Go Green: Eco-Friendly Pet Options

Now the idea of going green has gone to the dogs. Pets can minimize negative impacts on the environment. Check out these Earth-friendly pet products.

Eco-Friendly Dog Beds: Worldwise's PoochPlanet and SmartyKat pet beds are made principally from recycled materials. The material that gives many PoochPlanet and SmartyKat beds their incredibly resilient and fluffy loft is EcoRest, a special fiberfill blend spun from post-consumer plastic beverage bottles. Many of the beds are filled with the equivalent of more than 50 recycled plastic bottles. Cover fabrics for many styles are also made with a blend of recycled materials. Worldwise, whose mission is to change the way America feels about the look, feel, price and performance of Earth-friendly products, has joined forces with national retailers to make the purchase of environmentally-friendly products a natural choice for the average American consumer.

Cat Toilet: The world's only self-flushing, self-washing cat box. The Cat Genie doesn't use traditional cat litter, which is strip mined, and doesn't leave you with litter to dispose of. Cat feces go in septic tank or sewage system, just like human waste. The product won best new cat product at the 2007 Global Pet Expo.

Doggie Septic Tank: Rather than disposing of pet waste in garbage, this picks up where your pet left off. You use a pet septic tank of sorts. The original in-ground pet waste disposal system keeps lawns and play areas clean and sanitary with the Doggie Dooley Toilet. Simply install in the ground; drop in dog waste; and occasionally add Digester Powder and water for continuous break down of waste. The environmentally-friendly Doggie Dooley Toilet is harmless to lawns, pets and shrubs, and has the capacity to handle the waste of one large or two small dogs. It works like a home septic system by using enzyme and bacteria action to turn waste into a ground absorbed liquid. It's ideal for most soil conditions except hard clay (works well in sandy soil too). It is molded of durable plastic, the Doggie Dooley Toilet features an open-bottom to create a waste leach field. Improperly disposed pet waste can wash into storm sewers by rain, thus carrying pollutants directly into our lakes and streams. Doggie Dooley offers an easy, sanitary method for yard cleanup.

Eco-Friendly Cat Litter: There are eco-friendly cat litters such as those made out of plant-based material such as corn, wheat, recycled newspapers or wood chips, which are friendlier on the environment than clay litter. Check out corn litter at www.gpcpet.com or green tea leaves/wood cat litter at www.nextgenpet.com.

Keep Pets Clean With Natural Pet-Care Products: Lather pets up with detergent, alcohol and pesticide-free grooming products and clean up their mess with products that are as gentle on Earth as they are on pets. These include hypoallergenic dog shampoo, stain and odor remover, dander remover, chew prevention aid, tearless puppy shampoo. Hartz Clean Earth line of products even includes biodegradable training pads (think biodegradable diapers).

Recyclable Or Sustainable Pet Toys: Toys made with organically grown cotton or natural dyes aren't only pesticide and chemical free, they also reduce pet allergies and are biodegradable. Find them at www.simplyfido.com There are great chew toys made from recycled rubber come from www.planetdog.com.

Cat Scratch Fever: As if there weren't enough things to admire about this product -- toy, bed, exerciser and training tool all in one -- the SuperScratcher serves the planet as well as it does cats and their owners. Made of nearly 100 percent recycled materials and certified organic catnip, it is long-lasting, safe and natural, and 100 percent recyclable.

Hemp Collars: Almost all pet collars are made of nylon, which is made from petroleum. Planet Dog's all-time best-selling collar is the Cozy Hemp Collar. Natural hemp gives strength and an attractive texture, and the fleece lining is cozy and soft. It's what you would wear if you were a dog. Hemp is one of nature's most durable fibers. It gets soft and stays strong, making it the perfect material for collars, leashes and harnesses. The Cozy Hemp Collars come in three sizes and three colors (green apple -- great for St. Patrick's Day, purple and orange). Medium and large collars have a stainless steel side-release buckle, and small collars have plastic. The leash handle comes in one size and the same three colors, and it is fleece-lined for comfort.

Recycle a Pet: Adopt -- don't buy -- one of the millions of pets in shelters that would jump at the chance to get out of the cage at the shelter and under the covers in your home! Go to www.petfinder.com for more info.

[Source: abcnews.com]

7 Tips for Buying a Dog House

Before you buy your dog a doghouse, take the time to consider her height/weight and the type of climate you live in. Here are 7 tips that will hopefully make buying a doghouse a little easier:

1. Wooden doghouses enhance the look of your backyard with their classic style and design, while plastic doghouses are easy to clean and virtually maintenance-free.

2. If you live in cold climates, insulated doghouses are a must. Position the doghouse so the door faces away from the wind and provide lots of soft, warm bedding to help keep your dog warm.

3. Doghouses with peaked roofs and weatherproof liners within the roof will keep your dog dry and warm during thunderstorms and showers.

4. A raised floor that is a few inches off the ground will increase airflow and keep the doghouse cooler in summer and warmer during the winter.

5. Keeping a doghouse clean on the inside will make your dog feel more comfortable and healthy. A doghouse that features a removable roof makes cleaning much easier.

6. For design harmony within your backyard, choose a style of doghouse that the wood, brick or stone exterior can be matched to the exterior of your own house.

7. Another doghouse feature that will make your dog feel more comfortable and warm is an off-center door. This prevents wind from blowing straight into the doghouse.

[Source: Dog.com]

Fall Preview: George

It's that time of the year when your fashion magazines are the size of the Yellow Pages. We're looking forward to seeing the new fall styles and recently met up with one of our favoritest dog clothes and accessories designers, George. Known for their clean, modern designs and fashionable colors, George does not disappoint. This season we have functional, tough-wearing, rain-proof corda shell jackets in bold colors and pleasing contrasting trim. Their bedding color palette is a gentle smoky-gray-blue-green, made in their signature corduroy. It's stylish, well-constructed and fun! Check back for more fall previews!

Environmentally Friendly, and Soft to Boot

With the recent Live Earth event, it's got many of us thinking green (although we should be thinking green all the time). Well, if you're on the market for a new dog bed, you should consider the Big Shrimpy beds. In either lofty big pillow or cozy cuddler style, these beds have a tough washable outer cover and a soft recycled inner.

Big Shrimpy's goal is that 70% of annual sales revenue will be from products containing at least 50% recycled materials. Big Shrimpy also follows environmentally sustainable practices in the company’s day-to-day activities and donates a portion of its annual product sales to a non-profit organization that works to encourage environmentally friendly business practices. In 2006, 96% of their product sales revenue came from products using at least 50% recycled materials. Way to go Big Shrimpy! This fall, these comfy beds will be stuffed with SmartFill, a 100% pre-consumer recycled polyester fiber. It is machine washable and dryable. Because SmartFill is made of many individual tufts of fiber, the beds can be opened up and “refluffed” to restore the loft of the fiber. Sounds dreamy. zzzZZZZZZ