Urban Leash and Treat Blog

Save 15% on Sustainable Cat Supplies at our Summer Sale

2009-06-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

Save 15% on all in-stock sustainable cat supplies until July 31, 2009 during our Summer Cat Sale. Save on Yeowww!, Kong Naturals, Grandma Lucy's Diner and other natural brands of cat treats, cat toys and organic catnip.

Buy now and help us make room for new natural cat supplies coming in late summer!

Use discount code CATS-SUMMER-09 at checkout for this deal.

Sale includes cat collars, cat treats, cat toys, loose organic catnip and cat shampoo. Excludes pet tags and cat beds. As always, save 50% off shipping on cat beds (and dog beds) with discount code PETBEDS-50.

Here are some great deals you'll find for a limited time only:

	Hemp Cat Collar by The Good Dog Company The Good Dog Company was $9.99 ... on sale for $8.49 Lightweight hemp and organic cotton cat collar with breakaway buckle.
	Tuna Cat Treats by Grandma Lucy's Diner Grandma Lucy's Diner was $8.99 ... on sale for $7.64 Freeze-dried tuna cat treats. Moisten or crumble for a tasty fish treat.
	Kong Naturals Crinkle Ball with Feathers Cat Toy KONG Company was $4.69 ... on sale for $3.99 Cotton, feather and catnip toy from KONG Naturals.
	Yeowww! Organic Catnip DuckyWorld $2.49 ... on sale for $2.12 0.5 oz of potent organic catnip from Yeowww. The same organic catnip as is stuffed into Yeowww! cat toys.
	Cat Shampoo and Conditioner in One earthbath was $12.49 ... on sale for $10.62 Soap-free natural shampoo and conditioner for cats with wild cherry essence.

Make Popsicles for Dogs with Ice Pups Frozen Dog Treat Mix - New Product!

2009-06-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

Ice Pups Frozen Dog Treat Mix by The Honest Kitchen
10 oz. tin for $15.49

There's no better way to pamper your dog in the heat of summertime than with a frozen treat. Dogs love ice cubes and popsicles!

Ice Pups Frozen Dog Treat Mix is a powder mix for healthy make-at-home liquid or frozen dog treats. Mix Ice Pups with water and freeze for doggie ice cubes and popsicle treats. Or, cool liquid in the fridge and serve as a refreshing beverage.

In the winter months, the Ice Pups Mix can be served as a hot liquid. Ice Pups Mix is also recommended for dogs and cats with kidney problems who benefit from increased fluid intake, those with lowered appetite, post-operative recovery and as a tasty gravy to help pets transition to a new diet.

This product is designed for intermittent or supplemental use as a treat, not a complete meal replacement.

One 10 oz. tin of Ice Pups Frozen Dog Treat Mix yields about 30 trays of ice cubes.

Wheat-Free Meat Dog Treats from The Honest Kitchen - New Product!

2009-06-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Brand-new in our store are wheat-free meat dog treats from The Honest Kitchen! These scrumptious dog treats are made with meat and without salt, sugar, wheat, corn, soy, rice and beet pulp, chemical preservatives, by-products, and fillers.

We love these dog treats because they are packed with flavors dogs love (meat, cheese and berries), sourced from human-grade ingredients, made in a FDA-inspected facility and taste-tested by humans as part of quality control. Now that's dedication.

	Nuzzles Duck and Cherry Dog Treats 8 oz. $7.99 Wheat-free dog treats with duck, cherries and cheese. Heart-shaped larger cookies.
	Pecks Buffalo and Blueberry Dog Treats 8 oz. $8.49 Bite-sized wheat-free dog treats with buffalo and blueberries.
	Smooches Chicken and Cranberry Dog Treats 8 oz. $7.99 Wheat-free dog treats with chicken, cranberries and cheese. Heart-shaped larger cookies.

Recruiting Test Dogs and Puppies

2009-05-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

We are looking for a few good dogs and puppies!

Does your dog or puppy play interactively? Love tug toys? Is she tough on her toys? A chewer? Does he have food allergies or sensitivities? If so, your dog is invited to join our pack of test dogs and puppies!

