It is a very, very cold day here today, my paws and snout are icy from  outdoor visits, but this is news that warms my heart. A most unique and intuitive soul will be featuring her fine art in my town of Wheat Ridge, Colorado on Friday, February 4, 2011. Vickie Krudwig did the amazing illustrations in my books. She describes her art as follows:

                   “I use spiritual meditations, non-linear narratives, vivid colors, illumination, and ancient images as patterns. My modern abstract paintings encourage viewers to voyage through the world of birds, angels, and prayerful meditations and poetry from around the world.”

For the record, I describe her art (in my books) as nothing short of stupendous. She and Mom took “my images” and cast them into “words and drawings” that tell a story of my passion for the earth. The header of this blog is an example of her work in my books.

Do you know how your pet impacts the earth and how you impact your pet’s health; what you are going to do about it and who are you going to tell? We discuss the choices pet parents have in caring for the environment and our health. It is not complicated, take my word for it; this is something you need to know and you will want to do. In fact, it is fun.

I urge you to pick up copies of my books, Ernie by brother and I co-authored the second book for kids in 2009, Doggone Clean and Green: Eco-Solutions for a Pet’s Daily Life (see my online special). Also, check out my NEW Pets Gone Green University  for a list of courses we teach. After that go to Vickie’s reception Friday evening February 4. You will be glad you did, I guarantee it.

 

Vickie Leigh Krudwig         
Artist Reception, Friday, February 4th, 2011
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

at the Elements Art Gallery, Anthony M’s Visions in Gold

6789 West 44th Avenue – Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033

Phone (303) 424-1881

Woofs, Cedar Dog for Mayor

In news clips from October 18 one appeared that I don’t woof on enough, pet poisonings. The article is on truly harmful chemicals. Most poisonings are totally preventable when toxic dangers are out of reach or out of the house.

In my books grab a copy here there is a lot of information on avoiding dangers indoors and outdoors.  “Animal companions are extremely curious; we will sample taste almost anything.”

Some toxic or hazardous chemicals can kill us immediately or make us very ill. Others build up in our bodies over time, like years, as cats and dogs regularly lick floors and carpets, glass, counter-tops, appliances and even mops. That means unless your family uses safe household cleaners you are regularly taking in toxic ingredients. Indoor air can be a toxic stew; does you family use safe pet care products for bathing and grooming; what chemical solutions are used to get rid of fleas; do you have safe toys and chews. My books lists many of the dangers and some you would not normally think about.

According to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the company received nearly 20,000 pet poisoning claims between 2005 and 2009. With the rising cost of veterinarian care it is often difficult for families to find affordable care making prevention even more important. While I do not endorse any one pet insurance plan or company it does seem more and more that pet parents are buying insurance protection for their pets.

Finally, are your pet parents prepared for a pet emergency? Do you have one of our pet first aid kits at home and in the car? Do your pet parents have the knowledge and skills to save your life? If not they can sign up for the next PetTech First Aid course November 7, 2010 in Denver. To sign up and learn more go to   A New Way to Life. Don’t put this off, we are too important.

The 10 most common poisonings from VPI claims.

Accidental Ingestion of Medications (pet or human drugs)    5,131
Rodenticide (mouse & rat poison)    4,028
Methylxanthine Toxicity (chocolate, caffeine)    3,661
Plant Poisoning    2,808
Household Chemicals    1,669
Metaldehyde (snail, slug poison) 396 
(Pets poisoned by snail bait, a real life account)
Insecticide    323
Heavy Metal Toxicity (lead, zinc)    288
Toad Poisoning    270
Antifreeze Poisoning    213
Walnut Poisoning    100
Alcohol Toxicity    75
Strychnine    28
(strychnine used as a pesticide for killing small vertebrates, birds and rodents)

The way I see it, dog poop is a paw-dicament. I have always said if you have a dog, it is your job to “scoop the poop.” If it is not your “cup of tea” sign up with a pet scooper service, have someone walk your dog or maybe don’t have a 4-legged that poops outdoors. Do not bring shame on your 4-legged by failing to “scoop” in your backyard, on walks, and in parks. If you live in an apartment or condominium, poop pick-up is not negotiable. Don’t make this a problem by ignoring your job.

