Ways to Reduce Your Pet's Eco-footprint

By Diane
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Pets can be great for our health. If you have ever laughed at your cat's goofy antics or gotten up off the couch to walk your dog, you are well on your way to enjoying the health benefits of pet ownership. Have you ever stopped to think about how your pet's everyday needs affect the health of our planet? Once you bring your new friend home, here are a few suggestions to help you reduce their eco “pawprint!”

1. Invest in high quality food. While you may look at the price of premium pet foods and go into sticker shock, in my opinion they are well worth the money! You will feed your pet significantly less of it and produce significantly less waste as a result. Look for a food that has two to three protein sources listed in the top five ingredients and choose whole grains like brown rice or oatmeal over wheat or corn.

2. Make your own treats. Making homemade pet treats is easy and much more nutritious than many of the options currently on the market. By making your own, you reduce packaging waste significantly!

3. Don't forget to recycle! If you choose to use canned food, make sure to rinse and recycle the cans. You can also recycle treat boxes if your recycling company accepts paperboard.

4. Be picky about toys. There are a number of companies on the market that offer organic and natural pet toys. Items made without artificial dyes are better for your pet AND the planet. You can also choose rawhide treats that are made locally in the USA which cuts back on fuels used for transportation.

5. Choose natural bath products. Pets get dirty! They play hard and love to roll in smelly things which means they need bathing on occasion. Choose bath products made from natural and organic ingredients. This helps keep your pet healthy and prevents harsh chemicals from ending up in our water supply!

Pets bring joy to our lives on a daily basis and it’s our responsibility to make healthy choices for them. By choosing high quality, natural products and shopping with a purpose you can help reduce your pets' carbon paw print one step at a time!

Do you have a pet at home? Have you ever considered ways to reduce their carbon footprint?