We are recruiting dogs and puppies to test brand-new sustainable and organic products that we are considering offering in our store. Test dogs receive occasional free products to evaluate. Dog owners agree to try out the product and send us notes, feedback and an assessment of product quality.

We are especially looking for test dogs who:

Play fetch and other interactive games with humans.
Are tough on their toys. Dissectors and chewers, we mean you!
Are obsessed with tennis balls!
Play tug games with other dogs.
Love chew toys.
Have food allergies, sensitivities or are very picky eaters.

Send us a photo of your dog and a description of his/her personality, play habits and food and treat preferences. Please be sure to list food allergies and sensitivities. After signing a release form (some new products!), your pooch will become an official test dog for Urban Leash & Treat!

Cake Mix for Dogs by Puppy Cake - New Product!

2009-05-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

Fifi's Favorite Carob Cake Mix for Dogs by Puppy Cake

Puppy Cake is cake mix for dogs! Puppy Cake cake mixes are made with natural and human-grade ingredients that are safe and beneficial for your dog. Each cake mix comes with yogurt frosting and a free package of organic sprinkles.

Cake Mixes from Puppy Cake come with FREE Organic Sprinkles

Making you and your dog happy is Puppy Cake's highest priority. Puppy Cake is a significant source of fun, love and bonding for dogs and their humans. A portion of Puppy Cake's profits are donated each year to animal rescue organizations throughout the US.

Puppy Cake guarantees that your dog will love this fresh-baked treat or they will refund your full purchase price including return shipping costs!

One box yields 6 cupcakes or a double layer 4" round cake.


FiFi's Favorite Carob Cake Mix for Dogs with Organic Sprinkles	Buddy's Best Banana Cake Mix for Dogs with Organic Sprinkles
$7.99	$7.99

iPICK UP Dog Waste Bag Dispenser - New Product!

2009-05-19T20:52:00.001-07:00

The iPICK UP from 4U2ReUSE is a stylish, handmade, eco-friendly dog waste bag carrier made from reused kite material from kiteboards. Reflective piping lines the seams of the bags for greater visibility at dusk, dawn or night time. The carrier comes with 10 biodegradable dog waste bags already stuffed inside.

$18.99 and available in six colors.

The iPICK UP is designed to easily attach to a leash or belt loop and store up to a week's supply of biodegradable bags for cleaning up after walking or exercising with your dog.

BioBag Dog Waste Bags on a Roll - New Product!

2009-05-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

The famous BioBag biodegradable dog poop bag is finally available on a standard-size roll that fits large dispensers! Carrying your BioBag dog waste bags is more convenient than ever. BioBag dog waste bags on a roll are great for pockets, purses and most large dog bag dispensers.

Price: $5.29 per box
Quantity: 2 rolls of 20 bags = 40 bags per box
Roll Size: 1 3/4" diameter and 2 1/2" long.
Bag Size: Bags are tapered: 8" wide and top and 2" wide at bottom. 12" in length.
Ingredients: Made from Mater-Bi, the first completely biodegradable and compostable bio-polymer made from renewable resources of agricultural origin.

We also offer affordable flat-rate shipping deals on bulk purchases of BioBag dog waste bags on a roll:

3 boxes (total 6 rolls = 120 bags): $15.87 + 5.95 shipping
16 boxes (total 32 rolls = 640 bags): $84.64 + $10.95 shipping

BioBag Dog holds the distinction of being the first biodegradable and compostable "plastic" poop bag in the world. BioBag is the world's largest brand of ASTM certified biodegradable bags. Certified GMO-free corn is used instead of polyethylene is used in the production process.

Eco-Friendly Collars and Leashes Mentioned at Petcentric

2009-04-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Petcentric, Purina's community for pet lovers, recently featured our hemp and recycled plastic leashes and collars in eco-fab pet stuff, an article encouraging pet lovers to go green with eco-friendly pet products. Today's eco-friendly pet products are stylish and affordable with prices and availability comparable with their conventional counterparts.

Thanks for the shout-out, Petcentric, and for spreading the word about eco-friendly pet products.

