EcoSalon’s 30 favorite quotes about animals.

Whether you’re an aspiring crazy cat lady or partial to the clumsy wet-nosed affections of a dog, a conscious meat eater or a passionate animal-defending vegetarian, it’s hard not to be touched and inspired by animals and the unique connection that we have with them as humans. These 30 quotes from Ghandi, David Sedaris, Paul McCartney and many more illustrate some of the most poignant, uplifting and funny things people have to say about animals.

The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men. – Alice Walker

Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures. – The Dalai Lama

Happiness is a warm puppy. – Charles M. Schulz

I wish outer space guys would conquer the Earth and make people their pets, because I’d like to have one of those little beds with my name on it. – Jack Handey

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. – Mark Twain

Animals never worry about Heaven or Hell. Neither do I. Maybe that’s why we get along. - Charles Bukowski, The Last Night of the Earth Poems

Dogs come when they’re called; cats take a message and get back to you later. – Mary Bly

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. – Mahatma Ghandi

I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it’s such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her. – Ellen DeGeneres

Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. – George Eliot

You can judge a man’s true character by the way he treats his fellow animals. - Paul McCartney

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between dog and man. – Mark Twain

Were the walls of our meat industry to become transparent, literally or figuratively, we would not long continue to raise, kill and eat animals the way we do. – Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Our Meals

Animals are my friends – and I don’t eat my friends. – George Bernard Shaw

Look, PETA! If God hadn’t wanted us to eat animals, he wouldn’t have made them so darn tasty! – Stephen Colbert

Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty. – Albert Einstein

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise. – The Beatles

If language naturally evolves to serve the needs of tiny rodents with tiny rodent brains, then what’s unique about language isn’t the brilliant humans who invented it to communicate high-level abstract thoughts. What’s unique about language is that the creatures who develop it are highly vulnerable to being eaten. – Temple Grandin

The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others. - Saint John Chrysostom

When I was a kid, if a guy got killed in a western movie I always wondered who got his horse. – George Carlin

I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being. – Abraham Lincoln

Time spent with cats is never wasted. – Sigmund Freud

We should have each other to tea huh? We should have each other with cream, then curl up in the fire and sleep for a while – it’s the grooviest thing, it’s the perfect dream. – The Cure, ‘The Lovecats’

I love things made out of animals. It’s just so funny to think of someone saying, ‘I need a letter opener. I guess I’ll have to kill a deer.’ – David Sedaris

If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience. – Woodrow Wilson

Animals, whom we have made our slaves, we do not like to consider our equal. - Charles Darwin

Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. – Groucho Marx, The Essential Groucho

Animals have these advantages over men: they have no theologians to instruct them, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills. – Voltaire

True human goodness, in all its purity and freedom, can come to the fore only when its recipient has no power. Mankind’s true moral test, its fundamental test (which is deeply buried from view), consists of its attitude toward those who are at its mercy: animals. – Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Everyone’s pet is the most outstanding. This begets mutual blindness. – Jean Cocteau

ALSO CHECK OUT:

40 Best Quotes About Solitude

50 Best Quotes About Love

Classic Quotes from Hollywood’s Original Leading Ladies

30 Best Quotes About Nature

40 Inspirational Quotes on New Beginnings

Most Ridiculous Quotes About Women: 2011 Edition

50 Quotes About Meditation And Yoga

Photo: Cia de Photo

ColumnWe love our pets, and the box office does too.

At the mere mention of a heartwarming tale starring a four-legged companion, many of us are happy to be front and center clutching a box of tissues.

Why is this? According to The Humane Society of the United States, thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog. Thirty-three percent of U.S. households own at least one cat. That’s not even taking into account those burdened with pet allergies who long from afar. So it makes perfect sense that, as a culture, we’re a bunch of admitted saps eager to shell out our cash if it means we get to bask in the glow of animal love.

