Many of The Bark magazine's enthusiasts follow regular contributor Lisa Wogan, and in the May 6 issue, Lisa writes about the Gulf oil spill and how we can help:
"Every day news of the expanding oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico gets worse. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil gush into bio-rich waters. Looking at satellite images and reading the stories, it’s easy to feel helpless. But there is a unique opportunity for pet owners to help out. The nonprofit charity Matter of Trust is facilitating donations of clean pet fur, mostly from groomers—as well as human hair, mostly from salons—which are woven into hair mats that are extremely effective at soaking up oil or stuffed into donated nylons to create oil containment booms for the Gulf clean up. Matter of Trust estimates that one pound of dog hair can soak up one quart of oil in one minute! I have a new respect for my dogs' furballs.
We learned about this ingenious reuse program from two participants: Pet Paradise Resort, a Jacksonville, Fla.-based pet boarding, daycare and grooming operation, with 13 locations including several along the Gulf Coast; and Camp Bow Wow, a boarding and daycare operation with more than 200 franchisees in the U.S. and Canada. Both organizations are collecting and donating hair and fur to the effort, which won’t end with this spill. There are an estimated 2,600 oil spills each year."
(Check out http://www.matteroftrust.org/ for more information on how to contribute furballs and dustbunnies. Lisa Wogan's most recent book, "Dog Park Wisdom: Real World Advice on Choosing, Caring For and Understanding Your Canine Companion" is available at Amazon.com )
RSQ'S REVIEW: FIVE PAWS TO THE BARK MAGAZINE
The Bark Magazine is a valuable source of information about your four-legged friends. For those who are housebroken and no longer use paper, The Bark online (www.thebark.com) is a must-read and offers up regular contests and opportunities to show off your canine companions and writing skills. Send The Bark photos of your dog with a brief description to: editor@thebark.com and winners online will receive a subscription (new or renewal) to The Bark magazine. Winners in the magazine will receive a subscription plus a "Dog Is My Co-Pilot" t-shirt. Adventurous typists can try out The Bark's new interactive digital editions.