Petcentric featured our hemp cat collar and recycled leash and collars:

	Hemp Cat Collar The Good Dog Company $9.99
Soft, durable cat collars made from hemp and certified organic cotton fabric with a break-away clasp. Made in the USA.
	Recycled Cat Collar Westminster Pet Products $5.99
Cat collar made with 100% certified recycled polyester sourced from recycled plastic water bottles. Made in the USA.
	Recycled Dog Collar Westminster Pet Products $5.99 - $7.99
Dog collar made with 100% certified recycled polyester sourced from recycled plastic water bottles. Sized especially for small breeds. Made in the USA.
	Recycled Dog Leash Westminster Pet Products 12.99 - $13.99
Dog leash made with 100% certified recycled polyester sourced from recycled plastic water bottles. 5' length. Made in the USA.

Three Ways to Save Money on Shipping

2009-04-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

We've written previously about honesty and transparency in shipping charges. Today, we introduce three more ways for you to save money on shipping for your favorite natural and sustainable pet products at Urban Leash & Treat.

#1: Save with USPS Parcel Post

Orders can now be shipped using the reliable and affordable USPS Parcel Post delivery method. Parcel Post is a great shipping deal for packages, especially for our customers in the Midwest and the East Coast. Delivery takes about 5 to 7 business days. Because it's the USPS, Saturday delivery is no extra charge.

#2: Save with Free Shipping

We offer free shipping to US addresses on orders over $85.

This discount is especially useful for stocking up on bulk quantities of natural pet supplies (like bully sticks or poop bags or cat treats). Use the discount code FREESHIPPING at checkout.

Free shipping is available on all items stocked in our warehouse. Pet beds and apparel are excluded. Those items are eligible for a 50%-off shipping discount using the discount code PETBEDS-50.

#3: Save with Flat-Rate Shipping Deals

Check out our Shipping Deals for bulk quantities of your favorite natural and sustainable pet products, shipped to you at an affordable flat rate using USPS Priority Mail flat rate boxes. We stuff these boxes full of products! Our shipping deals are a great way to buy pet supplies in bulk and save money on shipping, especially if you live in the Midwest or on the East Coast.

We offer flat-rate shipping deals for these popular products:

	3-Pack of Organic Buddy Biscuits Cloud Star $18.87 + $13.95 shipping
Three 14 oz. boxes of Organic Buddy Biscuits. Choose from Peanut Butter, Roasted Chicken and Sweet Potato flavors. (USDA Organic)
	3-Pack of Organic Meat Dog Treats Nature Nosh $35.97 + $10.35 shipping
3 jars of Nature Nosh certified organic meat dog treats. Choose from Beef Wellington, Chicken Parmesan and Turkranberry Souffle flavors.
	4-Pack of Soft Training Treats Paws Gourmet $41.96 + $10.35 shipping
4 one-pound tubs of the famous Paws Gourmet soft training treats for dogs (formerly made by Simon and Huey). Choose from Kickin Chicken, Liver Mesquite, Peanut Butter Molasses and White Cheddar flavors.
	BioBag Dog Waste Bags (12 Boxes) BioGroup USA $71.88 + $10.35 shipping
12 boxes of biodegradable and compostable poop bags made from GMO-free corn. Choose Regular (50 bags per box) or Large (35 bags per box) sizes.
	Odor-Free Braided Bully Stick, 6" (10-Pack) Free Range Dog Chews $44.90 + $5.95 shipping
10 odor-free braided bully sticks. Each bully stick is 6" long. Made from free-range cattle.
	Odor-Free Select Bully Stick, 6" (15-Pack) Free Range Bully Sticks $41.85 + $5.95 shipping
15 odor-free select bully sticks. Each bully stick is 6" long. Made from free-range cattle.
	3-Pack of Yeowww Organic Catnip Toys DuckyWorld $19.10 + $5.95 shipping
Three Yeowww! organic catnip toys. One each of the Banana, Cigar and Pollock Fish toys.

Cloudburst Dog Jacket from West Paw Design - New Product!

2009-02-23T07:51:00.001-08:00

The Cloudburst Dog Jacket by West Paw Design is an eco-friendly and fashion-forward way to provide comfort and protection on rainy days. This dog jacket is made with 100% recycled polyester fabric that is also recyclable using West Paw Design's innovative Closed Loop recycling program.

