Over the last few years more and more people have become aware of the environment and their impact on it. People have become more inclined to changing the way they go about their daily lives in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint on the planet. This term was relatively recently coined to describe the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, organization or a product. While the majority of environmentally conscious individuals are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint, there are many things pet owners can do to help as well. Many dog owners aren’t aware of how they can reduce their pet’s carbon footprint.
There is quite a lot a dog owner can do to reduce their pet’s emissions and impact on the environment. Even though these steps to reduce the dog’s emissions may seem small, every little bit counts when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint on the planet.
Building a pet waste composter is a great way of reducing your pet’s impact on the environment. Pet waste is generally picked up in a small bag and thrown into the garbage. This can spread disease to local wildlife and the risk of contamination of local water supplies is also present. Composters can be very beneficial in preventing the spread of disease by breaking down waste products in a safe place away from any water supply or wildlife.
If building a composter isn’t feasible due to lack of space or resources then you can still do your part by being conscious of the kind of pet waste bags you buy. Choosing completely biodegradable bags can go a long way into protecting the environment and reducing your dog’s carbon footprint. Avoid bags that contain polyethylene and try to use bags that are GMO corn free.
Being more conscious of your pet’s diet also helps reduce his carbon footprint on the planet. Feeding your Dog an organic diet is ideal not only because it contains less harmful chemicals than conventional dog food and is therefore less harmful to the environment, but also because it’s healthier for your dog. Organic pet food has been found to be healthier for dogs as it contains a higher nutritional value.
Carefully selecting all your pet purchases can make a big difference in how your choices impact the environment. Pet products made in Taiwan and China are very competitively priced, but they have a hefty price tag when it comes to the environment. This is because they require a lot of fossil fuel consumption to be imported in comparison to locally made products. Factories in China and Taiwan are also less environmentally friendly than domestic factories and they are categorized as being the highest emission producers in the world. Shopping for locally made products for your pet Dog is not only a more environmentally conscious decision, it is also safer for your pet as local products are made in accordance to stringent guidelines to ensure safety for both your pet and the environment.
Caroline Casey, editor of Chazhound.com, is animal obsessed! Visit her site for a fantastic selection of dog beds!
