Sustainable Pet Ownership: 7 Ways You and Your Pet Can Help the Planet

Sustainable Pet Ownership: 7 Ways You and Your Pet Can Help the Planet

Introduction

The love you have for your pet could well extend to Mother Nature and the natural world. Nevertheless, pet ownership tends to involve a high level of consumerism. From dog waste bags to pet-food packaging, the goods and resources involved in keeping your pet well-fed, healthy, and happy make up a long list.

However, it’s not all bad news. According to research, over half of all pet owners would pay more for eco-friendly or ethically sourced pet products. As a pet owner, you have a lot of power to reduce waste and decrease your pet’s ecological impact. Even better, making small yet impactful changes can be simpler than you might expect. 

Ready to get started? Check out these seven easy tips to go green with your pet today.

1. Adopt and don’t shop

Sadly, millions of animals enter pet shelters every year. If you don’t yet have a pet, consider adopting rather than buying from a breeder. Adoption helps address overpopulation and the issue of overcrowded animal rescue centres. In turn, this can lessen the overall demand for resources and the burden on the environment.

2. Aim for sustainable meals

Pet food uses a lot of packaging. A lot of this isn’t recyclable. Pet food also impacts the environment in terms of the way it’s manufactured and the ingredients used. 

Use the following tips to make mealtimes more sustainable:

• Recycle - Recycle as much as possible. Cans, plastics, and other packaging can all be recycled. 

• Buy smart - Try to purchase food and treats only from local businesses with low food miles and companies committed to sustainability. 

• Go natural - By and large, choosing natural or organic products free of pesticides and other chemical ingredients can also lower your pet’s environmental footprint.

• Prepare your own - Where possible, prepare your own pet food from scratch. Red meat and fish tend to be the most resource-intensive proteins. Buy ingredients in bulk and shop at zero-waste grocery stores. Talk to your vet about recipes so you’re not overfeeding your pet while providing them with all the nutrients they need. 

3. Simplify cleaning and grooming

Simply your cleaning and grooming regime. You’ll save time and money, and help out the environment too.

• Fewer products - Your dog might not need all those shampoos, conditioners, and other products you’re using. What’s more, the chemical ingredients could be harmful to your pet. With each bath, these chemicals are washed into waterways and the ocean with unknown impacts. 

• Natural products - A rinse with warm water might be sufficient for your dog. In some cases, dogs with skin or other conditions should not be bathed at all. If bathing is suitable for your dog, choose natural shampoos with recyclable packaging. Your dog might end up with less irritated skin. 

• Make your own - Alternatively, you can make your own natural pet shampoo using ingredients like castile soap, vinegar, and olive oil. 

• Save water - When bathing your pet, collect the water and use it on your lawn. If you use a natural shampoo, it most probably won’t harm your lawn. Dry shampoos eliminate the need to use water. If you have fish, don’t discard your aquarium water when doing a water change. Use it to water your garden instead.

Always check with your vet for advice before switching products or if you have any doubts.

4. DIY toys and sustainable playtime

There’s nothing wrong with giving your dog store-bought toys, but why not add some DIY toys and sustainable playtime into the mix? You’ll save money and help out the environment too.

• Cats - Your cat, for example, might get more enjoyment out of an afternoon’s play with a cardboard box than with a set of new and expensive toys. Paper towel rolls and balls of wool or twine can also be great fun for cats.

• Dogs - For dogs, time spent playing at the park, out for a hike, or along the beach for a stroll and swim would be sustainable play. These activities would probably make your dog happier than getting them a new box of plastic toys.

5. Shop smart 

Choose quality when buying beds, leashes, toys, and other accessories. Spending more now on higher quality products could mean cost savings due to less frequent replacement. 

• Preserve and recycle - Take good care of your dog and cat’s items so they last longer. Recycle unwanted items by giving them to an animal shelter.

• Natural materials - Opt for pet toys made out of hemp, hessian, and organic cotton. Avoid plastics where possible as they have a bigger environmental footprint. 

• Swap and exchange - Last but not least, you can also join local buy-nothing groups and exchange swappable pet items where appropriate. 

6. Spay and neuter

Sustainable pet ownership also involves spaying or neutering if you’re not intending to have your pet reproduce. Spaying and neutering prevent unwanted births and reduce overcrowding in pet shelters. 

It can decrease the number of feral and outdoor cats that prey on local wildlife and threaten diversity. Best of all, spayed and neutered cats and dogs tend to live longer and enjoy a better quality of life. 

7. Dealing with poop the green way

Use a pooper scooper or waste scoop kit to pick up after your pet rather than relying on single-use plastic bags. You can place your pet’s poop straight into the trash. If not, choose compostable plastic bags, which break down faster than the regular types. 

In terms of cat litter, opt for compostable pellets made from natural materials. Recycled newspaper, wheat, wood chips, corn, sawdust, or pine are better than the traditional clay-based (sodium bentonite) types, which are extracted using strip-mining processes. 

Avoid flushing cat waste down the toilet as it can impact marine life. Also, don’t leave dog waste uncollected as it can enter the waterways and spread disease.

Conclusion

As a pet owner, you can take simple steps towards reducing your impact on the environment. First, adopt and don’t shop. Look for natural pet food options from companies committed to eco-friendly practices. 

Similarly, explore natural alternatives for bathing and grooming. Make your own toys. Buy quality and natural accessories and pet products. Always spay and neuter your pet, and try to use reusable methods for collecting pet poop.

Sustainability is about fulfilling today’s needs without compromising the future. By making these changes, you and your pet will be making your best effort to protect our planet and its future.