1. Ruff Wear participates in PacifiCorp’s Blue Sky renewable power program.
2. Ruff Wear is a partner in the local Commute Options program, rewarding employees who bike, carpool, telecommute, walk, or participate in other commute alternatives.  Employees at Ruff Wear are eligible for a $20 gift certificate after 45 green commutes, and Ruff Wear matches that with an additional $20 paid out to employees on their paychecks after 45 commutes.
3. Ruff Wear’s 6,300 square foot headquarters building runs on approximately $150/month for electricity due to its energy-efficient design.  The high windows, airflow, insulation and heat system help regulate temperatures so the building runs on very little electricity. In addition, all of our bathroom lights are on timers so the light never gets left on!
4. Ruff Wear also uses energy-efficient light bulbs.  Not only do we purchase low-energy bulbs, but we recycle burned out ones, though few lights are needed to keep our building lit.  The presence of multiple windows make for lots of free daylight in the building.
5. Ruff Wear employees try to be as “paper free” as possible, utilizing electronic communications over print outs whenever possible.  The paper that is used is turned over and re-used in our fax machine, therefore cutting down on the amount of paper used. Ruff Wear purchases recycled paper and office supplies whenever available.
6. Ruff Wear is an active member and contributor to the Conservation Alliance, a group dedicated to preserving natural lands for future generations.
7. All employees recycle their paper, cans, and other recyclables at work.
8. All soaps and cleansers used at Ruff Wear are eco-friendly or natural products.
9. Ruff Wear uses cloth towels instead of disposable paper towels are used in the kitchens and bathrooms.
10. When a company event is off-site, Ruff Wear employees carpool together for maximum capacity and minimal environmental impact.

While the intent of this product is to keep your four-legged friend insulated from the cold when you’re trail running, hiking, or kicking around town, there’s something particularly special about this jacket.

The Climate Changer™ is one of the most recent additions to Ruff Wear’s eco-sensitive product line, featuring Polartec® Classic 200 recycled fleece fabric.  Overall, the Climate Changer™ contains 87 percent recycled content, which minimizes the product’s carbon footprint, saving the energy equivalent of 7.2 pounds of carbon dioxide per jacket compared to virgin polyester.

“Ruff Wear strives to develop new products that leverage the latest carbon-reduction technologies while elevating overall product quality.  Minimizing our environmental impact is a core tenet of the company and of the Ruff Wear brand,” said Patrick Kruse, Ruff Wear founder and owner.

In recognition, Polartec® has awarded Ruff Wear its coveted APEX Award for outstanding achievement in design and innovative use of Polartec® fabric. 

Each year the Polartec® Apex Awards recognize the best garment and accessory designs in the world for their innovative use of Polartec® fabrics. Products are judged on fit, function, and design as well as the thoughtful application of Polartec® fabrics to achieve the desired performance.

“Ruff Wear’s innovative use of Polartec® fabric is what really set them apart from the other entries. What’s more inventive than using this fabric for a canine jacket?” said Allon Cohne, North American marketing manager, Polartec®.

The Climate Changer™ will be available October 1, 2009 through various outdoor and pet retailers, or through www.ruffwear.com.

Ruff Wear is proud to be an active member of the Conservation Alliance, helping to ensure that future generations of dogs and people have open spots to enjoy.

The Conservation Alliance is a group of outdoor businesses that work together to protect wild places throughout North America where wildlife thrives and customers recreate.  Each member company pays annual dues into a central fund, and the Alliance donates 100% of those dues to organizations working to protect wild forests, rivers, deserts, mountains, and other fragile landscapes.

Since launching in 1989, the Conservation Alliance has contributed more than $7 million to grassroots conservation projects.  With Conservation Alliance grants, these groups have saved nearly 40 million acres of land, stopped or removed 27 dams, and preserved access to thousands of miles of rivers and several climbing areas.

In 2008, the Conservation Alliance contributed an all-time high of $900,000 to 34 organizations.  Highlights of recent projects include:  the removal of one (of four proposed) dams on the Rogue River, preservation of access to the iconic Laurel Knob climbing area, protection of 1 million acres of land in the US, creation of a 4.4 million acre park in British Columbia, removal of one dam in Colorado, and permanent closure of 300,000 acres in Montana to new oil and gas development.

Ruff Wear – in partnership with the Conservation Alliance – is proud to be part of the effort to save these wild areas for hiking boots and dog boots alike.

Adopt a “recycled” pet.

Why buy a pet from a pet store or breeder when you can adopt one of the 70,000 puppies and kittens born every day in the US?  Shelters are currently over-extended, and adopting from a local shelter can reduce the burden on these facilities and perhaps save the life of a dog in need.

Spay or neuter your pet.

This helps prevent the over-crowding of shelters, which is taxing on our resources.  Spaying and neutering your dog can also help eliminate testicular, ovarian, and uterine cancer, and decreases incidents of prostate cancer.

Biodegrade the stinky stuff.

When picking up dog droppings, consider using biodegradable bags.  Standard plastic bags will sit in a landfill for years and not allow the waste to biodegrade. An even better idea: compost poop in a pet waste composter (just don’t use on your edibles) or invest in a doggy septic system.

Buy products made from sustainable virgin and recycled materials.

Toys made from sustainable resources such as hemp and all-natural rubber are not only free from chemical toxins, but have a smaller impact on our environment.  All-natural rubber is considered “low-impact” because it is derived from quick-growing rubber trees that reproduce at a rapid rate.  In fact, a rubber tree can be harvested for 25 – 32 years.

Buy products that last.

A big part of the Ruff Wear philosophy is producing products that last, so they don’t end up in a landfill.  By buying products that are durable, useful, and high quality, you won’t need to replace them—so less is produced and fewer items end up in the garbage.

Clean up nature by cleaning all-naturally.

Use natural pet care and cleaning products.  Chemical-laced shampoos and cleaning products impact our water supply, and have the potential to be toxic to your pet.  There are a variety of all-natural products as well as home remedies that are just as effective as other cleansers and have less of an impact on the environment.

Walk and shop.

If you live close to the grocery store, opt to take your dog for a walk to the store instead of driving.  Just load your dog up with a dog pack and let him or her carry the groceries back.  Your dog will love the exercise, and you will save on gas.

Ingredients:

8 oz (226g) cooked fish or canned wild salmon with no juice or salt

½ c (30g) finely chopped fresh parsley

3 whole eggs, beaten well

½ c (72g) finally ground sesame seeds

2 ½ c (395g) brown or regular rice flour

1 finely ground dried eggshell (to dry the eggshell, save the empty shell of one of the eggs, rinse thoroughly and air dry.  Place on a baking sheet at bake for 10 minutes at 300°F (150°C).  Grind dry shell into a fine powder).

Preheat oven to 375° (190°C).  Mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly.  When the dough is a good consistency for rolling (you can add water or flour as necessary), roll out the dough ¼” (0.6 cm) thick.  Use cookie cutters to make various shapes, or you can opt to make patties by hand or cut into square bars.

Lay cookies on a parchment-lined baking pan and bake for 25 minutes.  Cool before serving.

Refrigerate up to a week or freeze for later use.

This information courtesy of:

Monteiro, Melanie.  The Safe Dog Handbook.  Beverly: Quayside Publishing Group, 2009 (specific recipe courtesy of Catherine Lane of The Possible Canine in Rupert, Quebec).

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