RECYCLE SUITCASE TRAVEL PET BED

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September 11, 2008 Suitcase Dog Bed Perfect for your on-the-go, fashion-forward pooch and charming enough to accent any room in your home, the suitcase dog bed is more than just a soft place for Spot to rest his head. Recycle an old hard-sided suitcase or buy one that complements your décor. Change out the lining, paint or add printed or textured paper to the exterior, and you've got a piece of art that any dog can curl up with. Create an even more customized look by using fun fabric to sew a pillow, a small blanket, and matching toys. Elevate the bed by adding four wooden block legs and have fun painting them to match your accents. Stylish and functional, the suitcase dog bed is sure to attract more than just your dog's attention. Not a dog person? Try a smaller suitcase cat bed with a comfy cushion and matching catnip-stuffed toys for your feline friend. (Getting the cat to travel is a challenge for another day!) Share this idea with a pet-loving friend and get ready to hit the road in style

WINDOW CLING FROM PUBLIX'S SUPERMARKET

I HAVE TONS OF CANVAS BAGS IN MY CAR.. BUT OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND. AND AGAIN TODAY I FORGOT THEM FOOD SHOPPING. I WAS SO UPSET I WAS VENTING TO THE SWEET GIRL RINGING UP MY GOODIES. THEN OUT OF NO WERE SHE SAID WE HAVE REMINDERS.. SHE HANDED ME THIS CLING FOR MY WINDOW..WAY COOL..SO MAKE ONE FOR YOUR SELF OR GO ASK YOUR FOOD MARKET IF THEY HAVE ONE..STAY FREEN

PUP TENT

BY ROOM SERVICE IN L.A.

FLEA HATER DOG BISCUITS

Marc Morrone's Recipe
FLEA HATERS' DOG BISCUITS
Makes about 5 dozen bone biscuits
1 cup flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brewer's yeast (available at health-food stores)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
1 clove garlic, chopped medium
1/2 cup chicken stock plus 3 tablespoons for basting

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Mix
flour, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, and salt together in a medium bowl.
In a mixing bowl, combine oil and garlic. Alternately add 1/2 cup
chicken stock and flour mixture in 3 parts; mix until well combined.
Knead about 2 minutes by hand on floured surface; dough will be sticky.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out about 3/8 inch thick.
Cut out bone shapes; place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes,
rotate baking sheet, and baste with remaining 3 tablespoons chicken
stock. Bake 10 minutes longer. Turn off oven, leaving oven door closed.
Leave pan in oven for 1 1/2 hours longe

MAKE YOUR OWN DRY DOG SHAMPOO

Dog shampoo should clean your dog, but it shouldn't clean out your wallet at the same time. For a low-cost dog shampoo that really works, sprinkle baking soda onto your dog's coat; and rub it in with your hands. Then, follow up with a good brushing – it'll leave your dog's coat shiny, clean and odor-free.

Why This Works

Baking soda neutralizes odors, while its gritty texture grabs and removes stuck on dirt and oils.

Benefits of Shampooing with Baking Soda

• inexpensive
• no harsh chemicals to irritate skin
• fragrance-free
• neutralizes odors, rather than covering them up
• kills fleas naturally

Tips

1) Use to eliminate wet dog odors

2) Use for a quick freshening between baths

3) Mix baking soda with water to create a wet shampoo

GREEN PARENTS

View my page on Green Parents

VINEGAR AND PETS. A GOOD THING

Vinegar is one of those kitchen cupboard wonders–it can do as much for a salad dressing as it can for a pet’s coat or neutralizing odors. Here are a few clever ways to put vinegar to work for your pets.

Shine Enhancer
Mix one cup of whte vinegar to one quart of water and rub or spray it on the coat of your dog.

Skin Soother
Mix 1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar to 1 1/2 cups water and use as a rinse after your dog’s bath to help soothe skin affected by chronic skin infections or irritations.

Ear Helper
Vinegar hampers unfriendly bacteria and other microorganisms that are a common cause of ear infections in dogs and cats–keep infections at bay by wiping ears out weekly with a cotton ball saturated with equal parts water and apple cider vinegar.

Skunk Spray Fixer
Tomato juice is the odor remover of choice for pets sprayed by skunks, but vinegar works as well to neutralize the stink. Soak the coat with a mixture of half water and half vinegar, then rinse with plain water. Repeat if necessary.

Cat Deterrent
You’ll need to do a patch test before spraying vinegar on fabric, but the smell of vinegar is a great deterrent for cats. Spray white vinegar anywhere you don’t want your cat to scratch, sleep, or sit.

