Are You Overlooking The Eco-Impact Of Your Pooch?
Tackling the carbon pawprint and new green tricks for old dog owners

Oct 15 | archive | subscribe

With over 60 million dogs in households throughout the US, you can bet your dogs are leaving their paws prints on the environment. So what can you do to raise your dog green? By rescuing unwanted dogs, spaying and neutering them, buying natural and organic pet food, purchasing green dog products, utilizing eco-friendly household products, and by taking other sustainable measures, your dog can have a bone up on all the other pups on his block and help the environment at the same time.

Recycled Pets Are Simply Rescued Pets
Why buy when you can adopt from a shelter?

Every year more than 2 million dogs are euthanized due to lack of loving, caring homes. Cut down on the over breeding of unwanted animals by adopting one of the millions of pets in shelters. Don’t shop, adopt from a shelter or rescue group. petfinder.com, pets911.com, animalshelter.org, blog.helpingpups.com, 1-800-save-a-pet.com

Spay Or Neuter Your Pet
Take an active role in controlling the pet population

Spaying or neutering your dog to reduce overpopulation and will keep your dog from unnecessarily killing wildlife. Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted animals and shelters are overburdened with surplus animals. They defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and some scare away or kill birds and wildlife. Spaying or Neutering Is Good for Your dog, it helps them live longer, healthier lives.

Cut Out The Processed Food
Buy pet foods that are all natural or organic

More and more people are buying natural and organic foods for their companion animals, especially their dogs. The increasing popularity of natural and organic pet foods supports small-scale and sustainable family farmers and ranchers. Besides pesticides and hormones, natural and organic pet foods are free of other undesirable ingredients such as hair, blood, waste and “meal,” which come from the rendered carcasses of livestock animals.

Home Cooking For Canines
For a healthier dog and planet

Feed your dog food and treats that have organic or all natural ingredients. You can improve your dog's health through implementation of a real food diet and you can save money too. Making the occasional meal or treat yourself is completely feasible.

Bag It And Bin It
It’s more than a nose and foot nuisance

Dog waste poses more than a nuisance to the nose and foot; the ugly truth is that it’s polluting our water and air supply. Poop left on the ground washes into sewers, streams and lakes, carrying with it pathogens like the E. coli bacteria. Studies put dogs third or fourth on the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated waters. You’re already picking it up, go a few steps further by using biodegradable dog poop bags, made from cornstarch as a green alternative? poopbags.com

Use Natural Pet-Care And Cleaning Products
Lather your dogs with natural pet-care products

Clean up their mess with eco-cleaning products that are as gentle on the planet as they are on dog. Think of all the things you look for when you're buying green products for yourself and apply those same principles to your pet and you'll make an even bigger impact on the environment.

Offset Your Pet
Cut down on your pet’s carbon paw prints

With over 60 million dogs in America, you can bet your dog is leaving their prints on the environment. Offset your dogs’ carbon emissions by purchasing Green Tags, renewable energy certificates that guarantee that a set amount of free energy or clean energy (e.g. wind power) will go into the grid on the buyer's behalf. carbonfund.org, carbozero.com, terrapass.com, nativeenergy.com, 3degreesinc.com

Eco-Chic Goods
Treat your dog with environmentally friendly pet products
 
You can minimize the negative impact your dog has on the environment by purchasing products make closer to home, and help lower the energy costs of shipping goods. While you are at it, purchase toys and other pet products that are made with natural, organic or recycled materials.

PoochPlanet dogs beds are made principally from recycled materials. They turn plastic bottles into fluffy pet beds and they turn recycled rubber into chew toys for dogs. worldwise.com

A good selection of designer quality dog beds, pet mats, and pet toys made entirely from recycled materials. allpetfurniture.com

Recyclable or sustainable pet toys made with organically grown cotton or natural dyes aren't only pesticide and chemical free, they also reduce pet allergies and are biodegradable. simplyfido.com

Hemp collars over dog collars made of nylon, which is made from petroleum. Try making a fashion statement with classy hemp neckwear, made well from 100% Hemp webbing and solid brass hardware. greenhome.com

Pet Nonprofits
Give to programs where dogs serve their best friends

Planet Dog Foundation promotes and celebrates programs in which dogs serve and support their best friends such as Therapy dogs. Service dogs. Search & rescue dogs. Bomb sniffing dogs. Police dogs. Planet Dog celebrates all “working” dogs that are enhancing and saving human lives. planetdogfoundation.org