Don't Let Your Dog Drag Dangerous Chemicals Into Your Bed

In times of trouble, we turn to a friend. When fear strikes deep, we look for a friend. When experiencing loss, a friend can help ease the pain. For many, that friend is a dog, especially now with social distancing and quarantines. Bonding and bounding with Bowser is a great stress reliever and so is snuggling up for a nap when you're done playing outside..

Ever hear the expression, "it's a three dog night" ? " No one is sure whether it originated in the Australian outback or the northern reaches of North America with the Eskimos. The meaning, however, is quite clear. The phrase is a rudimentary nightly temperature gauge. Dogs huddled with humans at night for the warmth. On really cold nights, three dogs were called into the bed to keep the owner from freezing."

According to Yahoo News, a new survey from Stonyfield Organic, maker of food products, finds that out of 1,000 Americans surveyed, more than 60 percent said they’ve taken more walks with their dog during quarantine, and nearly 75 percent report letting their dog sleep with them on the bed or couch.

As snuggly as that may sound to you (and you KNOW the dog is all in on that!) the Stonyfield Company says that you have to be careful with letting your dog in your bed depending on where they’ve been. Stonyfield notes that 65 percent of playing fields in the U.S. are sprayed with pesticides, and your front lawn may have the harmful chemicals as well. By extension, you don't doggy dearest dragging those chemicals onto the couch or bedding.

Stonyfield Organic has started the #PlayFree initiative, to get homeowners and public spaces to switch to organic lawn and garden maintenance. Since launching the company has contributed $2 million to this goal and has worked with 35 different communities to transition to organic grounds management.

To learn more about #PlayFree, and how to transition your own backyard to organic management, visit Stonyfield's website.