Pet Owners Can Donate Fur to Help Clean Up Oil Spills

If you’re a pet owner in New York, you already know the struggle. You brush your dog, clean your couch, vacuum your car… and somehow there’s still fur on your black pants.

But here’s something you probably didn’t know: that pile of pet hair could actually help protect New York’s waterways.

A nonprofit called Matter of Trust collects pet fur and turns it into a tool used to clean up oil spills.

How Pet Fur Helps Protect New York’s Waterways

It sounds strange how it works.

Hair naturally attracts oil. It’s actually “adsorbent,” meaning oil sticks to it. That same greasy buildup you notice between washes? That’s exactly why hair is so effective at pulling oil out of water.

Organizations use donated fur to create mats and long tube-like barriers called booms. These are placed in waterways and drainage areas to soak up oil before it spreads.

Your Pet’s Shedding Could Actually Help Clean Oil Spills

New York has thousands of miles of rivers, lakes, and streams, and they’re all vulnerable to pollution.

When oil enters the water, even in small amounts, it can harm wildlife, contaminate drinking water sources, and damage ecosystems. That’s why simple, sustainable solutions like this are gaining attention.

Groups like Matter of Trust focus not just on large-scale disasters, but also on everyday environmental protection.

How New Yorkers Can Donate Pet Fur

If your dog or cat sheds like crazy, you can actually put that fur to good use.

Here’s how it works because you can’t just send it in randomly. The organization manages donations based on need. You’ll need to sign up online to see if they’re currently accepting fur. Pet hair should be clean, dry, and at least about 2 inches long.

They’ll direct you to where and how to send it if there’s demand.

Turning Everyday Waste Into a Real Solution

This whole idea started after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, when someone realized hair could help absorb oil from water. That one idea turned into a nationwide effort that continues today.

Because if you're a pet owner, you probably have plenty of pet hair lying around.

So the next time you’re pulling fur off your black leggings or cleaning out your vacuum, just know… that mess could actually help protect the places we love.