What do you do with all of that hair?
April 21st, 2011
Time to spring clean the pets! Pets need to be groomed all year round of course, but many are shedding more now and need help transitioning into their summer coats.
I have big hairy dogs all of my life. Lots of time spent grooming, but definitely not my favorite way to spend time.
I have been using the FURminator tools almost exclusively since the first version of this deshedding tool. The tools have been modified and improved over the years, and the 2011 FURminator model for cats is my favorite one so far.
My 2011 FURminator is marketed for “long-hair, large cats,” but this brush worked great for all of my dogs and cats, long and short-haired. Even the low-shed Greyhounds loved their grooming sessions.
I can pull out more hair (and prevent more mats) in just a few minutes with these brushes than others I have used in years past. No matter what model of FURminator you have, it is a worthwhile tool to have in your pet care cupboard.
Now what do you do with all of that hair?
The brushed out pet hair piles up quickly. I always try to do this task outside. Windy days are even better, scattering the hair. Free for the birds to use in their nests. That is what I do. My pet hair recycling program is pretty low key.
Here are some other ideas.
For the birds and others
I read somewhere that birds like to scavenge the nice soft fibers for their nest, so that is how my pet hair scattering program got started. I’ve also read that placing tufts of your pet’s hair around your yard or garden might deter some pests. I am not a gardener and haven’t tried this, but it can’t hurt to try.
For the environment
After the devastating oil spill in the gulf, pet and human hair was used to make oil-collecting booms. Recycling and saving the environment.
For the art of it
I have seen the photos of people wearing knit garments with yarn supplied from their dog before, but now that I have taken up knitting, this gives me pause for thought. More yarn! There are apparently lots of places that will spin your pet’s hair into yarn, but I am not quite there yet. No real ‘reason,’ other than I am used to the sheepy smell of wool. A doggy smell is not so appealing.
Plus, Purl the Greyhound loves to snatch a skein of wool and run through the house with it. What would she do snatching a skein of… Sophie? That might be weird.
But not as weird as this: clothing, jewelry and furniture made from human hair. That is where I draw the line.
What do you do with your pet’s hair?
Any crafty types out there? Environmentalists? I’d love to hear about your art.
April 29, 2011 update: Make HairBears! 
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One Response to “What do you do with all of that hair?”
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Janet Tobiassen Crosby DVM never planned to be a writer. She wanted to be a veterinarian from the moment she learned such a job existed - sometime during the first grade, when she accompanied her mom to the vet with a sick cat. Janet "adopted" all the neighborhood cats, and at age 11 she started training her first dog, a newly adopted rescue Collie. At age 12, she joined a dog obedience 4-H club and was active through high school as a member and as a junior leader.
- DrJTC: Sorry for the delay – just now saw your comment. Good point. I am lucky to live in a relatively bug-free...
- Kathleen Winn: Great tips! We live in the country so our dog is a regular “wilderness adventurer.” Our...
- AboutVetMed: Thanks, Deb! I was relieved we ended up with something to submit.
- Deb: Loved this story. Your “HairBear” turned out really cute.
- Jenni Meyer: Dave, Millions of dogs in this country are killed every day. I applaud what you are doing and had no...
I put it down the bunny holes in my yard. They usually push it out the first time and then I put it back in and they leave, preferably to the neighbors yard. Haha,