The musical stylings of Perry Como meets Dog Poop PSA.

Dog Days of Summer

Tips on travelling the country with man’s best friend

Since the beginning of summer, articles in magazines and on blogs have been offering tips on vacationing with a dog. Now that we’re entering the aptly named “dog days of summer” (check out Wikipedia if you’ve ever wondered where the term originated) I think it might be time for a little review.

It’s no secret that times are rough and everyone’s spending belts are a little tighter; however, sometimes you just have to take some time off and go on vacation.

You may have decided to bring the family dog along because its cheaper then boarding at a kennel, and safer than leaving your dog with a “pet sitter”. | Can a pet-friendly hotel actually save you money?

If you’re dog is traveling with you there are a few things (according to the Humane Society) that you need to know.

1. Dogs should be restrained either in a crate or by a harness-like seatbelt in the back seat (never in the back of a truck bed!)
2. Dogs should remain inside the car when traveling, it is dangerous when dog’s head are sticking out the window.
3. Check with your vet before leaving town to make sure your dog is healthy and up to date on all shots and vaccinations.
4. Your dog should have a collar with ID on at all times.
5. Outside of the car, keep your dog on a leash!
6. Bring water to keep your dog hydrated and make stops every few hours to let your dog go to the bathroom.

Great. If you’ve completed the following steps, you’re on your way to a stress-free weekend and there is nothing standing in your way…

Until, you cross over into another state and decide to make that first potty and you realize no one mentioned bringing poop bags.

I saw this on a recent road trip to Pennsylvania. I noticed that people who had their dogs along were leaving behind the doggie doo. There weren’t any poop police around, but it had me wondering about whether or not these people knew the laws in those states regarding cleaning up after pets. Most likely people traveling to New York City know about the recent $250 pet waste fine because it has gotten a lot of attention.

What about other states though? Chances are I’m not going to take the time to look up the rules and regulations for a state I’m only driving through. You certainly can’t rely on there being bags provided at state rest stops. Instead I’ll just come prepared with my ReadyLeash that has built-in bags.

If you’re travelling with your dog this summer, please remember to pack the poop bags (make sure they’re biodegradable too) and clean up after your pooch!

What should dog owners now use to clean-up dog poop?

Recognizing the negative impact that plastic bags have on our environment, some eco-conscious stores, such as Whole Foods, have completely eliminated plastic bags at checkout. Many other stores are now charging customers for plastic bags ranging anywhere from $0.05 to $0.25 to discourage plastic bag usage. While most plastic bags are recyclable, the sad fact is that the majority of consumers do not participate in recycling, and these bags end up in our landfills. Since most plastics do not biodegrade easily (average estimates put the plastic life-span around 100 years), they become a lasting problem on our environment. In addition to the biodegradability concerns, approximately 100,000 whales, seals, turtles and other marine animals are killed by plastic bags each year worldwide, according to Planet Ark, an international environmental group. So here is the problem- dog owners that used plastic bags collected from grocery stores to pick up dog waste now need a different supply for dog waste clean-up. What are the new eco-conscious options? 1. Perhaps the most green option out there is composting. There are a number of different home-based composting units that are specially designed to accommodate dog waste. This is perhaps the most eco-conscious route to go, but it certainly takes some dedication from the dog owner to install and maintain these units.

2. Biodegradable plastic bags are now commercially available. These are designed for the task of picking up dog poop, so they are sturdy and won’t leave a mess on your hands when you pick up dog waste. Rascodog Readybags are 100% biodegradable bags and break down within one year of use.

3. Leave your dog poop on the ground. Completely unacceptable! You will be scorned by non-dog owners and dog owners alike. Pick up the poop!

Biodegradable bags, may be the most viable option for the majority of people. So, what makes bags biodegradable? In July 2000 the US Composting Council and the Biodegradable Products Institute announced a certification program based on ASTM Standard D 6400-99 for materials suitable for composting applications. By definition a biodegradable plastic is a degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such 
as bacteria, fungi and algae (ASTM D 6400-99). All Rascodog biodegradable Readybags fall under the ASTM D6400 Standard for biodegradable bags. So what is you weapon of choice? Do you have the time and energy to put into composting? Are you still using regular plastic bags or have you made the switch to biodegradables? For more information about ways to recycle plastics check out:

http://sfgov.org/site/frame.asp?u=http://www.sfenvironment.com

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Plastic/Prevention/

http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/1188.html

And for a great post about different dog poop disposal methods see: What to do with the doo? from Raise A Green Dog.