One last Green Post
May 7, 2009 at 3:45 pm | In Pet Care Tips | 1 CommentTags: eco-friendly pet, environmentally friendly, green, raise a green dog
Just wanted to share a recently discovered blog with you -
“With nearly 75 million dogs in households throughout the US, you can bet your pups are leaving their paws prints on the environment. So what can you do? Help your dog go green! By purchasing environmentally responsible pup products, utilizing environmentally safe household products, and by taking other sustainable measures, you can have a healthier and happier pup, and help the environment at the same time! Raise a Green Dog! will bring you tips, tricks, products, processes and other information on how you can help your pup go green. “
-Mission Statement, RaiseAGreenDog.com
What an adorable logo! He might be giving our Walk This Way lady and her pooches a run for their money! Quite a worthy mission as well. We’ve added them to the blogroll over to the right side of your screen. Please have a look at their site for lots more ideas on how to be an environmentally-friendly pet owner!
Reduce Your Pet’s Carbon Pawprint…
May 7, 2009 at 12:14 am | In Pet Care Tips | Leave a CommentTags: eco-friendly pet, green, green pet, natural, organic, pet cleaner, recycle, stain remover
… and save some money in the process!
Now that you’ve tested out the biodegradable poop bags, its no doubt you’ve seen the light. But you might be thinking, “What else can I do to help my pet enjoyer a ‘greener’ lifestyle?”
Good news! There are lots of small changes you can make that will help out. Many of these tips will save you money too.
- Make your own pet stain cleaner – using white vinegar (full strength or diluted to your preference). It’s far cheaper than commercially available stain removers and equally effective. By the way, vinegar looses its smell once it dries and it is no worse than the odor of the source of the stain anyway! Making your own cleaners helps keep your home free of harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Your pets may be even more susceptible to the effects of these cleaners, because they spend their lives closer to the ground where the cleaners are used. Continue reading Reduce Your Pet’s Carbon Pawprint……
Earth Day
May 6, 2009 at 5:49 pm | In News, Pet Care Tips | Leave a CommentTags: bio bags, biodegradable, earth day, poop bags
We emailed this out to our clients, but somehow the website got overlooked!
Walk This Way Continues our Green Campaign!
In our continuing effort to save out planet while caring for our “kids”, starting on Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day) Walk This Way will begin exclusively using 100% biodegradable doggie bags! We also left samples of these bags for our clients to try out. We will be offering these bags for sale in the near future. Please contact the office via phone or email for more information.
Poop Bag Facts (from poopbags.com)
- 4 million tons of dog waste annually are not collected by dog owners
- 20-30% of all pollutants in waterways are attributed to dog waste. These pollutants originate from rainwater run-off via sewer systems and dogs pooping near watersheds or beaches. Overall, it is believed dog waste is third or fourth on the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated waters
- When responsible owners do their *ahem* duty and pick-up, more often than not it is with plastic bags. Plastics are the fourth highest generated waste in the U.S. They originate from petroleum which is non-renewable, do not biodegrade, and take thousands of years to break down
- PoopBags.com bags meet the ASTM D6400 specification for biodegradability and standards in all 50 states. They are made from corn (a renewable resource) and will decompose at a rate comparable to other naturally biodegradable materials, i.e. paper and leaves
In addition to the new bags, Walk This Way invoices are always available in electronic format (PDFs sent via email) in order to cut down on our paper use. If you’re interested in receiving paperless invoices, please email Dara at Dara.walkthisway@comcast.net
Halloween Pet Safety Tips from the ASPCA
October 29, 2008 at 9:06 pm | In Pet Care Tips | Leave a CommentNo Boo! Hoos: Treat Your Pets to a Safe Halloween
That parade of kids, adults—and yes, even pets—in funny outfits is due to arrive at your door this week, bringing all the sweet and scary joys of Halloween! But pet parents, as you carve the jack-o-lanterns and fill those bowls of candy, please be aware that your furry friends may stumble upon dangers you hadn’t thought of.
Warns Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, ASPCA Animal Health Services, which includes the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, “Many of our favorite Halloween traditions could pose a potential threat to our companion animals. As pet parents start to make plans for trick-or-treating or costumes, they should be aware of Halloween-related products and activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.”
The following are just a few precautions you should take:
No Chocolate: Even if your pet has a sweet tooth, ingesting chocolate—especially baker’s and dark chocolate—can be dangerous for dogs and cats, possibly causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and even seizures.
No Sweets for the Sweet: Candies (and chewing gum) containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.
Dangerous Décor: Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
Don’t Play with Fire: Keep your pets away from jack-o-lanterns with lit candles inside—knocking the pumpkin over can easily cause a fire. And curious kittens can get burned or singed by candle flames.
Costume Caution: Please don’t put your pet in a costume unless you know that he or she loves it. Costumes can cause skin irritations, obstruct a pet’s vision or impede his breathing.
