There are plenty of things you can do as a pet owner to show your furry "little ones" that you care about the environment. After all, it's their planet, too.
Reduce. It might seem obvious, but buying pet food and other pet products in bulk saves you extra trips to the store and avoids needless plastic packaging or cardboard boxes that end up in the local landfill anyway.
Reducing shouldn't end there, though. As Bob Barker always said, "Help control the pet population, have your pets spayed or neutered." Every year millions of cats and dogs are euthanized around the world. This is the devastating reality, but it's also avoidable.
Reuse. Why buy plastic toys (many of which are laden with chemicals) when you can find common household items for your pets to play with? If you've ever seen a cat with a ball of yarn, or a dog chase a stick, you know that it doesn't take something with a $10 price tag to entertain an animal for hours.
Recycle. When shopping for your pet, look for items that use the most recycled materials. Many companies now offer products made from natural fibers, such as hemp or organic cotton, and some are even packaged in Earth-friendly materials like biodegradable cardboard or recycled paper (the higher the percentage of "post-consumer" materials, the better). Buying these products supports environmentally aware manufacturers, encouraging more companies to move towards sustainable packaging and natural pet products.
Get a "green" lawn. Most of us know that plants and trees are great for absorbing the nasty (and destructive) carbon dioxide churned out into the atmosphere every day by our cars and power plants. What you may not know is that there are plants and herbs that you can use for landscaping, and that are pet friendly and healthy for them to eat.
Donate print newspapers. For sanitary reasons, animal rescues and wildlife rehabilitation centers use discarded newspapers to line their cages. This is both cheap and efficient. Contact the Humane Society or SPCA International to see if there are any shelters of rehabilitation centers in your area in need of old newspapers. If nothing else, the puppies at the shelter get a chance to catch up on their Marmaduke.
Visit a dog park. As the population of dog owners has boomed, so have the number of dog parks in the United States (use the PetMD Finder to find dog parks in your area). It's like a playground for them, except they can't go on the swings.
Adopt a pet. Adopting a dog or cat is the ultimate way to recycle. Not only will you get a loveable best friend that cares for you, but you save at least one animal from being euthanized. Find a reputable animal shelter in your area and save a life.
About PetMD®
PetMD® is the leading online resource focused on pet health and wellness management. PetMD® was founded to inspire pet owners to provide an ever-increasing quality of life for their pets and to connect pet owners with veterinarians through a trusted, comprehensive website. PetMD® is headquartered in Miami, Florida. More information is available at www.petmd.com.
Reduce. It might seem obvious, but buying pet food and other pet products in bulk saves you extra trips to the store and avoids needless plastic packaging or cardboard boxes that end up in the local landfill anyway.
Reducing shouldn't end there, though. As Bob Barker always said, "Help control the pet population, have your pets spayed or neutered." Every year millions of cats and dogs are euthanized around the world. This is the devastating reality, but it's also avoidable.
Reuse. Why buy plastic toys (many of which are laden with chemicals) when you can find common household items for your pets to play with? If you've ever seen a cat with a ball of yarn, or a dog chase a stick, you know that it doesn't take something with a $10 price tag to entertain an animal for hours.
Recycle. When shopping for your pet, look for items that use the most recycled materials. Many companies now offer products made from natural fibers, such as hemp or organic cotton, and some are even packaged in Earth-friendly materials like biodegradable cardboard or recycled paper (the higher the percentage of "post-consumer" materials, the better). Buying these products supports environmentally aware manufacturers, encouraging more companies to move towards sustainable packaging and natural pet products.
Get a "green" lawn. Most of us know that plants and trees are great for absorbing the nasty (and destructive) carbon dioxide churned out into the atmosphere every day by our cars and power plants. What you may not know is that there are plants and herbs that you can use for landscaping, and that are pet friendly and healthy for them to eat.
Donate print newspapers. For sanitary reasons, animal rescues and wildlife rehabilitation centers use discarded newspapers to line their cages. This is both cheap and efficient. Contact the Humane Society or SPCA International to see if there are any shelters of rehabilitation centers in your area in need of old newspapers. If nothing else, the puppies at the shelter get a chance to catch up on their Marmaduke.
Visit a dog park. As the population of dog owners has boomed, so have the number of dog parks in the United States (use the PetMD Finder to find dog parks in your area). It's like a playground for them, except they can't go on the swings.
Adopt a pet. Adopting a dog or cat is the ultimate way to recycle. Not only will you get a loveable best friend that cares for you, but you save at least one animal from being euthanized. Find a reputable animal shelter in your area and save a life.
About PetMD®
PetMD® is the leading online resource focused on pet health and wellness management. PetMD® was founded to inspire pet owners to provide an ever-increasing quality of life for their pets and to connect pet owners with veterinarians through a trusted, comprehensive website. PetMD® is headquartered in Miami, Florida. More information is available at www.petmd.com.