We love Crunchy Critters.

No, I'm not talking about fried calamari.

I'm talking about this great toy from the folks at Ruffin' It who combine the latest, feel-good eco-friendly approach with animal instinct and a dash of good fun.

Check it out: you can take those ubiquitous plastic water bottles that you used for your 'anytime, anywhere water fountain'....and put them in this contraption that is actually tough enough for a bulldog game of rough and tumble....and then throw the bottles in the recycling bin when they are 'crunched out'. Then...repeat. Human water -> dog water -> dog toy -> recycling -> someone's picnic fork. A lovely life cycle.

We like the furry tail for added fun - and it somehow makes the super-tough ballistic nylon body more squirrel-like (although I admit my bulldogs have chewed through more of my luggage than they have through wild squirrels, so maybe there was no need for them to throw in the tail).