Dogs, Poop Bags and Their Environmental Impact

How To Reduce Your Carbon "Pawprint" and Help The Planet

by Pilar Bueno

There has been a huge awakening about the damage plastic pollution is doing to our planet and particularly to our oceans were 8 millions tons of plastic end up every year, joining the 100 million already swimming in its depth slowing and painfully killing our wildlife. David Attenborough and the Blue Planet II series has woken up hundreds of thousands of people to the urgent need to change and encouraged them to sign up to the Plastic Action campaign.

So, as more of us have started cutting back on single-use plastics and continue looking at ways to reduce our overall waste to landfill, the question of dealing with your dog's faeces comes to mind. 

As a responsible dog owner and dog sitter, I wouldn’t dream of not collecting dog poop from the street or public spaces and it does bug me when I see irresponsible people allowing their dogs to soil the streets. It is a matter of sanitary cleanliness and common courtesy. But what about when you are in the great outdoors?

Those of you that know us, are aware that John and I spend a lot of our free time outdoors photographing the wildlife and walking our extended family of dogs we look after. There is nothing like being in nature to disconnect from the daily stresses, recharge batteries and relax.

More and more recently our joy of being outdoors is being tainted by the continuous sightings of bagged up dog poop littering the undergrowth, bushes and hanging from tree branches as some kind of sick and smelly Christmas ornament. 

I guess people have been encouraged into bagging up their dog faeces, and whilst I commend their diligence, surely common sense would dictate that, if you have picked it up, you should dispose of it correctly in a bin.  And in the absence of a bin in your local woodlands, park of your favourite trail, please let nature take its course. Dog poop is organic matter and whether you like to think about it or not, all kinds of organisms such as bacteria, fungi, moulds, as well as beetles and pretty butterflies, to name a few, feed on this "doggy goodness". 

Lunchtime for the Comma - Polygonum Butterfly and friends 

The problem starts when you wrap it in toxic plastics and leave it around. The faeces will not end up breaking down, feeding other creatures and eventually enriching the soil. Instead, we end up with more petroleum-derived plastics clogging up our planet taking several hundred years to decompose. 

A supermarket shopping bag buried in the undergrowth FULL of Dog Poop Bags

So here is a 'crazy' thought: Pick up a stick (plenty of those in nature), flick the offending turd out of the path and into the bushes, kick a bit of soil over any remaining waste and let the rest of us enjoy a beautiful walk in nature.

What are the Alternatives to Conventional Plastic Bags?

If you are lucky (in this case) to live in the USA, you can call the services of a professional to come to your house and pick up your dog poop! I am not kidding you,  Doodycalls is the company. But, if like me, you live in the UK, you have no choice but to deal with your beloved pet excretions. Whether you are at home or out for walkies with your pooch, I  think you will be surprised with the greener alternatives available.

Biodegradable / Compostable Bags

The earth-friendly option that takes anything between three to six months to decompose fully. 

Beware, however, that due to unregulated guidelines and misleading packaging, not all “green” poop bags are as environmentally friendly as they claim to be (see press article by the Federal Trade Commission). 

Many of this so-called eco-friendly bags are made of the same petrochemicals as conventional synthetic plastic bags with added toxic chemicals to accelerate the breakdown of plastic. 

Look out therefore for poop bags that are made from corn-starch or other plant-based material, such as the ones sold by Earth Rated, MyAlphaPet, PupRepublic or TSP Premium Poop Bags. These later ones are actually "OK Compost Home certified", meaning that their bags disintegrate outside industrial composting facilities. Please note however that it is not advisable to compost dog poop at home as dog waste contain parasites and pathogens that would be harmful to your plants.

Flushable Dog Poop Bags

Made from a water-soluble alternative to normal plastic (Polyvinyl Alcohol - PVA), these bags are designed to be flushed down the toilet along with your dog waste. The bags start to break down as soon as they are immersed in water and bag and waste ends up being processed at your local sewage plant. 

You won't be adding waste to landfills and can say goodbye to smelly bins.

