There's a great new movie in select theaters right now called "Earth Days." It's a movie that looks back to the down and development of the modern environmental movement - from its post-war initial beginnings in the 1950s and the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s bestseller 'Silent Spring', to the first wildly successful 1970 Earth Day celebration.
Here's some info from their website:
In Earth Days, acclaimed director Robert Stone (Oswald’s Ghost, Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst) traces the origins of the modern environmental movement through the eyes of nine Americans who propelled the movement from its beginnings in the 1950s to its moment of triumph in 1970 with the original Earth Day, and to its status as a major political force in America.
Drawing heavily on eyewitness testimony and a wealth of never-before-seen archival footage, Stone examines the revolutionary achievements—and missed opportunities—of a decade of groundbreaking activism. The result is both a poetic meditation on man’s complex relationship with nature and a probing analysis of past responses to environmental crisis.
A great film to learn more about Earth Day and how it came to be.
Earth Days opens theatrically in New York on August 14; LA on August 21; and nationally in select cities in September. For more information please visit Visit the Earth Days' movie website.
We are very happy to welcome Olive as one of our new advertisers!
If you are new to Olive, they are a veritable smorgasbord of doggy duds, tail-wagging treats and pooch paraphernalia. Olive is dedicated to bringing you the largest variety of healthful and environmentally friendly dog products the big ol' internet has to offer.
Many of Olive's green goods are one of a kind—hip, modern and eco-friendly dog supplies. Now your discerning pooch can support sustainability without sacrificing style.
And Olive is offering 10% off for Raise A Green Dog fans. Just be sure and enter code RaiseGD at checkout!
Tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, fire...they are all very scary.
We've had our share of tornado warnings in our area of the country. One time we had to get in our safe room, and wait out a tornado that hit just south of our house. Luckily, we came out of that one with just a little damage to our house.
Emergencies come in many forms and may require anything from taking cover in a safe place in your home or a brief absence from your residence, to temporary or even permanent evacuation.
So, what can a green dog do to be prepared for emergencies?
You can do what we do, here's a great list to start:
Get a rescue alert sticker for the front window of your home! In the event of a disaster or emergency it will let rescuers know there are pets in the home and how many.
Find a safe place in your home that you and your pet can go in an emergency ahead of time!
And/or find a safe place for your pets if you have to leave or evacuate, and can't take them with you. Whether it's a friend's or family's home, or a temporary shelter or veterinarian, find a place your pet can stay safely until they can reunite with you. Keep their number in your pet emergency supply kit.
Know the evacuation routes in your community.
Keep those carriers, crates and leashes very handy. And put together an emergency preparedness kit and first aid kit for your pets. And keep 'em with you at all times, whether you are taking cover in your home, evacuating, or taking other forms of shelter.
One of the most important things in our emergency kit is our first aid kit. While we have quite a few 'green' and homeopathic items in our emergency kit, it's just not feasible for every item to be green, but we do our best. We've added a lot of 'green' resource links to help you find safer, healthier and more eco-friendly options for your first aid kit.
Or you may want to look into a good Canine First Aid Kit and then add your own homeopathic, eco-friendly and 'green' items to it like we do. We also use a thermal bag for all our first aid items in case it is exposed to extreme heat or cold to keep the items safe, fresh, and effective.
Veterinary and pet emergency hospital contact information
Pet boarding facilities
List of hotels that allow pets
Our microchip numbers, and microchip company contact info
Extra copies of photographs of each of us
Phone number of the ASPCA Poison Control Center
Pet insurance contact information and policy numbers
Additional copies of our vet and vaccination records
Contact information for relatives and personal friends.
And we have them all placed near a couple of carriers for my two kittie bros, and our emergency fold up crates for me and Gracie.
If any emergency comes along, Mum can go to the downstairs closet (which is also our safe room) and get everything we need in just a few minutes for any emergency.
Here are some great resources for planning for emergencies with your pet:
Mum and I got busy the other day selecting the winners of our two giveaways the last couple of weeks from EcoSmart and Clean+Green.
Mum placed the little white pieces of paper with the names of the entries on the floor (upside down of course, so I couldn't read them) and I sniffed out a couple of winners!
Drum roll please!!!!
