Day 20 - Green pets

So I was wondering, what kind of waste does my dog create? Aside from the obvious, of course.

Well, first of all, the “obvious” has to go somewhere when I pick it up off my lawn. For that, I used to use the plastic bags I got from the supermarket. But when I started using cloth bags, my supply of plastic bags dropped off considerably. Besides, plastic grocery bags are bad for the landfill.

I picked up some biodegradable doggy bags at the pet supply store. But these, too, won’t degrade in a landfill very quickly beneath all the other landfill stuff, without air, sun and water reaching them. However, the bags, along with the poop, can be composted, as long as the compost won’t be used on food-producing plants.

Food-wise, there are organic pet-food options available at many pet stores, grocery store and online. But check with your vet to make sure the brand you choose can give your pet the proper nutrition.

For earth-friendly pet toys, collars, leashes, etc., try fetchdog.com, purrfectplay.com, or ecopetlife.com. The toys are made from all-natural, undyed, sustainable materials.

For those of you with cats, you might want to try eco-friendly cat litter. The clay in most litters is strip-mined and doesn’t degrade well in landfills, making it a double whammy to the ecosystem.

According to treehugger.com, “Over 2 million tons of non-biodegradable cat litter made from clay that is mined ends up in municipal landfills each year.”

But there are alternatives. One is called Swheat Scoop. They sell it at pet supply stores, like Pet Smart. It’s made without clay, silicon or chemicals, and is fragrance free and biodegradable.

Treehugger says, “This non-toxic litter is a great alternative to traditional litters in that it doesn’t create dust, is made from a renewable resource and is 100% compostable (for non-vegetable plants and after it’s been scooped, of course). Swheat Scoop is so safe it can even be licked or digested without serious consequences, making it perfect for kittens, and is also sensitive on their little paws.”

Aww!

Tip for Day 20 – Check out eco-friendly pet supplies to reduce your pet’s carbon paw-print.