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It seems like we receive more bad news about the environment every day. Chances are you've wondered how you impact the environment and what you can do to lessen that impact. When it comes to your pets, there are several things you can do to lessen your pet's footprint. From his toys to his medication, changes to your dog's or cat's lifestyle can help.
Get the Most Out of Your Dog's Toys
When your dog chews through a new toy in a matter of minutes, it's tempting to pick up all the filling and the shell of what once was to toss it into the trash. All you're doing in this situation though is adding to already overflowing landfills. Before you toss your dog's toys into the trash, consider whether there are other ways that you can handle the situation. Are you good at sewing? Why not repair the toy so that your pup can get more use out of it? You can also consider repurposing the "carcass" of the toy into something else that's fun.
Consider your options when your dog has too many toys and you need to clean some of them out as well. Rather than throw out the toys that your dog no longer plays with, consider what kind of condition they're in. Toys that are still safe to play with can be donated to local shelters or dog rescues to give the dogs something to play with while they're waiting for their forever homes.
Keep the Environment in Mind When Walking
One of the biggest ways that you and your pup impact the environment is by taking your daily walks. There are things you can do to lessen that impact. Most importantly, always pick up after your dog. In fact, it's the law in most cities and towns, so always remember to take waste bags with you. When you don't pick up after your dog, the environment breaks down his waste, which may then contaminate local water sources or even make other pups sick.
There are other things you can do to lessen the impact of your walks as well, including staying in your own neighborhood whenever possible. Driving to other locations for your walks means putting vehicle emissions into the air. No matter where you walk, try your best to stay off of the grass and don't let your pet urinate on plants in the area, which can cause them to die. Finally, if you want to do a little extra good deed, pick up any litter that you find while you're walking your dog.
Consider the Impact of Your Pet's Food
Many pet foods are contributing to a poor environment because they don't use sustainable creation methods and often drive hundreds if not thousands of miles to make their way onto store shelves. By paying attention to which foods you're giving your pets and how they're manufactured, you can help to ensure that you're lessening your pet's impact on the environment.
In Europe, human-grade food is becoming more popular for pets because it is not as harmful to the environment. Foods made from chicken, rabbit, or meat byproducts offer the protein and meats that dogs and cats need without impacting the environment as much. It is also a good idea to buy local dog food when you can. Look for independent companies that sell their products in local pet stores. Even if you purchase national brands, look for ones that provide recyclable packaging, deliver monthly supplies to cut down on fuel emissions, and manufacture their items as ethically as possible.
Give Your Pet Fewer Baths
While it may feel like it is, water is not an infinite resource. Conservation of it is essential for lessening your impact on the environment. How often are you bathing your dog? Doing it more than once a month is likely causing you to use more water than you need to and it may even be harming your pup's skin or coat. Bathing him too often makes it so that the natural oils can't protect him the way they are supposed to. Skip the weekly baths in favor of monthly ones to help your dog's coat remain shiny and lessen the amount of water you're using. If your pet is one who gets particularly stinky, you can always use a product such as Pure and Natural Pet Between Bath Freshener Spray For Dogs to keep him smelling fresh between washes.
Change the Flea and Tick Treatments You Use
Changing the flea and tick treatments that you use for your pets not only protects the environment but can protect your pet's health as well. Traditional flea and tick treatments use pesticides known as organophosphates that can inadvertently cause your pets to become sick. If they can make your pet sick, imagine what they're doing for the environment. In fact, many of them can be compared to common lawn pesticides. That doesn't mean that your dog or cat needs to go without flea or tick prevention, though. Instead of traditional methods, look for non-toxic alternatives. Good ones include electric flea traps or diatomaceous earth. You can also look for all-natural flea and tick sprays.
Above all else, remember that is not just up to you to change the environment. When it comes down to it, individuals have much less of an impact on the environment than big corporations do. The best thing that you can do is to purchase your pet's food, medication, toys, and other supplies from companies that care about the environment and prove it by using sustainable manufacturing and packing methods.