Dog poop is a health hazard, an issue of water quality; dog poop is not fertilizer. Forty percent of pet parents do not “stoop to scoop,” more men than women do not pick it up.

Dog droppings are one of the leading causes of E. coli pollution. A gram of dog poop has over 20,000,000 E. coli colonies in it. You may not think a modest mound of poop could be a dilemma but the combined effect of thousands of dogs (and yes, cats who eliminate outdoors) in a metro area can create havoc to the soil and water supply. Unlike wastewater from homes, storm water is typically untreated. When pet parents fall short and do not “stoop to scoop” the poop and disease-causing bacteria mixes with storm water runoff and meanders into waterways; that is a big deal when you think about clean water. Source: Doggone Green book.

“Runoff flows over surfaces, including streets, parking lots, yards, construction sites, farms, and forests picking up fertilizers, loose soil (sediment), leaves, gravel, animal waste, leaking motor oil, antifreeze, grease, metals, pathogens (bacteria and viruses), chemicals like pesticides, herbicides and trash. Source: EPA

I predicated a while back that DNA analysis of dog poop would come to the U.S. Several years ago Germans thought DNA testing, that is matching “poop to pooch” would solve a nasty crisis, too much dog poop on public property.

The plan, gather waste samples from all dogs at the time of licensure. Build a registry of the findings. Sanitation workers would cart around feces-sample kits submitting poop to a lab where doo-to-dog is matched, offenders are identified and fined. The city stood to turn a profit; the problem would vanish or would it?

In May of 2010, a lavish condominium in Baltimore thought this might be a good idea as well. Have all canines’ tested, examine unauthorized poop and fine the offender. In the end, the plan was pooh-poohed.

As a dog, I embrace a more paw-active approach, a “stoop to scoop” dog poo removal. I also believe we can fetch a more advanced and tech-savvy solution for throw away. Here is where I need your help.

I do not want my poop going to the landfill, tons of poop piles, too many plastic bags that sit in the landfill for years.If you are trashing the poop, I suggest compostable bags made without petroleum products (biomass instead) and made in the USA.

What to do with it, how about composting the stuff and selling it as doggone good compost for shrubs and bushes around the yard, currently the mission of Envirowagg.comin Denver, CO. You can learn vermiculture, worm composting, get your own doggie septic-style waste disposal system or do it the natural way, bury it and let nature do its job. The EPA advocates flushing your dog’s waste.

Mom and I came across the coolest (no pun intended) campaign today. Thought we would share it as it is a matter of highest importance. It’s called “Don’t leave me in here, it’s hot” campaign.

As a bit of background, I wrote in my first book, Doggone Green: A Call to Action to Save Our Earth a chapter on avoiding doggie danger in the great outdoors. It was on “overheating.” I explained that “warm weather dangers prevent me from running as many errands with Mom as usual; meaning I have to stay home in the warmer months so as to stay safe and cool. It’s my nature to want to ‘go’ and keep her company (as we have a lot to woof about) as well as keep her safe. I have had to listen and ‘stay’ home ever so reluctantly.”

According to United Animal Nations (UAN) “in the last two weeks alone:

• A 14-year-old Golden retriever named Delta died in the car while her owner shopped at Costco on a 104-degree day in Frederick, Maryland.
• In New York, a six-pound Maltese died in a 140-degree car while his owner went for a swim in a state park.
• A Wisconsin woman left her pit bull in her car at Wal-Mart while she attended a court matter. Police broke the car window and tried to save the dog, but he died at the scene.”

Bottom line, pass the word along; it gets hot in a car on a warm day. It can be just doggone dangerous. So better do as I do and just rest in the cool house under the ceiling fan and wait for a cooler day. 

Check out  My Dog Is Cool There are down-loadable posters, fliers and all kinds of helpful educational stuff.  

The UAN was founded in 1987. They focus on “bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education.”

If you haven’t VOTED for me yet I need your support. Click the VOTE button (at the right)  and learn about my paw-litical work.

Woofs, Cedar Dog
Denver Green Pets Examiner