Introduction
Dog hair has become an increasingly popular material for cleaning up oil spills in recent years. The unique properties of dog hair make it adept at absorbing oil while repelling water. When oil spills occur in bodies of water, dog hair mats can be used to soak up the oil without absorbing the water. This allows for quicker and more effective oil spill cleanup. Organizations around the world have started collecting dog hair donations from pet owners and groomers to create these mats. The mats are then provided to oil spill disaster response teams and wildlife rehabilitation centers to aid in their cleanup efforts. This mutually beneficial practice helps keep oil from contaminating oceans and shorelines while finding a useful purpose for discarded dog hair. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how dog hair is used for oil spill cleanup and how you can get involved by donating your dog’s hair.
Why Dog Hair?
Dog hair is particularly effective for absorbing oil spills because the individual hairs have a unique hollow fiber structure that readily absorbs oil. According to research by ScienceDaily, dog fur is superior to materials like polypropylene that are commonly used for commercial oil spill cleanups. The hollow fibers of dog hair act like capillary tubes to wick up oil quickly and retain it within the hair shaft instead of just clumping on the surface. Tests showed dog fur absorbed oil 4-10 times faster than polypropylene.
In addition, dog hair is a renewable and sustainable material that avoids continued use of plastics. Dog hair also biodegrades naturally over time unlike synthetic sorbents that create long-term pollution if not disposed of properly. Using a waste product like dog hair reduces waste and takes advantage of its unique properties as an eco-friendly alternative for oil spill remediation.
How Dog Hair Absorbs Oil
Dog hair is well-suited for absorbing oil because of its unique hollow fiber structure. The hollow fibers in dog hair act like small capillaries, quickly wicking up oil through capillary action. This allows dog hair to absorb oil 3-5 times faster compared to synthetic materials like polypropylene fabric according to research by ScienceDaily.
The hollow fibers give dog hair a larger surface area to quickly absorb oil. Synthetic materials like polypropylene rely only on the surface fibers to absorb oil, limiting their rate of absorption. Polypropylene is also hydrophobic meaning it does not readily absorb oil, while dog hair is naturally oleophilic allowing it to absorb oil easily.
Additionally, dog hair maintains its shape when soaked with oil, unlike synthetic materials which can become weighted down. This allows dog hair to continue effectively absorbing oil even when fully saturated. The unique hollow fiber structure makes dog hair a highly effective absorbent material for oil spill clean-up.
Organizations Collecting Hair
There are a few notable organizations that accept dog hair donations and use them for various environmental purposes. The largest and most well-known is Matter of Trust, a nonprofit that has collected over 400 tons of hair, fur, and fleece since starting their hair donation programs in the late 1990s.
Matter of Trust cleans, sterilizes and felts the hair into mats and booms that can soak up oil spills in waterways or prevent contaminants from entering storm drains. They accept human hair and all kinds of animal fibers including dog, cat, alpaca and sheep. Donors can ship hair directly to regional Matter of Trust hubs around the U.S. where volunteers prepare it for use in oil spills and storm drain filtration. The organization also partners with salons, dog groomers and farmers to receive large donations of hair clippings.
Another group using dog hair for environmental purposes is Hairy Petter Clips 4 Critters. They sterilize and felt pet hair into handmade crafts, while donating 10% of profits to animal welfare groups. Some other nonprofits like Green World Trust also accept dog hair and repurpose it, but on a smaller scale than Matter of Trust.
Preparing Your Dog’s Hair
Properly preparing and packaging your dog’s hair is important to ensure it can be used effectively by organizations. Here are some tips:
Collect hair that has been freshly brushed or clipped. Avoid hair with tangles, mats, or debris as it is more difficult to process. According to Matter of Trust, you’ll need a minimum of a grocery sized brown paper bag filled with hair per donation [1].
Place the hair in breathable cotton bags or old pantyhose. Plastic bags trap moisture and can lead to mold growth. For mail donations, use thick paper envelopes [2].
Store collected hair in a cool, dry area until you are ready to donate. Avoid excessive heat or moisture.
When mailing a donation, use a padded mailer to prevent damage. Include your name, address and email so the organization can confirm receipt.
With proper preparation, your dog’s hair can go a long way towards helping absorb oil spills and protect the environment.
