Even Fido Deserves a Green Roof

I saw this article this morning and thought this was too funny to pass up. You may remember my post a little while ago about green roofs. Well, now your pooch can experience all of the benefits of a green roof too.

Thanks to a design team in California, Sustainable Pet Designs offers doghouses with green roofs. According the LA Times, the design duo offers doghouses for $1000 to $4000, all with lovely rooftop gardens. Landscape architect Stephanie Rubin and sculptor Chris Isner came up with the creative combinations offered by Sustainable Pet Design. Their line of Greenrrroof Animal Homes come in fun and contemporary styles that can easily fit into a traditional garden setting or a more modern, urban space. They also custom design the animal homes to your specifications.

The green roof dog houses are treated with natural, non-toxic materials and finished in whatever color you prefer, from barn red to natural wood. The houses are crafted from red cedar, which is a natural flea-repellent, or from recycled wood, which is sealed with a zero-VOC sealant.

For those who live in California, Sustainable Pet Design sends the green dog houses pre-planted with plants native to your region. For the rest of us, the dog houses arrive with a special soil mix and, if requested, suggestions for native plants.

As I mentioned in a previous green roof article, there are many environmental benefits to creating a green roof. The plants provide additional greenery to attract butterflies and small wildlife. The vegetation insulates the dog houses, keeping them cooler in warm weather and warmer in cool weather. Because the vegetation is native to your region, it requires less care to maintain. Lastly, the plants on the green roof catch and filter rainwater.

If this sounds a little excessive for Fido, you can always build your own eco-friendly dog house. The key to a successful green roof is to create a sandbox-shaped roof, sloped at approximately 20 degrees or less, sealed and then layered with the appropriate materials. You'll find much more specific instructions in this article.

What better way to spruce up your yard while also giving your pooch a cool, restful place to relax.