Jun 24 2008
How to Out Spot the Spots
In my house, there’s only one room with carpet (well, besides these amazing carpet tiles, which we had to purchase and scatter about the house when Greta developed a sudden fear of hardwood floors).
The carpet in our living room was purchased after we bought our home but before we ever thought about having a dog join our family, so we of course chose a very inappropriate light color.
Our cats, who are very good about using their litters boxes, have on occasion coughed up impressive hairballs onto said carpet, as well as infrequently upchucked on it, but when it comes to carpet abuse, most fingers and paws in this house point to Greta.
There have been a handful of potty accidents on the carpet in the last two years (both #1 and #2), and Greta also has the keen ability to go into the back yard, stand still on the clean concrete, and somehow manage to track mud into the house on her return.
Because I care about my health, the health of those in my household, and the environment in general, I’m all for any cleaners that remove stains while avoiding the use of carcinogens, hormone disruptors and skin irritants. I also can’t stand the smell of chemicals, so most commercial products won’t work for me.
Luckily, there are two natural products that help in my quest for cleaner carpet.
Biokleen Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator
This stuff cleans spots and eliminates odors–a two-fer bang for my buck. Bac-Out’s live enzyme-producing cultures attack pet, food, and beverage stains, organic waste, and odor until they are gone, digesting them back to nature, safely and naturally. Bac-Out is safe to use around children and pets.
Earth Friendy Products Natumate Stain & Odor Remover
This product is free of chlorine, sodium lauryl sulfate and petroleum based surfactants. Natumate™ is ideal for removing stains/odors due to pet accidents, urine, vomit, blood, food and other natural waste by-products on dirty laundry, fabric, carpeting, tile, sealed wood floors, upholstery, and furniture. It’s safe for your pet, for you and the environment.
I get both of these products at my local Co-Op, but you can also search their websites for retailers in your area.
The American Mutt-i-grees Club, founded by Pet Savers Foundation, wants to spread the word that mutts are people dogs too!
The American Mutt-i-grees Club is all about change and choice:
Changing how mixed-breed dogs are regarded, by celebrating the unique
characteristics of each one of them, and helping people make the right
choice - the choice to adopt mixed-breed puppies and [...]
The pills you pop may make you feel better, but they could be fatal to your pet. Just last year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) handled 89,000 cases of pets exposed to human medications.
Here’s what to watch out for:
NSAIDs
According to the APCC, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most [...]
My distaste for puppy mills notwithstanding, I’m pleased to report that, stepping away from its reputation as “The Puppy Mill Capital of the East,” the Pennsylvania Legislature passed HB 2525 on October 8, a bill that will improve the lives of tens of thousands of dogs living in Pennsylvania’s puppy mills.
HB 2525 doubles the cage [...]
Two years ago today, my husband and I rescued Greta, and our lives have never been the same since. Sure, it was hard in the beginning–after all, she was a puppy with no experiences outside of living in a wire crate 23 hours a day.
Slowly, she learned how to relax and live in a home. [...]
October is Adopt-A-Dog month, a celebration established by the American Humane Association to promote dog adoptions from animal shelters and educate people about responsible pet care. Learn more about events in your area here.
And just in time for Adopt-A-Dog month, Disney’s new film, Beverly Hills Chihuahua hits theaters October 3. The film is about Chloe, [...]