Happy first day of the year! In this last year of the first decade of the new millennium, let your dog's New Years resolution be: "This year, I will not pee on trees!"
Most people think the term "Curb Your Dog" has two meanings: 1. To keep your dog under control and out of trouble; 2. To pick up your dog's scat.
But why is it that you usually see "Curb Your Dog" signs near trees? Dog urine and leavings are poison for trees, grass and flowers. Saplings and young trees haven't got a chance against a barrage of neighborhood dogs marking their territory.
For the past few years, the City of New York has been planting trees throughout the boroughs, through the MillionTreesNYC program. Citizens are taking advantage of its Putting Down Roots project, and requesting their very own tree, planting it, stewarding it.
Pretty much all of us "respect" those trees and the people who took the initiative to plant them. So what can we do to minimize the damage caused by our dogs?
1. Curb your dog, literally: It can take just a few weeks to train your dog to pee on the curb. When you see your dog heading for a tree or bush, give a quick sharp tug away. If s/he marks territory elsewhere, maybe the other dogs in the neighborhood will follow her/his lead.
2. Bring a water bottle: If you miss the opportunity to stop your dog from peeing on a tree, you can always douse the spot afterward, to flush and dilute the harmful elements. Diluted dog urine can actually be useful to plants - it is sterile, contains large amounts of urea, and is an excellent source of nitrogen for plants, phosphorus and potassium.
3. Mix a little tomato juice into food: The tomato juice neutralizes the acid which is so damaging to plants. For large dogs, 1/4 cup is good; for small dogs a tablespoon will do.
Being a conscious dog-owner encompasses more than just our relationship with our dogs. It includes our entire neighborhood of dogs and walkers and residents, out there enjoying Brooklyn's lush green streets!
No comments:
Post a Comment