my dog has fleas.

and I cannot bear the thought of a chemical treatment. At least until I've exhausted other options.

What should I do? Well of course turn to you for advice!



I am thinking she must have picked them up at the beach. Or from a walk in the neighbourhood. Temperatures here have hit the triple digits so I am thinking that may contribute to it. (Though I may be wrong.) In any case - how do I get rid of them (short of picking them off by hand and drowning them...) and how do I prevent them from coming back?

Thank you!

green dog

ah yes. a puppy has entered our lives. it is not completely unplanned. we have often talked about it around the dinner table. but i was surprised by how quickly it all really happened! i have always had strong feelings about adopting a pet. we have visited the shelter, and also contacted rescues at different points, but nothing ever quite worked out. until now. friends'(not breeders) dog had puppies, and they needed to be placed in homes. (said mama dog has now been neutered oops spayed.) a puppy answered my condition of chicken-friendliness. or at least chicken-get-along-ness. (they are getting along smashingly!) my current employment situation has me working from home so that was a consideration as well. i have the time to care and train a puppy. so we held a family vote - and welcomed moxie to our family.



and now we are faced with all the accouterments of pet ownership. our choices need to be good for her health and good for our planet.

there seems to be plenty out there for "earth-friendly" pet bedding, feeding bowls, toys, leashes and collars. a google search gives lots of options. we chose to buy local and/or handmade as much as possible. we were very lucky to receive some hand-me-downs from our favourite dogs next door. a carrier was one item checked off our list. a trip to our favourite neighborhood shop, green and greener, provided leash and collar. uncommon goods has some darling chew toys - but we have made a few impromptu chewies with old socks and some organic cotton batting we had on hand. so squeaky - but she seems to like them. i didn't want a plastic bowl, so purchased two small "ferret bowls" at a local pet shop which my husband installed in a fabulous holder.



her bed right now is an old cardboard box with a towel and my youngest's napping blanket - which she generously donated. it isn't a permanent solution - so i ordered a machine-washable felted bed today. i want to make this as well.

and oh yes - the poop. not easily compostable like our chook droppings. i have been doing some reading on hot composting. we will see. and the pee. we aren't investing in pricey training pads since i'm at home but have put down some newspaper when we have to run out on an errand.

and of course there are the myriad of food choices, bath and beauty choices and so on...

here are some other resources I found useful:
Pet food ratings
Natural Resources Defence Council's GreenPaws initiative to get improved Federal protection for chemicals going into pet care products

i know there is much i've missed here - and i am curious - how do you keep your pet keeping green?