You drive an electric car, have solar panel and bring your own bags to the grocery store. You care about greenhouse gases and your carbon footprint but what about your pet’s carbon pawprint? April 22nd is the 55th Anniversary of Earth Day. Here are some simple ways you can help your pets live greener and cleaner this Earth Month.

Waste Management

Anyone who has ever had a pet knows that they create lots of waste. It is estimated that 10 million tons of waste from pets fill landfills yearly. What can you do to help?  Instead of using plastic bags to pick up and dispose of your pet’s waste, try using recycled biodegradable pet poop bags. If you want to be even more eco-friendly, get an in-ground waste disposal system. What you might ask? In-ground waste disposal systems are essentially miniature septic systems that allow you to dispose of your pet’s waste right in your back yard. There are several companies that sell kits you can buy to create your own environmentally-friendly dog waste disposal system.

If you have a cat, consider switching from a clay-based litter to a biodegradable litter, such as ökocat. ökocat is a sustainably sourced cat litter made from rescued wood and it is packaged in a fully recyclable paper bag. In addition, it contains no synthetic chemicals, no toxic dyes, and no added artificial fragrances. By switching to a biodegradable litter, you can cut down on the estimated 2.6 million tons of clay litter that end up in landfills. If you brave you can also try teaching your cat to use the toilet. It sounds crazy but cats can accurately be trained to use a toilet. Kits are available that help you guide your cat through the process. It may be a lot of work at first but think about never having to clean a litter box again? Now if we could just teach them to flush! 

Give A Hoot, Don’t Pollute

Always pick-up after your pet and follow the backpacker’s motto of leaving only footprints (or paw prints) behind. Besides being inconsiderate, leaving your pet’s waste behind can pollute water sources when runoff washes into streams and lakes.

Buy Green

Purchase pet products made from recycled or sustainable materials. Nowadays it’s easy to find environmentally friendly leashes, collars, beds and toys. You can even find stylish sustainable cat furniture. PetPals makes all kinds of eco-friendly cat trees and scratchers designed to provide your cat with a place to relax, hide, scratch and play. Their Walk Up cat tree is handwoven with recycled paper rope that is decomposable and can go in your compost bin after plenty of usage. The durable cat scratching post is crafted with natural sisal rope to encourage healthy scratching. All parts can be replaced individually if needed to help reduce waste and prolong your cat tree’s longevity. PetPals even has a cat tree recycling program that not only helps the earth but helps local animal shelters and rescues.

Buy in Bulk

Buying pet food and pet supplies in bulk not only saves money, it also conserves fuel and lowers emissions by saving you extra trips to the store. It also saves time so you don’t have to go to the store as often. Lastly it cuts down on packaging. 

Pet Overpopulation

Make sure your pet isn’t adding to the pet over-population problem by having your pets spayed or neutered.

Adopt a Shelter Pet

Don’t forget about your local animal shelter if you are thinking about getting a pet. There are lots of “recycled pets” that need a good home. While adopting one of these deserving pets may not lower emissions or save fuel, it can save a life.

 

By adopting these simple tips, you can help your pet live greener and cleaner and  make the planet a better place.