If you have pets, then it's probably safe to say that you care for animals and the environment. In this post, we'll be talking you through a few small, easy ways that you can adopt a more sustainable approach to being an animal lover and pet owner!

Ditch the plastic toys

While they might be fun for your dog, plastic toys can contribute to the huge plastic pollution problem that the Earth is currently suffering from. With microplastics in the ocean and tonnes more filling up landfills worldwide, we really don't need to add to that problem. Switch to eco-friendly, sustainably made plastic-free chew toys instead that are biodegradable, or give your pets natural chews like pigs ears, bones (that are safe for pet consumption), and rawhide.

Be mindful of what you feed them


If your pet is a carnivore, ensure you're feeding them responsibly and sustainably sourced meats. Avoid beef wherever you can, as this is the meat that takes the most land and energy to produce, meaning it has the highest carbon footprint of all meats. Stick to meats like chicken, or try to choose foods with animal byproducts in them like organs and offal. When feeding your cats, try to avoid fish if possible. If this isn't possible, make sure the fish in your cat's food has been sustainably caught.

If you have a pet like a bird, rabbit, or another small mammal, try to ditch the plastic when shopping for vegetables, and see if you can find a way to shop packaging-free when purchasing nuts, feed and seeds.

Think about where you put their poo!

It might not seem like much, but if your dog poos twice a day, that's two plastic poo bags used per day. In a year, you'll have used over 700 bags! Switch to biodegradable bags to help the earth, and start your own compost heap if you want to go that extra mile! Alternatively, you can carry a small trowel with you when walking, and (strange as it may seem), bury your dogs business instead of picking it up and carrying it home.

There are many things that we can do as pet owners to help our doggies and moggies, help the planet, and in turn, help ourselves. For more ideas on how to live a greener lifestyle, check out more posts on our blog.

Image by PicsbyFran via Pixabay