Sending in Your Donation
Matter of Trust, an environmental nonprofit organization, makes it easy for you to donate your dog’s hair. Simply sign up on their website to receive a mailing label and instructions on how to properly package and send in your donation.
According to their website, you can send your dog hair donation in any type of package or envelope. It’s recommended to put the hair in a plastic zip bag inside your package for cleanliness. Make sure to attach the provided Matter of Trust mailing label to the outside of your package.
The mailing address is:
Matter of Trust
3309 Alhambra Ave
Martinez, CA 94553
The cost to mail your dog hair donation will vary based on package size and weight. The nonprofit recommends using a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope which costs around $8 to ship.
There are no fees associated with donating your dog’s hair to Matter of Trust. They accept donations of all sizes and appreciate contributions from caring pet owners.
Other Uses
In addition to oil spill cleanup, dog hair can also be used for other purposes. According to the AKC, dog hair is excellent for hand spinning into yarn that can be knitted or crocheted into garments, accessories, or toys. Some artists even use dog fur to create paintings and art installations. Dog hair can also be felted together to create practical items like rugs, dryer balls, bird nesting material, and even insulation for shoes or gloves.
Outside of oil spills, dog hair donations are used by wildlife rehabilitation centers to make bedding for orphaned and injured animals. The hair helps provide comfort and warmth to animals in recovery. Dog hair is also compostable since it contains nitrogen. When added to compost piles, it can help fertilize soil. However, some sources recommend avoiding composting dog hair if the dog was treated with insecticides or other chemicals that could harm the compost.
Overall, dog hair is a versatile material with many uses beyond just soaking up oil spills. Whether spun into yarn, felted into fabric, used as bedding, or added to compost, dog hair can provide an eco-friendly way to get additional value out of a readily available material.
Impact
Dog hair has been used effectively in past oil spill cleanups. For example, in 2020, scientists in Australia collected several kilograms of untreated pet fur, including dog fur, to test its ability to absorb crude oil from a simulated oil spill disaster (source 1). Preliminary tests showed that just 1 gram of dog fur could absorb up to 5 grams of crude oil, indicating it may be an effective sustainable solution for oil spill disasters.
During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, over 86,000kg of dog and human hair was donated and made into mats to help soak up the oil (source 2). Each mat could absorb up to 8 times its own weight in oil. While it’s difficult to quantify exactly how much oil was removed using dog hair, these examples demonstrate that donating dog hair can make a meaningful impact on major oil spill cleanups.
Getting Involved
There are many opportunities for volunteers who want to help with oil spill cleanup efforts. Volunteer tasks during an oil spill can include shoreline cleanup, wildlife recovery, documentation, and organization.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife manages a network of trained volunteers who assist with oil spill response activities. Volunteers must be 18 years or older and in good physical health. Tasks include shoreline cleanup, wildlife rehabilitation, boom deployment, and communications. Their volunteer brochure provides additional details.
The Oil Spill Volunteer Registration system for the Pacific Northwest allows people to sign up to be contacted in the event of a local spill. Volunteers are called upon to help with shoreline surveys, wildlife recovery, facilities support, and community outreach. Registration gives access to supplemental training.
The global Preparedness for Oil-polluted Shoreline cleanup and Oiled Wildlife interventions (POSOW) organization offers resources on integrating volunteers into emergency oil spill responses. With proper planning and training, volunteers can be a great asset during spill emergencies.
Conclusion
In summary, donating your dog’s hair can make a real difference in oil spill cleanups. Dog hair is extremely effective at absorbing oil because of its unique texture and hydrophobic properties. Organizations like Matter of Trust and Dogs for Clean Water accept dog hair donations from around the world and use them to create oil-absorbing mats and booms. Preparing and sending in your donation is easy – simply brush or shave your dog, dry and package the hair, and mail it in. Beyond oil spills, dog hair can also be used for other eco-friendly purposes like compost and insulation.
Donating your dog’s hair allows you to engage with an important environmental cause and put your pup’s fur to good use. By diverting hair from landfills, we reduce waste while creating sustainable clean-up tools. Supporting green organizations also helps drive innovation in areas like oil spill response. With so many dogs in the world, we have an abundant natural resource that can make a real impact. Dog hair donations enable ordinary pet owners to get involved in extraordinary solutions. So next time you brush your dog, consider donating the fur – your pet will be helping save the planet!