Category: Green

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Earth Day & Our Pets

PlanetGreen has a great post on how to limit your pets’ environmental impact. (Full disclosure: PetProject was included in Planet Green’s list of Top Ten DIY Sites.)

I recommend reading the whole post to see their good suggestions and the reasons behind them, but here are some of my favorite points.

  • adopt from a shelter
  • use pet-friendly deicer on sidewalks
  • compost dog poop
  • contain your pets

Topped only perhaps by habitat destruction, cats are the biggest, baddest bird killers of all time. Even wind turbines have got nothing on them. …[D]omestic cats do have an unfair advantage. Unlike wild predators, house cats are always well fed, well rested, and in tip-top fighting shape. They’re also present in more concentrated (and rapidly increasing) numbers than say, the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike.

There are also tons of links to articles and useful websites, so check it out!

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Earth Day: 30-Day Green Cat Challenge

Earth Day is Thursday April 22nd—here’s a great way to kickstart the week.  Last year, Holly Tse at Little Green Cat issued a 30-Day Green Cat Challenge. For 30 days, she looked at ways to give her cat a “green makeover” and she has some really good ideas.

A few of my favorites are:

Holly also has a book, Make You Own Cat Toys: Saving The Planet One Cat Toy At A Time.

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DIY: Pet Bed Made From Table

I love this pet bed made from an old side table! It reminds me of the suitcase beds I wrote about previously.  More great repurposing of an old object.  Depending on the size of the table, you can make one for a cat or a dog.

Ki Nassauer over at Junk Camp shows how it’s done.  First you need an old side table—look for one with interesting leg details, flip that sucker over, add some touches (finials, a headboard made from trim, feet), paint, and add a cushion or an old pillow and you’ve got a clever new pet bed.  Awesome!

Instructables also has a tutorial inspired by this project. An important tip—use primer before you paint.  Your life will be happier!  Also, you can make feet for the bed from wood scraps or you can buy feet at a building supply store.

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News Bites: Fishing, Insulin, Hello Kitty, Dog Bites

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DIY: Dog Raincoat From Upcycled Jacket

Are you sensing a theme with another raincoat post?  Yes, it’s still raining here in the Pacific NW.  I never thought I’d be someone who put a raincoat on a dog, but then I noticed that if it was raining on walks, Saffron would walk next to walls in their rain shadow and she’d linger a looong time under trees.  I realized if she were a feral dog left to make her own decisions, she’d be snuggled up under a porch or bush where it was dry.  Smart dog!  The least I can do is make her more comfortable, but her old coat is too short and doesn’t protect her ears at all.

So now Saffron needs a new coat and:

  • I don’t want to spend a lot
  • I can’t find a coat I’m satisfied will help keep her ears drier
  • I want a coat made from tough, weather-proof fabric not cheap vinyl
Quilted version

I’m going to have to make it myself, so I made a trip to my favorite thrift store and found an awesome women’s stadium coat with a hood for $9.99.  With the help of this great tutorial on how to make a dog coat from a recycled jacket, I’m going to turn it into a raincoat for Saffron.  I’ll let you know how it turns out!

In the meantime, check out the tutorial which can be used on any type of recycled jacket or with yardage.  There’s a printable pattern that’s in real size so you can print out the pieces, tape them together, & adjust the size to fit your dog.  And never fear, there are excellent printable instructions, that include tips on how to adjust the pattern to fit your dog.

(The creator of the tutorial is Diana Durkes from the super cool blog, Fine Diving–New Life For the Tossed & Found. If you’re in the Chicago area, check out her sister blog, Garage Sale Warrior.)

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