Reasons to Go Green in March

         

March is the month of Saint Patrick’s Day, National Wildlife Week, Poison Prevention, and the start of Spring, which makes it the perfect month to go green!  Being green can mean different things to different people, so for that reason, we wanted to share different ways to go green this month with your pup.  

Celebrate St. Patty’s Day with your pup

There are all sorts of fun things you can do with your pup on or around St. Patty’s day.  Of course you and you pooch can sport a spot of green in your outfits that day.  But what’s the fun in getting dressed up when you’ve got no place to go?  Well, you can go out to lunch and enjoy the beautiful weather on the patio of an Irish Bar & Grill.  Or, you can go for a walk to help raise funds for a local shelter (by participating in the Walk with the Animals fundraiser on Saturday the 15th – Check out www.petsadoption.org for more info).

Do a bit of spring cleaning

This is the time of year when the house gets cleaned from top to bottom.  You may be one of those people who dusts the whole house, cleans all the windows, vacuums every nook and cranny, and polishes the silver.  One area that often gets over looked is the dog’s belongings.  When was the last time you cleaned the dog’s bed, leash, bowls, or toys?  Everything the dog sleeps on collects dust, dirt and dander so it needs a good cleaning at least once every 3 months.  Dog leashes and collars are exposed to everyday life which can get messy.  While you may not consider them dirty because they never touch the ground, oils from your hands and your dog’s skin and coat will naturally attract dust and dirt. Dog bowls can be cleaned every day if you want to ensure your dog’s health (especially if your dog eats wet or homemade food), but at the very least try to clean them once a month (only recommended if your dog eats kibble). The same goes for water bowls, as things do grow in water.  And your dog’s toys are most likely covered in dog spit which means bacteria is growing.  That bacteria gets on your hands every time you touch the toy, not to mention, the bacteria causes toys to smell.  All in all, keeping the things in your dog’s life clean will help prevent your dog from getting sick.  And a healthy dog is a happy dog.     

Keep an eye out for wildlife in your backyard  

While critters and wildlife creatures can be a nuisance at times, we should remember that as our cities grow, their natural habitats shrink, leaving these animals little choice but to adapt to our suburban world; and that means making a new home in our backyard.  Most dogs love to hunt. They don’t always catch their prey but they sure do try. This month, make an extra effort to protect the wildlife in your yard.  If you see a bird’s nest that is low enough to the ground where your dog can reach it by jumping, keep your dog away from that tree until the baby birds have learned to fly.  If you stumble upon a nest of bunnies in an overgrown shrub, temporarily fence the area off so that your dogs won’t disturb them.  Remember, wildlife needs our love and compassion just as much as dogs and cats do.

Switch to organic cleaners (safer for your pets and the environment)

March is Poison Prevention Month and since many household cleaning products have toxic chemicals, we encourage you to stop using these products, especially around your pets.  While there are some cleaning products on the market that are made from natural ingredients and do not contain chemicals, there are less expensive household products that will get the job done just as well, if not better.  Baking soda is a great substitute for scouring cleaners.  It will work great on the tub, sink, and even the kitchen floor.  Its deodorizing capabilities make it a great carpet sprinkle to remove pet odors as well. Borax is a naturally-occurring mineral that can be safely used as a laundry detergent, a scrub for tiles, and it will even kill fleas (it can be used as a carpet sprinkle as well).  Vinegar and water makes a great cleaning solution for bathrooms, kitchens, and windows.  It will also clean rust stains. Vinegar and Dawn (dish soap) cleaning solution makes a great degreaser. For more natural cleaning solutions check out Calveras Humane Society website.