Every day is an opportunity for parents to make a difference with continuous sustainable habits, even if the annual Earth Day celebration on April 22 is a great reminder to show our planet some well-deserved love.
Pet owners are motivated by the top-down developments in the pet sector to be more sensitive to our desire for more carefully manufactured products. According to the author, pet toys, bedding, and clothes manufactured from post-consumer materials are now more widely available than they once were. Additionally, goods created from quickly renewable materials like wool and bamboo are excellent.
Every small thing pet parents do to protect the environment benefits society as a whole. In reality, it’s probable that you currently carry out a number of crucial actions that are more beneficial to the environment than some of the alternatives available. This entails picking environmentally friendly products, reducing one’s carbon footprint by buying supplies in bulk, or deciding to adopt a rescue animal and abiding by best practices for spaying and neutering pets in order to reduce pet overpopulation.
Prepared to save the environment? We have compiled a list of a few additional suggestions you can use without completely changing your daily routine for your pets.
1.Use Eco-Friendly Poop Bags:
According to her, dog feces contains extra nitrogen, phosphate, and pet food leftovers that are harmful to the health of natural regions. Use biodegradable poop bags or, even better, paper that is 100 percent biodegradable and compostable if you are unable to scoop. Also, stop using clay litter because cats really don’t care what goes in their boxes. It frequently requires strip mining for production, and after use, it occupies a lot of landfill space. Therefore, replacing the litter in your cat’s box with recycled paper, pine pellets, or wheat litter is simple.
Consider creating a compost pile for your pet’s feces if you love being outside. The resulting humus can still be used as fertilizer for gardens of non-edible plants, but it must be used separately from conventional compost and according to a specific procedure.
2.Keep your Cat Inside:
It’s only natural for your cat to sneak outside and hunt the neighborhood’s smaller animals. Still, it’s best to keep Fluffy inside to protect the wild bird population and your cat’s health, as going outdoors puts them at a higher risk of parasites. To prevent your cat from harassing fledgling birds, keep your cat indoors, particularly in the late spring and early summer.
3.Keep the Pet Clean and Groomed:
When you do not brush and trim the pet’s fur regularly, it may get matted or tangled, and you will need to bathe them more frequently with a good conditioner to keep the fur healthy. As you are aware, bathing your dog means using a lot of water then a dryer later on to dry the coat. Instead, when you brush the pet regularly and use curved dog grooming scissors to safely trim the hair, it will help keep the coat healthy and reduce the bath sessions, which will save a lot of water and electricity.
4.Use Natural Bug Repellents:
Bugs will find you whether you’re gardening in the backyard or relaxing on the porch of a cozy cabin. If you require a repellent spray or patch, take into account DEET-free, adequately diluted essential oil-based products that have passed pet safety testing. Some people burn dried sage or cattail seed heads as additional smoke-smudging choices. Ensure your dogs and cats have the necessary parasite and insect control vaccinations.
5.Choose Healthy Food Options for the Pet that is Good for the Planet:
Although many better options are available for cautious and knowledgeable pet parents, the pet food industry is complicated, contentious, and frequently simply confusing.
You can give your dog a selection of organic pet food, kibble, and treats because organic ingredients are generally seen to be better for the environment. Pet food with the label “natural” is another option. Still, it is less regulated than food with the label “certified organic,” so you should read the packaging carefully to make the best decision.
The vegetarian diet is another alternative for dogs (and only dogs). Dogs have been proven to thrive on plant-based diets. However, cats are obligate carnivores and require meat in their diet. Reducing your dog’s meat intake or having your pet participate in Meatless Mondays is another option that should be considered with your veterinarian because meat production is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, you may reduce the carbon footprint of your dog right in your own kitchen by making homemade pet food from all-natural materials. Brown rice, veggies, and chicken are all used in this meal. These types of dog treats are easy to create at home if you feel like baking your own and want to reduce your consumption of processed foods.
6.Clean Home with Eco-Friendly Products:
There are several eco-friendly cleaning brands available nowadays that provide a selection of solutions without the use of harsh chemicals and solvents that run down the drain and end up in our rivers, streams, and oceans, ranging from all-purpose spray to carpet cleaning. These natural brands utilize recyclable packaging quite often. You can even use the water later on to water your plants as it is not harmful or toxic. The best aspect is that these items can be used around dogs without risk.
Alternatives include vinegar and baking soda, both of which you probably already have in your home. Baking soda and vinegar may be used to make your own cleaner, which is an excellent non-toxic abrasive for cleaning surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom.
The Bottom Line:
Even if not all of these suggestions match every lifestyle, keep in mind that every little amount counts. Living with a furry friend will increase your appreciation for natural elements such as the sun, a breath of fresh air, woods, forest, etc. Pets are a wonderful reminder that we are all connected to this nature and the planet that we need to conserve.