For more information on having a safe Halloween with your pets, please visit our complete list of Halloween Safety Tips. And if your pet accidentally ingests potentially harmful products, immediately consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
New Pet Food Recall
September 26, 2008 at 9:55 pm | In News, Pet Care Tips | Leave a CommentFrom the ASPCA Newsroom:
Warning: New Pet Foods Recalled
The ASPCA is advising pet parents to discontinue the use of certain dog and cat foods manufactured by Mars Petcare US. On September 12, the company issued a nationwide recall of certain foods due to potential contamination with a Salmonella serotype called Schwarzengrund. The recall includes several widely distributed brands of dry pet food, including Pedigree, Special Kitty, Paws & Claws, Natural Dog Food, Red Flannel, Country Acres, Buju & Ziggie, Member’s Mark, Natural Cat Food, Retriever, Bruiser, Doggy Bag, PMI Nutrition and Pet Pride.
“Pet parents should wash their hands after handling any potentially contaminated pet food,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, the ASPCA’s Senior Vice President of Animal Health Services, “and immediately consult with a veterinarian if any signs or symptoms are noticed in their pets.”
For more information on the recall and affected brands, please visit our website. If you suspect your pet has eaten contaminated food, please call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
Heat Warning
July 18, 2008 at 3:30 pm | In Pet Care Tips | Leave a CommentTags: heat warning
Philadelphia has another heat warning today in effect Friday afternoon through Sunday evening. Temperatures will reach into the mid-nineties with the heat index up to 100 degrees. As our policies dictate, we will be having shorter outside walks and longer indoor playtime with clients during this heat wave. Please take precautions with your pets, and make plenty of fresh water available to them!
Mortgage crisis affects pets too!
July 8, 2008 at 8:05 pm | In Pet Care Tips | Leave a CommentTags: Humane Society, Mortgage crisis, NPR, rent with pets
The recent economic crisis is hurting everyone — even pets. The Humane Society of the United States has seen an influx of animals due to home foreclosures and now must figure out what to do with them.
Click here to listen to the story from Fresh Air on National Public Radio.
In the interview, Stephanie Shain, the society’s director of outreach for companion animals, suggests that those who wish to help contact their local animal shelter to see what specific needs the shelter has – donations, volunteers, or money.
Did you know that the Humane Society has a list of resources for renters and landlords regarding the issue of renting with pets? Click here to find out more.
Prevent Heat Stroke in your Pets
June 7, 2008 at 2:57 pm | In Pet Care Tips | Leave a CommentTags: cool down, heat stroke, UPenn Emergency
This weekend Philadelphia is predicted to have near-record temperatures reaching in to the high 90s, possibly up to 99 degrees on Monday. Please be careful with your pets in this hot and humid weather!
Hyperthermia (Heat Stroke) occurs when body temperature rises above normal, which for pets is 100-102 degrees.
Signs of Heat Stroke include:
- Rapid Panting
- Bright Red Tongue
- Red or Pale gums
- Thick, Sticky saliva
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
If your pet is experiencing these symptoms:
- immediately remove them from the heat
- wet their coat down with cool, but not cold, water. Cooling too quickly can be counter productive and cause other life-threatening medical problems
- DO NOT force liquids
- Call your veterinarian, or UPenn Emergency 215-746-8911
Prevention is best!
- Provide access to water at all times
- NEVER leave your pet in a parked car, even in the shade
- Restrict exercise in the hot weather. If possible, limit outside activities during the hottest hours of the day, usually 10am-3pm
- Keep your dog off the pavement, which can burn their paws as well as reflect heat back to the pet
- Air conditioning is one of the best ways to keep your pet cool, but it is not always available. Alternatives: Freeze water in soda bottles, or place ice and water in several layers of plastic food storage bags, and wrap with a towel or tube sock. Leave these in the reach of your pet to lay on. Standing fans or ceiling fans help circulate the air and cool your pet as well.
- Keep a close eye on pets with predisposing conditions such as heart disease, obesity, advanced age or breathing problems.
- Consider making or purchasing a “cooling coat” to have on hand for your dog.
- Cooling mats or beds may also be helpful
Music can calm canines
April 2, 2008 at 9:59 pm | In Pet Care Tips | Leave a CommentOwners often ask if they should leave a radio on for their pets. The answer may depend on what station is playing….
From Pyschology Today blogger Cathy Malchiodi:
“Much of the current knowledge about music’s effects on dogs comes from the work of Belfast-based psychologist and animal behaviorist Deborah Wells. Wells exposed numerous breeds of dogs to everything from Metallica to the classical music of Beethoven, Bach, and Vivaldi. Wells found that dogs in shelters exposed to classical music spent more time in a resting state, barking a lot less than other dogs. In contrast, heavy metal music agitated the dogs [which somehow does not come as a great surprise]. Classical music-and Bach in particular– reduces separation anxiety and stress behavior, including reactions to loud noises such as thunderstorms. And pop music had no effect at all, possibly because dogs, like humans, are used to hearing it regularly. So apparently, Paul McCartney and Barry Manilow pose no known harm to canine mental health. Continue reading Music can calm canines…
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