Cure Cat Odors
Click here to read about Annie’s vinegar secret to neutralizing the smell of cat urine.

Make Dog Shampoo
Try this DIY Formula using vinegar for a healthy homemade pet shampoo.

Additional Activism GROUPS

C

Audubon Soceity Take Action

Consumer Federation of America

Ecopledge.org - ecopledge.com engages in a variety of issues across a variety of industries. They make straightforward, achievable, common sense requests of corporations. They educate about the issues, engage in dialog with corporations and report the results.

Environmental Defense Action Center

Essential Action - Encouraging Activism

Global Warming: Undo It --This web site from Environmental Defense is your online base for activism and information about how you can help cut dangerous greenhouse gas emissions now.

New American Dream Take Action

NRDC Earth Action Center

Ocean Conservancy

Sierra Club Take Action

Union of Concerned Scientists - Clean Vehicles

Wilderness Society Action Center

World Wildlife Fund

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS!!!

BIRDS WHO ROCK!
July 2008

Who: Yosuke, an African grey parrot from Japan

What Happened: Local policemen discovered Yosuke on a rooftop near Tokyo. They rescued the lost bird, brought him to the police station, and began searching for clues to find his home.

What Happened Next: The following day, police moved Yosuke to a local veterinarian’s office, where the parrot got comfortable and eventually introduced himself. “I’m Mr. Yosuke Nakamura,” he chirped.

Lost and Found: Yosuke then recited his home address, the street number and name, and entertained the vet by singing a few songs. "We checked the address—and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there,” said policeman Shinjiro Uemura. “We told them we'd found Yosuke.”

Home, Tweet Home: The Nakamuras were happy and grateful to see their smart pet in the safe company of the vet. They had spent two years teaching Yosuke his name and address, just in case he ever got lost. Thanks to some caring folks, this parrot talked…and finally found his way back to his family.

Do you know your address? Learn it like Yosuke, and you’ll never fly too far from home.

Yosuke

THE CREDIT CARD THAT HELPS

		Dear Friend, Your tireless commitment to animals has enabled us to make real progress this past year on critical issues facing pets, farm animals, and wildlife. Today I'd like to extend a special offer to you to support the work of The Humane Society of the United States and help animals every time you shop. When you apply for the exclusive HSUS credit card offered through Bank of America, you will be helping to support our life-saving programs for animals with every purchase. Bank of America will provide The HSUS with 25 cents for every $100 in purchases you make with our exclusive card. And, as a bonus, for each card account opened and activated through this email, Bank of America will provide an additional $50 to The Humane Society of the United States. Thanks to the more than 64,000 supporters who are already Humane Society cardholders, this program generates significant funding for our animal protection programs. Imagine if we had one million cardholders! We would be able to put more dollars into programs to combat animal fighting, to promote spaying and neutering, and to crack down on puppy mills. But you'll get more out of this than the knowledge you are helping animals and The HSUS -- with the Humane Society credit card, you'll enjoy WorldPoints® rewards for cash, travel, and merchandise. Every dollar in purchases equals one point. Plus, you'll receive a low introductory APR+ offer and there's no annual fee. Log on to Bank of America's secure website to apply today. This is an amazing opportunity for us, and I hope you'll seize it. It's a painless and easy way to help us help animals. Thank you for all you do for animals. Sincerely, Wayne Pacelle President & CEO The Humane Society of the United States
	Copyright © 2

Natural Flea Treatments

5 Natural Flea Treatments

You don’t have to depend on toxic pesticides to get a handle on your pets' mobile flea population! Some of the best natural flea deterrents can be found in your kitchen or herb garden . . . If your dog or cat is suffering from fleas, make a "tea" of lemon peel and water, and let it steep overnight. Citrus naturally repels fleas—if you sponge the tea on your flea-infested pet, the fleas will die instantly. Rub your pet all over with tansy, fennel, basil or mint, pennyroyal, or another strong smelling herb. You can also grow these herbs, as well as wormwood, rue, pyrethrum, or marigolds around kennel areas or parts of the yard where your pet likes to play or bask in the sun. Add salt to the water that you bathe your pet in to kill fleas. Add brewer’s yeast to your pets’ food—animals that eat brewer’s yeast are distasteful to fleas. This natural "additive" will give them a shiny coat to boot! To keep fleas at bay in your home, sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax on carpets, sofas, and under furniture and cushions. Be sure to first test the product on a small, unobtrusive area to make sure it is safe to use on your fabric.

Protect Pets from Toxins

Target: FDA
Sponsored by: Care2.com

A recent study found that American pets suffer from significantly more contamination from synthetic industrial chemicals than people. Our homes are permeated by untested chemical compounds that pets absorb through their grooming habits and proximity to household furnishings.