And boy, do we shell. Our love for animal weepers translates into big numbers. The 2008 feature “Marley and Me” currently holds a worldwide gross of $243,665,113. Adults and children alike flock to these often family-friendly films; after all, animal love crosses generations. It brings us together in the shared warmth of a Marley. Or Lassie. Or Seabiscuit.

But what’s really at the heart of our affinity for heart-warming films? Likely, it’s for the same reasons we love animals. Animal co-stars aren’t driven by pretense, or cynicism, or even acting. (And to any nonbelievers, consider the recent story of a dog stretched out next to the casket at the funeral of his owner, a fallen Navy Seal.) Animals love us unconditionally.

While Hollywood has given us film after film featuring our four-legged companions, these are the 10 which, for me, stand as the most heat-rending and tear-stained among them.

Old Yeller (1957)

This film’s tagline might read: “The ultimate timeless story of all timeless stories of a boy and his dog.” When young Travis Coates, a man before his time, befriends a yellow dog, adventures are had. And it’s Travis’ heartbroken endgame – “But he was my dog. I’ll do it” – that makes this Disney film a true classic.

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)

Hachi, thy name is emotional manipulation. Director Lasse Hallstorm brings out the big guns in this tear-drenched drama about a loyal dog who greets his master every day at the train station. When kindly Professor Wilson (Richard Gere) dies suddenly, Hachi continues to wait for him at the station – for 10 years. You likely won’t get two minutes into this film without reaching for a tissue. And it’s based on a true story.

Marley and Me (2008)

Marley is a rambunctious puppy adopted by the Grogans in the early years of their marriage. Untrainable, ornery, and very badly behaved, he provides a narrative thread to a relatable couple who weather marriage, miscarriages, career and kids. When Marley “goes to a better place” at the end, you’re weeping right alongside the finely-toned Grogans, played by Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. Better yet? It’s inspired by a true story.

Lassie Come Home (1943)

Young Joe Carraclough (Roddy McDowall) is despondent when his Depression-era parents sell his collie, Lassie, to the Duke of Rudling. When the Duke carts Lassie off hundreds of miles away to Scotland, his granddaughter Priscilla (Elizabeth Taylor) helps Lassie escape. Lassie travels back to Joe, experience the good and bad of humanity along the way.

The Horse Whisperer (1998)

This drama western romance is really supposed to be about the love between a highly strung New Yorker (Kristen Scott Thomas) and a handsome cowboy (Robert Redford). But this healing film is really about the relationship between a traumatized girl (Scarlett Johansson) and her equally damaged horse.

Babe (1995)

A film that likely put a generation off pork permanently, the adventurous Babe is a pig who wants to be a sheep-dog. So when Babe learns how to herd sheep from Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell), he leaves most of us in the dust with his can-do spirit. That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.

Bambi (1942)
This Disney animated classic came out in 1942, embedding its place into so many of our childhoods. How many of us can count childhood trauma back to the moment Bambi’s mother is “taken away” by hunters? Nonetheless, we all, like Bambi, managed to survive.

Seabiscuit (2003)

Impossible odds? Check. Tragic character back stories? Check. Really happened? Double-check. This Depression-era racehorse lifted the spirits of anyone who has been told they can’t fulfill their dreams. His 21st century movie counterpart does the same.

Charlotte’s Web (1973)

Many of us saw this animated version of E.B. White’s classic tale before we could even read. To save Wilbur the pig from the axe, Charlotte the spider weaves into her web that he’s “some pig.” When Wilbur wins a prize at the county fair, his joy is cut short by Charlotte’s death.

My Dog Skip (2000)

Author Willie Morris’ memoir came to the big screen in this lovely tale of another boy and his dog. Willie (Frankie Muniz) is the shy, misunderstood lonely son to stoic parents in World War II-era Mississippi. Civil rights, post-traumatic stress disorder and young love are all highlighted in this film by the loyalty of one small dog.

This is the latest installment in Katherine Butler’s column, Shade Grown Hollywood, where celebrity becomes conscious. “Shade grown” refers literally to shade grown coffee, a farming method that “incorporates principles of natural ecology to promote natural ecological relationships.” Shade Grown is our sustainable twist on Hollywood.

