As a hound, I’d like to speak for all those canines trapped in loving homes with owners hellbent on including little Fluffy in all their Halloween hijinks.

People tend to get carried away on Halloween — must be the combination of all that pagan energy and sugar blurring folks’ judgment and inducing them to strap-on a Sarah Palin wig or David Hasselhoff mask. Rule of thumb, if your pooch looks miserable in that tutu or sombrero don’t make them wear it … animal cruelty can sometimes be disguised as love.

pictured above: Shiny Clown (Amazon), Frog Dog (DIY), and Batdog…I mean Batman ($8.39 on sale now).

Love dogs, hemp and eco-conscious products with a socially conscious mission? Meet Better Buddies, a new line of pet beds — comfy bedrolls, donut beds and pillow beds in attractive styles and different sizes.

Designed by two-time Emmy winning, Julie Marie Berman, (currently starring in ABC’s General Hospital), the line of eco-friendly pet beds is created from an array of sustainable materials: hemp, organic cotton and recycled PET (recycled plastic bottles).

They’re also on a mission to create a world free of homeless pets. Berman is an ambassador for the Best Friends Animal Society and donates 10% of Better Buddies’ profits to support their cause. Find more details and prices @ betterbuddies.com.

(photo above: better buddies on lawn and below: close-up of Leaves in Loft bed donut).

More about Glendale, California’s efforts to ban the sale of commercially bred dogs, cats and other pets … lifted from Better Buddies’ blog:

The City Council of Glendale, CA. voted to draft a proposal on June 14th to ban sales of cats and dogs in the city and on August 24th voted unanimously to make that proposal reality. The stores have 30 days to comply.

According to Melissa Maroff of the San Fernando Valley Pet Rescue Examiner, the Glendale city Attorney Michael Garcia the ordinance does not apply to breeders and adoption groups. In fact, the Best Friend’s Animal Society is playing a role in Glendale by partnering up with Pets-r-Us to help them to move towards offering only adoption only pets.

This ban follows a Motion to ban sale of commercially bred dogs, cats, chickens and rabbits within city limits that was adopted (subject to reconsideration at a later date) on June 7th and before a proposed ordinance will be brought before the Irvine City Council in late September or early October 2011.

There are some cool fashion and home decor products made from recycled sailcloth. Here are just a few personal faves:

• Designer Ella Vickers makes an entire line of bags and hats (photo at top) and home accessories, such as shower curtains and dog beds (photo above), from recycled sails. You can choose whether you want a ‘pre’ or ‘post’ consumer sail each time you buy. You can even send in a sail to be repurposed. Find @ ellavickers.com.

• While recycled sailcloth bags are becoming a little easier to come by, there seems to be only one company that makes recycled sailcloth coasters. These coasters (photo above) are made in Maine and come in sets of four with either a navy anchor or a red claw sewn on to them. The coaster sets are $24.00. Matching place mats are sold separately. find @ thenewenglandtradingcompany.com.

• Whether you’re integrating a nautical theme into your home decor, you’ve got a thing for boats, or you’re simply looking for a conversation piece, a pillow made from a recycled sail is a fun eco friendly purchase – you’ll find the ones pictured above online at Pottery Barn. Currently on sale for $49.99, half off the original price.

• A novel upcycled sailcloth-based item is a sailcloth yoga mat bag. Each is one of a kind, handmade and comes in a number of different colors. They run about $180 each on Etsy.

Upcycling can prove quite rewarding – for both you and your pets. This recycled, retro TV has been transformed into a purrrfectly stylish cat-house for your favorite feline.

The house comes with a custom, red and white picnic-style gingham cushion that’s triple stitched and machine washable. The antenna has a toy attached — it can be easily removed from its holding spot and extended for use in kitty entertainment sessions.

