Greening your dog

Sorry PETA, but dogs make great pets.  They are wonderful at so many levels.  They teach kids responsibility and time management, they guard the house (the stats show you’re less likely to be burglarized if you have a pooch), they keep you company without conditions, and they may even be beneficial for your health (blood pressure, exercise, etc.).

  So don’t roll your eyes, but there is an environmental impact.  Some of it’s health and just aesthetics.  For example, some say Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America.  That’s a given—both cities have a huge problem with dog waste on sidewalks.  Gross.  Some cities say one of their largest problems with waste is dealing with all that dog poop.  But it’s more than just their #2—there are other habits that have a negative impact on the environment.  So what’s a master to do?

  First of all, for crying out loud, don’t drive your dog 10 miles in your SUV to go to a “dog park.”  In the end, this is a dog—the dog doesn’t care.  Get your hiney out of the sofa and walk him in the neighborhood—and therefore resist the temptation of leaving your dog in your car when you run errands after frolicking in the park—which is never a good idea anyway.

  Now it comes to food.  Yes, it’s a dog, but look at those ingredients.  Nasty . . . and if the Chinese dog food scare didn’t spook you . . . look up the ingredients in Wikipedia and the description alone will help you lose 10 pounds.  Plus . . . think about the metal and plastic used in the packaging, and the shipping involved . . . so, I suggest you go against the grain and—feed your dog people food.  Yes, that’s right—now check with your vet—find out which combination of starch, protein, and even veggies would work.  Plus you’ll find the added benefits of saving money and not dealing with that nasty dog food stench.

  So finally, what about the poop.  That’s a tough one.  Growing up, we used to bury it with no ill effects.  Well obviously many would take issue with that tactic—plus it’s not practical if you live in an apartment.  Well, tossing it the garbage in a baggie isn’t the best solution, either—that plastic grocery bag you put it in won’t break down in the landfill.  You could buy special bags made from plant based products and flush it down the toilet—yes, that’s right—unlike cat pellets, it’ll break down harmlessly without any bacterial Taliban infecting the water supply.  Well, that may not work if you have a Great Dane. There are dog waste composters available on the market—but again, if you don’t have a yard, that’s a non-solution.

  So there you have it.  Just a few ideas . . . awareness of the issue is certainly a start!