Image: the_colmans/Flickr

Designer pet beds stuffed with discarded, recycled plastic bottles.

Pets don’t demand much in the way of decor. It’s we, the pet owners, who yearn for stylish and hip in our home, which isn’t easy with furry animals roaming around.

But decor and pets just got easier with P.L.A.Y. (Pet Lifestyle and You) Pet Beds. They’re made of 100% cotton and look anything but ordinary. The Original Collection includes Urban Denim (image above, $95 as shown), which has an understated edge. The Artist’s Collection (image below, Cameo. $105 as shown), showcases the clever designs of San Francisco artist, David Collins.

Available in round or rectangle and three different sizes, all P.L.A.Y pet beds are filled with the company’s very own soft Planet Fill™, which is made from 100% post-consumer certified, recycled plastic bottles.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com.

ColumnPets and landlords should mix. Discuss.

A neighbor in my building has adopted a new golden retriever puppy, and it can yelp with the best of them. With my front door facing the lobby stairway, it seems I can’t go an hour without hearing a bark or a floppy tumble down the stairs for yet another walk around the block. Apparently, golden retrievers need lots of walks. The other neighbors have written complaints, the dog’s owner has penned anxious apologies and tacked these shaky handwritten notes above the mail boxes, and it’s only a matter of time before the big dogs are called in – the landlords – and it’s tough luck in rent city.

On this general topic, it strikes me that the common practice by landlords of banning pets outright is more than a little ridiculous. Living life as a human being is a cost that should be included in the rent. For many, life brazenly includes a dog or cat. Landlords have been advised and in most places are required to avoid discrimination on the basis of children, marital status, ethnicity and sexual orientation, even occupation, yet when it comes to man’s best friend, we’re still oddly submissive to residential stinginess.

Over the years, I’ve noticed something. Landlords who allow pets are just nicer people. They tend to view their tenants as human beings rather than irritations. And it works both ways. A friend who is a freelance editor has managed an apartment building for over a decade and has learned that people with pets often make better tenants. They’re more conscious, more responsible, and more mature – and that makes for a happy lease all around. The tendency is so pronounced, she’s actually come to prefer rental candidates who own pets, carpet be damned.

These are only observations, and there are exceptions, of course. The quiet, respectful grad school student slaving over his dissertation would have a hard time committing to more than the composting of a pizza box, let alone caring for a pet. And some pet owners are simply obnoxious (cue the There’s Something About Mary scene with the leathered landlady and her dog, although, fair warning for the uninitiated, you cannot unsee). But my friend gets a private kick out of the shock prospective tenants show when they learn the generous news. Pet sounds? Now there’s an album I can live with. I think it’s sad more people can’t.

It’s true that cats may scratch and dogs may bark. It’s true that we should maintain a reasonable level of care and concern for tenant safety and comfort, as well as heed the necessities of upkeep. Since I can already hear the libertarians and grumpy people sharpening their keyboards (The property rights! The lawsuits! The repairs! The falling sky!), let me say no one is advocating looking the other way at a pit bull puppy mill or even a trouble-making tomcat. Fines and deposits are wonderful things. But stop and ask an honest question. Knowing how much healthier and happier people are when they live life with an animal companion, do we really feel like celebrating fewer smudges on the paint as if it’s some sort of profit? Those walls will need repainting, anyway. It’s the law.

If we let the actuary tables have their way, I fear we’ll soon see even the amiable goldfish banned on the grounds of potential mildew. Perhaps we could ban toddlers – they throw tantrums. Or teenage girls – they throw everything. While we’re at it, middle-schoolers – they haven’t yet learned about deodorant. I’d personally like to request banning Creepy Guy with The Pants and The One Who Goes Through Your Recycling. Also, Mormons, just because. Even some houseplants can be perniciously aggressive. The possibilities are really endless, for you can never be too mean!

