How to Green Your Pet Care

7 Ways to Green Your Pet Care

By Doreen Pollack

Going green in all aspects of your life means more than just driving less, buying local, and recycling. We often experience health benefits when we change the products we use or the ways we bring these products or solutions into our lives. Our pets can benefit as well. Since they live in the same environment as we do (same house or yard), they are also affected by the decisions we make about cleaning products for the home and body, and the quality of water and food we provide.

So as you become a green pet owner, consider the positive effects this will have on the health and longevity of your pet's life! Many of the ways to be a green pet owner mirror the way you treat your health and body. Pick ONE area to change each month, and before you know it, Fluffy will be just as green as you!

Read the first tip for green pet care.

Doreen Pollack owns Down 2 Earth Gardens, a garden consulting business in Phoenix, AZ where she lives with Annie, her Springer Spaniel and two cats, Sweet Pea and Mischief. You can often find her hiking in the desert – or in a garden somewhere in town.

Buy in Bulk, or Make Your Own Pet Food

Buying in bulk will reduce trips to the store and cuts down on gas consumption. But some pet food may not be the healthiest for your furry family member. Buying organic pet food is an option, but often the cost is too high. In this case, what's even better? Making your own pet food.

Many vets advocate a raw food diet for domestic animals, claiming it's healthier for the animals. Just be sure you provide all the nutrients your pet needs. Generally the rule for a good balance in homemade pet food is 40% proteins, 30% vegetables, and 30% carbohydrates. Once you have found the right balance and consulted with your vet to ensure that the nutrients your pet is receiving are adequate, you can mix up a couple of batches a week and store them appropriately. Many pet owners report astonishing improvements in the health and vitality of their animals, after even a short period of time on homemade food.

Green Your Kitty Litter

Flushing kitty litter down the toilet adds to the use of water to get rid of waste. Tossing it in a landfill in a plastic bag means it stays in the bag until the bag decomposes, which can take years.

Instead, consider purchasing products that decompose and break down along with the waste. Many bags on the market are now made from corn products, yet are sturdy enough to use. For the cat in your life, replace the clay litter (which is bad for cats' health and doesn't compost or breakdown) with kitty litter made out of recycled newspaper or corn. I use Feline Pine which has a scent of fresh pine and lasts a long time. You can scoop the solid waste out and just scatter the wet litter around in the pan until you need to change it. You can find these products in your local health food store and online.

Compost Dog Waste

Use biodegradable doggie bags. The park in my neighborhood has a dispenser with biodegradable pet mitts for picking up the dog poop. BioBags are made from corn and are compostable, so you can feel good about using them while out walking the dog in your neighborhood. You can even bring this home and toss it in your pet waste composter.

Make a pet waste composter. By composting the waste right in your yard, you are eliminating it from going to a landfill or getting into a waste water treatment plant. Plus if done correctly, you can use the humus created from the compost to fertilize your ornamental plants and bushes. Instead of buying a pet waste composter and contributing further to the production of more products and the resulting carbon footprint, consider making your own!

Or maybe you live in a place where you rent and do not want to dig into the ground. In that case, you can purchase one already made for you! The Doggie Dooley is a special waste container designed to prevent health dangers and minimize odor. It's a great way to make your yard more beautiful while also protecting your shoes from dog poop. You need a separate waste composter because animal droppings often contain harmful bacteria, such as e coli, salmonella, and giardias. In a compost pile, these pathogenic bacteria will mix with helpful bacteria and they can disrupt the composting cycle.

Recycle Toys

Just as with items for humans, using recycled materials for pet products keeps stuff from ending up in the trash. Pet toys constructed from recycled materials like hemp and organic cotton are the hottest new natural toys in pet boutiques and other stores. These products are good to give your "baby" to play with and chew on because they don't have chemicals and dyes.

But cats and kittens don't need brand-new cat toys to satisfy their playful urges. What about those stale tennis balls that no longer bounce on the tennis court? An old sock tied into a knot? Cats don't usually chew things up like dogs, so these items will not be ripped apart by kitty. Consider reusing things in your home before buying a new toy. This act alone is better for the earth than anything that has to be manufactured and shipped to a store near you.

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