COOK OF THE WEEK - STYLIN' POOCH
“Stylin’ Pooch” is a Dog Boarding, Grooming and Rescue run by Kim Colwell. When I visited her I could tell she really loves and cares for all the animals she works with. Stylin’ Pooch Dog Boarding and Grooming is a licensed business and is for all dogs. She is dedicated to finding true forever homes for all the rescues that walk through her doors.
Kim has two daughters who are just as much animal lovers and caretakers as their mother. Payton is in seventh grade this year and Marlo is in kindergarten this year.
I didn’t get to meet Highway in person or should I say “in PIG.” Highway was roaming freely back in some of their grove. But I understand she has grown a lot since the early story about Highway was written. I understand she weighs in at approximately 600 pounds now.
If you missed the story about Highway, she was a little piglet that fell off of a truck over near Sioux City. A guardian angel picked her up and came back to Humboldt and found help for her with a vet. She was named “Highway” because she was found on the highway! Highway ended up at Kim’s and has remained there ever since, safe and sound in her surroundings.
I saw the kennels where she boards the visiting dogs. Each dog or dog family has their own kennel with solid walls for their own privacy. Every dog is let out at least three times daily but she likes to have them out more if possible. They have a 50 foot by 50 foot small fenced in yard and now also the big Dream Park for them to play in. (More about the dream park follows.)
Kim says, “All breeds of dogs are welcome for her to groom.” She loves to have fun with their grooming and when a dog leaves her “shop” they truly are a “Stylin’ Pooch!” Sometimes they even leave with part of their fur a different colorful color! Just like people – they like to try new and different stains and styles!
“RESCUE is our main focus,” Kim said. “We have many great dogs that need good, loving homes. We like to keep our numbers small so that we are able to really get to know each rescue and learn what kind of home will be best for them. Before a family comes to pick up a pet, they must fill out an application.” Kim wants the pet and the family to match well or the adoption may not work and the pet might be returned to rescue. They don’t want to see that happen. Every pet that comes to them is spayed/neutered and up-to-date on vet care prior to adoption. Adoption fees help cover these costs.
Kim is very particular about the kind of food all of her dogs eat. She believes that a grain free diet is best for all pets. Even her snack recipes show this. She promotes ‘Taste of the Wild’ brand dog food. She uses this for all of her rescue animals as well as her own animals.
DONATIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. She helps the surrounding shelters with hard to place animals. For example, there was a dog at a shelter for several years that had become unadoptable. Through change of environment, coming into the care of Kim, the dog changed and became healthier and became adoptable.
Their Dream Park, which I mentioned earlier has finally become a reality. Kim emphasized the thankfulness to everyone who donated to help make their Dream Park possible. They now have 2-1/2 acres of fenced in yard for all of the pooches to run off leash safely!!! This is also available for play with owners, boarding dogs and the rescues!
Continued donations are always appreciated. They are in need of making some changes to their building. She would love to be able to provide the dogs with indoor/outdoor runs and they also will be needing a new heating/cooling system. She emphasizes that no amount is too small. Every little bit counts and helps immensely.
Her boarding fee is $15/a day for one dog plus $5/ dog in the same kennel. Separate kennels would each be $15/a day. Must be current on rabies and Distemper shots. No charge for walks and exercise and the extra LOVE she gives each dog.
Kim also has t-shirts in some tie-dye fabulous colors. I didn’t have money with me Saturday but I plan on getting one of them from her. That all helps the rescue as donations, I am sure.
Her grooming costs depend on the pooch. She clips their nails for $10. She works with the pooch in hopes that he/she will not have to be sedated to be groomed.
Her motto for rescue is “I Can’t Save Them All…BUT I Can Save One at A Time!!” Her rescue is 100 percent volunteer.
Kim has found some recipes for treats for her own pets and her rescues for this week’s Cook of the Week readers. These recipes are giving me an idea of what to give my ‘great’ dogs for Christmas (that would be the dogs that belong to my brother and sister-in-law.)
Homemade Sweet
Potato Chews
1 large sweet potato
1 tablespoon olive oil
cinnamon (to taste)
Cut up in small pieces, toss in oil and small amount of cinnamon. Roast or bake in the oven until done. Store in the refrigerator.
Grain-Free Peanut Butter Dog Treats
(vegan, grain-free,
wheat free)
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup water
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 cups garbanzo bean flour
(or half whole wheat flour
and half all-purpose flour)
2 tablespoons dried parsley
(optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. In medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, water and oil. In another bowl, combine flour and parsley. Add peanut butter mixture to dry ingredients and mix to combine. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut shapes out of dough. Transfer to prepared cookie sheets, leaving about 1/4 inch between treats (they don’t spread a lot.) If desired, score treats with a fork to prevent puffing. Bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely before letting your doggies have a taste.
Banana Dog Treat
1 cup coconut oil
1 cup peanut butter
1 medium banana
Place peeled banana, peanut butter and coconut oil into a bowl and smash with the backside of a spoon. The softer your peanut butter and oil, the easier this will combine. It is okay to have a little chunky (just cut your baggie’s corner a little larger to accommodate the banana chunks.) Once mixed together, fill baggie. Snip corner with scissors and squeeze mixture into molds. (Silicone molds work great since they are flexible and let you pop treats right out. You can also find many different sizes and shapes. Store in refrigerator.
If you are reading this, then you probably enjoy new recipes. If you would like to share some of your recipes with the community, YOU could be Cook of the Week. Please contact me, Sally Redenius, if you would like to be in this column some week. I can be reached by phone at 515-373-6346 or email me at sacuthbe@msn.com.
The COOK OF THE WEEK 3rd Edition Cookbook is available. Cost per copy is $10.70, plus $4.80 shipping/handling. Order a copy today by sending a check or money order, along with name and shipping address, to: Humboldt Independent, 512 Sumner Ave., Humboldt, IA 50548.