“I’m just so relieved that I finally found a place that would take a dog,” a friend, Amanda, recently told me after an exhausting apartment hunt. She said this in a tone of such apologetic gratitude, you’d think the woman hustles a team of Huskies for a living. Not the case, although I’m sure her Boston terrier would give the Iditarod his very best effort. They’re such earnest little guys.

No dogs, no cats, no pets, no love. It’s not as if I can’t understand why landlords make such rules, and I don’t think petitioning for pet rights in the rental code is the winning approach (although never say never in California). The No Pets Allowed rule is mitigating risk, it’s just that it’s also mitigating one of the nicer things about humanity, and that’s responsibility. Besides, there comes a time when your orchid’s capacity for emotional support reaches its limit. In the interest of making the planet a better place, or at least a little less surreal, I’d like to remind everyone that control freaks don’t change the world.

My neighbor’s guilt over his puppy plight doesn’t make it any less annoying. It is a disturbance, but so is Facebook. This is all part of life, and if I can live with a digital poke, whatever that is, I think I can handle a canine.

All this is to say, it’s never too early to start planning. This holiday season, show your appreciation and give your landlord a pet.

This is the latest installment in your editor’s new column for 2011, The Insider’s Guide to Life, exploring topics such as media, culture, sex, politics, and style. If she’s got the strength for it, there will be more to come. Cheers and spellcheck!

Image: Mingo.nl

As the ball dropped at midnight, did you resolve that this will be the year you try your hand at the cut back or eliminate meat from your diet? You’ve scoured the Internet for information, read books, planned menus, and now you’re ready to take the plunge. Lots of us have been there and so let us play big sister for a minute and share nine surprising and fun things you need to know about becoming a vegetarian.

You don’t have to live on tofu – Tofu is a protein-packed tasty and versatile ingredient in your vegetarian arsenal, but it’s not the only thing on the menu. In fact, there are several yummy options for getting your protein needs met, including veggie burgers, quinoa, and a whole parade of legumes to choose from.

Even if you’re not all-in, it still counts – If you’re drawn to the vegetarian philosophy, lifestyle, or menu but aren’t sure you can give up meat entirely, we’re giving you permission to just do what you can. Any reduction in meat intake is good for your health and great for the planet, so whether you start with Meatless Mondays, double up on vegetables at lunch, or just read a cookbook, any step at all is a good one.

People will annoy you sometimes – People mean well, but are apt to say the darndest things when they discover you’re a vegetarian. You’ll hear everything from “Are you sure you’re getting enough protein?” to “My friend’s sister’s brother-in-law’s cousin’s hair fell out from lack of iron.” Unless you really enjoy the thrill of a long debate about the merits of your new lifestyle, just be polite, arm yourself in advance with pleasant responses, then change the subject.

You’ll be smart and famous – Well, maybe not famous, but at least you’ll be in good company. Alicia Silverstone, Kristen Bell, and Alanis Morisette are among the many celebs who’ve sworn off meat. A recent study also shows that vegetarians are smarter and have higher IQs than their flesh-eating counterparts, although the jury’s still out on just how valid the results are.

You might turn your pets into vegetarians, too – Once you find the meatless method is very much to your liking, you may end up deciding to take Fluffy and Fido along for the ride. Whether you choose environmentally-responsible pet food or simply look for ways to green your pets’ environment, it’s quite possible you’ll find your new lifestyle impacts your pooch in the same positive ways it’s impacting yours.

The dinner parties you throw will still be awesome – A quick whirl through your library’s cookbook aisle or a 10-minute search on the Internet yields a huge batch of recipes that are so insanely good, your guests will never miss the meat. If you need instant ideas, here are 7 finger licking good recipes for meat eaters to get you started.

Your beauty routine might get caught up in the action – Once you cut meat from your diet, you may start looking for other ways to devoid your life of animal products. From organic deodorant and dental products to bath and body scrubs, your bathroom is a great place to start.

