Benefits of Operating Green
Having owned and operated a successful “all green” pet boarding facility for fifteen years, and being an advocate for implementing healthier, non-toxic practices, I am frequently asked isn’t being green more expensive and not as effective for cleaning? Why even do it?
My short answer: You do it for the animals in your care, your staff, and the long-term viability of your business.
From flea products to disinfectants, many of the chemical products in a pet care facility can easily be poisonous if not handled carefully. I have seen second-degree chemical burns on the belly of a dog from floor disinfectant; a cat hospitalized from a cleaning agent used to spray its condo; lick wounds on the feet and legs of dogs caused by pest and weed control chemicals used on lawns.
Not only are pets closer to the ground simply when standing, they also have most of their body mass subjected to absorbing these chemicals when lying down. Cats, in particular, have a very sensitive upper respiratory system and can be injured by “vaporized” chemicals in the air. And while we may be farther from the ground, we are not immune from impact. Grooming products were among the first items in the industry to go “all natural” because groomers were developing kidney and/or liver disease from constant use and absorption of the chemicals in pet shampoos and conditioners. And what about the health of the person applying the floor disinfectant and spraying the cat condos?
For the number crunchers among us, if we include the potential financial impact of injured pets and staff, plus the value of our facility’s safe reputation, the cost of “cheap” chemicals just exploded.
The options available to go green are infinitely easier to find and more cost-effective than when our facility first opened, and they kill germs just as effectively. Ask the supplier of the products you currently use if they have a green product line. Or simply start right now by googling “commercial green cleaning products.” Take even just one step today to make your facility safer and healthier for your pets and staff ― and then let your clients know about it. People drove miles past other facilities to get to our location because of our green, non-toxic practices.
Go green. Do it for the animals in your care, your staff, and the long-term viability of your business.
