K9 Kingdom assisting in 'hairy' situations such as recent oil spill

One hairy situation can lead to the solution of another.

K9 Kingdom has a never-ending supply of dog hair

at its dog-care business in Pine, so this month, the business is shipping off the hair to a San Francisco-based nonprofit that turns the hair into natural booms and hair mats to help manage oil spills.

"It's a really easy way for us to help locally for a really massive problem," says Christin Bummer, owner of K9 Kingdom. "We have buckets full of hair we just put in the Dumpster."

Matter of Trust is an organization that concentrates on manmade surplus, natural surplus and eco-educational programs. One of its initiatives--creating oil mats and booms from hair and recycled nylons--has expanded in response to the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The April 20 explosion of a BP drill rig in the Gulf and leaking well has released millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf. Salons

, groomers and wool farmers from across the country stepped into action, and according to the Matter of Trust website, the organization currently has received about 500,000 pounds of hair from across the country.

Kim Slater, of Shaler, has been a groomer for seven years and says the idea to participate in the program couldn't have come at a better time for the pups.

"Dogs with a double coat are shedding more hair, and this time of year, a lot of people have dogs shaved (for the summer)," Slater says.

K9 Kingdom has about 60 canines come through the salon each week producing 15 to 20 gallons of hair per day.

Bummer says the facility recently placed "a pretty high priority on best practices," which include water conservation, recycling and using recycled materials so she didn't hesitate to join a program that would recycle the pet hair as well.

"It seemed such an obvious tie-in for us since there's marine and animal life involved," Bummer says.

"It seems a good way to help out. Excess dog hair is always a problem, and this is a fun way to turn a problem into a solution."

K9 Kingdom plans to continue participating in the program through the end of May or beginning of June, depending on the need.

"This is a very busy this time of year, there's never a shortage of hair," Bummer says.

For more information on the program, visit www.matteroftrust.org or contact K9 Kingdom at www.myk9kingdom.com or call 724-935-3647.