Our pets are always there for us, our constant companions in good times and in bad times. In return, we want to give them the best lives we can. We want to make healthy choices when it comes to their care and feeding, choices that are also good for the planet, just as we do for ourselves.
Our dogs Jordan, a golden retriever and yellow Labrador mix, and Gertrude, a little red hound and shepherd mix, were with us for nearly sixteen years. We adopted them when we were college students, and they kept us company as we worked late nights on design-school projects. They happily endured many moves during their long lives, from houses to apartments and back again and from city to country. Our dogs loved, inspired, and often frustrated us, and we loved them for it. Through the years, we always tried to make the best choices for their health and happiness. In the beginning, many of those choices were dictated by our student budgets. We bought whatever food we could afford, with no real thought given to ingredients. Our household-cleaning supplies were usually the ones we had become familiar with growing up. As the years went by, we became more concerned with our own health and that of the environment. We learned about the importance of organics and the dangers of pollutants in our food, air, and water. And so we worried about Jordan’s and Gertrude’s health as well. We began to read the ingredient labels on the dog food we were buying as conscientiously as the labels on our own food. When time permitted, we specially prepared our pets’ food, and we learned how to supplement their diets for optimum health as they grew old. We switched from the toxic household cleaners we had been using when we realized we weren’t going to change our dogs’ habit of licking wet floors or drinking from the toilet bowl.
Eco Dog provides valuable information on how to care for your dog in a way that is good for your pet, good for you, and good for the environment. We offer tips on grooming, including recipes for shampoo, as well as nontoxic pest controls. We include information on good nutrition and give you the basic tools you’ll need to read the labels on commercial dog foods, as well as to prepare special homemade meals. We also discuss how to create a healthy home for your pet, including eco-friendly housekeeping options and tips on creating comfortable spaces just for your dog. We even have great ideas for recycling your old jeans and sweaters into comfortable dog beds and fun toys.
We hope Eco Dog will educate and inspire you to think about your dog’s health, your own health, and the health of the planet. Whether you are a new or an experienced pet owner, whether your dog is young or old, the choices you make will have an impact on your canine companion’s health and happiness. Let your decisions bring your pets as much happiness as they have brought you!