Baked goods for some good dogs

Pumpkin frosting, crunchy sprinkles, and wagging tails — wait, is this an animal sanctuary or a bakery? It’s just another day in the kitchen at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, where volunteers are mixing up joy in the form of doughnuts for dogs.

Volunteer shifts at the Sanctuary are always an adventure — a chance to help animals while having a little fun along the way. And the new volunteer activity known around the Sanctuary as “bone appétit” offers just that: Volunteers make delicious, nutritious treats for dogs at the Sanctuary, and the pups get so much enjoyment out of being official recipe taste testers.

Best Friends caregiver JT Rust has taken on the new program as a passion project, perfecting recipes and finding ways to make sure every dog at the Sanctuary’s Dogtown can enjoy a delicious, safe treat. Many of the dogs have dietary restrictions or allergies, and JT’s culinary creativity ensures each one still gets a taste of the good stuff.

For JT, handcrafting dog treats is more than just a fun activity — it’s a way to bring creativity, connection, and care together for the dogs of Dogtown.

JT leads volunteers through mixing, rolling, and crafting recipes that are as enriching as they are adorable — from doggy doughnuts to mini pies and even minty breath treats. Those minty treats come full circle when volunteers later provide “turndown service” for the dogs, getting their areas cleaned up before bedtime and leaving a mint on the pillow — well, dog bed — for them. Each recipe is designed not only to be safe for the dogs but to provide an outlet for energy, curiosity, and joy.

[Homemade dog treat recipes for the holidays]

“The dogs get so much enjoyment and enrichment out of the treats and the puzzles,” JT says. “It helps the dogs, caregivers, and volunteers. The volunteers learn so much from it.”

That hands-on learning is a big part of what makes bone appétit special. During the sessions, JT shares tips with volunteers about understanding dog behavior and keeping the dogs happy and engaged, showing how even small moments can make a big difference.

He also has a favorite recipe: “The pumpkin pie,” he says with a grin. “It’s so good for their health. If any of our dogs are having some GI problems, I can pull out a pumpkin pie from the freezer that’s been made by one of the volunteers and have it ready for the dog in no time.”

When longtime volunteers Bob and Hope McCullen showed up for their shift, they thought they knew what to expect. The day began as usual — until Chef Kota trotted into his kitchen with a wagging tail. Suddenly, their cooking class was in session.

Chef Kota was a very paws-on head chef — which, despite being a baker herself, Hope appreciated. “We made doughnuts and filled food puzzles. It was so much fun,” she says.

The highlight of their volunteer shift came when it was time to serve up the treats. “The doughnut was in my hand one moment, and the next it was just gone,” Hope laughs. “Kota was so excited. He gobbled half down before the other half even hit the ground.”

[Volunteers deliver cool treats to Dogtown pups]

That moment echoed JT’s own highlight of the program. “The best part is handing the treats and food-filled boxes out to the dogs — watching them shred the boxes and really dig into them for their food,” he says.

Bob and Hope are no strangers to the many different volunteer opportunities in Dogtown — from pulling weeds and stuffing food puzzle toys to helping shy dogs — but this one felt extra special. “Getting to bake with Chef Kota, then seeing how much joy those treats brought, it just made the whole day feel brighter,” Hope says.

Hope even has ideas for the future and ways to bring the experience back to her local community — she is a baker after all. She imagines bone appétit as an activity that could welcome kids: a fun, hands-on way for them to cut out shapes for dog-friendly cookies, decorate them, and pass them out to the dogs.

As for Chef Kota, Dogtown’s first head chef has since hung up his apron and headed home with a family of his own — proof that a little creativity, a lot of love, and a good pumpkin pie can go a long way.

Bone appétit may start with flour and frosting, but at its heart, it’s about connection — between people, animals, and the shared joy of making life better for every creature. Because when love is the main ingredient, everyone wins.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. 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.