Tomorrow, June 20th, is Take Your Dog To Work Day! (Or, for short, TYDTWD. I know, it isn't much shorter).

Pet-lovers believe that having a pup in the office promotes productivity and creativity, helps co-workers get a long, and makes people call out sick a lot less. Pets HQ is pretty quiet (we're a very small staff: Me. And Cleo, when she's not busy cat-napping), but I know everyone at EWG just loves to see me when I visit. How could they not? There's even video footage if you want evidence!

Want to head into the office with your human tomorrow? Make sure they check with the boss to make sure it's okay, and with colleagues to make sure no one's allergic or scared of dogs. Take along the necessary supplies (food, a water bowl, biodegradable poop bags, stuff like that), and don't forget to snap a picture for the Professional Pooch Gallery!

Remember that FDA public hearing I went to on May 13th? The one that was adjourned before I got to it? Supposedly the purpose was to give pet owners, animal welfare organizations and others a chance to share their opinions. But if the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine really cared what we think (and eat!) wouldn't they have waited until after the meeting to make a major decision about the future of pet food regulation? Read full post.

Don't tell anyone, guys, but I think I have a crush. It's not often I find a dog who loves the environment as much as I do, but Cedar does. In fact, she's so committed to the environment that she wrote a whole entire book about it! It's called Doggone Green: A call to action to save our earth.

In her book, Cedar teaches other dogs and cats about all the ways that they're already impacting the environment, and how they can step with a lighter pawprint -- and teach their humans to do the same. With some notes from her human mom, Kathy Deitsch, Cedar does a great job of explaining the unregulated pet food, bottled water and personal care product industries. Basically, the human's government allows those sectors to police themselves -- which, like Cedar says, is like letting the fox guard the henhouse. Read full post.

Humans are funny. Why is it that, when they have a lot of money, they say they're rolling in dough? Personally, I'd rather be rolling in doughnuts. Mmm, doughnuts...

But I digress. Thanks to the support of pets like you and your generous people, we've raised over $16,000 to test pet food for nasty chemical contaminants! We're going to get the ball rolling by testing 10 kinds of pet food for toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury and chromium (read: yuck, gross, and EW!). Read full post.

It's been an exciting month here at Pets HQ. I've made thousands of new friends, infiltrated an industry event, and together we've taken on the FDA. Not to mention all the great information that's been shared by all of you who've left comments here!

But we've got a lot left to do -- and that includes testing pet food for safety. How much I can test depends on how much money we raise, so I'm depending on all of you!

So, can I ask you a favor? Please take a moment today and tell some friends and their humans about Pets for the Environment and our fundraising efforts. There are just two days left until the deadline! They can donate through the pet food testing campaign or by telling FDA not to put crap in our pet food. Either way, the money goes to the same fund, and the end result is safer food choices for all of us.

Spread the word -- and thanks for your help!

Hey, look, I've been Dugg!

I got confused when they told me -- thought for a second they'd found that monster hole I've been working on out back (shh!). But it turns out it means that somebody like my little website here! So thanks, guys. I really appreciate it.

To say a ginormous THANK YOU to The Leash We Can Do!

These online retailers of all things green for cats and dogs have generously offered to donate 10% of their proceeds for the entire month of May to the Pets for the Environment pet food testing fund. Doesn't it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy? Read full post.

Did you know that next week, May 4th-10th, is National Pet Week? It's true! According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the event has three goals: to promote responsible pet ownership, promote public awareness of veterinary medicine, and celebrate the human-animal bond.

Of course, every week is National Pet Week here at Pets HQ. So to make it extra special, I'm hosting a Carnival of Green Pets. Every day I'll be posting about key pet health issues, and you can join in the fun! Just post something about pets and the environment on your blog, and I'll do a round-up of all the links right here at the end of the week.

Here's how it works: Read full post.

Whew! It's been a busy week around here. You've sent me hundreds of emails, messages and comments, and one thing is clear: you're worried about food.

I'll admit, I used to be more concerned with the quantity of my food than the quality. But after last year's pet food recalls and all the sad stories about pets who got sick or died because of tainted food. . . Well, you're angry, and so am I!

We deserve answers, and I'm determined to get them. But I need your help. The Environmental Working Group has promised to help me test pet food, but first we need to raise some money.

Our goal is to raise $47,000 by Friday, May 23 so we can send major brands of cat and dog food to the same lab that tested my blood for harmful chemicals.
I know we can do it! Ask your human to donate $25 -- You'll get a Pets for the Environment tag, and we'll all get some answers about pet food safety. Here's what we want to do:

• test 10 brands of canned wet cat and dog food for chemicals like mercury, lead, and bisphenol A
• test 10 brands of dry dog and cat food for chemicals like flame retardants and nonstick chemicals
• protect pets and humans by pressuring Congress for better standards

But I can't do it all by myself! Your donation will make it happen. Every dollar you give makes the world safer for pets like you and me.

We have a lot of work to do, but together I know we can make a difference for pet health!

I just wanted to say thanks, guys. I really appreciate all the awesome messages you've been leaving me on the wall of cute. I just know that if we put our paws (and fins and feathers and claws) together, we can make a real difference.

So I made this video in honor of you! I really hope you like it.