Pets take up a huge portion of your life, and play an integral part in your everyday routine. That means that if you’re trying to live your daily life in a way which benefits the environment, then how you manage your pets will play a significant part in an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Here are some top tips for becoming a more eco-friendly pet owner.
Avoid Plastic Poop Bags
If you’re always making sure to pick up after your dog during a walk, then you’re already being eco-friendly. Nevertheless, you can reduce your impact on the environment further by avoiding the mainstream plastic poop bags, which will end up in landfill.
Instead, look for eco-friendly bag options—such as plastic, which is recyclable—or you could look into alternative methods for disposing of your dog’s poop. This could be using a reusable scooper, which you can use to flush your dog’s business at home instead, or you could even try to bury it in an open outside space to avoid bags altogether.
Seek Eco-Friendly Suppliers
Whether it’s for your pet food, supplies, or toys, doing your research into environmentally aware companies will help to support this mindset. You may be able to find toys made from recycled (or recyclable) materials or those which are sustainable, as opposed to mainstream plastic pet toys.
You may also want to see what you already have at home that could double as a pet toy to avoid you buying anything more.
Find a Local Vet
The closer your pet’s vet is to you, the less of an impact you will have on the environment through traveling. If you can find a vet that is in walking distance, this is perfect for reducing your carbon footprint, which would otherwise be spent driving long distances to a vet’s office.
Alternatively, if you do have to drive, look for a local vet to limit your driving distance. You should research the best local vets in your state, such as a veterinarian in Allen.
Check the Ingredients in Your Pet Food
Whether it’s your pet treats or their main source of food, checking your ingredients can help you to avoid environmentally damaging ingredients, or those sourced without the environment in mind. This can help you to shop more mindfully for your pet.
Consider Adopting
There are many pets that are in need of a new loving home. Adopting a dog or cat instead of buying a pedigree animal, which relies on breeding, helps to reduce the environmental impact of using a pet breeder.
Change Up Your Cat Litter
The used cat litter you dispose of can have a negative impact on the environment, depending on what it is made from. A lot of mainstream brands can contain materials such as clay, which can end up overfilling landfills.
Instead, seek out eco-friendly litter brands that have the environment in mind, or even consider making your ownfrom wood shavings or used newspaper.
In Closing
There’s no doubt that becoming more eco-aware when caring for your pet can benefit both you and your animal, as well as the environment. You can help to avoid your pet coming into contact with harsh chemicals or destructive materials, and you can also live a more positive lifestyle knowing that you’re making an environmental difference.
