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In honor of Earth Day, here are some ways you can help the environment and reduce the carbon footprint of you and your beloved fur family.
1. Recycle - Recycle used blankets, towels, sheets, pillows, etc and donate them to your local animal shelter. You wouldn't believe the need that your shelter has for these items. Don't forget to wash all the items first. The best way is to use "free and gentle" laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets to ensure that the animals don't have an allergic reaction to the detergent used for cleaning.
Also, make sure you recycle your pet's food cans and bags. Opt for buying larger bags of dog food when you can to reduce packaging materials used. A great thing to buy is an air tight food container to keep your pet's food fresh.
2. Scoop the Poop - Clean up your dog's poop with biodegradable poop bags instead of plastic bags from the grocery store. Curious why you should clean up your dog's poop? Click here to learn more.
For the kitty, go for Eco-friendly cat litters, avoiding brands with mined minerals.
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Also, don't forget to spay and neuter your pets to reduce the unwanted animal population. Many shelters and rescues offer reduced-cost spay and neuter certificates if the cost is keeping you from fixing your pet during these hard economic times. Call your local shelter or Humane Society to see if they can help you reduce the number of unwanted animals and keep your pets healthier.
4. Reuse - Cut down on paper products—clean up with rags or recycled paper towels.
5. Water - Give your pet filtered tap water instead of bottled or tap water to drink. If you must use bottled water then be sure to recycle the containers that you use. Why use filtered water instead of tap water? Click here to learn more. A great filter to use is PUR.
6. Grooming - Go Green! Use earth-friendly pet shampoos and grooming products whenever possible.
7. Living Green - There are lots of great Eco-friendly dog and cat products out there (leashes, collars, toys, cleaning products, treats, etc). You can find some great ones here, here and here.
8. Garden Delights - If you have space, consider growing your own garden for you and your pets. Have a small space? Then consider a container garden. Pets love vegetables. Some great one you can feed your pets are carrots, lettuce and green beans. Before using insecticides, research mulching and other gardening practices that can help reduce the amount of insecticides and herbicides you might need.
Today is a day to appreciate the Earth and all it's wonderfulness. It's also a day to learn and act to help keep it a safe place for all living things, including your beloved animal friends. Let's all do our part today and everyday to help protect and preserve this beautiful place we call home - Mother Earth.
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