Your food budget might go down a little – The key to enjoying a vegetarian diet is to mix it up and keep things interesting. You don’t want to live on brown rice and broccoli, so try a wide variety of foods you’ve ignored in the past (daikon, anyone?) to see what grabs you. Buying what’s already in season is key to keeping costs down. Also be sure to invest in herbs, spices, and condiments to jazz up your meals and tease your tastebuds. The good news is, the upfront cost of stocking your larder (which evens out over the first few weeks) is nothing compared to the money you can save not buying those expensive cuts of meat.

You will learn to love your kitchen gadgets – Expect your pressure, slow, and rice cookers to become your best friends. If they’ve been collecting dust in the lower recesses of your kitchen cabinet, now’s the time to haul them out and put them to work. Vegetarian soups and chilis are out of this world when simmered on low all day, and you can cook your beans in a fraction of the time with a good pressure cooker. Make your rice cooker do double duty – use it to steam vegetables and make cakes.

Image: The Bitten Word

Forever etched in my mind is the painful scene in Marley and Me when the cherished family lab is put to sleep on a vet’s table with his devoted sidekick nestled beside him. I saw the tear jerker with my extended L.A. family during a winter vacation and was moved by the chorus of sobs from siblings and cousins who are raising dogs and horses instead of children.

Sadly, I relived the Marley death scene this week when I put my my 16-year-old glamor puss, Audrey, to sleep.

My family gathered around her on the hospital table, hands on her bony five-pound body as her asparagus green eyes slowly lost focus and she drifted onto her next life. Karma might let her come back as a pug dog that is incessantly bossed around by a Grizabella. Karma might return her as a doomed house fly on a window sill tormented during a hunt. Or better yet, as a new bride loved unconditionally by a cuddly and playful fur ball.

Edwin and I adopted Audrey from the San Francisco SPCA right after getting married, plucking the marbled gray tabby from a box of foster kittens just delivered to the shelter. The moment my husband picked her up and put her close to his ear, she purred like a mad freight train; like no one’s business. “This is a good one,” he proclaimed. And she was, from her early days in a concrete Russian Hill flat to her final years in the grassy suburbs.

Last week, the purring stopped for the first time. Nothing. And I knew – they purr for pleasure and it takes energy. She couldn’t eat. She could hardly walk. The kidney disease had progressed and in vital ways, she was already gone. So I made that excruciating decision, and now I miss the loud meowing alarm that stirred me each morning and alerted me to meal or hug time. There is a deep hole in my heart and an empty, cold spot on my bed.

In the backyard, where we have buried countless goldfish and a pair of hamsters, there is a vintage ceramic cat doorstop marking the mound where Audrey Jane rests. My daughters decorated an organic cotton pillowcase to use as a shroud, and it was something, the sweet epithets penned, the sun and flowers scrawled. It offered closure but the pain and guilt still lingers.

It is hard to forgive yourself for choosing death for another being; any being that deserved life. That’s why humane organizations like the SPCA offer counseling to support people grieving the loss of a pet.

There was no sequel to Marley and Me offering tips on coping, so we depend on the wisdom of health care pros to guide us along that path to letting go. Pet euthanasia specialist, Hilary Brown, says our animals don’t consciously convey to us it is time to put them out of their misery, and that we must go with out instincts and understand that we are actually giving our terminally ill pets the “ultimate gift” in setting them free.

“From the moment we embrace these animals when they first grace our lives, every day is one day closer to the day they must abandon their very temporary and faulty bodies and return to the state of total perfection and rapture they have always deserved,” says Brown. Today is a good day, perhaps tomorrow will be, too, and perhaps next week and the weeks of months after. But there will eventually be a winding down and we must not let that part of the cycle become our enemy.”

Brown also offers a compassionate perspective when it comes to supporting our vets who have chosen a career of healing and must be the one to inject what she terms the “freedom elixir”.

“I always place my hand on top of his hand that holds the syringe,” Brown explains. “I want to shoulder that burden with him so he’s not alone. The law says the vet is the one licensed to administer the shot, not me, but a much higher law says this is the responsibility that I undertook on the day I welcomed that pet into my life forever.”

