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The Green Beet: Green Resolution

Posted on: December 27, 2009 | jenaransom | 2 Comments | Print Article | Rate Post:

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greenbeetBy Jen Ransom for Seward City News

2010 is the start of a new year and a new decade. Why not make them a little greener by focusing your new year’s resolution on living a more sustainable and green lifestyle? This could be a life-altering resolution, like giving up one’s car for a bike this year, or a smaller but still relevant one, such as committing to bring reusable grocery bags to the store each and every time you shop – and then making it easy to do so by storing extra where you’re most likely to grab them. I’d like to hear what your green resolutions are, and I’ll plan on checking in on them – and updating you on mine – during the next few months.

I’ve given a lot of thought as to what I might give up or add to my life in 2010 and I keep coming up with the same conclusion: My resolution is to be nicer to my dog. This doesn’t necessarily seem green at first glance, but once examined it creates a lot of eco-sense.

First, I want you to realize I’m not a mean pet owner. Roamer, named after he “roamed” onto my porch one day half-starved for food and attention, is a big, dumb-but-lovable yellow lab with a tendency to pass gas around respected guests. For the first seven years together, Roamer and I walked almost daily when it was time to be active and chilled together when it was time to be calm.

But then a few changes in the family dynamic were thrown in, namely a new baby and a once-spry pup now aged to an old dog; complete with sleep-inducing anti-seizure meds and a tendency not to take to toddling children climbing up and over his aching, arthritic bones. And so more often than not, with him in complete agreement as he sniffs at the door each morning, Roamer spends much of his time outside in our backyard or inside our garage, sleeping.

He’s feed well and comes inside after the baby goes to bed. It’s not animal cruelty, but I hate that a creature so loyal to me could spend the last years of his life in such a depressing manner. He just doesn’t get out and exercise like he use too, and he spends much of his life alone. So for 2010 I pledge to be nicer to Roamer by taking him on more walks and by simply petting him more.

“How is this green?” you might ask. Here’s my answer:

1. When I walk more, I drive less.

We live in town, and pre-baby many walks were duel, or triple, purpose: Exercise for me and for the dog, and running whatever errand I needed to make nearby that day. Now that I feel confident in doing these things with child and dog, I can once-again lower my carbon footprint.

2. Spending time in nature helps me appreciate it more, and thus want to protect it more.

When I don’t have errands to run, I walk a trail near my home that gets us out into “urban” nature. Sure, I can hear vehicles drive by and see a few homes here and there, but I can also admire the many birch and spruce trees, listen to the birds squawking on the Kenai River and occasionally hold strong on the leash when nearby moose drive Roamer crazy. I’m willing to fight, and make due with less, to protect these things.

3. I am practicing compassion and respect for other-than-human beings one animal at a time.

I may not be the poster child for PETA, but I am committed to making sure my pet has a decent life. To me, that’s something [shrug].

What’s your commitment? We can all resolve to lose weight and get stronger – and heck, both those things probably will happen to me just from being nicer to my dog – but what resolution is tugging at you that could help make this world a greener place? I’d love to hear your ideas, and I promise to check in and see how you are doing, as well as focus some Green Beet columns on the green commitments you make this Friday to help you on our journey to a greener new year. Cheers!

Category: Nature

Comments

2 Responses to “The Green Beet: Green Resolution”

  1. John C
    December 28th, 2009 @ 10:58 am

    I really enjoyed this last article, with its particular reference to the love of ones dog.
    I offer the best description of a dog I have ever read, it would be nice if the Seward City News could run this one day, seeing there are so many dogs and dog lovers in this great state.
    “Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him perhaps when he needs it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stones of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.

    “Gentlemen of the jury, a man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fierce, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come from encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wing and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

    “If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of his company to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in his embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.”

    This was from the trial of two farmers in Warrensburg Missouri. in 1870

  2. akglow
    January 3rd, 2010 @ 12:27 pm

    I am sorry, but I think you are just trying to justify your actions to your loyal dog as green? What the??? I feel sorry for your dog, too bad you don’t.