lucky dog organics

Monday Lucky Dog Tip... Time to repaint the living room

Have you read the side of a paint can lately?VOC's?! Volatile Organic Compounds are not only volatile...they are vile as well. They are the chemicals and solvents that evaporate during use...becoming an invisible vapor gas that can hover at the floor level if not properly ventilated. These can cause headaches, seizures, and far worse...think cancer and coma! Now imagine for an animal who has a nose that is so much more powerful than ours? A pet's system is more sensitive and most reside at ground level.

Be safe.... choose no-voc paints if you have pets and/or children.

Monday Lucky Dog Tip... Donating in a bad economy?!

While we are all tightening our purse strings these days it is important to remember that with a recession comes reduced federal aid to certain non profits and some non profits receive no federal aid at all...only private donations. For all non profits but especially those without federal aid... the current economy has caused them to have to search wider for dollars and to cut valuable resources to save what funds they may have left. Shelters and rescues are finding themselves over burdened with animals who are being given up do to financial difficulties. Non profit clinics cannot afford to care for the sick pets of cash strapped owners and still cover their salary and materials costs. Every little bit helps... if you can forgo one coffee drink a week, or beer, or meal out....and put that money aside each week in order to give to a charity that supports the animals who so desperately need your help...then you are one person who has the potential to save the world. If you are able to make the difference in one animals life and enable it to live rather than be euthanized because the owner can't afford the bill for care or the shelter has too many mouths to feed and no one is adopting pets at the moment.... then you have saved the world for this one animal. Your small sacrifice can mean the differance between life and death for an animal.

Monday Lucky Dog Tip... Plastics

Try to avoid plastic whenever you can. While we agree that it is the only choice for many things because of it's strength, flexibility, cost, weight and water resistance... many plastics are directly related to chemical pollutants in our environment. Their main components are petrol chemicals and natural gas.... so they have a direct impact on greenhouse gases, The ugliest big-bad of the plastic world is PVC. In order to have that soft pliability.... they contain phthalates. These softeners are endocrine disruptors and have been shown to cause cancer, affect the liver and reproductive organs and disrupt many other hormone functions.
Replace that plastic shower liner with one from IKEA...they are pvc free!!! For other products...If you are unsure.... look on the bottom. Items made with PVC should (I said SHOULD) be marked with a number 3 and a triangle. If in doubt....if it smells like those plastic summer beach toys or new car... don't buy it.  Don't let it off gas in your house. Don't let your dog or your child play with it, sleep on it, or chew on it. There are many other options out there now such as the West Paw Design Zogoflex toys. They are made from natural materials and are completely non toxic and made in the US.

Monday Lucky Dog Tip... Ingredients

Chances are that if your pet's food, treats, or grooming products contain compounds on the label that aren't familiar with ....you may not want them in or on your pet's body or in the environment. Same goes for your own products. Do you know that many cosmetics, including the high end brands, contain pthalates, formaldehyde and other ickies you just wouldn't want to to dip your fingers in let alone paint your nails with or cover your lips in. Educate yourself and we all benefitt.