Much of Project Green is about empowering you to make incremental changes that help the environment. We've run the gamut of tips from travel, reading, cooking, commuting, energy consumption, and in trying to adjust to all these new practices; it's easy to forget our four-legged friends.

After all, their paws can leave quite the carbon footprint, thanks to us.

As I walk through the pet store with my 2-year old lab, two things come to mind when I look at the toys and goodies: first, how on earth do they make this stuff?, and second, please, oh please, Henry (my dog), please don't do your business in the middle of the aisle again when I go to look at chew toys for you.

[Brief aside to the woman we encountered 15 minutes later disgustedly cleaning off her shoes near the catnip aisle: We're sorry. We feel bad about it, but couldn't bring ourselves to admit that it was my dog's handiwork on your Jimmy Choo's. Our bad.]

Anyway, back to the doggy aisle (cleaned up now), where does this stuff come from? Are there ways to 'green' up my purchases when it comes to the little hellraiser who enjoys eating a good throw rug every now and then?

Turns out there are. When my dog isn't competing with me for real estate on my bed each night, he occasionally will actually use the bed we bought for him. It's nice, it's huge, and it could be greener- they actually make one these days made by a company called West Paw Design, using organic cotton and stuffing made from recycled plastic bottles (which is actually amazingly comfy). Prices range from $27.90 to $178.00, depending on the size and model.

Another site known as PlanetDog.com has plenty of recyclable toys that float (great for our pooches who love to swim), and carry a mint flavor. Not only reasonably priced, they will also help with that lovely condition known as doggy halitosis.

Some of these items can be found at the larger pet retailers (just not too easy to find on their websites, tsk, tsk), but there are plenty more options out there to keep your pooch happy, healthy, and green!

-Joe