I caught an episode of "The Lazy Environmentalist" recently, and the host was talking with a dog groomer about ways to "go green" and also reduce the use of chemicals and harmful toxins in the products they use. I didn't realize that most tennis balls contain about 45 times the amount of lead acceptable in a child's toy. This is scary when I think about how my dogs shred the tennis balls-could that toxic lead be affecting them?
The show recommended checking labels, not buying off brands, but most importantly try to buy durable rubber toys. These toys will be a much longer lasting investment, take up less space in landfills, and less likely to become swallowed and cause a blockage. A couple of options might be the KONG Ball
($11) or Diamond Plate Orbee Ball
($11.95).
It's a one time investment that could last years, and will be much better for your dog, and the environment.