It's Always Adoption Season - Part 2

This week’s article will finish up the column we started last time regarding how to prepare for the adoption of a new dog. You can click here for last week's article.

Last week’s installment focused on how to choose the right organic or all-natural food for your new pet. There are hundreds of options out there, so unfortunately I couldn’t cover them all.

This week, I’ll cover the items I mentioned before—that is, collar and leash, toys, and bed. These are all items you’ll want to have handy as soon as you bring your dog home.

Collar and leash are particularly important. Almost all cities have enforceable leash laws, so regardless of how well-trained your dog is, these two items are a must. Collars and leashes are made from all sorts of materials these days. What you want to do is avoid anything plastic (unless, of course, it’s recycled) and go for all-natural fabrics and fibers.

For Sugar, I settled on a hemp collar and leash. I know hemp comes up in almost all of these columns, but it’s so versatile! It makes a sturdy collar and leash that won’t tear or break, and it will hold up fine in water. (I’m hoping Sugar will be a swimmer since we live so close to the beach!)

I can also recommend a soy collar and leash. They’re made out of—you guessed it—soy fiber and they’re colored with all-natural dye. This material is also safe for water, so if your dog is a swimmer, the material will hold up just fine.

However, my advice for the soy is the same as my advice for the hemp: rinse it out with fresh water if your dog goes for a dip in the ocean, otherwise the salt can cause an odor in the material. (You’re going to want to rinse your dog out too after a swim in the ocean, so this shouldn’t be any additional trouble.)

If you prefer to use harnesses rather than collars for your dog, don’t worry, you can also find them in both of these materials.

Moving on: Having a bed ready and toys laid out is a great way to make your dog feel welcome as soon as he or she steps into your house. These items will lend a sense of comfort and belonging to your dog and can also help you to lay down your personal boundaries before anyone gets too comfortable. (For example, having toys around can help you teach Fido that it’s okay to chew on his stuffed monkey, but not okay to chew on the furniture!)

Since I’ve touched on both toys and beds in a few previous articles, I won’t go into too much depth there. A few reminders, though, are to look for all-natural fabrics and fibers first, like cotton and hemp. If you decide on a plastic toy or bed cover, buy a product that uses recycled materials.

One last tip about toys is to look out for naturally-shed deer antlers, which are collected and sold as chew toys. No deer are harmed in the making of these products; the antlers, which are naturally discarded and re-grown by deer, are simply collected from the ground and made into toys. An added plus is that they tend to be sturdier than many other toys.You can buy Scout & Zoe's deer antler chews locally at Lucia's Premium Pet, Palmetto Paws and Charleston Dog House.

A last tip of mine concerning beds is to be careful if you’re bringing home a puppy. Puppies grow quickly and they tend to chew indiscriminately. It may be wise to hold off on buying a permanent bed until you’re sure your puppy won’t outgrow or destroy it. After all, a facet of the green philosophy is “waste not.’ In the meantime, I suggest creating a soft place on the floor using old towels. This will also make for easy cleanup if your puppy is not yet housebroken.

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful and that you and your new dog settle into life together quickly and easily! I know I’m having a great time with my Sugar and I hope your new friend brings you the same joy as he does me.

Sharon Harvey is owner of Charleston Naturally an eco-chic boutique specializing in natural, organic and sustainable products and gifts for home, pets, baby and beauty located online at www.CharlestonNaturally.com and 918 Lansing Drive Mt. Pleasant, SC.