The Salt Monster

You know those days when the wind is blowing and snow is piling up at the front door and you don’t want to go anywhere?  You might even start a fire, curl up on the couch with a good book or watch a guilty pleasure movie on tv.  A lot of us, though, go out in that crappy weather because our animal companions need just as much exercise as any other day – and they need that ever-important potty break.  I walk the dogs on beautiful summer days, cold, rainy fall evenings and below-zero winter nights.  I have big dogs too, so we’re out for two hours over the course of a day.  I love my dogs so I’m more than happy to do this, but I’d like to make a tiny little request for the citizens of Albany at the beginning of this less-than-pleasant season: please don’t salt. I’ve written about our sad, salty dog adventures before.

If you’re going to salt, consider buying a pet-friendly alternative.  I definitely appreciate the need for salt on roadways and on the college campus, but on city sidewalks you can make the choice on how to clear your walkway.  Amazon carries a good variety of alternatives to rock salt.  If you’re courteous enough to clear your sidewalk for winter pedestrians, please consider the sensitive paws of the numerous K-9 pedestrians as well. We’re happy to keep poop off your lawn and we’d sincerely appreciate a salt-free sidewalk in return.  Thanks!

Dogs prefer warm fireplace rugs to raw, salty paws. Also, can you find the Brie Doodle?