Gone are the days when a t-shirt or other non-edible item with a candy logo was a rare find. I can walk through almost any major store now and find something with a candy theme - scarves, pillows, even dog treats. Is it licensing overkill, or just good fun? I’m still on the fence, but I have to admit, I was thrilled to find the new over-sized PEZ dog treat dispensers (made by Pet-Riffic) at Walgreens.
I wasn’t happy just because one of the varieties is a Smiling Beagle, and I have a beagle. I was thrilled because the product actually mimics a real PEZ dispenser. So, I guess for me, when the non-candy item is reasonably representative of the original, I’m fine with it. The price on the Walgreens display as well as the price on the box said $9.99, but when it was rung up at the register, the total before tax was only $5.99, and the receipt said “SALE” next to “PEZ for Pets.”
I was pleasantly surprised, and briefly entertained by the idea of buying another dispenser as a collector’s item, until I realized I’d spent a good portion of my weekend building an outdoor shed because my living quarters are too full of stuff already. For you collectors out there though, each dispenser goes for $20 at the PEZ Collector’s Store.
The dog treat PEZ dispenser works just like the candy version, and in addition to the Smiling Beagle, comes in the Toothy St. Bernard style. You load the stem with the included dog treats, slide the contraption back together, and pull up on the dog’s head to dispense the goodies.
As for the quality of the included snacks, I didn’t taste them, but canine taste-testers Jessie and Otis seemed to love them. The snacks smelled rancid and are made of yucky ingredients (corn starch, rice starch, sorbitol, maltose, and artificial flavors), but the dogs devoured them. The treats did have to be removed from the dispenser and fed by hand, but the dogs didn’t seem to mind.
There are only six bone-shaped dog treats in each package. I found some refills for the dispenser on eBay, but, I’d rather not give my pups more of those nasty-smelling snacks. Novelty is fun, but I think I’d prefer to give the guys something that at least has real meat in the ingredients. I don’t need any more Candy Addicts competing with me in the house!
More candy articles about: PEZ, dogs, pets, collectible
When I get my beagles I will buy them each a pez dispenser. Those are so cute and creative. I do have to agree, sometimes they just push the envelope too far and are just trying to make a penny. I don’t think this is though, lots of people love their pets enough to buy them wacky cute things. I believe this is a great find, thanks for sharing.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:07 am