The winner of the super effective EcoSmart Product Bundle is none other than our Twitter buds, Lou and Pebbles!!! Congrats you two, you will now be free of those nasty bugs with an amazing eco-friendly and safe insect repellent!
And the winner of the super great Clean+Green product bundle from SeaYu is....our loyal and faithful blogging bud, Morgan!!! Morgan will be receiving six (6) Clean+Green products of their choice to help keep it green, eco-friendly and clean around their house, and safe for all the 2 & 4 leggers in their home.
Big, big congratulations to both the winners, and super thanks to everyone who entered!!!
The other day the folks at Free Range Dog Chews sent us a sample of their Buckarooz natural deer antlers. And we gotta say, we love 'em!!!
According to the company, the deer antlers used in Buckarooz are renewable resources in nature. They come from U.S. free-range wild (not farm raised) white tail deer, mule deer and elk. And no deer were harmed in any way to obtain these treats.
Once the antlers fulfill their purpose for the animal, they fall off naturally and are gathered up and made into dog chews! Once these antlers are collected, (no processing is needed) they are cut to size and packaged.The new antlers then grow in their place with about one-half inch per day during the deer’s peak development.
The antlers have a covering that is rich in oxygen and calcium the deer have stored in their bones throughout the year, making them super healthy for us pups. The marrow-filled antlers are high in calcium and phosphorous and have smaller amounts of other natural minerals.
And they are very long lasting! Mine has lasted over a week so far, and it's still going strong. And Mum doesn't have to worry about any chips of the 'bone' coming off and hurting our insides, because the antlers when you get all that good saliva on it turns a bit mushy, which we loved.
These antlers contain no hormones, antibiotics, animal by-products, steroids or preservatives are added to Buckarooz. And they go through thorough tests by an independent, third-party U.S. laboratory that uses APPMA- and FDA-approved methodology. The testing is complete to make sure that you have the safest treat for your dog, free from bacteria, chemicals and any contaminants! And all the Buckarooz antlers come from the US.
The Buckarooz come in packages ranging in size from regular (4-5 inches that retail for $6.79/package) to monster (10-12 inches that retail for $27.99/package), making them perfect for dogs of all sizes and ages.
You can visit and purchase from retail locations near you that carry Buckarooz or visit FreeRangeDogChews.com!
The nice folks at Clean+Green sent us a sampling of their super amazing cleaning products the other day.
I have to tell you, Mum has used a lot of green cleaners on our carpet and floors, but none have worked as well as Clean+Green. This one got out a stain that had been left by some workmen in our house for over four years. That's powerful!!!
Mum first used the Wood & Tile product, and got some spills off the floor in the kitchen. It got the stains right up, but the nice thing is that there wasn't any overpowering smell when spraying. Amazingly enough, there was hardly any smell at all! Love it.
So then she decided to use the Carpet & Upholstery product they sent. First she started on a spot where my kittie bro, Wiggy, had had one of his once a year hairballs. The remains of a stain had been there for a while, and the product got it right up. Nice!
Then Mum decided to give it the big test and try it out on the stain that had been on our carpet for four year. We had no idea what it was, but think it was grease based from some workman in our house, which are super difficult to get up.
Here are the results. First the stain, then voila, it was gone! Mum was very impressed, she had tried all kinds of green cleaners and her own green recipes on that spot many times over the years. Nothing she tried got it up except the Clean+Green. And again, barely any odors at all!
And the best part is this stuff is made of very safe and green ingredients. Here's the list from the Carpet & Upholstery spray: Cane sugar derivatives, proprietary botanical extracts and hydrated cellulose (cleaning agents), purified water and nitrogen propellant (non-flammable & eco friendly.) Very nice.
Here's a little more information:
They have several dog (and other pet) cleaning products for multiple uses including: Furniture Refresher, Carpet & Upholstery, Wood & Tile, Carpet Upholstery and a new De-Skunk Coat Cleaner. All their products are non-toxic, eco-friendly and are very safe for pets and the planet.
Each product is formulated for a specific purpose and can be used on carpet, rugs, wood floor, tile, cement, and all fabrics. They are also non-flammable, non-carcinogenic and have no harsh chemicals, no VOCs and no CFCs.
We want to thank Clean+Green for sending us the products. And we both of us want to share some with you!!!