One could argue the responsibility isn’t anything compared to deciding to end life support for a failing, one-pound preemie infant or to call a Dr. Kevorkian when a terminally ill parent requests an end to intervention. But I say it’s all relative. And for some, cats and dogs make the best relatives of all.

Images: IMDB, Luanne Bradley

More alpha men and women seem to be answering the call of the wild, signing on as leader of the pack for several hours each day. For herders able to command six-to-ten furry friends at a time in a neighborhood park or at the beach, dog walking can rake in as much as $200 a day (minus the truck fuel). Scooping poop just got a lot more enticing!

But you should know it isn’t all fun and games, warns Emy Sakai, 29, owner and founder of The Urban Paw dog walking service in San Francisco. The consummate animal lover has been pet sitting and dog walking since the age of 12, starting her career working part time while working in office settings and then branching off to launch her own service, which she likens to running a daycare program.

“The dog walker is like the teacher on a preschool field trip who has to keep a very close eye on the kids or they might wander off or eat something that is poisonous,” she finds. “I use treats and positive reinforcement and know what they are doing at all times.”

Sakai walks some seven different breeds at a time at Fort Funston, a wild and breezy stretch of headlands, sands and dunes. It has become the new happy hour spot for unleashed thirsty beasts and their guides, and where she has seen a lot of newbies come and go. It’s easy to talk the talk but can you walk the walk?

“You have to walk the dogs rain or shine, get dirty and not be grossed out by a lot of things,” she shares. “You have to have thick skin. It’s not just hanging out with cute, fuzzy animals. Being the pack leader shouldn’t be viewed as a glamorous or good transitional job.”

Okay, so it’s not as cushy as being a personal assistant to Carrie Bradshaw or being the intern who erases the chalkboard on the Glen Beck set. You may not be after glamor. You may not be a cat person. But perhaps flicking a Frisbee or waving a ball wand is your idea of a fling.

Here are seven signs that dog walking is the career for you:

1. You form attachments easily, even with drooling mutts who won’t pick up their poop. (“It’s sad when clients leave and I don’t get to say goodbye or have one last walk,” shares Sakai. “They’re like our second kids.”)

2. You are seeking part time work with flexibility so you can play with your human kids or finish that novel. An indoor retail job would be impossible, and besides, they won’t let you wear your gnarly, muddy boots at Saks.

3. You’re an alpha personality (a.k.a. control freak) who feels powerless in your current position. Why won’t someone, anyone, listen to you? Why are you constantly interrupted by stupid humans? Dogs know their place.

4. When you run on the beach you feel like a lonely loser and envy the dog walkers you spot throwing balls and sticks and connecting with their four legged friends. You like throwing sticks. You want friends.

5. You are looking for way out of that booth at Starbucks and perusing your laptop for listings for desk jobs. Your tush is spreading like nobody’s business, but the bills are not getting paid. You need exercise and money. Who doesn’t?

6. While you are a master at multi-tasking, you have never had the right job to employ your skills. As a dog walker you can shout loudly (calling out each name so everyone around you can hear), run, scoop, praise, play, feed, defend and reward, all while socializing and commiserating with other walkers.

7. No matter how hard you try, you cannot get rid of that gas guzzling SUV but realize you can use it for a good cause, namely the outings with your Fidos. Better yet, your clients all live within walking distance and you can pick them up on foot and hit parks a few blocks away!

Images: revolution cycle, NinaZed

Herbal remedies marketed to pets might actually be dangerous to your dog or cat. Obviously, we prefer to give our animals natural herbs when possible. Our companion animals’ bodies work different from ours, and some products that work for people are toxic to pets. But with hundreds of “natural” or “herbal” options, how do you know which ones are truly safe?

The first place to start is with your veterinarian. There are even holistic vets who can help evaluate your pet’s condition and determine the best natural course of action. When you’re out shopping, read labels thoroughly and consult with the sales staff at holistic stores. But buyer, beware: Some of the commonly marketed products are ineffective and even dangerous.

