7 Simple Ways to Be an Eco-Friendly Pet Parent

Learn simple ways to become an eco-friendly pet parent. Small changes in your home and pet’s routine can help lessen negative environmental effects while also benefiting the health of your home and family.

1. Clean Up Your Pet’s Potty Routine

Picking up your dog’s poop on a walk is not only respectful, but it’s also helpful to the environment. Pet waste contains excess nitrogen, phosphorus, and other byproducts that alter the soil and potentially hurt the plants that grow in the area. Feces can also end up in local waterways after it rains.

Consider biodegradable or compostable poop bags when cleaning up after your dog or when scooping cat litter. Plastic bags can take up to 500 years to decompose in landfills, but more eco-friendly options are made to decompose in weeks or months, which makes them a better choice for the earth.

Most cat litter is made from bentonite clay, which is a non-renewable resource. On top of that, the process of mining the clay damages the environment. Recycled shredded paper, wood pellets, and wheat- or walnut-based litters are biodegradable and can even be composted. Moreover, dust levels in eco-friendly litters are frequently lower or none at all, making them safer and healthier for your pet.

Although some cat litter may be advertised as flushable, it is crucial to confirm with your local waste management system whether flushing litter is permitted where you live.

2. Ditch Disposables

When possible, choose washable and reusable products for your pet. If your pet wears diapers or needs a pee bad, invest in washable diapers or belly bands and reusable Pawtect® Pads. If you’re traveling with your pet, bring along a portable pet water bottle or a food storage container for their meals instead of opting for plastic or throw-away containers. (Our Forager® Bowl cinches to make travel with food easy!) Use a reusable pet hair remover, like FurBall®, instead of disposable lint rollers for a greener alternative for cleaning pet hair off clothing and laundry.

4. Try Sustainable Pet Food

According to a 2017 UCLA study, traditional pet food production produces 64 million tons of carbon dioxide every year, which is roughly the same yearly impact as 13.6 million cars on the road. Look for pet food brands that use organic, non-GMO ingredients, or even substitute meat or plant-based ingredients. (Always check with your vet before changing your pet’s diet.) You can also opt to make your own pet food or treats, which may create less processing, shipping, and carbon emissions than packaged pet food.

6. Donate Old Supplies

If you have a pet who has outgrown, doesn’t use, or has no need for their supplies anymore, consider donating them to animal shelters or rescue organizations. Or find a new pet owner who would love to stock up on gently used supplies without spending too much money. Giving these items a second life keeps them out of the landfill. Pet supplies may include leashes and collars, toys, blankets, or food bowls.

7. Keep the Pet Population to a Safe Number

Millions of pets are euthanized in shelters each year because of overcrowding. It takes an incredible amount of resources and space to house these animals while they wait for adoption. If you’re looking for a new pet, consider adopting from a shelter instead of purchasing them from a breeder. Additionally, adopting from a shelter or rescue organization helps reduce the demand for pets from commercial breeders, who often prioritize profit over the well-being of the animals.

Also consider spaying or neutering your pet to help reduce overpopulation and resource consumption. This reduces the potential for more stray animals that can harm the environment by damaging crops, disrupting ecosystems, and spreading diseases.

Take action today by making a few simple changes. Creating a more environmentally-conscious lifestyle for both you and your furbaby can improve the quality of your and your pet’s life, but also leads to a more sustainable future.