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Green Pet Care

Posted on Sat Apr 12 2008
By:
Jeremy Taylor
in
Daily Green Tips
Dogs.jpg

Adopting a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle doesn't need to stop with you, or even with your family; if you've got pets of any kind you can probably care for them in a more ecologically sensitive way.

Some suggestions are obvious. For example, pick up after your dog. Dog droppings can introduce parasites and toxins to the ecology of your local park, and can contaminate a stream or field in much the same way that human or livestock waste can.

And while you're at it, go the extra step use biodegradable bags. They will break down much more quickly, and allow their contents to do the same.

If you're a cat person, look for biodegradable cat litter options. Kitty litter can be derived from a variety of sources including wood shavings, recycled paper, sawdust, corn cobs, dried orange peels, and even wheat bran all of which present more sustainable options than traditional clay litter, and all of which (and here's the hook) can be flushed.

When grocery shopping for your pets, read the fine print. In a recent study, a magazine called Whole Dog Journal assessed the front-runners in the dog food industry, and gave failing grades across the board, citing ingredients like food fragments, bone meal, sweeteners, artificial colours, preservatives, phosphate, and animal fat and by-products (read: feet, tongues, and other unappetizing parts). You wouldn't eat this stuff, and neither should your pet. Natural, healthy options do exist; you just might have to alter your shopping patterns.

Decorate your fish tank with real oxygenating plants, instead of the gimmicky hard plastic variety, and your fish will have fresher water, a food source, and an environment free of the toxins that leak out of plastic toys. You can do away with the noisy bubbler this way, too, which, along with fish tank lamps, gobbles electricity unnecessarily.

Generally speaking, make the same decisions for your pets that you're making for yourself, and you're on the right track.

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2 Comments so far!!

Sue Clark Says:
Did you know that aromatic herbs such as Pennyroyal, sage, lavender and thyme can be mixed together and used as a flea and tick repellent. Make sure the herbs are very fresh, they should have a good strong smell to them. These herbs are not harmful, although I wouldn't recommend allowing children to eat a large quantity of them, and they are non-toxic to your pets. Make a tube about 6 inches longer than the pet's neck and about 1 inch in diameter. Stuff with the herbs, tie knots in the tube to keep the herbs in place. then, knot loosely around the neck. Any herbs left over can be sprinkled under layers of the bedding, not directly on the top of the bed. We generally used an old, worn blanket that had been folded in quarters for our dog. So the herbs could be scattered between the layers of blankets. Replace about every 3 months, or when you can't smell the herbs. Our dog rarely had fleas on her and we live in a heavy flea/tick area. Unlike the chemical collars, the herbal flea collar won't irritate a pet's skin.
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Adam & Wendy Leidhecker Says:
Hello Jeremy Taylor, We loved reading your article on Green Pet Care, you are right living a green lifestyle doesn't have to stop with us, but can carryover into the life of Fido. It all starts with little paw steps that make a huge difference from biodegradable poop bags, to recycled chew toys, to all natural spa products, and to filling your dogs tummy with healthy organic treats. Its all about making easy & practical decisions that are good for you, your family, your dog, future generations and the earth. My wife and I are proud doggy parents, budding young entrepreneurs,trend watchers & eco-minded consumers. When starting our business we decided that we wanted to sell products that mesh these basic ideas together. We wanted to carry this over into the products we buy for our dog. So we are excited to let you know we are doing just that with our new green online business catering to dog lovers out there. Our passion & love of our dog & to tread lightly on the earth has led us on a journey to mesh these passions together. Lola has given us so much so why not give her the best. So my wife & I wanted to help with the green movement by creating Paw Luxury, an online shopping destination inspired by the love of our dog for eco-minded dogs & their owners. This idea stemmed from wanting to provide a better life for our 1 year old boxer Lola. We searched high and low but found it hard & frustrating to find eco-friendly, all natural, & organic alternatives under one roof. So we wanted to create a place that does just that. Our site is safe, convenient, honest, fun and informative for that eco-conscious consumer. We educated our customers on how to go green in their daily lives and provide detailed, accurate & honest information on the products we offer. Our belief is that it starts with little paw steps to make a difference. So, recently we launched Paw Luxury - an eco-friendly online dog boutique for all things green. We specializes in selling earth friendly products and are in business to spoil dogs healthy. We offer quality products that are stylish, high quality, durable, all natural, organic, holistic, sustainable, biodegradable, fair trade, and Made in the USA. Many of the products are packaged in recycled or recyclable packaging, so the bottles can be take down to your local recycling center. Our motto is "healthy dog, healthy earth, and happier life".
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