So one week from tomorrow (Friday, August 14th) we will be giving away six (6) Clean+Green products of your choice to one lucky blog reader and winner!
All you have to do to enter our drawing is leave a comment on this blog post, with your name and email address (if you're shy about leaving your email in my comments, feel free to email me at johann@johannthedog.com with your name, and the name of the giveaway). By doing this you will be entered into the drawing and we'll have a way to get back in touch with you if you win :)
I personally will be selecting the winner, through my usual process, which is Mum puts all the entries on little white pieces of paper on the floor, then sends me to them to pick just one. I'll be picking the winner on Friday, August 14th, then we will let the folks at Clean+Green (and their parent company Sea-Yu) know who our winner is and they will be contacting the winner to select and send their new Clean+Green products. Oh, please note, US residents only please! (Apologies to my friends across the pond, and further north & south!)
So get your entries in, deadline is a week from today, August 13th, midnight, EST!
A big part of being green is reducing, reusing and recycling! Practiced in this order, the 3-R's process can help you significantly reduce the amount of waste and energy produced and impacted on our environment.
Reducing means reducing waste before you purchase it, or purchasing products that are not wasteful in their packaging or use. Reusing means just that: reusing materials in their original or modified form instead of throwing them away, or pass those materials on to others who could use them too. One man's trash is another man's treasure! And recycling is the art of separating, collecting, processing, and ultimately re-using or re-manufacturing a material that would have been thrown away, and making it into a new product.
Environmentally aware and green consumers help the environment by practicing the 3-R's system and therefore produce less waste. They are buying products that are less toxic to the environment, are made of recycled materials, and contain less packaging. They are re-using purchased items for lots of other purposes. They are maintaining and repairing products instead of adding them to landfills. And, they are participating in recycling programs all over the country.
So how do our dogs play into the reduce, reuse, recycle 3-R's process? Lots of ways. So lets get started:
When you're out and about purchasing products for your pups, take into consideration the amount of packaging associated with that product when selecting which green product you want/need to buy. Many green dog product companies are shifting to less packaging. You can help the process by supporting them if the product meets with your green dog standards.
When you're pup de-stuffs one of their favorite plush toys, you can save the stuffing to use in a new toy that you can make with old clothing or towels. Oh, and be sure and get that squeaker before it's destroyed so you can use it in the new homemade toy, too!
Is it time for a new collar or leash? Donate the old one to a local rescue or shelter. You can also donate some of your newspapers, old towels, baby gates, and other unused items to your local shelter or rescue. They always need help.
Got some old towels and washcloths lying around? Use them for door mats to soak up the dirt your pup may drag in from outside. Or, rip them in strips and braid them for a super cool dog tug toy.
Take your reusable bags every time you go shopping for your dog! And help save those landfills from the dreaded plastic :)
These are just a few suggestions of how you can reduce and reuse items for your dog. There are of course thousands of ideas, and they are only limited by your creativity! Just think before you buy and think before you toss :)
What about recycling? Many of the products and packaging associated with a product are potentially recyclable. Earth911.com has a great website to help you learn all about recycling, what you can and can't recycle, all about the recycling codes and numbers, where there are recycling and curbside pick up in your community, and more. So before you toss it, check and see if you can recycle it!
Here's a little widget we picked up to help you find resources in your community for recycling!
Now, what about those prolific pet food cans and bags? That's the biggest question we get about the 3'R's relating to dogs. And it's one of the ways us dogs have the most impact on the amount of waste that goes into landfills, besides our doo.
So what do you do with the food bags and cans? Here's what we do!
Dog Food Bags - most dog food bags are made with multiple layers designed to keep the dog food fresh. These layers are both paper and plastic. Sadly the plastic layers of these bags are most usually not recyclable. So what can you do? Pull apart and separate the layers of the bags, and recycle the paper layers. You can then reuse the plastic layers after cleaning for quite a few things, like packing items for water tightness, or using them as floor savers when painting.
You can also reuse complete dog food bags for a few things. Turn them inside out and use them for shipping items. Or you can use them as containers or barriers for certain messy items, like used paint stirrers, or to put under your car when changing the oil. You can even use them as knee savers for your Mum when she's out in the garden digging away. And if you just have to throw something out, they make a super trash bag.