Dogs were contaminated with 35 chemicals, including carcinogens and neurotoxins. Cats were contaminated 46 chemicals, including carcinogens, neurotoxins, and chemicals toxic to the endocrine system.

The potential result is higher incidence of health problems, for example cancer in dogs and hyperthyroidism in cats. Worse yet, the risks faced by pets are shared by humans too, especially the most vulnerable. Infants and toddlers play close to the floor and put household objects in their mouths, and in the process they are exposed to the same dangers as pets.

We need a new system of public health protections in which companies have to prove chemicals are safe before they are sold. Not only would it help protect our pets, but ourselves as well. Act today!

HUMANE MOUSE TRAP

I HAVE USED THIS AND IT WORKS GREAT!
When tiny guests stop by, turn compassion into action. Plastic trap catches mice alive and unharmed so they can be released outdoors. Be sure to check the trap frequently, so mice won't suffer needlessly. Each trap is reusable so that you can catch and release each mouse for relocation. We will enclose our Humane Control of Mice and Rats tip sheet with every order.

Glue traps are among the cruelest pest-control devices on the market today. Please take a moment to urge the CEO of Lowe's to stop selling all glue traps.

DOG HEROS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH

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To all the heroic canines who served their country following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and who continue to serve whenever and wherever they are needed. The images of destruction and the feelings of loss that accompany the mention of September 11th are ever-present in our national consciousness. Often forgotten, however, are the images of recovery and the stories of hope that capture the resilience and transcendence of the American people. Dog Heroes of September 11th: A Tribute to America’s Search and Rescue Dogs, by award-winning author Nona Kilgore Bauer, is a chronicle of 78 search and rescue (SAR) teams that responded in America’s time of need. Bauer embarked on a difficult journey to locate and interview more than 75 of the canine search and rescue teams that responded to the September 11th emergency. Many of these teams were among the first responders to the biggest attack on American soil in history, and their vivid accounts of the aftermath are heartrending and unexpectedly uplifting. This special commemorative edition is being officially released in August for the fifth anniversary of 9/11. KCB partnered with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF) to promote this book. A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit the NDSDF. Weaving together first-hand anecdotes, accurate historical information, and evocative photography, Dog Heroes of September 11th pays tribute to the unsung heroes of search and rescue that will capture the hearts of readers everywhere.

THE KISS

THE KISS She is pregnant;

he had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire.

When he finally got done putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest.

A photographer from the Charlotte , North Carolina newspaper, noticed her in the distance looking at the fireman.

He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do.

As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man who had saved her life and the lives of her babies and kissed him just as the photographer snapped this photograph.

KITTY LITTER FOR A HAPPY PLANET

I love my cat. I hate her litter box. Not only does it require me to clean it, but the litter itself just can’t be good for the environment. Clay litter is strip-mined, and more than 2 million tons of this non-biodegradable material are estimated to end up in the landfill annually. Total lose-lose there. And that’s not to mention the health risks of clumping clay litter. Crystalline silica, an ingredient that abets clumping, is a known carcinogen according to California Proposition 65. Toss in some other assorted chemicals and a hit of synthetic fragrance and … yikes.

Fortunately there are a growing number of biodegradable litter materials made from renewable plant resources. And most of these can be composted! (Although composted used litter should not be used near a water source, edible plants, or near where children will be playing.) These choices include recycled newspaper, wood pellets (typically pine), sawdust, corn cobs, and wheat bran.

I came across another option that struck me as particularly appealing: Toilet training the cat. I confess I am drawn to the novelty of coaxing my cat into performing such a feat, but the idea of litter box-free life brings a happy sigh to my lips. I have gone so far as to purchase the CitiKitty Complete Toilet Training Kit. Alas, the blasted researcher in me has discovered that Toxoplasma, a parasite common to warm blooded animals, might be the potential source of infection (from flushed cat feces) for California Sea Otters. Good thing I live in New York! Just kidding–what’s not good for the Pacific can’t be good for the Atlantic. So I guess it’s time for a Toxoplasma test for my puss, and, fingers crossed, some acrobatic toilet training in her future.

Until then, here are some great chemical-free, biodegradable kitty litter choices made from renewable plant sources:

Yesterday’s News: Recycled newspaper.
Feline Pine: Reclaimed sawdust pellets.
World’s Best Cat Litter: Whole kernel corn.
Swheat Scoop: Naturally processed, non-food grade wheat.
One Earth Cat Litter: Clumping corn-cob granule STORY BY MELISA BREYER FROM THE CARE2 NETWORK