Going Green is a Pet Project

Sure, you think about your own carbon footprint, but have you ever thought about your pet's? Dog waste and cat litter can have harmful environmental impacts, as can the plastics that go into most pet toys. If you have a pet, consider greening his or her lifestyle, as well as your own, with some of the following tips.

• Watch what goes in... Most conventional pet food brands are made from reconstituted animal by-products. Gross! The animals that go into them are classified as 4D (Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Disabled) at the slaughterhouse. Opt for FDA certified, food-grade meat, and go for organic brands if you're concerned about feeding Fido pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals.
• …And what comes out. Did you know that clumping clay cat litter is permeated with carcinogenic silica dust that can coat your cat's lungs? Or that plastic bags full of doggie doo stay in landfills for thousands of years? Try alternative waste disposal systems, such as the Doggie Dooley system (www.doggiedooley.com) that is easily installed in your back yard and turns dog waste into a ground absorbing liquid, or biodegradable cat litter from GPC Pet Products and Next Gen Pet Products (www.nextgenpet.com).
• Pets can recycle, too. Worldwise (www.worldwise.com) makes comfortable beds for cats and dogs out of recycled plastic bottles. The company estimates that they use 30 million bottles that would otherwise go to landfills each year.
• Be safe. Take care to use natural cleaners around your house and refrain from using pesticides in your backyard to protect your pet from these harmful chemicals. Also, try to purchase natural and safe pet toys to prevent the ingestion of petrochemicals and other harmful substances.

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Our pets are our best friends. They deserve the kindest, and greenest, treatment we can give them.