Flush Puppies are one of the leading brands and their bags are also certified compostable.

Cardboard Dog Poop Scooper

Scoopeasy has a genius design that consists of a funnel made of cardboard (recycled and compostable, in fact) that comes flat with an attached scooper. It's as simple as using the scooper to push the "goodies" inside the quickly assembled funnel. You then fold the funnel close and carry it by the handles to the nearest bin. Have a look at this video to see it in action (don't worry, no real poop is used in this advert).

Reusable and Washable Bags

The ultimate environmentally friendly and zero waste option in the market but certainly not one for the faint hearted! 

This one requires you to pay close attention to your dog because as soon as you see him squatting, you have to place the flat-out bag under your dog to collect the faeces. You clinch the bag and carry it to the nearest toilet to dispose of the waste. Rinse and dry the bag until next time. Curious? Check out Poof

Dog Waste Disposal

DoggyBog has designed this innovative system that fits quickly in just 30 minutes into your house's existing outdoor soil pipe. You simply pick up the poop (or bag it in a flushable poop bag if away from home), throw the waste down the pipe and flush it away. Their starter kit retails are £54.

Flushable Dog Loo

We discovered one of this In-Ground Dog Waste Disposal Units at one of our regular client’s home in North London. They are essentially a container with drain holes that you sink into the ground. At certain intervals, you add water and if necessary a non-toxic active liquid to help break down the waste. It is a sealed container so it is discreet, smell and insect free. Good Boy and PowerLoo are two very different product examples.

If you have found this article interesting and somewhat amusing, please feel free to like and share with other dog and "tree-hugging" lovers and don't forget to let us know if you have discovered other ingenious ways to deal with this unpleasant task.

But enough poop talk. Owning a caring for a dog is one of the most rewarding things you could ever experience. Even though we don't share a common verbal language something magical happens when your soul meets with the warm, trusting nature and intelligence of a dog. All they ask for is kindness, compassion and a regular meal. In return they will be with you through the trials of life, your best friend, always loyal and always has your back when the road gets rough.

So let me finish this blog entry by sharing with you a dog story extracted from the book "Dog Tales: 60 True Doggy Stories of Loyalty, Heroism and Devotion" written by John Hodges and published by our sister company VIDDA Publishing: "Would you like to see the woodpeckers?"

Dog Tales is Available in Kindle, Paperback and Audio

If you've found our blog to be useful please don't forget to go to the top of the article and on the right-hand side of the page, you have an option to....

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It's Halloween! Which means Pumpkin time for your Dog

by John Hodges

With Halloween just around the corner food shops, farmer markets and superstores are stocking up on all shapes, colours and size pumpkins for families to carve and illuminate pumpkins displays for their gardens and doorsteps. I imagine a lot of the pumpkin flesh gets thrown into the waste bin, much to the family dogs disgust.

Pumpkin flesh and seeds are an amazing source of nutrition for not only your family but your drooling pooch. The flesh and seeds are full of vital vitamins, minerals, fibre and are cheap and easy to prepare. It can also be made into delicious doggie treats, all of which can be frozen and used throughout the year. (recipes will be coming in the next blog entry)

Below is a list of seven important benefits for your dog from the consumption of pumpkin. Its got to be better than expensive vet bills and the nasty side effects that go hand in hand with the expensive medication that in my opinion is often over and wrongly prescribed.

Now go and buy a HUGE seasonal orange gourd, get carving Halloween displays and prepping doggie meals in the kitchen, the kids and your dogs will love you even more.

PUMPKIN BENEFITS FOR YOUR DOG

EYE HEALTH

As with humans, vitamin A (beta-carotene) is essential for eye health. It helps prevent macular degeneration, cataracts and night blindness. Pumpkin along with carrots are a great source of this vital vitamin.

GENERAL IMMUNE SYSTEM INTEGRITY

The most famous vitamin associated with human health is vitamin C which helps support all functions of the immune system.

Along with Vit A and Vit E found in Pumpkin are rich in Vit C. It will help prevent certain cancers and destroy dangerous free radicals in yours and your dogs’ body.