Here are some of the most commonly recommended natural treatments that are actually toxic to dogs and cats:

• Pennyroyal oil is recommended as a natural flea repellent but is highly toxic to dogs. In addition to skin problems and allergic reactions, in concentrated doses, it can kill.
• Comfrey is suggested for bone health and conditions like hip dysplasia and arthritis. However, it can damage your pet’s liver and has been banned from use in Canada.
• Tea tree oil, touted as the skin-problem solution for cats, is highly toxic to cats, dogs, and other small animals.
• Garlic works as a natural insect repellent. However, in large doses, it’s toxic to both dogs and cats, causing anemia or even death. The jury is out on whether or not garlic can be used safely, but with the toxic potential, why risk it?

Image: Smoobs

“Dogs weren’t bred to lie on the sofa all day and then walk in perfect step with their human for 30 minutes a day,” said trainer Eric Goebelbecker, CPDT-KA, owner of Dog Spelled Forward. “They get bored just like we do and need to exercise their brains.”

Providing the right stimulation can be a critical step in eliminating problem behaviors. As Goebelbecker points out, bored behavior is often mislabeled as separation anxiety. A dog who is bored will spend his day searching for activities, like disemboweling your television remote or barking incessantly. Providing adequate mental stimulation is easier – and more fun – thank you might think.

When you’re hanging around the house, play with your dog. Consider a game like tug or fetch. Hide in your house, and let your dog find you. You can repeat that exercise with treats and toys, too.

When you leave for the day, give your dog food puzzles he can solve on his own. To up the ante, Goebelbecker suggests hiding the toys. This gives your dog two separate activities – first, finding the toy, and second, solving the food puzzle.

Nina Ottosson makes a range of eco-friendly and pet-safe toys that will definitely keep your dog busy. Warning: These toys, which come in a variety of skill levels, will probably require your participation at first. (Check out her YouTube video demonstrations!) Another great option, though less eco-conscious, is the Kong. You can stuff a Kong to keep your dog occupied. “Kongs are great. You can put treats in them or even actual meals,” said Goebelbecker. “If your dog gets good at un-stuffing them, freeze them.”

Keeping your dog’s mind active will help eliminate problem behaviors like destructive chewing or excessive barking. According to Goebelbecker, “Mental stimulation can result in more relaxed and satisfied dog.”

Your dog will be happier and healthier for it, too!

Image: OakleyOriginals on Flickr, licensed for commercial use under Creative Commons.

Have you ever watched a dog eating and wondered if she was uncomfortable craning her neck to get every last bit of kibble? “Ah, but she’s just a dog,” you might say. “Surely, dogs can handle eating from the floor!” But when I stumbled across These Creatures‘ amazing Designer Hanging Feeders, I had to wonder if my dog deserved a new dining nook.

And yes, dogs are dogs, but some pet experts say that elevated bowls help canines reduce strain to their neck and back muscles and joints. Young nothing-can-stop-’em pups may not need to be pampered with a special ergonomic feeder. Older dogs that struggle with painful arthritis, or bigger dogs that really have to stretch their neck to reach the floor may have a stronger case for beggin’ for a fancy new bowl.

Either way, These Creatures get our vote for an ergonomic elevated feeder. These beautiful made-in-the-USA feeders aren’t propped up on posts or a platform. Instead they hang on the wall. This means that if you don’t mind hanging and re-hanging the bowl a couple of times, you can change the height depending on your dog’s growth, or to accommodate any new furry friends that may join your family in the future. No need to toss the bowl just because it’s not properly sized for your pooch anymore!

The contraptions are made from 12-gauge steel and come with removable stainless steel bowls. You can choose from five different color choices and 46 different breeds from a basenji to a Yorkie, including the French bulldog and pit bull designs shown above. If you don’t see your favorite breed or a doppelgänger for your mutt, stay tuned. These Creatures are currently working on a list of more than 10 additions to its collection.