Ways to celebrate Earth Day doggie-style

April 22, 7:03 AMAtlanta Dogs ExaminerSandy Weaver Carman

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Today is Earth Day, and since so many people are focused on our planet, this column revolves around it today, with a dog twist, of course. 

Earth Day was first observed in 1970, and began as an environmental teach-in. Interestingly, it was founded at a time when there was rising hysteria about global cooling, not global warming. There were also serious concerns about the population explosion and littering. Most historians agree that April 20, 1970 was the beginning of the modern environmental movement.

Today is the day that Disney has chosen to debut the new eco-movie, Disneynature EARTH, a story of three animal families and their life stories on Earth. The animals featured are polar bears, elephants and whales, leaving dog-lovers wondering why no wolves? But here's the good news for dogs, and for the planet: for every ticket sold this week to Disneynature EARTH, Disney will plant a tree. And you KNOW how much dogs like trees!

Now, to be sure that dog-lovers celebrate Earth Day in a good way for their furry friends, here's a list of ways you and your dog can "go green" together:

1. Get rid of the lawn service, or use one that uses no chemicals. The chemicals sprayed on lawns are not just bad for bugs, they're bad for any dog (and potentially, child) that routinely plays on the grass and occasionally eats it. It's possible to have a lovely, green lawn without dumping loads of chemicals into the invironment and your family.

2. Subscribe to Whole Dog Journal, a great source of information about natural training, food, toys and more.

3. House-train your puppy quickly, and clean up the mess in a safe, non-chemical way using white vinegar. For clean-ups on walks, re-use plastic bags you would otherwise throw away (bread bags, used sandwich baggies, etc.)

4. Buy dog supplies that are made locally, to cut down on excessive shipment. Beautiful dog bowls are manufactured right here in Atlanta, and there are many dog supply stores that work hard to be green every day, not just Earth Day.

5. Think about the health of your dog, and consider using a veterinarian who uses non-drug and non-invasive techniques when possible.

6. Use as many non-chemical methods as possible to keep fleas off of your dog and out of your house.

7. Make treats for your dog...it's easy, fun and your dog will love you for it! Here's a recipe to get you started:

Tuna Fudge

2 6-oz cans Tuna - do not drain
1 1/2 cups flour
2 eggs
1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese

Pre-heat oven to 350F.

Process tuna and eggs in food processor or blender or mix in a bowl. Add flour and cheese and mix to a brownie-like consistency. Spread into a 9x9-inch greased pan. Bake for 20 minutes. When the brownies are done, they will have a putty-like texture and the edges will pull away from the sides of the pan. Cut into squares and freeze unused fudge.

Dogs like this right out of the oven, room temperature or frozen...dogs like this, and so do cats!

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