Google+ House Revivals: Make a Simple Raised Dog Food Station

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Make a Simple Raised Dog Food Station

Recently, our sixteen year old pup had a big fall. Our sweet puppy fell two stories while being pet sat. We were on vacation at the time, and cut our trip short, catching the first flight home. During his recovery, he was so stiff and sore that he needed his food and water bowls slightly elevated, so we created this for him:

Yes, I know it's a bit "girlie", but our pup doesn't care about stuff like that :)
I wanted to create something simple, that was easy to make, and didn't require tools.  He needed his elevating feeding station right away, so we didn't want to worry about waiting for paint to dry.  This thrifted vintage tray was the perfect size to hold his bowls, and the raised sides would keep dog food and spills contained.


We poked around, looking for something to elevate the tray with, and ran across this cake pan.  It was the perfect size and height. Lot's of things might have worked -- even another tray, but pans are something most of us already have in our cupboards, and we didn't have time to scour the stores.

My pan was already black, but if your pan doesn't match your serving tray, you can hit it with a little spray paint.


To hold the pan and the tray together, I used self-adhesive hook and loop tape.


1. Turn the cake pan upside down and apply two strips of hook tape lengthways. Press it down well.
2. Attach the loop side of the tape to the hook side and peel back the paper, exposing the adhesive.
3. Set your tray onto the upside down cake pan, so that it sticks to the tape.  You will need to carefully lift the tray off the pan, separating the hook and loop tape.  Now, run your fingers along the loop tape, making sure it is well adhered.


Pop the tray back onto the upside down pan, and you're done!  The great thing about building the dog food station with hook and loop tape, is that I can always "undo" it.  Who knows?  Maybe someday I will want to bake a cake?  The adhesive residue will come right off with a little adhesive release, and nothing has been drilled or permanently altered.

 
Here is our incredible flying superdog.  Isn't he beautiful?  I loved the way he looked at me when I showed him his new tray.


Please don't feel angry with our pet sitters about the accident -- it was not their fault. Our vet says the combination of decreased depth perception and a bit of dementia probably caused him to think he could climb over our balcony rails to get "outside" (in his younger days, he was a bit of a Houdini).  Since he didn't really understand what was happening when he fell, he was super relaxed, and didn't receive any serious injuries!  Crazy, huh?  We are just so grateful to have our sweet old guy with us for a bit longer.  On his follow up vet visit, our vet told us he is one of the healthiest old dogs he has ever seen, and that he is an "uncommon dog".

This post is being linked to the following lovely places:
Tatertots and Jello
Funky Junk Interiors