What is a Green Hound anyway?
By Jenn • Feb 25th, 2008 • Category: Green Hound
I was recently asked to write a introduction for the Green Hound section of The Savvy Hound. Now I was not entirely sure what makes a hound “Green” but I was reasonably sure that hemp is involved (because hemp is the poster product of the eco world. You just can’t be green with out the lovely brown of hemp). I was really hoping it involved using my Greyhound Sam’s “natural emissions” as hot new biofuel. I am pretty sure we can use his gas to power something; cars, planes, space shuttles.
So I searched out what makes a dog Green and found a lot of stuff about reducing his “Carbon Pawprint”. There was a lot of talk about reducing his impact on the environment. Then one day Sam was doing his business on my compost pile (environmentally friendly and convenient) and I thought “What is wrong with his Carbon Pawprint anyway?” The more I observed Sam and my four cats the more I saw there is a lot we can learn about being eco-friendly from our best friends.
Dogs are some of the best environmentalists of all. They don’t just eat poo, they are into “Organic Waste Recycling.” When Sam eats the cat’s puke he is doing “Biological Waste Containment and Cleanup.” Seriously though, ever watch a cat play with a bottle cap or milk tab? What is that but a clever re-use of something that would be thrown away? Sam has never once turned his nose up at wearing a used collar. He has never moaned that his stuffy is “so last season” or needed to upgrade to the latest model.
The simple fact of the matter is that much of the “Carbon Pawprint” we ascribe to our pets is really our footprint in another shape. Have you bought your dog a stuffy they never got jazzed over? Why not get together with some other dog owners and have a stuffy or collar swap meet? Save those milk tabs instead of buying pre-made toys. Watch your pets and let them teach you how to be creative, how to be green. Remember for them the box is always more exciting than what is in it and a new stuffy is only one they haven’t played with lately.
In the coming months this column will cover products and ideas to help you and your pet be green and earth friendly, and yes, I am sure there will be hemp.
Jenn known for her humorous writing, Jenn was a perfect addition for The Savvy Hound!
Email this author | All posts by Jenn
I thought our newly adopted ex-racing male greyhound won the world prize of gas which would power a jet for a long journey.
He is the most adorable black newly retired champion, even though it has taken him these past 7 months to really learn how to be a dog and enjoy his cuddles and massages. When he is relaxed after he has been fed, stretched out across the floor and making those contented grunts - he enjoys making his own kind of perfume!!!
Valentyna, you just gave me an idea for another Greyhoundism cartoon! LOL!
Valentyna, I think if gas goes up to 4 dollars a gallon, I may trying backing Sam up to the gas tank on my car just to see if he can power it!! That is some powerful stuff they produce. Why isn’t science looking into that “alternative” fuel source???
I recycle my hounds stuffies and toys by putting them in a box on the top shelf of the closet. When she hasn’t played with a toy lately I put it (or them - she has a short attention span) in the box for a month or so and then on those days when she’s just sitting and staring at me I take one out. Suddenly it’s Christmas again and I haven’t had to buy a thing! Conversely I haven’t thrown one toy out yet. If it was my mom’s labs the toys would be shredded in 10 minutes - but Fanny just likes fighting with and chasing the toys she has tossed in the air. So my hound is conserving her environment too!