It’s a Dog’s Life: Terrier Energy

Being environmentally friendly isn’t just for humans. Teddy explains, via Helen Stockton, his human interpreter, how canines are also interested in recycling and renewables 

Them indoors’ have had solar panels fitted to our house roof. Previously, the only solar panels we’ve had are in the garden and charge a battery that powers the pond fountain. 

The latest additions involved scaffolding and workmen which, in turn, required close canine supervision and a certain amount of comment from myself and the apprentice, Bear. ‘Her Indoors’ couldn’t work out why I was barking, when I was in her office on the first floor, as the workmen were up on the roof, until she got down to my level. She then realised that I could see the feet of the men fixing the panels, and disembodied feet are definitely in need of some canine admonishment. 

‘Him Indoors’ did copious amounts of research before purchasing the panels, so much so that ‘Her Indoors’ has warned family and acquaintances not to express interest unless they want a detailed andlengthy response. She doesn’t want to become a social outcast. 

‘Him Indoors’ has even got an app on his phone that tells him how much power the panels are generating at any one time. A friend of his also has both panels and an app so they are regularly comparing notes. I guess it’s good for retired men to have a hobby. 

Myself and the apprentice are also interested in renewable energy as this is what powers us. When our energy levels are running low, we have a little snooze in our beds and ideally a snack and we are renewed, ready to go again. 

We also do some solar recharging. We lie in the sunshine until we are fully topped up and then we move, panting, into the shade. We are very flexible and can do this both indoors and outside. And I don’t want to be ungentlemanly, but Bear could probably power a small wind turbine of an evening...

Us dogs are also good at recycling. The apprentice takes ordinary household objects and turns them into toys. Plastic plant pots, gardening gloves, discarded envelopes and packaging of all descriptions, even decorative stones from the garden can all be suitably repurposed. 

We are also skilled at making impromptu beds out of anything left lying around. A pile of dirty washing, a dust sheet, some bark chippings in the garden, can all, with some rearrangement, be made into a suitable napping location. 

And, unlike people, we don’t insist on having highly processed drinking water. Well, to be fair, I do, but I’m quite unusual in that department. Bear is happy to drink rainwater, puddle water and water from communal drinking bowls. Which just goes to prove how environmentally friendly we dogs are with or without solar panels.