BOWEL AND URINARY TRACT SUPPORT

Pumpkin flesh and seed are a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids. These vital anti-inflammatory fatty acids can help remove kidney stones and prevent urinary tract infection which ultimately can develop into more serious health problems. Also because of pumpkin in high in soluble fibre, it helps prevent constipation or diarrhoea, a common complaint in the dogs with poor commercial diets.

WEIGHT LOSS

Because of the high water content and soluble fibre in pumpkin, it can help remove stored toxins in your dogs’ body, acting like a sponge, removing the toxins that have been locked up by the immune system with fat cells. Regular addition of pumpkin, either canned or fresh will help maintain your dogs' weight and therefore overall health.

METABOLIC EFFICIENCY, MUSCLE INTEGRITY AND BLOOD PRESSURE

One of the most important all-round benefits of eating regular pumpkin supplemented meals is that it’s a great source of Potassium; ask any athlete about the importance of a regular, natural source of potassium. Everybody thinks of bananas as being the easiest source, maybe the marketing, as well as taste, has made this the most common go-to food but a pumpkin will go much further because of size. Prepare it and freeze so that it’s always at hand come meal times. Trust me your dog will love the sweet, creamy texture of pumpkin, you can even add a little honey or cinnamon for an added treat.

SKIN AND FUR

Nothing looks better than a dog with a shiny, healthy looking coat of fur. As well as all the vitamins and water content I’ve previously mentioned, Pumpkin is also rich in Zinc. This is the mineral that all the cosmetic companies promote in shampoos and body lotions to help maintain good hair and skin. The same applies to your dogs. Give them a makeover every day with a little pumpkin love.

PARASITES

Dogs can easily become infested with parasites such as tapeworms which they can pass on to humans. This wreaks havoc on the digestive system with symptoms including weight loss, scruffy coat and dry skin.

Pumpkin has a high concentration of the Amino Acid Cucurbitin which is toxic to most parasites and is often used to expel parasites in ruminants such as cattle, sheep.

PORTION SIZE

Recommended 1-4 tablespoons per day depending on the size of the dog.

IMPORTANT: Do not feed RAW Pumpkin flesh or seeds, only cooked or canned.

Beneficial Herbs & Spices for your Dog

I'm a big believer in preventative medicine via diet. This not only applies to myself and my family but it also applies to the animals in my life, especially the many dogs we look after. Correct and balanced nutrition is like making a regular deposit into a high-interest saving account in preparation for possible harder times in the future, a kind of safety net and deposits can be made with every meal we or our dogs consume.

Of course if the 'harder times' don't manifest, you have the good fortune of your acquired 'health' equity to enjoy into your old age. Who doesn't want healthy, pain-free twilight years? The same applies to your dog.

The early signs of inflammation in the body should never be ignored. When the system is showing signs of inflammation it's a signal to you that things are starting to go wrong. The common signs to look for are stomach and bowel conditions, aches and joint pains, skin and hair/fur conditions, rapid eye deterioration. These are all early warning signs that your body is becoming inflamed and sick and if ignored can lead to serious and often life-threatening disease. 

Many things in our lives can cause inflammation but most roads lead to poor, low nutrition diets that are often loaded with toxins such as colourants, sweeteners, bad oils, salts and much worse and scary nasties that I won't go into here but you can find out more by searching through the articles on my other blog.

The easiest way I find to assist my immune system, apart from my vegan diet, is the daily use of a wide range of spices and herbs. It's so simple and effective to apply to your daily routine, you have to wonder why our vets an doctors don't advise us all to do the same!

Our dogs can hugely benefit from the following herbs and spices as well as feeding them a 50/50 diet of meat & kibble /fruit & veg.

Here are my favourite SEVEN ingredients to use for your pooch.

