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by Charlene H. Carpenter,
Pet o’ Mine Editor
June, 2007 --
When the Humane Society of
Catawba County opens its new animal
shelter this fall, its canine residents are in for a treat: Some of the kennel areas will be covered with a unique new artificial
grass that is safer and cleaner than real grass.
Dave Trotter, owner of Forever Lawn of North Carolina in Mooresville, has donated 750 square feet of K9 Grass to
cover the ground in the convalescing
kennel areas of the new facility under
construction in Hickory.
“K9 Grass is the only artificial
grass designed specifically for dogs,”
says Trotter. “It has a knitted backing
with Flow-through™ technology that
provides total and immediate drainage
of liquid waste. It has an antimicrobial
agent built into the blades that helps
prevent bacterial growth and control
odor.”
Wanda Fitzpatrick, who recently had
Trotter install 1,700 square feet at her
Armadale Farm Kennel in Raleigh, says
the grass looks and smells good.
“There are no odor issues because it
drains real well and it looks terrific. It
looks like grass,” says Fitzpatrick, “And,
the dogs don’t get dirty and muddy
when it rains so we aren’t constantly
having to give them baths.”
The grass, which is made for kennels,
boarding facilities, dog parks, veterinary
offices, the homes of pet owners and
anywhere pets are, is different from
other artificial grasses because it has a
comprehensive drainage system that keeps the grass clean and free of harmful
bacteria caused by animal waste.
When it is installed indoors over
concrete, Trotter puts in a system that
raises the grass off the floor and allows it
to drain.
K9 grass also is unique because it
does not require infill, according to
Trotter.
“Most artificial grasses, 99.9 percent
of them, require a crumb rubber or
sand infill that goes on top of the grass
and gets groomed down into the blades
to help hold the blades up. The infill
will absorb liquid waste and creates an
environment that will cause bacteria
to grow and that will hold odors,” says
Trotter. “To prevent that, we created
a dense bladed grass that doesn’t
require infill for support and allows for
immediate drainage which eliminates
those problems.”
The drainage properties combined
with the antimicrobial agent built into
the grass keeps the grass clean and safe,
according to Trotter.
The grass also is very durable. While
constant use by dogs can kill real grass
and leave bald areas and holes in the
yard, K9 grass is durable enough to
withstand the digging and chewing that
destroys real grass. The manufacturer
of the grass is so confident of its
performance and durability that it offers
an eight-year warranty on the product.
The product isn’t just for dogs. It
works just as well for other animals, says
Trotter. Some zoos use it.
“It works well anywhere you need a
drainable, clean and safe environment
for pets,” says Trotter. “For home
owners, it not only provides your pet a
safe, clean environment, it helps keep
your house free from muddy paw prints
and debris pets bring in from the yard.”
Because of the sanitary issues the grass
addresses, Fitzpatrick of Armadale Farm
Kennel thinks that, it will be something
that kennels will someday be required
to have.
“The kennels have to be inspected
by the Department of Agriculture and
the inspector loved it. He even brought
his boss back to see it,” says the kennel
owner.
Jane Earnest, executive director of the
Humane Society of Catawba County,
says the grass will be a definite asset for
the new shelter.
“It is perfect, you don’t need to
mow it, it is easily washed off, and it
is nice and neat for that area of the
new shelter.”
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