In celebration of earth day all around the world each year, we can include our dogs and keep them safe and healthy as well as be good to the environment. These days dog owners are paying particular attention to the environment and owning a dog in a more responsible way.
More than ever we should be concerned about not only what are we feeding our dog or pet, but what we can do collectively to do less damage to our environment. Going green is the buzz word and it is not difficult or expensive rather it's a matter of making good choices. There are an array of products to help us be better dog owners and guardians of mother earth.
We can be eco-friendly as well as having pets and that starts with adopting pets from a shelter or the Human Society. Instead of buying cheap food - buy organic foods you will save a ton of money on your vet bills. Commercial dog foods contain not only poor quality ingredients but may also contain genetically modified foods such as corn. Many of the dog itchy skin problems can be traced to the diet of the dog and the quality of food.
Some dog owners believe they can use human shampoos or sprays on their dog and this causes more allergies and skin itching. Again commercial shampoo makers sometimes do not label their ingredients and the quality is poor. If you use organic shampoos that are safe for pets you will save your dog much distress. Here are some tips on keeping the earth safe while enjoying your pet dog.
Dog Waste Bags:
Now the smarter manufacturers of pet products are going green with biodegradable pet poop bags. These bags do not stay around for 20 years they break down into harmless waste. Biodegradable pet waste bags are now readily available at most grocery or pet stores.
Poop Converters:
This new invention converts your backyard dog waste into a product you would have to buy which is plant fertilizer. By using the Poop Converter you will save having to buy plant fertilizer for your flower or garden beds.
This new product works by making use of the waste your dog produces in the back yard and turning it into a liquid organic compost and fertilizer for your garden. The new Poop Converter does not need chemicals, it works with worms that convert the dog waste into liquid gold fertilizer.
The worms convert the waste into worm castings that are highly concentrated organic fertilizer as a byproduct. One Converter works for 2 medium size dog droppings and its easy to use, just drop the refuse into the bin and let the worms go to work and the best part is there is no odor or smell.
These units usually come with 1,000 worms, instructions and gives you back great savings and much nicer flowers and plants. The product does not take up too much space and keeps the earth clean, cuts down on cost of garbage disposal for cities.
Green Pet Toys:
The Eagle Tribune quotes Don Griffith "But the industry isn't all lavender and mint dog shampoo and stylish leashes made of hemp. In addition to environmental benefits, green pet accessories tend to be much safer for dogs and cats, said Don Griffith, president of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. The pet industry has little or no regulation, he said, so that cheap rubber bone you bought for Fido might be coated with poisonous chemicals or tainted with lead. Don is seeing more and more dogs coming in with liver and pancreatic problems from ingested toxins in chew toys and treats".
Toxic Rawhide Bones:
Those toxic rawhide bones, pigs ears and smoked bones that you see in pet stores sound so appealing for your dog. The problem is they carry so much bacteria its like a low dose of poison for dogs. This comes from a veterinarian who performed many surgeries on dogs who had these cooked bones stuck in the dog's intestines which could prove fatal.
Even employees who work at factories that package these products have taken ill from their own exposure to these cooked bones and byproducts.
Organic Toys:
The Doggy Tug toy is another great invention made right in the USA by a dog owner who bought toys on the market that fall apart easily. She invented her own toy, and it is not toxic, washable and very durable. They are safe and virtually indestructible even for dogs that demolish their toys. Even a rope type dog pull is safer and less toxic because it is made of cloth not toxic plastic.
Today there are organic dog toys for dogs and cats to play with that are made of totally organic materials. Pet owners have the best intentions to give their dogs amusing toys but cannot expect to know what is in each product. In the pet toy industry some toys are dangerous especially with no quality control, or inspections of foreign products that are untested and not safe.
In 2009 the eco-friendly pet product industry is projected to grow to 1 billion in sales by as pet owners seek safer and more earth friendly products for their pets.