Parsley

Used fresh or dried and used in moderation will help with all inflammation and help fight and prevent arthritis, treat and prevent stomach and bowel issues and is a powerful herb in fighting urinary infections. Your dog will also have a noticeably fresher breath

Ginger

Humans have known about and used Ginger for medicinal purposes for over 2000 years.  As with the use for humans, this powerful root spice is fantastic for treating your dog's upset stomach, relieve nausea,  especially motion sickness. If you are planning to take your dog in the car for any length of journey and you are worried about car sickness, give your dog a flat 1/4 tsp of dried ginger mixed in his food an hour before leaving on your journey. As a bonus Ginger has powerful anti-cancer properties which is why it is a daily part of my own diet.

Basil

This common herb is loaded with antioxidants, antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties which is great news for both us and our dogs. Basil has a very high concentration of beta-caryophyllene which actually belongs to the cannabinoid family and is in many other herbs, such as rosemary, hops, cloves and of course cannabis. It is also found in high concentrations in black pepper.

Basil is an amazing anti-inflammatory and is especially useful in treating arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

One lesser known quality is for the treatment for anxiety which can be very common in pet dogs. If this is the case, add some dried basil to the food mix or make some special treats for your dogs. I'll add a simple, generic biscuits recipe and the end of the article. This is a great way to add these ingredients into treats so that your dogs have a regular supply.

 Milk Thistle

This is another favourite herb used for 1000's of years by our ancestors. It has incredible anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties for humans but is often referred to as the 'Miracle Herb' for dogs. It's a must if your dog is suffering from digestive problems, although if this is the case, it's worth covering the research into the actual ingredients of the food you're feeding your pets.

It's easily available from most health shops, either in capsules form or as a liquid. Either way, it's easy to add to the dogs' food mix. Just add 1/4 teaspoon per 20lb of your dog's body weight. If your dog is overloaded with possible toxins, Milk Thistle will help remove them via the liver. This is recommended advise throughout the veterinary professions. But please if you are worried that your dog has consumed something toxic, don't hesitate, call your vet immediately. 

The miracle ingredient is a flavonoid called Silymarin. At the moment the pharmaceutical industry is increasingly confident that this substance helps in the treatment of serious liver conditions such as chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Who'd have thought that the weed at the end of most gardens could have such beneficial properties?

Mint

Dog Breathe!! Everyone knows what I'm talking about. Just like us, it's easy for your dog to consume a treat with a little mint and it'll not only help his halitosis it'll also aid digestion.

It's a real easy herb to grow in pots and is a great addition to any kitchen.

Wild Mint, Spearmint and peppermint are all non-toxic to dogs but according to The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the English species Penyroyal (Mentha pulegium) should be avoided.

I'm saving my last two favourite ingredients until last.

Spirulina

Spirulina powder is blue-green algae and its scientific family name is "cyanobacteria". It is universally recognised as a superfood packed with a wide range of beneficial nutrients.

A single tablespoon (7 grams) of dried spirulina powder contains:
Protein: 4 grams.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 11% of the RDA.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 15% of the RDA.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 4% of the RDA.
Copper: 21% of the RDA.
Iron: 11% of the RDA.

It also contains decent amounts of magnesium, potassium and manganese, and small amounts of almost every other nutrient that we need and it has the same benefits for your dogs' health. It also has up to 60-70% of its dried weight made up of protein. 

Thanks to its powerful nutrients, spirulina can fight inflammation, ease digestive issues, reduce arthritis symptoms, improve mental function, enhance natural detoxification, and fight cancer (that’s just to name a few benefits).

It should be administered by mixing into meals or home-made snacks, 1/4 teaspoon per 2-lbs of dog.

IMPORTANT:
Blooms of blue-green algae in standing water, usually during the summer months can produce harmful toxins which stop a dog’s liver from functioning properly. However, not all types of blue-green algae are dangerous.

Sadly, exposure to toxic blue-green algae is often fatal, and can also cause long-term health problems in dogs that survive after drinking or swimming in algae-contaminated water. Some types of blue-green algae can kill a dog just 15 minutes to an hour after drinking contaminated water.

Dogs who have been swimming in water can get the algae caught in their fur, and can ingest it while cleaning themselves later on.

