From Guest Blogger Diana Smith: Four Ways to Reduce the Environmental Footprint of Your Pet

Owning a pet is a privilege, but it is also a great responsibility. An animal living in the natural environment has no way of causing the level of pollution as one that lives in your household, so handling this issue is definitely your responsibility. Luckily, this is not nearly as hard as it may seem at first. All you have to do is live by four simple principles in order to make a significant leap forward. With this in mind and without further ado, here are four ways to reduce the environmental footprint (or pawprint) of your beloved pet.

Always scoop the poop

This first piece of advice is nothing unorthodox or even revolutionary, seeing as how it comes under the basic etiquette of being a dog owner. Still, you may be completely unaware of all the reasons why doing something as simple as scooping the poop after your pet is important. First of all, the poop of your pet contains a number of pollutants that can easily be distributed if left unattended. Apart from potentially containing roundworms and hookworms (even some of the cleanest pets tend to contract these), it also contains nitrogen, which can cause quite a problem when it comes in contact with water. Finally, in most places, scooping the poop is law, which means that you won’t have much choice in the first place.

Adopt a pet

One of the most controversial topics when it comes to the issue of owning a pet is the one about the ethics behind breeding. Pet overpopulation is a serious problem, both for the environment and for the unwanted pets, which is why it should always be held in check. By buying a pet from a breeder, you are indirectly encouraging further breeding, which can become an issue further down the line. It also goes without saying that adopting a pet from the shelter is a humane thing to do.

Make your own toys

Another thing that most cat owners know is that cats like playing with hairbands, boxes and curtains more than they do with some of the most expensive cat toys out there. The thing you need to know about cats is that they are strong-willed, which means that their affection and happiness cannot be bought. The same goes for dogs, too. This is why it is much more economical and eco-friendly to simply make their toys instead of spending a fortune on them. Apart from making a surplus in your budget, this also means repurposing materials you would otherwise discard.

Smarter pet food management

At the end of the day, if you really want to make a difference in the carbon footprint left behind by your pet, you need to address the issue of food. First of all, you need to pick a brand that peddles products made from natural ingredients like Vets All Natural. There are two major reasons behind this. Firstly, it is healthier in the long term for your pet, and secondly, by doing this, you are empowering companies that are part of the solution rather than the problem.

Apart from this, you should also buy food in large quantities. This will cut down on the number of times you have to go to the store, and in this way reduce the amount of pollution generated by this traffic. Needless to say, buying larger bags of food also reduces the amount of packaging necessary, which is always a plus.

The best thing about the above-listed four suggestions is that they don’t require any extra effort on your side. All you need to do is become a bit more mindful and alter your habits in a way that benefits the environment, your pet, and even your own budget.