Your dog will love to go dancing in the rain in eco-friendly style! Reflective flares on the back of the jacket provides additional safety on those dark evening walks. The jacket is machine washable in cold water and hangs dry. Made proudly in the USA in Bozeman, Montana.

Sizes available for large and small dog breeds. Priced from $55.99.

Compostable Training Pads - New Product!

2009-02-08T15:23:00.000-08:00

Natural Biodegradable Training Pads from Simple Solution are a sustainable way to train your pet to eliminate in a preferred area. These natural training pads are useful both to potty-training puppies and to control elimination in elderly or sick adult dogs. Each pad contains a special attractant to encourage elimination on the pad. Pads are 21.5" x 23.5".

These natural training pads biodegrade faster than an orange peel! They are completely free of petroleum-based materials. The entire product and packaging are certified 100% biodegradable and compostable. Made in the USA.

Natural Biodegradable Training Pads: $24.00 for 22 Pads

Featured in Portland Monthly Magazine

2009-02-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

Our Build Your Own Bumper Bed by West Paw Design was featured in Portland Monthly Magazine's Pet-a-Portland article in the online edition. (We are slide 6 in the slideshow.)

Photo: Kim Nguyen

Sleep tight There's plenty of room for restless sleepers in a spacious and orthopedic bed filled with recycled InteliLoft polyfill pillow stuffing, which provides a cloud of comfort. It also comes in eighty-one different color combinations for vibrant dreams about chasing rabbits. Bumper Bed by West Paw Design. $63.99–$155.99 @ urbanleashandtreat.com

Our Products Not Affected by Peanut Butter Recall

2009-02-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

By now, we've all heard about the widespread peanut butter recall due to Salmonella contamination from Peanut Corporation of America in Blakely, Georgia. We know that, like us, you take this situation very seriously.

All our products are unaffected by the peanut butter recall. We have spoken with all our manufacturers. They all have attested that their peanut butter pet food treats are not sourced from Peanut Corporation of America and are not affected by the recall.

Here is the official FDA peanut butter recall website. You can browse and search the list of recalled human and animal food products by UPC and brand name.

We have verified that all our products with peanut butter ingredients are unaffected by the FDA recall. These peanut butter treats are safe to feed to your pets:

	Organic Peanut Butter Madness Buddy Biscuits by Cloud Star $6.29 - $10.49
	Peanut Butter Chewies by Simon and Huey $9.43
	Peanut Butter Molasses Soft Training Treats by Paws Gourmet $6.29 - $10.49

In addition, these manufacturers have proactively announced that all their product lines are unaffected:

Sojourner Farms (aka Sojos)
A Dog's Life
Cloud Star (makers of Organic Buddy Biscuits)

Saved by the Animal Poison Control Center

2009-02-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is a 24 x 7 x 365 phone hotline (888-426-4435) staffed by veterinary toxicologists to answer animal poisoning questions. The Animal Poison Control Center is a fee-for-service hotline that costs $60 for a phone consultation and unlimited follow-up calls from you or your veterinarian.

This morning, the Animal Poison Control Center saved our dog Nixon.

Nixon On a Non-Poisoned Day this Winter

Family and shop dog Nixon thought it would be funny to steal a plastic prescription bottle when we weren't looking. We were not yet caffeinated. Before we became fully aware of her mischief, Nixon had chewed off the safety cap and downed the rest of the pills.

To put it mildly, we totally freaked out! OK, well, um, maybe it was just me hyperventilating. Nixon is a Lab, nothing freaks her except for the garbage man. Kim is a former veterinary technician and had a game plan.

We immediately called our vet who advised us to call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. The toxicologist told us that the medicine that Nixon ingested was not fatal. We needed to induce vomiting as quickly as possible to get it out. If we couldn't induce quickly - off to the emergency vet clinic we would go. The toxicologist taught us how to induce vomiting in our dog using hydrogen peroxide. Nixon took a long time to vomit - far longer than the instructions said to expect. In fact, we were about 2 blocks from the emergency animal hospital when she finally threw up in our car.

