Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

We’ve often heard that conserving the environment is crucial for the upcoming generations. Yet, no one talks about why it’s equally important for the animals. If you’re a pet owner, you may be able to relate, but if you’re not, actively thinking about how our actions impact the environment for our pets.

Just like us, animals also deserve the right to lead a happy and healthy life. Given the current circumstances where every nook and corner of most neighborhoods are filled with hazardous trash, it doesn’t seem like we’ll be able to promise a healthy future to our animals soon.

A Dirty Environment Can Become a Hotbed for Illnesses

Today more than ever, your pets are susceptible to catching different viruses, thanks to the declining environmental conditions.

If you’re a pet owner, or more particularly, a dog owner, your four-legged buddy isn’t entirely safe from the impact of environmental decline. This is because it’s possible for them to contract an illness outdoors or even indoors today than it was a few decades ago. Some illnesses your dog can contract outdoors include:

Canine Distemper

Known to be spread by a contagious virus, canine distemper can cause your little buddy to have a fever, coughing, vomiting, and in many cases even seizures and diarrhea. The worst part about this disease is that it will most likely be fatal if your dog gets it. Hence, the best way to protect them from it is through vaccination.

Canine Parvovirus

Another illness that spreads from dirty surfaces, unclean collars, bowls, and direct contact with other dogs is canine parvovirus. The virus is known to attack your dog’s gastrointestinal system, causing them to develop severe diarrhea. Since the virus can easily survive in the soil for decades, you can’t kill it easily, and the treatment for parvo also comes at a great price. Moreover, there’s no guarantee that they’ll make it even after you spend enough money on the treatment.

Parasites

Another implication of an unclean environment, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, is parasites such as mange, fleas, and ticks. Ticks typically come from the environment, whereas fleas come from the environment as well as other dogs, whereas mange usually comes from other dogs only.

The common culprit here is an unclean environment that paves the way for their development no matter where they come from. However, if enough attention isn’t paid in time, fleas can end up transmitting tapeworms and infesting your home.

Heartworms

Another common consequence of a dirty environment is mosquitos, which are known to cause heartworms to your dog. The condition consists of persistent lethargy, coughing, difficulty breathing, and in some cases, even death. Therefore, keeping the environment clean today will keep you from wondering tomorrow what caused your dog’s condition to get this bad.

Heatstroke

Remember, deteriorating environmental conditions are a consequence of global warming. Global warming has caused the weather to be hotter in certain areas of the world, and as a result, there are more intense heatwaves coming about across the world. What’s important to note here is that your pets are as prone to suffering from the consequences of hot weather as you are. In fact, they may be even more probe since they’re covered with fur and are already warmer than you.

This means the temperature that feels slightly warm to you may be extremely hot for your dog. Additionally, given how active most dogs are at different gatherings, the heat could get to them even more, making it deadly for them in the long run.

So, as a rule of thumb, never overestimate their ability to get through a hot day and make sure to check them for heatstroke symptoms throughout. If you have a short-nosed breed such as a bulldog, boxer, Boston Terrier, or a pug, you may have to be extra careful because they’re not able to pant as effectively as dogs with normal length noses.

Intestinal parasites

Have you ever thought about taking your dog for a walk on the beach? While it may sound like a great idea, all the contamination may prove it otherwise. The biggest way to conserve the environment, at least to the extent of your own surroundings, is to clean up after yourself. Since dogs are devoid of this ability, it is your job to clean up after them.

The reason dogs can quickly get infected with intestinal parasites is that they tend to lick or eat everything that comes in their way. The biggest source of such parasites is infected dog stool, and if that stool is released into beach water or nearby soil, it can easily take hold of your dog. These parasites, such as tapeworms, whipworms, hookworms, and roundworms, can make your dog sick to the extent of causing malnutrition and blood loss.

At the end of the day, humans are somehow responsible for the increased amount of viruses and bacteria in the environment that, in turn, make dogs and several other animals severely sick. Therefore, conserving the environment does come down to your pets, even if you think it doesn’t. A quick walk in the park or at the beach may seem like great ways to help your dog rejuvenate, but they can end up making them very sick. After all, they could be exposed to several viruses in the air as a result of accumulating dirt.

So, if you’re still questioning yourself about the need to conserve the environment, you may have to think harder and faster. This is because the more we delay making efforts on a personal level, the more we tend to seem okay with our dogs dying in vain.

Remember, cleaning up after your dog in a public place can save many animals from contracting viruses and different illnesses. Moreover, get them vaccinated the first chance you get because even if vaccination doesn’t protect them from every illness, it will, from most. Last but not least, clean up after yourself as that way, you’re not only doing a service to the environment but also to those who live in that environment.

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.