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A white-haired woman in a quilted vest picks a red apple from a tree while a scruffy dog sniffs fallen apples. 8 / 33

Grandma Was Picking Apples Off the Tree. Pepper Found Something Better on the Ground.

AI imagerescue muttapple pickingautumn

The little backyard orchard is heavy with fruit, and string lights glow softly along the fence as evening comes on. Grandma Nell reaches up into the branches in her green quilted vest and plaid shirt, glasses on and white hair twisted into a bun, closing her hand around a shiny red apple. Down below, Pepper is busy with a project of his own. The scruffy dog has his whiskery nose buried among the windfalls scattered across the grass, sniffing each fallen apple as if grading it for quality.

Apples are a popular dog treat, and in moderation, slices of fresh apple are generally considered safe for most dogs. The trouble is in the details. Apple seeds and cores should be removed, since seeds contain compounds that are not good for dogs and cores can be a choking hazard. Fallen fruit in an orchard can also start to ferment or grow mold, which can upset a dog's stomach, so it is wise not to let a dog snack freely on windfalls. Offer a few clean slices instead. If you are unsure about adding any new treat, talk to your vet.

Pepper seems content just to sniff for now, which is probably for the best. Nell will likely save him a sliced piece once the basket is full.

It is a simple autumn ritual: one picks, one inspects, and together they make the harvest feel like a celebration.

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