Posts tagged "green"

Pet Product Review: Krebs Recycle Leashes

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Jan 19th 2010 1:00PM Filed Under: Pet Product Reviews

recycled rope leash Krebs Recycle

Dogs might have a larger eco-footprint than an SUV, but that doesn't mean you can't take measures here and there to reduce your environmental impact. One possible step to greener dog ownership is walking your pooch with an upcyled leash, like those offered by Krebs Recycle.

Krebs Recycle offers dog leashes made of pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled nylon climbing rope. Presumably, if it's strong enough to hold a 250-pound man climbing a mountain, it's strong enough to hold your golden retriever. The rope remains in its original form, eliminating the need for any carbon-intensive processes, and nothing goes to the landfill.

This family-owned company washes ropes from gyms, rope manufacturers and guide services, cuts them to one of the three lengths (the 6-foot "Reggie," 4-foot "Ruby," and 2-foot "Heeler"), then sews them into leashes.

I sampled the Reggie and Heeler leashes, and was very impressed. For one thing, they're cool. I haven't seen anybody else carrying anything similar at my dog park. And even though I like the bright colors, the rope looks rugged and tough, so my husband prefers carrying this leash to anything else hanging on our wall.

The Heeler is perfect for training the foster dogs that come through my home, while the six-foot length is perfect for leisurely strolls with my constantly curious Lab mix. She can sniff to her heart's content without dragging me off the path. And at just $14, $15 and $16 each, it won't break your pocketbook to buy a couple of lengths!

Dog Group Finds Value in Dog Poo

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Nov 9th 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Dogs

shlomp-a-plompa, Flickr

It's not often that being a responsible pet owner is profitable, but some dog owners in Ithaca, N.Y. have found a way to make that happen (and clean up their dog park in the process).

The Tompkins County Dog Owner Group has teamed up with Cayuga Compost to find a useful solution for all the poo left behind in the city's dog park, reports the Associated Press. Considering some 50,000 dogs visit the park throughout the year (leaving about 1,000 pounds of waste monthly), it only made sense that the group not only wanted to find the best way to rid the park of the waste, but make money doing it.

Leon Kochian, a spokesman for TC DOG (the not-for-profit volunteer group involved in funding the project), biology professor at Cornell University and owner of a yellow Labrador retriever, told the Associated Press, "There was a large Dumpster at the park, and it was just always overflowing with plastic bags of dog poop. The amount was unbelievable."

So sure, it makes sense to compost the doggy doo. But why hasn't this been done before? The Associated Press reports that, according to an assistant program director for the U.S. Composting Council, dog and cat waste isn't suitable to use for vegetable gardens and topsoil because of parasites and pathogens.

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Camouflage Animals

Madagascar Day Gecko
The green Madagascar Day Gecko lives in the dry regions of forests in Madagascar and neighboring islands. They usually grow to be between four to six inches long. Their tail makes up almost half of their length.

Getty Images

Camouflage Animals

Argentine Horned Frog Reptiles
The Argentine Horned Frog, also known as the Horned Frog or Pacman Frog, originated in South America. The green and black amphibian, which can grow up to six inches long, is a popular pets and can live for as long as 10 years.

Camouflage Animals

Walkingstick
The Walkingstick takes its camouflage abilities to the next level by creating the appearance of a stick or twig to hide from predators. While they normally stand still, these insects are able to walk around as though they were a twig caught in the wind. They can be found in tropical forests or woodlands all across the world.

Camouflage Animals

Dwarf Puff Adder
Found in Nambia, the venomous Dwarf Puff Adder hides from the hot desert sun by burying itself in the sand, where only its eyes show.

Camouflage Animals

Stonefish
Often resembling a rock, the brown colored Stonefish camouflages itself perfectly in the ocean. With 13 venomous dorsal spines on its back, the Stonefish can cause tissue damage and respiratory distress, which can lead to cardiovascular shock if left untreated.

Camouflage Animals

Chameleons
Chameleons, the quintessential color-changers, can transform their skin color when their mood, temperature or the amount of light around them is altered. Their hue, which can vary from yellow and pink to brown and black, is also altered when they communicate.

Camouflage Animals

Green Anole
Often confused with chameleons, Green Anoles turn brown when they're stressed or sick. Found in the trees and shrubs of the Southeastern United States, these lizards are popular pets.

Camouflage Animals

The Eastern Wood Frog
The Eastern Wood Frog tricks competitors by changing colors to match its surroundings. Found in North American woodlands, the frog also has a dark black patch from its eye to the base of its front limb that can change colors.

Camouflage Animals