Consumers and manufacturers alike are doing more and more to help preserve our environment by producing and purchasing eco friendly products.  To be able to recycle products that would otherwise end up in a dump buried under our  soil is fantastic.  Additionally, manufacturers are using raw materials that are naturally grown on our own soil.  Some companies, like MatsMatsMats.com, go as far as to plant trees when certain products are purchased.

I recently went to the production facility that is used to break down used tires to make different products.  The process is extensive, but well worth it.  Our playground surfacing, gym flooring in fitness centers, doggy daycare flooring and much more are using these recycled rubber products.  You probably don’t know this, but when you go into your local gym you are standing on recycled car tires.  It’s amazing what we can with a tire which used to be thrown away in dumps.

There are several dog flooring options, but lately everyone in the dog day care business and dog agility world seem to be turning to the rolled rubber flooring as their preferred choice of flooring.  It has been something of a revolution in the business. The material is easy to roll out and install.  When used with the sealant it is impenetrable to water.  It provides cushioning for the dogs paws and I have not had a single complaint about scratches.  In short, rolled rubber makes wonderful doggy daycare flooring.

The material is used in gyms and other facilities like ski resorts because of its durability.  Made of 100% recycled rubber where over 85% comes from tires it is very environmentally friendly. The process to produce the material is lengthy to say the least, but still quite affordable.  

So, if you are in the market for doggy daycare flooring, agility flooring, rubber gym flooring or any other place that might benefit from this eco-friendly, durable, versitale product you’re welcome for the news flash.

As a sales representative for a mat company, I have had many inquires into our Rolled Rubber product and it’s many uses.  It is one of my favorite products to sell as it is tough as nails and has many applications.  I originally sold it as rubber gym flooring for large commercial gyms to residential home use.  Since then I have found many uses for the product and a lot of times it is the customer who lets me know why it works well for them.

One of my favorites and largest growing uses is for doggy day care and agility facilities.  In the past there wasn’t a good material for doggy daycare flooring.  Since then the word has spread that this is the product to use.  It can be lose laid for people who are just leasing a spot or glued down for permanent applications.  For agility the thicker material is usually used and for day care type facilities a thinner version may be used with a sealer application for easy clean-up.

I am now starting to sell to; golf courses for their bridges, ramps for better traction, ski lodges for their work stations, and patios to protect them from weather/especially snow. The list goes on and on and is still growing.

And to know that this is made from recycled car tires is the icing on the cake. Just think about all the tires you have gone through in your lifetime and that we have found such great uses for them.  Rather then taking them to a junkyard and wasting space. The material is used for other products as well, like playground tiles and much, much more. Too much to list at the moment. What a fantastic product.

That’s right, a Pennsylvania animal rights group bought Michael Vick’s house and transformed it into a rehabilitation center for dogs.

The newly opened Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs in rural Surry County is currently the home for nine dogs, and five more expected in the weeks ahead, said Thayne, founder and chief executive officer of Dogs Deserve Better Inc., which runs the center.

What does any of this have to do with mats?  Dogs Deserve Better received a $10,000 grant to make the house more dog-friendly. They installed rubber flooring, added a dog door, bought tarps and fencing for yard areas so some dogs could stay outside during the day. All of the dogs sleep inside at night.  The carpeting has been removed from the living room and master bedroom floors and replaced with sealed rubber flooring, frequently used in veterinarian offices and as doggy daycare flooring.

This used to be the home of Michael Vick’s dog-fighting operation called Bad Newz Kennels. Vick was at the peak of his career with the Atlanta Falcons when he pleaded guilty to federal felony conspiracy charges related to the dog-fighting ring in August of 2007.  He served almost two years in federal prison, followed by two months of in-home confinement, before he began rebuilding his football career as a Philadelphia Eagle.  Michael Vick is now the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles and is supposed to be one of the top performing quarterbacks in the NFL this year.

Dogs need their exercise too!  Recycled rubber flooring rolls are commonly found on the floors throughout health clubs / gyms, but it is also often used to create durable and easy to clean doggy daycare flooring that is safe for your pets.  This dog safe flooring was exactly what a new doggy daycare facility in Ohio purchased from MatsMatsMats.com.  It was easy to install and they were so happy with the end result.  In fact, they were so pleased that MatsMatsMats.com was asked to be a guest on a local morning radio show discussing the grand opening. 

So, on May 7, 2011 Alex Miller, A MatsMatsMats.com sales representative, was interviewed during the Saturday morning “A Firm Foundation Show with Rick and Jackie” heard on AM1470. Among other things, he discussed the rubber flooring supplied to Pocos Playhouse (an of-leash daycare environment for dogs in Ohio). The broadcast was done live from Pocos and Alex Miller called into the show and spoke to the hosts for about 25 minutes.

To hear the actual interview podcast go to:

http://www.1065theticket.com/includes/news_items/6/1051/firm_foundation_podcast_05072011_segment6.mp3 

http://www.1065theticket.com/includes/news_items/6/1051/firm_foundation_podcast_05072011_segment7.mp3