Going Green in Dog Day Care

If you are in the market for dog day care, consider going with a green business. Green-friendly dog care can be beneficial not only to the environment, but to your dog as well.

The Bay Area Green Business Program considers a business to be green if it reduces waste, prevents pollution and is in compliance with environmental regulations.   The business must also take a pledge to continue to show responsibility to the environment.

Other ways for a business to be socially responsible include supporting local artisans and businesses and purchasing fair trade products.

Making sustainable choices

Metro Dog is a Certified Green Business in Contra Costa County and a founding member of the Richmond Green Business Council.  Metro Dog uses sustainable products such as collars, leashes and toys made out of recycled materials. They also use towels, bowls and poop bags that are biodegradable. Their water system is filtered and their construction materials are non-polluting and sustainable.

Dog day care rooms may have rubberized flooring to absorb shocks to help protect the dogs’ joints, as well as offering better traction.  A green business may use recycled rubber from a source such as old car tires. 

Conserving energy

With California’s history of rolling blackouts, conserving energy is particularly important. Some pet care businesses have partially converted to using solar energy. They may also use energy-conserving compact fluorescent light bulbs. Metro Dog uses skylights that give dog day care areas natural lighting during the day, which also has the benefit of conserving energy.

Some businesses also use special low-speed fans to circulate air while conserving energy. 

 For cleaning dog day care areas, Metro Dog uses a biodegradable cleanser called Clean Break disinfectant, which has a neutral pH and is non-toxic. They also use Anti Icy Poo, which is a live enzyme solution that consumes odor-causing organic solids.

Embracing and respecting nature

Dog day care companies can embrace the environment and benefit dogs by taking them out into nature. Metro Dog takes dogs on walks through the dog parks and trails of the East Bay Area.

Some companies offer advanced dog training that is off-leash, which can ultimately enhance the dog’s experience of being able to frolic outdoors.  This advanced training should also ensure that an off-leash dog will not do damage to native wildlife.

As for dog boarding, some facilities offer cage-free overnight boarding, which can be a more natural way for a dog to stay away from home than keeping the dog locked up in a cage.

Animal rescue

While a dog day care facility may not require that dogs be spayed or neutered, they may actively support the importance of making sure that dogs in general are spayed or neutered. Owners or employees of dog day care facilities may also be active in animal rescue, looking to find permanent homes for abandoned or neglected dogs.

Some companies are even composting dog poop! The waste is used at a treatment facility in the generation of methane gas. Please be aware that this program is experimental and compost bins do not typically accept dog waste.