Eco-Friendly Poop Bag Winners

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Hands Free Carabiner
Clips Bag to Leash

Thanks to all of you who have supported this Eco-friendly poop bag giveaway. While it may not be the most "fun" product to come along, it sure will be great to see more people finding greener options for waste disposal.

The sharing about this giveaway on Twitter was especially brisk and we know that Poo Pooh was thrilled with the buzz. You guys did a great job!

For those of you who are not winners today, we encourage you to take advantage of the promo code that Poo Pooh is running 

Now comes the fun part. I've got 3 winners who'll each receive a box with 28 PooPooh bags and a clip with carabiner to attach to their leashes. Walking will be easier when you're hands free of that icky plastic bag!

Winners will receive their good news via an email from AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com.

Watch your inbox and spam file for this important correspondence. Congratulations to our winners: Tiersa J., Christine A., and Sherry B. Thank you for doing your part to clean up after your dogs.

Happy tails,

We shared this giveaway of PooPooh dog waste bags as a part of our work with PooPooh to help you find more options for your green lifestyle. All Things Dog Blog was not compensated for the review, but we are hosting an advertisement for this brand.

Eco-Friendly Poop Bag Giveaway

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Don't Forget the Affection After Your Walk

Welcome to our giveaway on behalf of PooPooh Dog Waste Bags. Each of 3 winners will receive a box of 28 bags, suitable to handle the waste of most any dog for about a month, or 28 serious visits to the grass, as I often call them. As an added bonus, our winners will also receive the bag carrier clip with carabiner for attaching your bag to your leash handle or Fido's harness.

The folks at PooPooh have provided this giveaway and we'll be leaving it open here for two weeks, to allow you plenty of time to get your entries in. Keep in mind that some entries allow you to participate daily, if you really wish to increase your chances. To be sure you keep it fun, just use those entry methods that you find enjoyable.

3 Winners!

Be sure to visit our review, watch the How-to video and the animation about the products and its benefits. You'll find answers to some of the Rafflecopter entries in these places. 

Our Rafflecopter, found at the bottom of this post, will accept your entries with pleasure. Here's the thing, though. Sometimes it has business to take care of out in the grass, so if you don't find it down there, just give it a whistle by clicking on the post title above to call it to action. It will finish its business and return to your feet immediately. 

Entries will remain open for 2 weeks, closing promptly at 11:59 PM on Thursday, July 31. Winners will be announced here following our drawing on August 1.

If you prefer the sure thing of purchasing, rather than entering, feel free to visit PooPooh at this link. They are offering 15% off to All Things Dog Blog readers who use the Promo Code "AllThingsDog" when placing their order between now and December 31, 2014. 

PooPooh can be purchased online at their store at this link. The bag carrier clip that you see attached to our leash is a one-time purchase. After that, you can enjoy all your walks hands-free of poo bags. What a great way to walk!

Happy entries,

We are sharing this giveaway of PooPooh dog waste bags as a part of our work with PooPooh to help you find more options for your green lifestyle. All Things Dog Blog was not compensated for the review, but we are hosting an advertisement for this brand.

Poo Pooh Biodegradable Bags

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Home From Our Walk. Hands Free of Poop Bags!

Today I'm here to ask you to Think Outside the Bag, the plastic poop bags, I mean!  I've had a chance to give PooPooh a try and found them to be quite workable, while also totally biodegradable. We love all things Green and Eco-friendly! For those of you who live in places where plastic bags are being taken off the market entirely, this is an especially good option.  

PooPooh bags are made out of 100% renewable, biodegradable and compostable material. It allows for touch free and quick collection of dog waste through in-built scoops so it is better for hygiene. But that's not all - it is also supports rural communities since all these bags are hand made by women working from their own homes in rural Sri Lanka. 

As part of their efforts to be Eco-conscious, PooPooh tries to minimize and reuse

Bag with Handles or
Use Carabiner to Attach to Leash

packaging. Their individual boxes are designed to be shipped without any further packaging, reducing weight, waste and shipping cost. 

PooPooh can be purchased online at their store at this link. The bag carrier clip that you see attached to our leash is a one-time purchase. After that, you can enjoy all your walks hands-free of poo bags. What a great way to enjoy the walk!

PooPooh bags can be ordered in packages ranging from 28 to 280, depending on your preferences. One box of 28 should last the average dog nearly a month. Bags have plenty of space for even your largest Fido's deposit. Got a Great Dane or Newfoundland--no problem!

I would encourage you to watch the video to see just how easy it is to use PooPooh. Note that the handle is reinforced with corregated cardboard, so if you opt not to use a carrier clip, you'll be sure that the handle won't break from the weight on the cargo in the paper bag.

Wondering what other users are saying? Check out PooPooh's Facebook page to ask your questions or check out others' comments. You'll also learn more by viewing their animation of the differences between plastic and paper collection of your dog's deposits. Watch for an entry in our giveaway that you'll find an answer for in the two videos mentioned in this post. #extracredit


For those of you who prefer a sure thing to a giveaway, I recommend purchasing direct from the PooPooh website. You can benefit from our partnership with PooPooh by using the discount promo code "ALLTHINGSDOG" to get 15% off through the end of 2014. Although the ad, shown below, indicates the expiration is 9/30/2014, it has been extended through 12/31/2014. Time to stock up!

