Talking About Green

As we become increasingly aware of our impact on the environment and the planet as a whole, we sometimes forget about the little ways that we can improve our green lifestyle. According to recent statistics there are over 300 million pets in American Households. From cats and dogs to fish, birds, and many other animals, the environmental impact is immeasurable. So how can we as individuals minimize our companions paw prints on the planet? I believe by simply becoming more conscious about how we care for our pets much in the same way that we have become more aware of our own impact on this planet. After all it is our responsibility to care for our pets in a way that reflects good stewardship, knowing that our pets can’t make these lifestyle choices for themselves.

If you’re a cat owner chances are that you use clay based cat litter. A lot has changed since the introduction of clay based cat litter. There are many more environmentally friendly litters made from a wide variety of recycled and natural items. There are many cat litter products made into pellets from corn, newspaper, compost material, sawdust, soy, and even wheat. Not only are these products much better for our environment but they are also much healthier for cats.

Most everyone has owned a dog at one time or another in their life. Fortunately, our pooches are pretty easy going and require fewer resources than most of the other pets one could have. One of the best tips for going green with your dog is to use biodegradable waste bags when cleaning up after your pup’s messes. I used to think I was recycling plastic grocery bags when walking my dog by depositing their waste into the bags and then tossing them. When I invested in reusable grocery totes there were no more grocery bags to dispose of the waste. I found biodegradable bags at the local pet store that are made of recycled materials.

Without a doubt those who fancy fish, especially the marine variety, have the most energy intensive pets to care for. Unfortunately there are not nearly as many energy saving alternatives for fish keeping. There are some things that can help to reduce energy consumption and water usage making the effort worthwhile. Low output fluorescent light ballasts, energy efficient pumps, and shorter lighting times will certainly reduce energy usage. Keeping a tight lid on the tank helps to minimize water evaporation and cuts down on the need to top off the tank. Finally, my favorite fish keeping tip implements the use of natural filtration. Aquariums with live rock and plant algae naturally filter the water thereby reducing the need for water changes.

The last little bit comes from personal experience. As an owner of two wonderful parrots, I am always looking for ways to cut down on the waste generated from my birds. I used to buy paper cage liners and then throw them away. Looking for a better alternative I started what I call double recycling. Once I read the paper it goes into a pile. Every day I remove the old newspaper from under the grate and shake off any debris into the garbage. Once removed, the newspaper can go into the recycling bin after it has served its purpose. I also use water bottles for my birds not only for the health reasons but it also reduces the amount of water that my birds used to go through in a day.

These are just a few of the many simple and more creative ways to care for your pet in a greener fashion.  If every pet owner did just one or two things to cut down on their pets waste and energy usage there is no doubt that it would have a substantial positive impact on our planet.

A guest post by Joe Wiedenbeck, owner of The Pampered Parrot