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Given the way we pamper our pets, it's no surprise that our four-legged
friends can have a significant impact on the environment.
Making smarter choices about how we care for our pets can lighten their
carbon pawprints and go a long way toward creating a greener community.
Below are a few tips to get started:
- Use biodegradeable bags for pet waste. They cost a bit
more, but they will disintegrate in landfills and the waste will
be absorbed back into the earth.
- Reuse all the bags you would otherwise throw away, such
as bags from fast food, newspapers, cereal, chips, bread, etc. You'll
be surprised how many bags are reusable for pet waste!
- Recycle the bags and boxes in which your pet supplies are
packaged.
- Use flushable or organic kitty litter. Clay-based kitty
litters do not biodegrade in landfills. Litters made of recycled
newspaper or flushable kitty litter made from organic materials,
such as wheat, disintegrate naturally into the earth.
- Choose bedding made from recycled materials. Several brands
use a material spun from recycled plastic beverage bottles as their
stuffing.
- Purchase all-natural pet foods. Select pet foods that do
not contain animal
byproducts, chicken meal, rendered meat, or protein sources
that contain growth hormones or antibiotics.
- Recycle your gently used pet supplies by donating them
to your local shelter.
- Neuter your pet and choose adoption. Nothing does more
to protect the environment than reducing the number of homeless
animals that need care and consume resources.
Don't
be overwhelmed! Every little bit helps,
so just pick one thing that's easy for you and it will add up!
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