Eco-Friendly Dog Owners Can Live a Sustainable Life with Their Pets
The rise of technology and the 24-hour news cycle have allowed more people access to vital information. As a result, we are now more educated than ever before about the devastating effects of climate change, which is why so many of us are looking for ways to become more in tune with living an environmentally responsible lifestyle.
Living an eco-friendly life isn’t hard to do, but factors such as a change in your diet or the decision to adopt pets can cause ripples in your routine. Dogs are fantastic to have in your life because they add so much joy, but is it possible to get a dog and maintain your eco-friendly habits? Check out some ways you can live a sustainable life with your dog, without any extra hassle.
Check Dog Food Ingredients
A great start to transitioning your dog into an eco-friendly life is to check what she’s eating. Dog food is notorious for being chock-full of chemicals and fillers, so companies can mass-produce it as cheaply as possible. The next time you’re at the pet store or ordering online, take a look at the ingredients in your dog’s food. It should only have real foods listed, like beef, chicken or sweet potato. If you want your dog to be a vegetarian, you may need to get on the phone with manufacturers to confirm that the food is free from hidden animal ingredients. You can also research the brands you like to see if they use all-natural ingredients.
Use Biodegradable Poop Bags
Dogs love to go on lots of walks, but while you’re out with your best four-legged friend, she will eventually need to heed nature’s call. Most communities are very strict about picking up after your dog, which is why responsible dog owners always have a bag on them. But what happens when you throw that bag away?
Plastic bags filled with dog poo end up in landfills, where it takes 10 to 1,000 years for the plastic bags to decompose. Don’t burden Mother Earth with all that trash! Instead, look into getting biodegradable poop bags. They’ll naturally decompose in a faster amount of time, so you don’t have to worry about how that plastic bag is going to impact the earth.
Try All-Natural Flea Repellents
Your vet has probably talked to you about getting your dog on medication to protect against future issues with heartworms and ticks, but part of your sustainable lifestyle goals may be to not rely too heavily on medications. You can keep your dog flea-free by trying some natural home remedies instead! Lemon spray repellent is common for people to use, since the acidity will keep away fleas without hurting your pup.
Make DIY Dog Treats
Large industries equal the need for many factories that suck up tons of energy and exhale pollution. Take your sustainable life to the next level by making DIY dog treats. It only takes a few minutes and natural ingredients to whip up some delicious treats your dog will love. Try to make your dog some new treats, and you’ll be able to see the difference in her reaction when they take their first bite. Best of all, you can feel good about feeding them homemade goodies, since you know exactly what’s in them.
It doesn’t take much time on the Internet to find horror stories of people who have accidentally harmed their pets by trying to switch to a different lifestyle, but don’t be intimidated. It’s entirely possible to have a happy, healthy dog and still follow an eco-friendly path.
Go the extra mile to include your dog in your green efforts to show her the kind of love she shows you every day. Feed her all-natural food and give her treats made straight from your heart. You’ll both have more fun, and the earth will appreciate you even more.
Emily is a freelance wildlife conservation and pet blogger. To check out more of her work, see her blog, Conservation Folks, or follow her Twitter account @emilysfolk.
