Making Man’s Best Friend - Earth’s Best Friend

I was recently speaking to the President of Dogipot, one of our vendors, which markets dog waste stations (www.dogipot.com). He commented on some of their green initiatives. For example, much of the materials that they use for their dog waste stations is recycled materials. They are also putting an effort into other eco-friendly research, the results of which will be announced in the near future.

Another friend of mine in the pet sector, owner of Dirty Dawgs (www.dirtydawgs.biz) self-service dog wash in Tucson, AZ, uses many products that are all-natural and earth friendly. Her retail operation also sells all-natural dog food, earth-friendly dog toys and other green products for our furry friends. Other pet suppliers are also marketing their green products, as seen in a recent video posted on PetSide.com:

This points to a growing trend in the pet industry. Being green is not only good for the environment, it’s just plain good business. Why? Because consumers (you pet owners out there) are increasingly thinking of the environment when they make their purchases. The great news is that this type of green consumer is quickly becoming part of the mainstream, not just the previously labeled minority of ”tree huggers”.

This extends beyond the pet industry to other products and services. Think about the avalanche of green advertising that you have seen around Earth Day. Big companies and small businesses are taking note of the green consumer in a big way.

How sincere are these companies? Jumping on the green bandwagon may not indicate a deeply rooted love of the earth. However, regardless of the motives, this growing trend is helping the environment. It’s making eco-friendly products and services more common-place and more competitive on the open market. This makes it easier for the consumer (or business) to make an earth-friendly choice.

Even looking at it as a “pure capitalist”, being earth-friendly becomes the right choice from a pure numbers perspective. Take an example in dog waste removal. Using biodegradable dog waste bags is more expensive than using common plastic bags that will not biodegrade in a landfill. Because Doo Care dog waste services has a loyal following of green consumers, we can justify the additional cost. This means that we get more buyers, which means we need more bags, which lowers the price. Our bag supplier begins to get more orders, which lowers their price per bag, so they can be more competitive in pricing with the non-eco-friendly bag suppliers.

By being loyal to eco-friendly products and services, pet owners are helping to make earth-friendly practices the right business choice for the pet industry. Remember, U.S. consumers are spending over $40 Billion annually on their pets, so choosing green pet products and services can make a significant impact.

We all love our dogs, but we also hate what our furry friends leave behind. Dog waste is not only an unsightly and smelly inconvenience; it’s a very real environmental problem. When I joined Doo Care as the CEO of the new pet waste removal franchise, I was stunned by what I learned about the environmental impact of dog waste. Take two specific examples of the environmental impact on landfills and water sources:

1. A recent study in San Francisco determined that pet waste makes up 3.8% of residential landfills.
2. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) even estimates that two or three days worth of droppings from a population of about 100 dogs would contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay, and all watershed areas within 20 miles of it, to swimming and shell fishing.

The landfill problem makes sense when you think about it. What do you use to pick up dog poop? Most people use a plastic bag, right? And usually, these bags are not biodegradable. Okay, you’ve picked up that smelly pile and it’s in the bag… Now what do you do? You tie it off as tight as possible to avoid the offensive odor. Now what do you do? You throw it in your trash, right? Then what happens? It gets transported to a landfill, where the poop remains in the plastic bag, never to biodegrade. Believe it or not, the problem that this creates is comparable to the landfill mass created by plastic diapers. When you consider that about 40% of U.S. households have dogs, that’s a lot of dog poop going to the landfills.

There are several very simple solutions to the environmental impact on landfills.

First, always use biodegradable bags. Doo Care uses only biodegradable bags in our pet waste removal business. Residential owners should do the same. Biodegradable bags cost a little more, but it’s worth it. Using biodegradable bags means that the bag will disintegrate in a landfill, and the dog poop can go back to the earth, as nature intended.

Secondly, consider a dog septic system in your back yard. These are buried in the ground, have a lid and allow you to dump your dog piles into the septic system, which safely and naturally leaches the waste back into the soil. The most commonly know system is the Doggie Dooley, which is available in most major pet supply stores. Also, you may wish to search the Internet for instructions on building your own home-made septic system. Here is one useful link: http://www.cityfarmer.org/petwaste.html

Finally, you may look at other alternatives to dumping your waste. One such alternative is composting. While there has been much scary talk about the risks of dog waste composting, I have not seen any compelling evidence of health risks from dog waste that is properly composted. The USDA released a study in 2005 with guidelines on composting dog waste: http://www.ak.nrcs.usda.gov/compost.html

Additionally, there is at least one product on the market (from Australia), which is a composting unit specifically for pet waste: http://www.tumbleweed.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=19692

Regarding the impact on water sources, the solution is relatively straight forward.

Don’t allow dog waste to accumulate on your property. First, it’s a health risk and a health code violation in many jurisdictions. Moreover, accumulated dog waste can be washed away by the rain. (Hey, problem solved, right?) Wrong. Once dog waste enters storm drains, it can seriously contaminate waterways, and even work its way back into… yes, drinking water.  So as you take your next gulp of water, ask yourself, “Did I clean up the dog piles in my yard?”  

