I've noticed a dramatic increase in the number of dog owners in the city where I live. In addition to the fact that the dogs don't have much space to roam (I live downtown), I've noticed that there is a lot of feces on the sidewalks, and that so many dogs are peeing on neighborhood bushes that the plants are dying. Since the feces and urine ultimately end up in my local body of water, there must be some environmental impact to this dog ownership surge. On the other hand, cats use litter boxes, and those get sent to the landfill, so I'm wondering which pet people think is a more environmentally responsible choice.What do you think? Leave us a comment, let us know your thoughts.
Search Raise A Green Dog for tips, tricks and info to help you raise a green dog!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Big debate: Which pet has a lower impact on the environment; a dog or a cat?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tips: How to make a great pet bed!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
News: Whole Foods Market to eliminate plastic bags!
- It can take more than a thousand years for a disposable plastic bag to break down in a landfill.
- Most reusable bags can be used thousands of times and there are so many reusable bag options!
- Thousands of customers and Team Members support our Core Value to “care about our communities and the environment.”
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Pup Products: Organic Tees!
Environmental Products: Flush it!
- No more bags and bags of dog poop sitting in landfills taking 20-100 years to breakdown.
- No more dog poo leaching into the ground water that could be used for fishing, swimming.
After some Internet research, company founder, owner and product inventor, Chris Mercer, discovered bags made of polyvinyl alcohol, or PVA. Hospitals often use bags made of PVA because staff can fill them with dirty linens, then toss the whole bag into washing machines, where the PVA dissolves in hot water, keeping staff and handling equipment cleaner. Mercer contracted with bag engineers to develop material that dissolves in the cold water of a toilet. The first prototypes worked, and when Mercer ended up at graduate school at the University of Florida, his fellow students said he had a hot idea. Two friends at UF signed on to the new company: Josh Spoont, 27, and Paul Sharobeem, 29. Late last year, the first official Flush Puppies products hit stores and went on sale online: $3.99 for a pack of 15 bags, roughly a one to two-week supply per dog.Click here for more info and a review of the product! Now all we have to do it teach the cat to flush! No problem...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Pup Products: Going natural for pain and inflamation!
Being the sports nut that I am, I get sore sometimes. All that jumping and weaving can be pretty taxing for even the healthiest of pups. And I've had some other injuries in my life.
So what does my Mum do for me when I get sore and tired muscles, or have other ouches? She goes right for the Traumeel.
I don't take well to any type of pain medications that have been prescribed to me, they almost always irritate my stomach and then I just feel worse. So Mum has used Traumeel topically on my back when I had surgery from the dog attack, she also applied it on the sores that my cast made when I got my broken foot. She's put it on my dislocated toe and now is giving it to me in tablet form to heal my overall soreness. She even puts it on my paw pads when they get sore from running on Astroturf.
Vets are raving about this homeopathic, to help aid in healing and relieving the pain of arthritis, inflammation of the muscles, organs and more, for burns, skin injuries, other topical problems - and much, much more. Here is more information on Traumeel - and the next time you are at the vet, ask them about Traumeel in helping your pup heal.
Although the scientific support behind some forms of complementary medicine is sparse, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have been published in reputable peer-reviewed journals (e.g. The Lancet, Pediatrics, British Medical Journal) which scientifically support the clinical effectiveness of homeopathy in general, and Heel/BHI products in particular.
All of the Heel Inc. products are formulated according to a concept called homotoxicology; a bridge between classical homeopathy and conventional pharmacology. In general, Heel Inc. products are combination formulations which contain measurable amounts of active ingredients and are used to treat specific indications. In other words, homotoxicological products are easy to use and understand for a health care practitioners trained within the conventional medical paradigm as well as those trained in nonconventional medicine.
A good example of this is Traumeel, an effective NSAID without side effects. Refer to page 1237 of the 1997 Physician's Desk Reference and page 1187 of 1998 PDR.
