New pet store caters to 'green' dogs, cats

Organic food and a sustainable house aren't just for people anymore. Noble Beast Pet Store owners hope to provide a more environmentally friendly lifestyle for dogs and cats and their owners.

"It's the wave of the future, in my opinion," said Alison Chandler, owner of the "green" pet store, which has been open for four months.

"We all are more conscious about not impacting the environment and eating healthier. As people learn more about the benefits of organic products for themselves it transfers over to their pets."
Some of the more popular products include eco-friendly dog beds, hemp collars and a line of homeopathic remedies for pet ailments.

"We focus on merchandise that is organic, holistic, Earth-friendly," Chandler said. "We have everything from food to camping gear for dogs and cats, toys, books."

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Martha Stewart: Pets need good, healthy food -- just like humans

Q . I am concerned about some of the ingredients in commercial pet food. What do you feed your dogs?

A . It's just as important to read the labels on your pet's food as it is your own. Make sure that the first ingredient listed is some kind of meat, and that the rest of the ingredients are natural, as opposed to processed. You'll also want to choose a pet food that is not high in carbohydrates or sugar.

I feed my dogs an all-natural, organic dry food, but then supplement their diet with some very basic human foods. For example, I often give them steamed vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, kale, spinach and even sweet potatoes. They need plenty of protein, so I'll also scramble the occasional egg for my dogs or add a piece of cooked meat or a spoonful of cottage cheese to the bowl.

Paying close attention to your dog's diet and giving him fresh, nutrient-rich food will help him live a long and healthy life.

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Barkery Boo'tique offers 'personal touch'

Animals have always played an important role in Debbie Bauman's life.

So it seemed only natural that she incorporate her affection for them with a new business when she decided to leave the real estate field in 2006.

Inspired by her family's Golden Labrador mix Boo, Ms. Bauman opened Boo's namesake, the Barkery Boo'tique.

"I love everything about it," Ms. Bauman, 48, said of her pet store at 38 Bank St. during a recent interview there.

The business was previously located on Bridge Street near Veterans Bridge, but relocated just a few months ago.

The store sells a variety of pet baked goods -- even birthday cakes -- and boutique items catering to nearly every pet need.

Natural and organic cat and dog food, collars, apparel, pet beds, travel bags, toys, bath supplies, safety products and bowls are among the items for sale at the Barkery Boo'tique.

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As fancy pet foods proliferate, here's what experts say dogs and cats ...

If you really want to start a heated debate up at the dog park, don't bring up Iraq or the presidential election: Ask the dog owners what kind of dog food they use.

You'll get an earful about raw food diets, antioxidants, organic and holistic dog foods, steamed vegetables for dogs and the best books with instructions for making your own dog food. Unsubstantiated rumors fly -- such as the particularly nasty one that big-brand dog and cat foods are made of euthanized companion animals. Cat owners can be just as vocal about the very best foods for their finicky feline friends.

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Healthy Alternatives to Commercial Dog Food

What alternatives are there to feeding our dogs the commercial dog food available in our supermarkets.We can give them balanced cooked homemade dog foods, raw dog food or organic canned dog food.
Organic dog food is all natural ,free from preservatives, pesticides, hormones and antibiotics. The manufacturers of these organic dog food have to maintain high level of standards in the preparation and handling of these foods.These foods are considered healthy,but lately we have had some of these organic natural food on recall.

Another alternative is to prepare good old homemade dog food whereby you know exactly what goes into the food.Most of what you include will be found in your kitchen like meat, ground turkey, brown rice, oatmeal

and vegetables like carrots, corn, peas and nuts.Dogs tolerate most nuts except macadamia nuts which are toxic to them.
When cooking at home avoid onions, garlic, sugary food, salt and macadamia nuts.

Raw dog food would normally have different meats mixed with other food like raw vegetables. One of the popular diet is the BARF diet known also as "bones and raw food".In this diet the ingredients are meaty bones from chicken or lamb, raw eggs,raw vegetables,cooked cereals,yogurt and supplements.

In case you decide to change the type of food you are feeding your dog do so gradually adding the new portions on to the old until you have switched to the new food.Yogurt helps the dog adjust to a new diet especially if you are changing to a raw dog food diet.

For more information on what to feed your dog visit this website with lots of testimonies and over 240 recipes of homemade dog foods.