HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

After Katrina, mulch was created from downed trees.    A termite problem that spread across the country which reminded us that there were some waste materials that were just not recyclable.

There is a site, Dolphin Blue, that I have just been alerted to that sells recycled business cards and other eco-friendly office supplies. Recycled printer paper is readily available at office supply chains, but I was not aware of the range of products that are available to the consumer.  Paper and envelopes seem obvious, but I have never thought about recycled file cabinets.  No, I don’t mean banker’s boxes, though they have file boxes also.    These are actual, steel file cabinets that use at least 25% post-consumer recycled steel.

I am impressed, as so much scrap metal ends up in the landfills of America (or at least my local landfill).  Sure, there are people that buy some of the metals from the county waste center to transform into something else, but it is not always entirely usable based on what it was exposed to and in its current state.  Unless you are a welder or an avant garde artist, of course.

So, does part of your file cabinet’s genes come from a Buick, a security door, another file cabinet that bit the dust?   You’ll never know, but it’s fun guessing.  Maybe that will be a new high school drama class ice breaker game: “Guess What I Was?”

Many times when there is construction, or there is severe weather, deer and other animals come to higher ground. We have bushes and other natural cover for many woodland creatures in our yard, and we welcome the visitors. However, one has to be careful. The larger visitors can not only damage potted plants, which is minor compared to the harm they can cause to themselves.  I hate the thought of calling any sort of wildlife removal as I don’t want them to be harmed.   We have worked with wildlife rescue before but large animals can do a lot of damage when they are scared.  I know how my dog reacts during a storm, I can’t imagine handling a large buck.

There is some very humane deer repellent that Havaheart puts out that keeps deer away from your windows, and the plants directly around your door. Dear Away contains Putrescent Egg, which dries and is undetectable to the humans.  It doesn’t harm them, but they can’t stand the smell.   There is also DeerOff works on scent and taste.   I normally don’t like to mess with my wild neighbors, but natural alternatives like these are preferable to them coming through a screen window or eating something harmful to them.

It is time to introduce a new feature. Wednesdays are “Look at That!” Day at HoundsGood.com, a time where I share a cool picture or something that you just “gotta” see.

One site I keep going back to and looking at is Kay’s K9s blog. K. Turple writes about her various felted creations that she also happens to sell in her Etsy store. Namely, adorable dogs she creates. She makes more than just dogs, though. Sometimes you will see an elephant, birds or other members of the animal kingdom. I don’t know how she makes something so tiny so incredibly detailed. She can even make a dog that looks like yours.

This English Springer Spaniel is too flipping adorable!

You can also buy notecards and magnets that feature photos of the adventures of her creations if they were left to their own devices, some with a lovely “Man’s Best Friend,” poem imprinted on the back.

As an added bonus, she is sponsoring a real live dog at her local animal shelter with profits from her creations! That is just extra incentive to own something something unique from this wonderful artist!

Just a subtle reminder

Please think twice before giving a bunny as a gift this Easter.

I know it is tempting to be want to be a “hero” by giving a very memorable gift, but please resist.

Rabbits require a lifetime commitment. They live far longer than most people think they do. They have stress and illness signs that are very different or at least much harder to detect by an owner than a dog or cat, as rabbits, as prey, are masterful about hiding illness until its too late.

For more information, please visit http://MakeMineChocolate.Org . You can also read my prior story, The Easter Bunny Blues, about a real life Easter bunny.

If you have researched for a long time and have decided that a house rabbit is right for you, please wait until after the holiday when unwanted bunnies, especially when they are a few months older and start maturing, are dumped at the shelters as someone didn’t realize what they were getting into.