Yes, we know, scooping dog poop always falls to the bottom of the “honey do” list, but that’s why professional dog waste disposal services, such as Doo Care exist. Not only do we remove the waste, but Doo Care always disposes of it in an environmentally friendly manner. If you hire another professional pooper scooper service, ask them what they do with the dog waste. If they are not eco-friendly, find another service, or do it yourself.

That’s the scoop on being earth-friendly!

Are you a pet lover and an earth lover? Many eco-friendly consumers work hard to reduce their carbon footprint, but they often overlook the problem of the “carbon paw print” of their pets. To minimize our pets’ environmental impact, the Doo Care dog waste removal company reminds you of 7 simple steps that you can take to help your pets be more environmentally friendly:

1. Clean up after your pet regularly.  If you don’t like scooping poop, hire a service like Doo Care to clean up your pet waste for about $10 to $15 per week. The accumulation of pet waste is not only a health hazard, but it has a real environmental impact, especially if it storm drains carry it into waterways. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that two or three days worth of droppings from a population of about 100 dogs would contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay, and all watershed areas within 20 miles of it, to swimming and shell fishing.
2. Use biodegradable bags to dispose of pet waste.  Doo Care uses exclusively biodegradable bags for our pet waste removal, and every pet owner should too. A recent study in San Francisco determined that pet waste makes up 3.8% of residential landfills. Much of this landfill problem is the result of pet waste that is disposed of in regular plastic bags. Using biodegradable bags allows the pet waste to go back to the earth as nature intended.
3. Recycle your pet waste.  A Department of Agriculture study published in December 2005 recommended composting as an earth-friendly solution to the problem of dog waste.  Another alternative is to use an in-ground pet waste septic system. These septic systems are a sanitary and environmentally friendly alternative for pet waste disposal. Doo Care offers both composting and septic units to its customers who wish to recycle their dog waste.
4. For cat lovers, consider using kitty litter made from recycled or organic materials.  Traditional clay-based kitty litters contribute significantly to landfills and do not biodegrade. Greener choices are available, including recycled newspaper or flushable kitty litter made from organic materials, such as wheat.
5. Purchase all-natural pet food products. Look for the many healthy and eco-friendly alternatives for pet foods.  Select pet foods that do not contain rendered meat, animal byproducts or chicken meals, and avoid pet foods made from protein sources that may contain growth hormones or antibiotics.
6. Use eco-friendly pet grooming products.  Avoid products that contain phosphates, sulfates and other chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. If you purchase pet shampoos or flea and tick control products, read the label and select products that are made from natural earth-friendly ingredients. Some chemicals can be unhealthy for your pet and can leave a residual “toxic trail” wherever they go. If you send your pet to the groomer, ask the groomer if they have a choice of earth-friendly products.
7. Buy or make earth-friendly pet toys and other products.  If you enjoy buying toys, pet beds or other products for your pet, look for items that are made from all-natural materials. Better yet, have fun and make these products using recycled materials. A pet toy can be made from an old sock or a piece of rope.  A pet bed can be made from an old pillow, blanket or other items that you would normally throw away. Be creative!

Remember that you have a choice in the products and services that you buy for your pet. Choosing an earth-friendly pet product or service can make a real impact on your pet’s carbon paw print!

 About Doo Care.

Doo Care is a professional pet waste removal company dedicated to helping residential and commercial customers keep their yards free from pet waste. Doo Care is an environmentally conscious company, helping preserve water and land by managing and disposing of pet waste in an environmentally appropriate manner. Doo Care uses only biodegradable bags and promotes earth-friendly solutions to the growing impact of pet waste on the environment. The company has launched an expansion plan to establish 250 franchises in the next five years. For more information, visit www.doocare.com.

In the spirit of reducing our carbon foot print, EarthPaw.org has joined the myriad of sites who are now offsetting their web sites’ Carbon emissions through the ingenious CO2Stats Project. You will see in our right hand bar the green box which shows Pounds of CO2 Offset.

So how does this work? Check out this article at Reuters for a clear and simple explanation. In short, The CO2Stats projects purchases carbon offsets based upon the activity generated from participating web sites. It is easy to sign up and add this to your web site just visit CO2Stats for more information.

Welcome and thanks for visiting EarthPaw.org. This is our official first blog post. As pet lovers and also earth conscious citizens we felt that it would be a great venue to share thoughts, resources and ideas that relate to our pets and the environment.

You can look forward to future posts covering topics that are centered around caring for our earth while paying particular attention to the impact that our most loved companions can have on our planet.

EarthPaw’s tagline probably says it best – “Making Man’s Best Friend - Earth’s Best Friend”. As pet owners it becomes our responsibility to dutifully and respectfully care for our pets and also be aware of the impact that they too have on the earth’s environment.