Traumeel is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, anti-exudative combination formulation of 12 botanical and 2 mineral substances. Traumeel is officially classified as a homeopathic combination remedy. It is indicated for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with inflammatory, exudative, and degenerative processes due to acute trauma (such as contusions, lacerations, fractures, sprains, post-operative wounds, etc.), repetitive or overuse injuries (such as tendinitis, bursitis, epicondylitis, etc.), and for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains associated with such conditions. Traumeel is also indicated for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains associated with backache, muscular aches, and the minor pain from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Traumeel is made up of these 12 botanicals - here they are listed with their individual suggestions for condition:
Belladonna 4X (shooting pain along limbs; cold extremities; stiff neck), 75 mg; Arnica montana, radix 3X (after traumatic injuries; sore, lame, bruised feeling; muscular tonic), 40 mg; Aconitum napellus 3X (numbness and tingling of extremities; arms feel lame and bruised; inflammatory rheumatism), 30 mg; Chamomilla 3X (promotes healing of slowly healing wounds), Symphytum officinale 8X (injuries to sinews and tendons; specific for healing of fractures), 24 mg each; Calendula officinalis 2X (minor burns and scrapes; analgesic), Hamamelis virginiana 2X (bruised soreness; varicose veins; hemorrhoids with soreness), Millefolium 3X (minor bleeding; piercing headaches), Hepar sulphuris calcareum 8X (tendency to suppuration; hypersensitivity to cold and draughts of air), Mercurius solubilis 8X, (suppurations; reduces edemas), 15 mg each; Hypericum perforatum 3X (nerve injuries; puncture wounds), 8 mg; Bellis perennis 2X (boils; muscular soreness), Echinacea angustifolia 2X (anti-inflammatory action), Echinacea purpurea 2X (anti-inflammatory, anti-infection), 6 mg each in a lactose base.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Pup Products: All-natural and organic foods and treats!
Environmental Products: For the home, safe, healthy and happy!
A specially formulated laundry detergent for your pets clothing, linens, beds, etc. Free of essential oils, fabric softeners and optical brighteners, it is ideal for pets and their owners with skin sensitivities. Safe for your pet, for you, and for the environment.
Get Serious!Get Serious! is a non-enzyme, nontoxic, biodegradable pet stain and odor remover that safely removes anything your pet tracks in or leaves behind. The revolutionary bubbles penetrate the padding all the way to the flooring and lift stains, odors and the pheromone to the surface where they are completely blotted out.
Castor & Pollux Out Spot! Stain & Odor RemoverEnzyme fortified for multiple uses, Out Spot! works on the toughest problems like urine, vomit, feces, mildew, spoiled food - even red wine and coffee. Natural enzymes break down proteins, to effectively remove stains and odors, leaving behind a clean, fresh citrus scent.
ecoPure Naturals 16oz Odor & Spot RemoverBiodegradable, nonpathogenic Natural Odor & Spot Remover is safe, effective and natural, without harmful bleaches or acids. Natural Odor & Spot Remover breaks down and removes the sources of odor and soiling through the action of natural enzymes. Enzymes are activated in the presence of moisture and organic material such as those found in pet waste (urine and fecal waste).
Natumate Pet Stain & Odor RemoverUsing natures way to remove stains and odors, Natumate is ideal for removing stains/odors due to Pet Accidents, Urine, Vomit, Blood, and Food and other natural waste by-products on dirty laundry, fabric, carpeting, tile, sealed wood floors, upholstery, and furniture. Safe for your pet, for you, and for the environment.
PureAyre Odor EliminatorPureAyre is the only odor eliminator made from California Class 60 food-grade enzymes. Most enzyme-based odor eliminators contain bacteria that produce the enzymes. PureAyre contains no live bacteria, just pure enzymes.
Sal Suds Liquid CleanerSAL SUDS is our hard-surface all-purpose cleaner. It is a balanced formulation of plant-based surfactants with natural spruce and fir-needle oils: it cleans and rinses with exceptional power, yet is mild and gentle on the skin.
All Temperature Laundry LiquidExtremely Concentrated and Effective, & Costs Less Per Load! Only 1 ounce per full load gets fabrics cleaner, brighter, and softer than ever, even in cold or hard water. Environmentally friendly with no negative effects on rivers, streams, plants or wildlife. Biodegrades rapidly. No animal testing or ingredients.