Monday, September 15, 2014

Giving Back: DIY Dog Leash Holder and DIY Cat Scratch Post #PAW2014

I regularly make trips to Tractor Supply.  Although I like to say, "I live in the middle of nowhere" I do have two TSC's within 30 minutes of me.  I frequent them for cat food, chicken feed, other chicken and guinea fowl supplies, dog treats and toys, and items needed to maintain seven acres.


I love these Guinea Fowl, but sometimes they drive me nuts.
The TSC's local to me frequently offer low cost vaccine clinics, which I think is fantastic.  They offer a variety of products to to help people care for both livestock and their family pets, including high quality foods, leashes, collars, crates, toys, and health supplies.

Tractor Supply hosts a yearly event, Pet Appreciation Week (PAW), during which they celebrate people and their pets.  This year it takes place September 17-21, with in-store events on September 20.


I (Rebekah) was asked by Tractor Supply to create something for a shelter using supplies found at Tractor Supply, and was given a spending budget of $25.

I did not have to think twice about which shelter I would give my crafts to.  Greenfield-Hancock Animal Management (GHAM) in Greenfield, Indiana gave me a wonderful gift by allowing me to adopt Faolan.  I try to give back to them as much as I can.  The staff there is beyond amazing, and have become some very dear friends of mine.

What did $25 get me at Tractor Supply?

Shopping List
  • (1) 5.75" treated landscape timber-$10.49
  • (1) 500 foot roll of sisal twine-$5.99
  • (1) 3-pack of ceiling hooks-$1.99
  • (1) pack of screw eyes-$1.99
  • (1) 1.5 quart galvanized pail-$2.99
I came up with ideas for both cats and dogs using these items.  Instructions follow.

I began both projects by using a miter saw to cut up the landscape timber.  I cut 10 rounds of approximately 1/2" each, and a larger piece of approximately 18".



DIY Rustic Dog Leash Holder


This was quick and easy to make.  I staggered seven of the rounds I cut, and secured them using 1" nails.  I then screwed the ceiling hooks into the bottom of three front rounds, to hold the pail, leashes, treat bag, etc.  The pail can be used to hold dog treats, human treats, or whatever they see fit. I finished this by screwing eye rounds into the top, so it can be placed upon nails that are nailed into a wall.

This item could be painted or stained, but I personally like the rustic appearance of it.

DIY Rustic Cat Scratch Post


GHAM (and I) also have kitties, so I did not want them to feel left out.  

To make this, I secured three of the rounds to the larger piece of landscape timber using 2" nails.  I then secured the end of the sisal twine to the larger piece of the timber using a staple.  Next came the most tedious part of both of these projects-I wrapped the sisal twine around the landscape timber, creating three layers of twine, and secured the end using a staple.  

I had plenty of sisal twine left over, so I am thinking a shorter roll could have easily been used.

This can either be placed upright, or on it's side.

Nosy Juice kitty had to immediately check it out.
 I had a ton of fun creating these, and it is close to my heart because I am able to give them to a group of people who are very important to me, who work so hard to help the animals in their community.  

I was impressed by how easy it was to create projects benefiting a shelter using supplies from Tractor Supply, a small amount of money, and a bit of ingenuity.


This post is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company and the Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Tractor Supply Company, but My Rotten Dogs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Tractor Supply Company is not responsible for the content of this article.



15 comments:

  1. We too love Tractor Supply! Our dogs eat their kibble called 4Health and I have had really great results with it.

    I love both of your ideas! Who doesn't need more hooks and we dig the rustic look over here living in the woods. Very creative! And I've been needing to fix my old cat post, with something like this. Thanks for the reminder!

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  2. Wow I love this! They both look great and this is just too creative... I REALLY wanted to make a scratching post similar to what you did, but couldn't find an appropriate cylindrical object for the job. I should have looked around in the outside area a little bit more :)

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  3. This is awesome! I love both of these projects!

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  4. Those both are awesome. Have a marvellous Monday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  5. We are like you ...we live in the hills in southeastern iowa BUT live only 25 min. away from a tractor supply.....we get our food there.
    stella rose

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  6. Very creative!! We love TSC. The first time I ever went to our local one, they were having an adoption event for a local rescue, so I knew I loved them immediately! Ours is just over 1/2 away as well, but we go there whenever we can for things for the house and pets.
    Lots of wags and woofs from the crew at Wag n Woof Pets

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  7. Well done!!!!!! Love this!!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  8. Great ideas! And how neat that they are going to a shelter!

    Wags (and purrs) from Life with Dogs and Cats.

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  9. Cute idea on the scratching post. :) Love the pet appreciation week will definitely check it out this week.

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  10. These are both so brilliant! I think I'm going to have to whip up that scratching post after we go to TSC for the PAW event! Thanks for the easy DIY!

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  11. So cute! I LOVE that holder! It could hold an array of things! And, what kitty would turn down that scratching post?

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  12. I love that cat scratcher but sadly I'm sure my cat wouldn't use THAT one either... Someone needs to invent a cat scratcher in the shape of a couch. My cat would love that. Then again he'd probably just ignore that too and continue endlessly clawing my real couch.

    - Sarah

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  13. Thank you for sharing valuable information. Nice post. I enjoyed reading this post. saw reviews sliding

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  14. The cat scratching pole is one of the favourite types of scratchers because of its vertical appeal. Most cats enjoy scratching their claws in a vertical position. Modern cat furniture

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Thanks for the howls!!