I have never been so happy to clean up dog vomit in my life!

It is now about six hours post-poisoning and Nixon is doing fine. She's a bit lethargic, but no more than expected after being made to drink peroxide and run around in the front yard (to speed up the vomiting).

Thanks to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435), for providing a lifesaving service for pet owners.

Eating our own Dog Food: An Adventure in Tasting Human-Grade Dog Treats

2008-12-21T14:20:00.000-08:00

All of the dog and cat treats we sell are made with human-grade ingredients. We believe that feeding pets human-grade food products is vital to their health and longevity. You won't find artificial preservatives or low-grade fillers in any of our products.

We love it when our manufacturers advocate the same philosophy. Imagine our delight when Grandma Lucy's Diner started producing certified organic dog treats and sent us sample packages with this label:

The sticker reads:

Congratulations! Thank you for your order of our 100% USDA Organic Oven Baked Dog Treats!

Your customers are sure to love them and the best wy to sell the treats is by sampling them - YOURSELF!

Our Organic treats are baked in a human bakery that bakes only human products until now. Our bakery is not only certified organic but kosher as well! Please eat a treat yourself and offer one to your customer. They will then know what great quality these treats are. Once you eat one, you won't be able to stop - They are that good!

Thank you for your order!

We decided to take the promotion to heart. What better way to show off the human-quality ingredients of pet treats than to try them ourselves!

We humans taste-tested two organic dog treats from Grandma Lucy's Diner and one soft training treat from Paws Gourmet (formerly Simon and Huey). Here are the products we taste-tested and our reviews.

Organic Blueberry Dog Treats by Grandma Lucy's Diner
$6.49

The sweetness of the blueberry organic dog treat is the first sensation on the tongue. Blueberry flavor is apparent, but the treat tastes more like blueberry jam than like the fresh berry, which can be tart at the beginning of the season. If I wanted to drive my dog crazy with envy, I would dip these teddy-bear shaped treats in peanut butter to make a PBJ treat.

Organic Honey Tiny Tidbits Dog Treats by Grandma Lucy's Diner
$5.39

Honey aroma appears when the bag is opened. Smelling the tiny and round organic honey treats, we imagined pairing the treats with hot tea or warm soy milk. The honey treats are crunchy, sweet, sugary and full of goodness.

Peanut Butter Molasses Soft Training Treats by Paws Gourmet
$6.29 - $10.99

The Peanut Butter Molasses soft training treats by Paws Gourmet (formerly by Simon and Huey) has an sweet, moist and intense peanut butter and molasses flavor. The carob flavor picks up at the end of the experience, as the taste lingers in our mouth. The rich taste and texture reminds us of a peanut butter health food bar.

Throughout the taste test, we found ourselves unconsciously reaching for the next soft morsel or hard cookie bite of dog treat! All the dog treats were appealing. Grandma Lucy's treats were sweeter and crunchier. I envisioned enjoying a handful of honey organic dog treats with piping hot black tea! The Paws Gourmet training treats reminded us of chewy, moist and dense protein bars from the food co-op.

Nixon, our black Labrador retriever, was one confused observer when the humans were tasting the dog treats! Of course, she also got to taste our wares.

Paws Gourmet Owns and Manufacturers Simon and Huey Soft Training Treats

2008-11-28T19:49:00.000-08:00

Simon and Huey, Seattle manufacturer of wheat-free, all-natural dog biscuits and treats, recently went out of business. This saddened us here at Urban Leash & Treat. Dogs loved the addictive taste and chewy texture of Simon and Huey's training treats. Humans appreciated their simple, clean and natural ingredient list.

For a short time, we were unable to re-order any Simon and Huey. The world became a slightly darker place. But now, we are overjoyed to report that Simon and Huey is back!

The Simon and Huey recipes were purchased by Paws Gourmet, a Seattle gourmet dog treat bakery. Paws Gourmet has a reputation for high quality dog treats and cookies. They use human-grade food ingredients with no preservatives or fillers. They source ingredients from local suppliers - including grains from Bob's Red Mill in Milwaukie, Oregon, which is close to Urban Leash & Treat!

