffin tins.
5. Freeze your Pup Cups for a minimum of 12 hours.

And there you have it: a frosty canine delight that will have your furry pals howling for more.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill by 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.