Many of us enjoy seeing the dogs in our neighborhood, and maybe even giving them a treat from time to time, but one Tennessee man has taken things to a whole new level.
Doug Owen, an independent contractor, works from his home in East Nashville. While he doesn’t have a dog of his own, one of the joys of his day is seeing the neighborhood dogs pass by his window.
“It lowers the blood pressure when you see a dog come by,” he told WTVF.
Then one day, he came up with an ingenious idea to do something for the local dogs: putting a free treat machine outside on his lawn!
Owen bought an old gumball machine for $80 and loaded it up with dog treats. He says his unique treat machine, labeled “Doug’s Dog Delights,” is “probably the only one in the country.”
While the gumball machine is designed to take coins, Owen generously decided to make his treat dispensary free-of-charge to any passing pooch. “The dog treats are free because we know dogs don’t carry cash,” he told the Washington Post.
“They deserve a treat,” he said.
Needless to say, the treat machine has been a hit with the local dogs and their owners, and has become a must-stop during walk time.
“The dogs know it’s there,” Owen said. “They’re pulling the owners toward it. It’s now a magnet.”
“My dogs have gotten to know when they’re close by and they get pretty excited,” neighborhood resident Kevin Patterson told the Post. “We talk to other dog owners as we walk by, so it’s been pretty cool that way.”
Owen says it has given him a chance to get to know his neighbors better, giving them a conversation starter when they pass by. “I’ve met more people for sure because the neighborhood has changed in the last 5 years,” he told WTVF.
Owen has so far given out about $100 in treats, but he says the investment has been well worth it and plans to keep refilling his treat machine indefinitely.
He also hopes his project inspires other people to build their own treat machines for their neighborhoods.
What a great idea! Every dog deserves a treat, and we’re glad Doug’s gumball machine has been such a hit with the whole neighborhood!
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