Paws Gourmet now makes all four varieties of Simon and Huey soft training treats. We currently carry all the Paws Gourmet varieties: Kickin' Chicken, Liver Mesquite, Peanut Butter Molasses and White Cheddar.

Paws Gourmet introduces a new size for the soft training treats. Treats are available in a 6 ounce resealable tub for $6.29 or a 1 pound resealable tub for $6.29.

We also have a very limited quantity of the original Peanut Butter Chewies made by Simon and Huey.


Kickin' Chicken Soft Training Treats	Liver Mesquite Soft Training Treats
$6.29 - $10.99	$6.29 - $10.99

Peanut Butter Molasses Soft Training Treats	White Cheddar Soft Training Treats
$6.29 - $10.99	$6.29 - $10.99

Peanut Butter Chewies - 15 oz.
$10.99

Customer Testimonials - New Site Feature!

2008-11-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

We are proud of our strong record of responsive customer service and today, we can finall prove it to you. We launched a new page on our site that allows you to review our fabulous customer feedback. Check out our rave reviews!

Do you have feedback to share with us? Contact us to speak your mind. We'd love to hear your comments.

Grizzly NuTreats Salmon Treats for Cats and Dogs - New Products!

2008-11-26T12:41:00.000-08:00

Grizzly Pet Products manufacturers healthy, all-natural dog and cat products derived from wild Alaskan salmon and other wild fish. Wild salmon is a tasty and nutritious choice for pet treats. These treats contain long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids with 100% accessible EPA and DHA. Grizzly Pet Products wants all dog and cat owners to know about the research-documented health benefits of daily supplements of fish-based omega-3 fatty acids.

Of course, wild salmon also has a rich flavor that dogs and cats (and people and bears!) love.

Wild salmon has many benefits to pets, including:

Supports vitality, a healthy heart and immune system.
Contributes to a shiny, lustrous coat. Helps reduce shedding.

We already carry the popular Grizzly Fillet Wild Salmon Dog and Cat Treats - breakable dried salmon fillet treats.

Today, we introduce the Grizzly NuTreats line of crunchy dog treats. This line include a six-ounce package of larger treats for dogs and a three-ounce bottle of smaller treats for cats. Dogs and cats go crazy for these treats! All-natural ingredients include smoked salmon, salmon oil, kelp and alfalfa. Grizzly NuTreats are a great choice for your pet because they are:

Grain-free super-nutritious treats.
Made with only North American ingredients.
No grains, sugars or glycols added.
Ideal for daily and professional training.
Rich in natural vitamins and trace elements.
Fewer potential allergens for your pet.


Grizzly NuTreats Salmon Cat Treats	Grizzly NuTreats Salmon Dog Treats	Grizzly Fillet Wild Salmon Dog and Cat Treats
$6.99	$6.99	$9.49

Honesty In Shipping Charges

2008-11-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

Shipping fees - what a hassle! Find a great buy online and then get whacked with expensive shipping charges. As consumers, we are way too familiar with that unfortunate scenario. As business owners, we are empowered to provide our customers with fairly priced shipping options without profit-driven markups.

Discount web retailers hook in customers with the cheapest possible product prices and make back profits with heavily marked-up shipping costs. To us, that is a disingenuous consumer experience. We strive to fairly price our products and shipping fees in order to build a long-term relationship with our savvy, green customers. We hope you noticed our reasonable shipping fees when you place orders for natural pet products. (Have you noticed? We hope so! Send us feedback.)

