Skipper, a two and a half year old Italian greyhound/English toy spaniel mix, didn't fancy a career as a spokesdog for one of the greenest homes in the nation when he was abandoned on the streets of Puerto Rico. Then he was desperately trying to find food. And he wasn't alone. Because Puerto Rico doesn't have a pet registration law, there's little or no spaying or neutering and the economy is poor, scores of dogs roam the streets scavenging garbage and drinking from puddles.

Luckily a representative from Animals in Need, based in Kingston, Washington, discovered Skipper's plight, rescued him and brought him to the United States. Skipper then got the biggest break of his life. Dave and Anna Porter discovered him on Petfinder.com and adopted him.

The Porters aren't your average pet owners or even your average home owners. In 2006 they decided to transform their 100-year-old beach house on Warm Beach in Stanwood, Washington, into an environmentally-responsible and energy-saving home that would meet their needs now and in the future. Because this home was destined to meet the strictest green home guidelines, they wanted to share it with others so they committed to making their project a demonstration home for all things green. Even Skipper.

He's a recycled, green dog. So he became the spokesdog for their new home dubbed “Going Green at the Beach.” On the home's website, www.goinggreenatthebeach.com, Skipper offers readers green living tips like “don't be a water hog” and “be battery-wise, keep batteries out of the landfill.” He wears a hard hat and a tool belt when dispensing green tips and more than 10,000 people have browsed the web site and most likely read Skipper's suggestions.

When the Porter's home was completed last October, people were invited to tour the home on three consecutive week-ends. Twelve hundred did so. For the tours Skipper wore his volunteer vest just like the other tour guides and he proudly accompanied guests throughout the home.

Even though the house is completed and fewer visitors request tours now, Skipper's work still isn't done. He goes with Anna Porter to speak in schools, telling students what he's learned about taking care of the earth. Writing a book may be in his future. He's not sure if that will interfere with his naps. Then there's his page on Dogster.com where he blogs. You can visit it at www.dogster.com/dogs/740772.

“Even though Skipper is an only dog, he's still very humble and the fame hasn't gone to his head,” says Anna Porter. “Skipper plays well with both people and other animals and he's very sweet.”

Anna Porter hopes more people will recycle dogs, because Skipper's life as a green dog has success written all over it.

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