Also, we heard recently that Petco and Terracycle are testing a pet-food-bag recycling program in NY & NJ with a possible roll out by year's end. So that may be an option for you. (We'll keep you posted.)
Dog Food Cans - most pet food cans are made out of aluminum now-a-days, some may be made of steel. You can tell which by putting a magnet to the can, it will stick to steel, but not aluminum. And many times it will say on the label. Both aluminum and steel are recyclable materials, so make sure you rinse them out, and we recommend taking off the label before adding to your recycling bin.
One more thought. By adding in or feeding raw and home cooked healthy foods to your dog, you can really reduce the amount of dog food bags and cans you bring into your household. Just make sure you do your research on raw and home cooked meals, see our post - Let's Talk Food!
Now sit back and enjoy this nice vid from Green Guy Jack Johnson and his pup, teaching the 3-R's to students of Sunset Beach Elementary School. Happy reducing, reusing and recycling!
After testing out the EcoSmart Ant and Roach Killer (see previous blog post) we decided we wanted to work with the EcoSmart company to give away one of their product bundles to one lucky blog reader!
The EcoSmart product line has lots of great organic insecticides that kill ants, cockroaches, crickets, pill bugs, silverfish, spiders and more; so much safer for us pups and our humans that those nasty chemicals.
To enter into our drawing for an EcoSmart product bundle of your choice, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post, with your name and email address (if you're shy about leaving your email in my comments, feel free to email me at johann@johannthedog.com with your name, and the name of the giveaway). By doing this you will be entered into the drawing and we'll have a way to get back in touch with you if you win :)
I personally will be selecting the winner, through my usual process, which is Mum puts all the entries on little white pieces of paper on the floor, then sends me to them to pick just one. I'll be picking the winner on August 12th, then we will let the folks at EcoSmart know who our winner is and they will be contacting the winner to select and send their new EcoSmart product bundle. Oh, please note, US residents only please! (Apologies to my friends across the pond, and further north & south!)
So get your entries in, deadline is a week from today, August 11th, midnight, EST!
The nice folks at EcoSmart sent us a can of their Ant and Roach Killer last week and we got a chance to try it out!
We've been having some ant problems in our downstairs half bath. And there's a reason. That's where Wiggy, my kittie bro, eats his meals.
You see, when you have two pups and two kitties in a family, sometimes you have to be creative in how you feed 'em all. Wiggy is way too nice when it comes to his food, and tends to share it if any pup or other kittie wants some of it. So Mum feeds Wiggy where it's nice and quiet, and he won't be bothered or tempted to let others have his food.
But all that eating in the downstairs bath, which backs up to the garage, has enticed some ants to gather during the day to feed on what Wiggy has dropped off his plate. Mum didn't want to put anything that wasn't safe in that room for Wiggy, since that's where he eats, and since we're a green family. So we were anxious to try out EcoSmart's new insect repellent.
This is what EcoSmart says about their Ant and Roach Killer: "It kills ants, carpenter ants, cockroaches, crickets, pill bugs, silverfish, spiders and other crawling insects on contact. Unlike other insecticides, it is made from organic plant oils and kills bugs naturally to better protect your family. Plus, there’s no pesticide residue."
We checked the ingredients and it has some pretty doggone safe stuff in there:
We know that some essentials oils, even though natural, aren't safe for us pups or the kitties, so after Mum sprayed she wiped up the access on the floor, along with the dead ants. And left a little residue on the baseboard where the ants were coming from. And guess what? Yep, no more ants for three days now.
The scent after spraying was pretty overpowering, so Mum closed the door and put on the air vent for a while. And she made sure that we stayed out of there for a day, just in case. But the nice thing is there aren't any bad chemicals in this spray, so she felt comfy allowing Wiggy to eat in there that evening, the next morning, then evening, and ever since.
For the past year and a half, I've been creating educational and really fun Squidoo lenses on all kinds of subjects related to us pups.
From dog sports and fun things you can do with your pup, to dog parties and great dog people, there is a wealth of fun and information! Be sure and check them out, we know you'll have fun and learn something too!
There's a great new movie in select theaters right now called "Earth Days." It's a movie that looks back to the down and development of the modern environmental movement - from its post-war initial beginnings in the 1950s and the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s bestseller 'Silent Spring', to the first wildly successful 1970 Earth Day celebration.