$129 @ AtomicAttic’s Etsy Shop

Let’s be honest, bad breath is a turn-off whether you’re a 2-legged or 4-legged creature. Always sniffing out ways to improve my personal grooming and maintain optimum health, I’ve uncovered this ditty bag filled with a treasure trove of eco-conscious essentials for battling pet tooth tartar.

According to the Veterinary Oral Health Care Council, you can extend the life of precious pets like me up to 3 years with a dedicated at-home oral health care routine.

Here’s what’s in Olive Green Dog’s Dog Dental Kit:

• Microfiber Finger Brush
• 1 Petosan Double-Headed Toothbrush
• 2.5 oz. Petosan Poultry Flavor Toothpaste
• Dishwasher Safe Storage Case
• 2.1 oz. ProDen PlaqueOff
• Terrabone Fresh Breath Dental Bones
• 4″ x 4″ x 12″ Cotton Canvas Necessary Bag Made in USA

Small, Medium or Large Dogs ($49.99-$54.99) – Be sure to enter code OliveAC at check-out to receive 10% off.

With the USA in the grips of a record breaking heatwave everyone is looking for innovative ways to stay cool, and that includes our canine friends. These Freezy Pup organic dog treats will help you create make-at-home frozen treats that will help your hound chill-out on his daily walks.

Simply mix a packet of one of the four recipes with water, freeze in the cool bone-shaped tray provided — and presto — you’ve created a tasty batch of pooch-cooling dog treats.

The Freezy Pups kit includes one bone-shaped ice cube tray and a sample packet of four organic gourmet recipes — white cheddar cheese, apple, sweet potato/maple, and chicken soup.
The tray is made from non toxic, food grade, recyclable materials. Made in USA.  $18.99 @ olive green dog – use code OliveAC and receive a 10% discount.

For summer exercise there’s nothing quite like running-down a well-thrown frisbee.

As a canine prone to chewing on things, I’ve become more than a little concerned about the potential hazards of the chemicals, specifically BPA, in plastic frisbees. BPA (Bisphenol A), which is a chemical ingredient found in many plastic items, has been linked to all manner of health problems. With that in mind, what better material to make a frisbee out of than natural, ultra durable hemp? The Eco-Fetcher (pictured above), marketed by Honest Pet Products, is made from sustainable hemp, one of the strongest natural fibers on earth. Not only is hemp tough, it’s naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial.

The Eco-Fetcher comes in three sizes; it’s machine washable and even floats for water retrieving. You can purchase the Eco-Fetcher from our friends at Olive Green Dog. Oh, one other thing, the frisbees are handmade in the USA by disabled adults.

The average canine was never intended to eat a bunch of processed grain, so it’s no wonder that many hounds have digestive systems that bark when they eat a traditional dog treat. That being the said, Sojourner Farms has created its deliciously, wholesome, 100% grain free Sojo dog treats for dogs who have just such digestive issues.

These healthy biscuits are oven-baked for crunchy goodness; contain no preservatives and no artificial anything. Just simple, natural, human quality ingredients, and not a single grain. Made in Minnesota, USA. The 10 ounce packs come in lamb, sweet potato, duck (for bird dogs) and cherry. They sell for $7.99 a box. Find these treats and everything else for the alternative dog @ olivegreendog. Remember to enter code OliveAC to receive 10% off.

Now this looks like one comfy pet bed. Suitable for  a feline or a diminutive canine – does that make it a uni-pet bed?

Created from a modified, vintage Samsonite suitcase, this pet throne features a triple stitched washable pillow and handmade cherry legs. The whole deal goes for $79 @ AtomicAttic’s Etsy shop

Canine fashions have come a long way. These well-made designer shirts, outerwear, ties and accessories are designed for beachy hounds that want to rock a Ralph Lauren, or Newport madras vibe. A winter of endless snow and ice have made peeing on the beach a faraway dream…

Designed and created by AnneMarie Minardi and Gillian Ward for their Rover line, these items can be custom fitted for sizes xs to xxl. You can shop for them at Rover’s Supermarket online shop.