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!
Increased fines or a shocking poster- which one would get you to scoop the poop?
The Boston city council is looking to crack down on dog owners who don’t clean up dog poop.
According to an article in the Boston Globe, “solving the problem will not be easy. … the city does not have firm figures on the number of dogs …there are about 10,000 licensed dogs, but added there are between 5,000 and 15,000 more that are unlicensed.”
Boston joins other major cities that have begun to take control of the pet waste problem in the past few months. New York City recently increased their fines to $250 for people found not picking up dog poop. read more…
Dealing with problem neighbors dog poop
Throwing away dog poop
Yesterday I took Storm out for our daily afternoon walk. There was nothing unusual about it save for the fact that it was earlier than normal time because the weatherman was predicting late afternoon showers.
We walked out of the front door and were about halfway down the driveway when she pulled a hard right to a small patch of grass near the mailbox. Before I even knew what was happening, Storm was flailing around on her back. I told her a stern no and pulled her up… that’s when I smelled it.
At first, I thought I had stepped in the dog poop, but then I realized it was Storm who smelled. Actually it was Storm, her collar and part of her leash! read more…
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? read more…
This video is the perfect example of why Rascodog was created- imagine how many pounds of dog poop you could fill plastic bags with if no one picked up after their dog! yuck!!
Boston Retailer Durty Harry’s TV Premiere
This morning, My Fox Boston (Fox25) interviewed Michelle and Jen of Durty Harry’s Do-It-Yourself Dog Wash (a Rascodog retailer)! Here are some pictures and check back later for the video!
“When it comes to doo, it makes it oh-so-easy to do the right thing.”
Rascodog and the ReadyLeash is thrilled to announce that we are today’s feature product on the Daily Grommet.
Please take some time and check out all they had to say about the ReadyLeash. Leave your own comments and questions about our product, and watch the video featuring president and founder, Eric Suglaski.
Our warmest thanks to the wonderful staff at Daily Grommet for the glowing reviews about Rascodog.
A new dog leash makes it easy and convenient to clean up your community
There are few things quite as frustrating as cleaning off your shoes after an unfortunate step in dog poop. Rascodog, a company based in Boston, MA, has created a new line of dog gear that prevents these frustrating moments from happening in the first place. Featuring a trailblazing new leash with a bag roll compartment built-in to the handle and refillable biodegradable bags, Rascodog is helping to clean-up dog neighborhoods all over the country.
“Nobody likes picking up dog poop,” says Rascodog founder and president, Eric Sugalski, “but nobody likes stepping in it either. Cleaning up after our dogs and the environment around us is part of what it means to be a responsible dog owner.”
Rascodog’s ReadyLeash is the latest in dog walking products combining an ergonomic handle with an integrated bag roll compartment. Just pop in a roll of Rascodog’s biodegradable Readybags, and they dispense from the handle like tissues. Equipped with a 4-foot adjustable lead, the combination grip / bag dispenser and 45 biodegradable Readybags, the ReadyLeash retails for $19.99.
“The ReadyLeash has already saved thousands of shoes from being contaminated by unscooped dog poop,” says Sugalski. “Our goal is to continue this trend and make it easy for people to take proper care of their dogs and their neighborhoods.”
Rascodog is a Boston-based company founded in 2007. The company pledges to provide original and high-quality products that promote responsible dog ownership.
Two Police Dogs die in car from summer heat
It seems like no matter how many warnings people get about leaving their dogs in cars during the summer there is still a number of stories about the death of innocent animals.
Interestingly enough, the neglect is not limited to the average dog owner.
Over the weekend, two trained German Shepherd Police Dogs died after being left in a police car in Nottingham, England.
The animals were found dead in the private vehicle outside the Nottingham headquarters on Tuesday, one of the hottest days of the year. Police and members of the public have left tributes at the scene.
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