The push to “go green” is everywhere these days. Choosing options that are better for our environment and for us are also better for our dogs. We are always trying to choose better options in our daily lives, but sometimes those choices are considerably more expensive than the less “green” options. This can make “green” options a tougher choice for most of us.

“Even though it’s a popular flooring choice, PVC continues to be the subject of considerable controversy. Its production releases an extraordinarily toxic chemical – dioxin – and many, including the Healthy Building Network, consider PVC to be one of the ‘most environmentally hazardous consumer materials produced’.”In the September/October 2011 issue of The Bark magazine, the Bark Editors article “Green Up” gives ideas to provide greener options for our dogs. According to the article, one product to avoid is vinyl floors:

I don’t know much about it, but if the production of it releases this chemical, I have to wonder if having vinyl floors in our homes continues to expose our dogs to these chemicals. We try to avoid harmful chemicals in our cleaning products and other choices, but with our dogs spending so much time on the floors, I have to wonder what else we are exposing our dogs to that we are not as aware of.

I, for one, will be paying more attention to what my dogs are walking and sleeping on. Seems like one more good reason for my dogs to snuggle on the couch with me!

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