Our Snuffle Mat program furthers our mission to provide enrichment for our animal friends and education for pet owners. Snuffle mats provide a variety of benefits for all animals in all stages of life. Pennies donates a large quantity of the completed mats returned back to us to our animal shelter and rescue partners to support their pet friends waiting to find forever homes. The mats that are not donated back to shelters are given out for free at the events we attend to help spread the mission and purpose of our program and the importance of animal enrichment.

Snuffle Mats provide:

Brain engagement – Our furry friends will enjoy the stimulation this gives their own senses as they search for treats among the fleece. Seeking is a natural behavior for them and the treats they receive while searching is the “icing on the cake” for them.
Distraction – Sometimes our furry friends are waiting for quite some time for their new families and often times they begin exhibiting behavioral signs they are bored or frustrated. Once completed this mat will be a great way for them to exert any built- up energy in a healthy manner.

Our goal is to provide easier enrichment opportunities for shelter staff and volunteers that does not leave their caretakers feeling overwhelmed with the upkeep or overburdened by the costs. We chose these materials because they can be easily cleaned and disinfected and redistributed back to other pets in need.

Please watch the instructional video to see how easy it is to make a snuffle mat and then use the form below to request your snuffle mat kit!

Becky, our Vice President, goes over all the steps and materials needed to make a snuffle mat.

If you are a shelter or rescue interested in receiving completed snuffle mats, please send an email to info@penniesforpaws.org or fill out the request form below.

Check out some of our Snuffle Mats in Action!

Cats love them too!!

Frida was recently adopted from one of our local shelters. She is living large in a home full of high energy dogs- so it was only fair to let her get in on the action too!

Frida is really enjoying feeling part of the pack with her very own mat!

We met Champ and his owner Hunter at a recent event and gifted them a mat to try out! Looks like a fun filled time for sure!

Achilles was a quick learner with his mat. We even made sure to give him one of our thicker, more advanced mats!

Ready to make a snuffle mat? Use the form below to request a Pennies for PAWS Snuffle Mat Kit!

FAQ about our Snuffle Mats

What do I do if my pet doesn’t like it?

Easy- You can either donate it back to us and we will donate it to a shelter or rescue OR PAW it Forward to another pet owner for them to try or donate it to a shelter or rescue.

How do I prevent my pet from ripping it a part?

If you have a pet that is a heavy or destructive chewer we do not recommend leaving this down full time for them have access too. For these type of dogs it may be best to start with timed intervals (20-30 minutes). We see a lot of success when we trade in our pets standard bowl for a snuffle mat to be given their meals out of.

How can I help get my pet started using it?

Snuffle mats can be challenging sometimes as our pets first figure them out but we respect that every pet takes to these at their own pace. We have seen a lot of success when we these are introduced at meal times as a bowl replacement. Other times we have also used higher value treats such as pupperoni, smaller pieces of cut up hot dog or a stinker dry dog food to get their nose more interested. Our mats are easily adjustable so if you find the thickness of your mat is a challenge you can remove (or add) ties to it as you feel is necessary.

What is the best way to clean and maintain my snuffle mat?

You can hand wash it or place it in your washing machine (ideally on a gentle cycle) BUT air dry only. The base of our mats is a thin plastic material and placing in a dryer could damage your dryer, mat or both. Once dried give the strands of your mat a few tugs to ensure they are fastened tightly. Any loose ties we recommend you re-tying tighter or removing and throwing away to prevent accidental ingestion from your pet.