As Americans become more receptive to the idea of adopting everyday habits that are friendly to the environment, more and more pet-owners are finding ways to make their dogs and cats more eco-friendly as well.
Some easy tips for raising greener pets are:
- Dispose of pet waste properly. Use biodegradable or paper poop bags and cat pan liners.
- Make sure you use pet products that do not contain chemicals that could be harmful to the environment such as (a.) organic food and treats that don’t have hormones or other chemicals that could be toxic and (b.) shampoos, flea treatments, etc. that do not contain phosphates, sulfates or other harmful chemicals.
- Stay away from cheap plastic toys that do not last long and that your pet could ingest. Stick to durable recycled toys made of tires or natural hemp rope.
- Conserve water by bathing your pet less often and using bath wipes between baths for face and paw cleaning. For bathing, using a sprayer hose wastes less water than filling the tub.
- If your dog enjoys nature walks as much as you do, make sure he sticks to the trail and doesn’t disturb the plants and other delicate ecosystems. Even something as seemingly benign such as running on grass can cause bare spots and soil erosion over time. Keep your cats indoors or on a leash as well – even if you live in an apartment in the middle of the city, cats can wreak all kinds of havoc among the bird and squirrel populations.
There is a wealth of literature and some excellent web sites available now to help responsible pet-owners get started. This is a good one to have bookmarked:
Green Paws
Green Paws, a green living initiative by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), is a great place to get valuable information about chemicals to avoid, reading product labels, and protecting your pets and family from toxic substances.
The following links are for earth-friendly product online stores that carry everything from hemp stuffed and rope toys to earth-friendly pet beds and biodegradable poop bags and cat pan liners.
EcoAnimal
Great Green Pet
The Big Bad Wolf
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