If you come back to AllThingsDogBlog.com trying to find this discount code, you'll see it on the ad in our sidebar, or you can click the ad here to visit PooPooh's website. No worries!

If you'd like to enter our raffle and take your chances, watch for the giveaway to begin shortly. You'll have 2 weeks to enter with various options such as following PooPooh and yours truly on our social media sites to make sure you're up to speed on all the best products and services for your dog.

Now, enjoy the video. It's 19 seconds long, so don't get too comfortable. No time for popcorn!

We are sharing this review and upcoming giveaway of PooPooh dog waste bags as a part of our work with PooPooh to help you find more options for your green lifestyle. All Things Dog Blog was not compensated for this review, but we are hosting an advertisement for this brand.

Green Dogs Dispose Properly

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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Tanner on Trash Duty

Here at All Things Dog Blog we live a pretty green lifestyle, and if this photo is any indication, it's been going on for quite a while. I think we got the bug around 2006 or 2007 when Xena was diagnosed with cancer of an environmental source.

Things like eating organic, composting, recycling, and proper disposal of items not to be reused, are part of our daily routine now. Today I realized, as I loaded up a box of HAZMAT dropoffs, that there are some items in there that many of you may find fascinating--or not. So here goes. Strap on your green seatbelt and let's talk about how you could be disposing of the items you don't wish to keep. Join us for an up close and personal tour of our trash. Fun, yes?!

courtesy epa.gov

But first let's talk about the items you choose to bring into your home. Even your dogs don't need some of the ingredients that are in pet products. Really; why would you feed your dog food coloring or synthetics like fertilizers and pesticides. Items I absolutely boycott for my family and my pets include those with food coloring, ingredients processed with aluminum, parabens, synthetic fertilizers (compost works great and helps you recycle your food scraps), pesticides for home, garden and our pets (we've got a list at the link of products that work well and are not poisonous to our pets), commercial house cleaning products with toxic ingredients, unnecessary disposable packaging, plastic bags when there are options, and the list goes on.

• Let's start with batteries. Some dog products use them to run motors (water fountains) and some owners use them for dog-related activities like playing calming music on a dinosaur cassette or CD player. I love Lisa Spector's piano music for both me and the dogs! Batteries--no matter which kind you're disposing of--don't go to landfills. They leak acids and toxins. Take them to the hazardous materials drop off point at your county's landfill or similar location. Just Google it! Better yet, use rechargeable batteries to reduce the number of batteries needed and the toxicity of the batteries themselves. Rechargeable batteries have come a long way in recent years, lasting longer and becoming much more affordable. You can check this out at these Amazon links for a recharger and batteries that are widely available at discount stores also.
• Medications are another matter. Ask your vet where you can dispose of unused or expired meds in your area. Reduce the amount of this by keeping an inventory of what you have at home. Often you'll be prescribed a repeat and find you already had some left over. Many municipalities offer medication disposal drop off days periodically. Another option is to check online for the safest ways to dispose of medications. There are some guidelines you can follow, but take care to follow them well. This stuff doesn't belong in our water supply!
• Hypodermic needles used for diabetic pets should be disposed of in appropriate SHARPS containers and turned into accepting facilities in your area when full. In our area, fire stations take drop offs, but many labs will also take your SHARPS containers for a small charge. Check local listings.
• Liquid home or garden chemicals: Please don't pour these down your drain. Our water treatment facilities are not set up to remove these products, so guess where they'll end up? Yup--our water supply. If you're going the green road by giving up Roundup (email me for info on greener herbicides), pesticides (ditto) or auto fluids, check with the experts. Most counties offer drop off days at multiple locations for used motor oil and anti-freeze (which are very toxic to fido). When I purged my traditional pesticides, I handed them off to a family that had no intention of switching. At least they saved money although I'll admit I got a stomach ache over it.