Urban Leash & Treat has a simple philosophy for calculating shipping fees. Cover our costs. Here are our values and principles for shipping:

We offer fair prices for reliable, trackable shipping options. We aim only to cover carrier charges and recover packaging costs. We have no hidden profit agenda in shipping fees. And between you and me, we think that's an unscrupulous way to make a few bucks.
Our shipping fees are based on carrier charges plus a small markup to cover packaging materials.
We issue refunds if the actual shipping charges are lower than your cost at checkout. Shipping fees assessed at checkout our calculated based on the weight of the purchased products. Some of our products do vary in weight (dog bones and bully sticks, especially). When those products are purchased in bulk, weight variations can affect the final cost. We don't aim to profit from shipping fees, so we are happy to refund cost savings back to our customer.
Pet beds are shipped directly from the manufacturer. We have almost no ability to affect the carrier selection or costs for shipping pet beds. We can accommodate some pet bed shipping changes, such as requests for expedited shipping for last-minute gifts.
Our packages and packing materials are recycled, recyclable and re-usable.
Where possible, we re-use shipping boxes and packaging material. (We carefully check used boxes for integrity before using them in customer shipments.)
We currently offer USPS Priority and Express shipping methods. We chose USPS because of their reasonable rates and flexible pick-up and delivery options. USPS is known to handle packages more carefully than other carriers.
We are sometimes asked why we don't offer USPS Parcel Post as a shipping method. We have found that within the average weight range of customer packages, the Parcel Post rate is only cents cheaper than Priority with a longer delivery time. USPS Priority is the best value for your money.
As we grow our business, our shipping costs will decrease. The best way to cultivate cheaper shipping is to participate in our business. Purchase your natural, organic and sustainable pet supplies from Urban Leash & Treat.

Happy holidays, and here's to transparency in shipping charges!

Greenwashing in Pet Products (and What You Can Do About It)

2008-10-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

Greenwashing. A shady and unethical business practice that is increasingly popular in the pet products industry. Consumers, know thy enemy. Learn how to spot greenwashing.

I define greenwashing as misleading consumers about a product by making unverifiable, questionable or downright false claims of sustainability.

Savvy consumers choose natural pet products. We are willing to pay a little more for natural, sustainable and organic pet products that are sourced close to home. To appeal to smart customers like you - who safeguard pet health with natural products - profit-minded manufacturers can and do greenwash their products with unverifiable or false claims. Unethical manufacturers greenwash to turn your attention away from planet-friendly practices and back to their tired, wasteful products.

Here are three recent greenwashing examples we have witnessed in the pet products industry:

An unscrupulous or ignorant pet treat vendor lists "organic anchovies" as a product ingredient. Wild and farmed seafood both cannot yet be certified organic. The seafood industry has drafted a proposal (PDF), received with skepticism by the USDA National Organic Standards Board. When pressed, the pet treat vendor admitted that s/he had no idea how or why the anchovies were organic or even from where they were sourced.
Claims of organic pet shampoo, lotion or spray are greenwashing. Because water cannot be certified organic, water-based pet products cannot be considered organic. However, water-based pet products can still contain certified organic herbal essences, oils, and similar products.
Claims of "organic bamboo fabric" in pet collars and leashes are frequently but not always greenwashing. Bamboo can be grown sustainably, even gaining USDA organic certification for the raw, harvested bamboo. However, farms frequently clearcut for maximum yield. There is no Forest Stewardship Council or similar certification for bamboo growth practices. The manufacturing process that turns bamboo from woody harvested material into a soft fabric requires the application of toxic chemicals. This manufacturing process is often patented and shielded as a trade secret. Of all the bamboo growers in the world, only a very few are USDA certified organic. Even then, the certification applies to growing practices only, not to post-harvest processing of the bamboo into fabric. Here is an example of USDA organic certification for raw, harvested bamboo - but not the final finished bamboo fabric product.

To stay savvy, customers must verify the sustainability credentials of natural pet products. By sustainability credentials, I mean any claim of organic or free-range ingredients, sustainable manufacturing practices and free-trade components.

Here at Urban Leash & Treat, we are committed to verifying sustainability claims for all our products. We have already begun to review the claims in our product catalog. We expect to complete the review by the end of 2008. We will surface sustainability claims and their degree of verifiability on product pages. Where we suspect greenwashing, we will drop that product from our inventory.

For savvy consumers, the best defense is a good offense. When you shop for natural pet products, consider sustainability claims with skepticism. Can the sustainability claim be independently verified using information from the product label? If not, consider how much you trust the manufacturer's claims. For organic certification, is the certifying authority listed on product packaging? If not, contact the manufacturer and ask for details about the sustainability claim.

SourceWatch and Greenwashing Index have other rules of thumb to detect greenwashing.

