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Animals have a natural curiosity and this handmade Pet Snuffle Mat is just the thing to satisfy that urge. The mat is a good project for groups to make and donate to the local animal shelter for the entertainment of their inhabitants. The mat is scattered with small treats  and the pets eagerly nuzzle through the fibers to find their reward. Another benefit of this project is the recycling of plastic grocery bags. Be sure to check with your local pet shelter ahead of time to make sure this is something they will accept.

Trivia:

Dogs possess up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses where we have about six million in ours. The part of a dog’s brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is approximately 40 times greater than ours. Source: NOVA – Dogs’ Dazzling Sense of Smell

Supplies

• Sink or Bath Mat with evenly spaced holes
• 12 Grocery Sized Plastic Bags

Instructions

• Fold a plastic grocery bag in half, then in half again. cut off the handles. Cut 2″ strips as shown in photo. The project is very forgiving so you can just eyeball the measurement. Discard handles and bottom. Open up the strips. Cut each into 2 pieces.
• Fold each piece in half and push the folded end down thru one hole in the mat and diagonally up thru an adjacent hole and tie a double knot. Then cut the loop end so it looks like the other end. Continue until you have completed the mat. It’s that simple!

Our mat is about 15″ x 18″ and took 12 plastic bags.

Award your kids with an inexpensive and colorful Shelter Helper Patch from MakingFriends.com. They can wear them, collect them or trade them.