courtesy MotherEarthNews.com

• CFL lightbulbs that light the home you share with your pets: The biggest beef about CFLs among consumers is that they've heard there is mercury in these. They are right. However, the amount of mercury is miniscule and can be removed by proper facilities that are in place especially for this purpose. CFLs are far superior in their green points than traditional incandescant bulbs, which have now been eliminated in much of the U.S. due to danger to our environment. CFLs need to be dropped off at a hazmat facility for proper handling. Call your local landfill for directions.
• Electronics like that dinosaur cassette player, broken DVD players, computers beyond repair, and the like, all have components that must be removed before disposal. Some manufacturers will handle this, but hazmat facilities do it also. Further, the plastics can often be recycled, which helps a bit in the grand scheme.
• Old cell phones that have kept you and fido safe on walks (you know, the ones they call DUMB phones) can be turned in at many office supply stores and Home Depots. Remove your SIM card and attach the battery and charger with a rubberband. These can be used as emergency phones, dialing only 911, for folks who can't afford a cell phone or choose not to purchase one. 
• Old eyeglasses that have gotten you around on your dog walks for years are accepted at many eyeglass stores and by Lion's Clubs all over. They check the prescription and match them up with requests for glasses by needy families.
• I'm tossing this one in here, even though it doesn't pertain at all to pets. Wine bottle corks can be recycled as a naturally-occurring product. Google a facility near you and when you've collected a box, drop a label on it and off they go to cork heaven for a new life as a bulletin board.
• Brita filters used for your pet's filtered water (and probably other brands too) can be turned in at Whole Foods Markets or mailed back to Brita for recycling. These are cleaned, refurbished (sorry, I don't have a lot of details on this process) and made ready to resell so that the plastic and filtering materials don't all go to waste. I hope you're all using filtered water in your pet bowls. City water can and often does have a chlorine cloud that may not set well with your pets, especially over the long term. Watch for tell-tale neurological symptoms and see your vet if Fido has any new or worsening odd behaviors.
• Most certainly I've missed a few. This list incorporates most of my own family's items, but you may have others. Feel free to share your knowledge and tell us how you dispose properly. #browniepoints

This Week's Drop Off:
Light Bulbs, Batteries, Phones + Electronics

Tanner and Oliver Will Tag Along

You may be asking yourself why I would trek to the hazmat facility on a regular basis. It's really much easier than that. I keep a couple of boxes of small containers (milk cartons, old shoe boxes, etc) to sort out items that require specialized disposal. When the box gets full we trek off to the hazmat drop. In our county, this area is underground (like in the lower level of a parking garage) with separate areas labeled off for each type of product. It only takes a few minutes to place each box on the platform for each product category. If your hazmat items are sorted, you'll be in and out in a jiffy. Do you have a few minutes to keep from tossing toxins in our landfills? I hope so; our dogs can't do it alone.

If you're trying to live a little lighter on the earth and reduce your carbon footprint, I'd love to encourage you a bit. Send me a photo of your dog (AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com) at a hazmat facility and I'll send you a surprise pet or pet parent goodie as a reward for your effort, while supplies last. Items will vary, but will include assorted pet industry samples, pet supplies and pet lover items. I'll also share your pic with a thank you on Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to include an address and your dog's weight, sex, and breed or mix for those items that require appropriate sizing! Now, just hit that RT button to help:

Grab a #freebie: Take your hazardous materials to a #hazmat facility. Send your pic: AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com pic.twitter.com/vcQguSF3X9
— Carrie Boyko (@AllThingsDog) July 4, 2014

Greening up your dog's world,

Easter, Passover and Earth Day Celebrations--Gone to the Dogs!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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How's This Look for Me?

For posts like this one, I'm reasonably sure that Tanner wishes our rabbit, Robby, was still here to stand in. While Tanner is fairly amenable to posing in ears, he'll have them off within 10 minutes after I shut the camera off. I have to offer him #ASmartCookie in reward for his good nature and accommodation. Thanks Tanner!

Today's giveaway prize announcement includes three winners who will each receive a grab bag for their Fido. These bags will include 2 bags of USA-made treats, a wallet-pack of Flushpuppies for better disposal of Fido's deposits, and either a toy or a leash. The latter will be selected based on the dog's size, for safety reasons.

Our winners are Crystal R., Molly P, and Linda G. Watch for an email from us via AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. Check your spam file tonight if you don't find it easily, or feel free to write to us at this address with your full name, address and your dog's weight. If you'd like to receive an All Things Dog Blog bandana for your pup, please indicate this in your email and we'll include it along with your prizes.

After this you can sit back and relax as we do the rest. Oh, and don't forget to watch for the goodie bag of Event Barkers perks inside. You'll find coupons, samples, helpful information from our sponsors and other goodies in this bag. Be sure to go through the contents carefully so you don't miss a thing!

Speaking of Event Barkers, we're busy preparing for our next Twitter Party on behalf of sponsor Castor and Pollux Pet. #OrganicPet is sure to be a bit hit as we'll have experts on hand to answer your questions about their products, new introductions, and the value of purchasing an organic food for your pets. And did I mention there will be prizes? Mark your calendars for May 4 and click through to the post hashtagged above to RSVP and enter our pre-party giveaways. You could be a winner without even attending!

No matter which holiday you're celebrating at this time of year, be sure to enjoy the moment as you spend time with family, friends and your dog. Each day is precious and we all need to savor them. I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow for the next pose in our Doga series: Forward Fold with Fido. 

Happy weekend,

Flush Puppies flushable dog waste bags have been provided to All Things Dog Blog for promotion by giveaway. I was not compensated to offer this giveaway or to share information about this product. I do use Flush Puppies in my own home and love that we are not adding immeasurably to the waste bags in landfills.
Treats and other items in this giveaway were acquired as conference swag and/or are full size samples and are being passed along to you. Readership has its perks. :)
The Easter bunny ears used in the photos were provided by Petco for an earlier promotion. Thanks Petco!