Concentrations of the algae vary throughout the year and may not always be harmful - but you can’t tell simply by looking at them whether or not they are dangerous, so it is best not to run the risk of allowing your dog to come into contact with water where the algae may be present.

The powdered and dehydrated forms in the correct amounts are beneficial as discussed above.

Now to my favourite spice of all.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a yellow spice that’s often used to flavour Indian cuisine. Along with its blast of flavour, the powerful spice has been used for its medicinal purposes for centuries. Turmeric’s therapeutic benefits are believed to be a result of its bioactive ingredient curcumin (not to be confused with cumin).

It was widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as well as Ayurvedic medicine. Today, pet nutritionists recommend you give it to your pooch! Similar to how it benefits humans, adding turmeric to your pet’s diet can help ward off cancer, fight inflammation, aid digestion, kill dangerous parasites, and boost mood.

When it comes to turmeric, a little goes a long way! For every 10 pounds, add just a 1/4 of a teaspoon.


Here is one of our favourite home-made biscuit treat recipes. Any of the above herbs and spices can be added to this recipe, your dogs will love them.

Doggie Fruity Digestive

Ingredients

• 240 grams of spelt or rice flour 
• 1 large egg 
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil 
• 120ml hot water 
• 1 low sodium stock cube 
• Add any other safe ingredient: blueberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, diced apple or banana 

Instructions
Mixed together the egg and the oil and gradually add the flour and all other chosen ingredients until a firm consistency is created. On a floured surface roll out the dough to approx ½ inch thickness. Either make into balls and flatten with palm of your hand to make rough cookies or used a shaped cookie cutter.

Place on baking tray with ½ inch spacing and bake at 180C for 15-20 minutes. Take out and cool and store in a paper bag to keep crunchy.

For easy treats try raw fruit and vegetables such as carrot pieces or celery pieces dipped in unsalted peanut butter (with no artificial sweetners, especially Xylitol), banana chunks, frozen or fresh blackberries. Your dog might be cautious at first basically because he doesn’t recognise these new foods. I found a sure way to get your dogs to try new varieties of fruit and veg is to sit on the floor with them and share the treat, one for me one for the dog, works every time.

Finally, remember if you’re cooking yourself any vegetables always prepare a little extra for your dog. My dog always has Sunday dinner with us; he just loves a large bowl of steamed sweet potatoes, a few brussels sprouts, some cabbage or kale and a few carrot and peas. To finish off, I put on a good ladle of gravy made from the vegetable water. Our dog licks his bowl clean every time.

Please feel free to contact us at the number and email on our banner at the top of the page.

We have 10% off all Dog/House Sitting bookings running to the end of the year, including all booking made for 2019.

Thanks

John Hodges

Dogs At Home

IMPORTANT: Like humans all dogs are different. Occasionally what works for one animal can be detrimental to another animal. Like humans, some dogs develop allergies to foods, including spices. If you notice any signs of allergic reaction contact your nearest vet immediately.

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If you're planning a long holiday, or just a weekend away from home but you hate the idea of leaving your pets in costly and stressful kennels, we can help and your dogs will love it.

Drop us an email or call us for a chat.

Please feel free to share this post with your friends, it would be much appreciated

Thanks, John & Pilar

VIDDA Tees UK

VIDDA Tees UK has now opened it's UK store on Amazon. We have 100+ unique and exclusive designs. We have a full range of sizes and five striking colours for each shirt.


In the coming weeks our selection of designs will be expanding, but if you have any ideas that you'd like designed for you, maybe for an event, party or other social activity, drop me a message either here or on Facebook.


Alternatively, if you're outside the UK but would like to purchase a shirt just drop me a line with the link to the t-shirt design you like and I will make it available on our .com store. Links are provided below.


Please feel free to share this post, it would be much appreciated.
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Living Like You Mean It : Dogs Tales - Do you want to see the Woodpeckers?

Living Like You Mean It : Dogs Tales - Do you want to see the Woodpeckers?: This is an extract from one of our books  DOG TALES Vol 1 , it's a story taken from my personal memory banks, looking for woodpeckers i...