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Going Green Wisconsin

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Going Green Wisconsin


Some Owners Seek Green-Friendly Items For Their Pets

Pet Stores Cite Spike In Interest In Green Products

UPDATED: 3:38 pm CDT April 30, 2008

Former Vice President Al Gore and other world leaders have been sounding the alarms about the global warming and other environmental concerns brought on by human actions. Now, four-legged inhabitants of this planet can also go green.

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The trend of selling all-natural treats, remedies and accessories, allow owners to care for their pets but minimizing its impact on the environment.

Animals might not fully appreciate the world-saving choices some owners have decided to make, but the demand to go green is rising as some look for new solutions to old problems, WISC-TV reported.

Jodi Schappe's dog Shasta has a few skin allergies.

"She doesn't do good with medication that you would get from your veterinarian as a prescription," Schappe said.

As a result, Shasta is given a more natural remedy.

"Her tail, 2 inches of it, was missing hair. And you can see today, within just two weeks of her problem, she was having the hair heal up and everything," she said. For others, healing sometimes takes a little holistic pampering. Kathy Thomack is an animal massage therapist who works at Ruffin' It Resort.

"You can feel the energy between my hands and him," Thomack said. "Unlike just petting, it's intentionally beneficial touch so that it benefits them in a variety of ways, from relaxing the muscles to helping to release waste and toxins."

For retailers, the public's growing demand for green pet products is prompting stores to change what they sell. Some now carry such green friendly items as biodegradable waste bags or dog toys made from recyclable material that themselves are recyclable. Another product is a yoghound, which is an organic frozen yogurt for dogs.

At Tabby and Jack's Pet Emporium, owner Michelle Lonergan said that demand spiked following the pet food recall one year ago because byproducts in the food contained poisonous chemicals.

"A byproduct by definition is whatever is left over after an animal has been slaughtered. So it's all encompassing of what's leftover so you really don't know what you're getting," Lonergan said.

The eco-friendly options are pet-friendly alternatives, providing sustainability for the world and loved ones, proponents said. Schappe said that the extra effort is worthwhile.

"You know, with Shasta, she's worth it. She's worth all the effort that we pour into it cause she's part of our family" Schappe said.

The Organic Trade Association is also making strides to standardize organic pet foods, proposing it meet the same kind of guidelines as human food.

Pets are a growing market for the going green movement. A 2004 report shows organic pet food sales bring in more than $14 million a year, WISC-TV reported.


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