Six New Varieties of Earthbath Shampoos

2008-10-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

We are proud to carry six varieties of earthbath natural dog and cat shampoos. earthbath manufactures all-natural, 100% biodegradable pet care products including shampoos, spritzes and shampoo bars.

earthbath products are:

100% bio-degradable.
Soap-free.
Free of phosphates and enzymes.
Animal cruelty-free.
Effective at relieving itching and hot spots.
Effective at soothing skin sensitivities and allergies.
Fragranced using natural oils and essences.
Safe for pets over six weeks of age.
Size: 16 oz

	Cat Shampoo and Conditioner In One Gentle, natural cat shampoo with wild cherry fragrance. $12.49
	Hypo-Allergenic Pet Shampoo Tearless and ultra-mild fragrance-free formula for skin sensitivities $12.49
	Mango Tango Pet Shampoo and Conditioner In One Gentle enough for everyday use with irresistible mango fragrance. $12.49
	Oatmeal and Aloe Pet Shampoo For pets with dry, itchy or irritated skin. Vanilla and almond fragrance. $14.49
	Puppy Shampoo Extra gentle and mild for puppies. $12.49
	Tea Tree Oil and Aloe Vera Pet Shampoo Soothes hot spots, skin conditions and itchy, chafed skin. $11.49

Nature Nosh Premium Organic Dog Treats - 3 Flavors!

2008-10-06T20:50:00.000-07:00

More new products this week! We are now offering three varieties of premium organic dog treats by NatureNosh. These hearty, gourmet dog treats are certified USDA organic and sure to please any canine palate.

NatureNosh manufactures ultra-premium organic gourmet dog treats that do not have any animal by-products, fillers, hormones, chemical preservatives, pesticides, herbicides or contain corn, wheat, egg or soy. NatureNosh is the first truly certified organic meat-based gourmet dog treat.

Organic meat is #1 ingredient.
No corn, egg, wheat or soy.
No hormones, antibiotics or chemical preservatives.
No animal by-products.
Excellent choice for dogs with food allergies.
Size: 14 oz.

	Beef Wellington Organic Dog Treats $11.99
	Chicken Parmesan Organic Dog Treats $11.99
	Turkranberry Souffle Organic Dog Treats $11.99

A portion of the proceeds from the purchase of any Nature Nosh product will be donated to Much Love Animal Rescue.

Giant Natural Knuckle Bone for Dogs - New Product!

2008-10-06T07:01:00.001-07:00

The Giant Natural Knuckle Bone from Free Range Dog Chews is perfect for big dogs who love big bones. This marrow-filled knuckle bone is slow-roasted to lock in the beefy flavor. Your dog will enjoy an afternoon's work chewing this free-range dog bone and have the clean teeth to shwo for it!

Giant Natural Knuckle Bone available for $4.64.

Breath-A-Licious Dental Dog Bones by Dancing Paws - New Product!

2008-10-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

We recently added a new dental bone to our Dental Health product line for dogs. The Breath-A-Licious dental bone is highly palatable and contains 5 natural breath fresheners: peppermint, parsley, dill, fennel and chlorophyll. Its all-natural ingredients help remove tartar, freshen breath, aid in digestion and soothe upset stomachs. Like all Dancing Paws products, Breath-A-Licious dental bones are Made in the USA.

10-Pack of Small Bones (0.75 oz) for $8.99.

6-Pack of Large Bones (2.3 oz) for $11.99.

Flee, Flea! Natural Anti-Flea Spray for Dogs and Cats by Dancing Paws - New Products!

2008-10-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

Introducing new, natural flea repellent spray for dogs and cats from Dancing Paws! Flee, Flea! Natural Anti-Flea Spray is rich in botanical extracts and safe for you and your pet. This citronella-based flea spray will not irritate hot spots and does nto absorb into your pet's skin.

	Dancing Paws Flee, Flea! Anti-Flea Spray for Dogs Natural flea repellent for dogs, 8 oz. $8.99
	Dancing Paws Flee, Flea! Anti-Flea Spray for Cats Natural flea repellent for cats, 4 oz. $6.99