May Partner Spotlight: Pacific Natural Veterinary Products

Pacific Veterinary Products, a Hood River-based dog supplement company, generously offered to donate one percent of sales to Columbia Riverkeeper.

May Partner Spotlight: Pacific Natural Veterinary Products

Pacific Veterinary Products, a Hood River-based dog supplement company, generously offered to donate one percent of sales to Columbia Riverkeeper. As a supporter of clean water, the owner, Dave Bookman, believes it is important to protect the water quality:

I have a personal objective to pass on what I’ve learned about environmental stewardship to the next generation so that our children receive it in same or better condition than we did when we were brought into this world.

Dog Mountain, photo by Dave Bookman.
How did you learn about Riverkeeper? 

The 2016 oil train fire that really got my attention to Riverkeeper’s mission of protecting, restoring, and caring for the Columbia River. That, and Riverkeeper’s involvement on the Hanford Advisory Board. I was totally unaware of the range of environmental challenges impacting the river and its connected communities. But then I found out that we have a grassroots organization that is keeping an environmental watch on our lawmakers and corporations, and this was the best way for me to stay informed and involved. It got me thinking about how I could make my own contribution in protecting the water quality of the River.   

What is your connection to the River?

Over the years, with my Boy Scout Leave No Trace and providing service to others ethics firmly embedded in my head, I wondered how I could transform my current way of life into one, which joins all of this together. It turned out to be clean water.

Why you support Riverkeeper? 

We chose Riverkeeper because of its mission to protect and restore the water quality of the Columbia River and also because its expertise with environmental laws and gaining public participation. 

What is Pacific Natural Veterinary Products' connection to the Columbia River?

Generations of salmon that return to the Columbia River each year, all of our products will be formulated with a salmon component and this is deliberate.

We want to build a connection between the people and the dogs who use our products to the Columbia, so can extend the sustainability ethic beyond the current reach of the Riverkeeper.

We do this by dedicating a portion of our sales to the Columbia Riverkeeper, so that everyone who buys our products has some skin in the game. Then we report back via our website and Facebook pages on our progress in supporting Riverkeeper initiative. The end goal is to further expand Riverkeeper’s membership by attracting a new set of direct-donors, and to open a second channel of indirect donations from sales of our salmon-based products. 

What would you like to share with fellow Riverkeeper members looking to take action?

Small acts and contributions, when multiplied by lots of people, can transform our world. We know this because we live it every day. I would like say that we should also keep in mind Anna Lappé’s message in promoting a more fair, sustainable and healthy food system that protects our environment, promotes health and provides quality jobs because I think it applies to our pets as well as us humans:

Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world that you want.

So, keep fighting the good fight. Donate what you can, each year, to Riverkeeper. Take a look at other aspects of your daily living and see how little tweaks can help reinforce your practice of sustainability ethics. Look for products with corporate ethics that parallel your own. And do what you can to pass on what you’ve learned to the next generation of grass-roots environmental activists. Every little bit helps us all make a difference.

Treats for clean water

Pacific Natural Veterinary Products is offering some fun rewards Columbia Riverkeeper members including a 10 percent discount code, drawings, and a photo contest.

Meet Riverkeeper Dogs
Meeka, 3, rescue mix, Meeka loves adventuring along the tributaries of the Columbia, especially the Deschutes River
Emily's Dog
Meeka

Meeka, 3, rescue mix: Meeka loves adventuring along the tributaries of the Columbia, especially the Deschutes River.

Lola, Kelley Point Park
Sandy's Dog
Lola

Lola, 5, Border Collie mix from Baja Mexico: Lola loves hiking and swimming. Kelley Point Park is one of her favorite spots to visit. 

Willie Nelson
Liz's Dog
Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson, age 3, poodle mix: Wille's favorite spot on the Columbia is the Hook on the Hood River Waterfront.

Choco, 5, mutt, loves The Spit, in Hood River.
Ubaldo's Dog
Choco

Choco, 5, pure mutt: Choco's favorite spot is The Spit in Hood River.

Pete swimming
Lauren's Dog
Pete

Pete, 10, Brittany Spaniel: Pete loves swimming in the Columbia River. Pete hasn't met a spot on the Columbia he won't swim in, most days he can be found in Indian Creek.  

Sula is a 9-year-old Lab Aussie mix. She loves the Hood River right where it meets the Columbia.
Lorri's Dog
Sula

Sula, 9, Lab/Aussie mix: Sula loves the Hood River right where it meets the Columbia.

What is your dog's favorite spot on the Columbia?

Enter Pacific Natural Veterinary Products photo contest today.