The Healthy Dog Runner: Earth Day 2013

By Pamela Schmidlin, Certified Health Coach, Certified Dog Trainer, Professional Photographer and Videographer

Monday, April 22, 2013- Happy Earth Day!....

Actually everyday is Earth Day to me, as I try to live animal and environmentally friendly as earthly possible! (pun intended!) Living a vegan lifestyle, I already decided to contribute to cleaner, happier, and healthier planet! But for those of us who are transitioning to such a lifestyle or live another lifestyle, what are some ways you can choose to celebrate Earth Day today (and hopefully everyday from here on out, let Earth Day be the start of new healthier habits that will have a positive, happy impact on the world around you!).

Here are some ways that you can contribute:

1- DRINK WATER.....but wait, go for filtered tap water, and use a recycleable container. Forget the plastic bottle, the plastic bottles use a lot of fossil fuels and pollute the environment. In fact, Americans buy more bottled water than any other nation in the world, adding 29 billion water bottles a year to the problem. In order to make all these bottles, manufacturers use 17 million barrels of crude oil. That’s enough oil to keep a million cars going for twelve months.

Recycling one plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for six hours.

2. Recycle!....Whenever you can recycle, this means yes- any plastic bottles you may use....but it also means so many other things, from wood, metals, plastics, paper, glass, and of course biodegradable waste....
Some of the benefits of recycling are:

Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators;
Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals;
Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to collect new raw materials;
Saves energy;
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change;
Helps sustain the environment for future generations;
Helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States.

3. Composting! Recycling any fruit and veggie scraps for use in upcoming gardening is a great idea! There are so many ways to
start your compost pile today. Composting improves the soil structure, increases the nutrient content, uses less water, as well as warding off plant diseases.

4. Drive less, walk, run, or bike to your destination whenever possible. Or take public transportation whenever possible!

5. Start a garden! Whether it be fruits, and veggies or wonderful flowers, it all adds so much back to the earth! Use that compost you made from the biodegradable waste!

Skyler, Candycane, Sandy, and Benji have their suggestions for how their fellow dogs can help celebrate Earth Day today and everyday! Here are their suggestions:

1. Walk the dog more- and while on those walks use compostable poop bags. Don't use extra bags.

2. Clean your backyard of any poop regularly!
Important because bacteria, worms, and parasites thrive in the waste. And eventually can wash away into our water supply!

3. Feed your dog a vegetarian or vegan food (and watch out for GMO's in their food, and anything you or they shouldn't be eating!) www.v-dog.com

4. Buy toys and products that are animal and environmentally safe! (Including shampoos and grooming products!)

5. Be sure to spay and neuter you pets!

There are so many ways you can celebrate Earth Day today, how are you going to go a little greener today?

Oh, one more thing......here's a message from the plants themselves on Earth Day 2013: