Millie, my two year old golden retriever, is the sweetest dog ever. Having a furry friend in your life is probably the best decision you can make. Their love, adoration, and cuteness can melt away stress on a bad day, but there is also a fair amount of responsibility as a pet-parent.
Here are some care tips to help minimize our pet’s carbon paw-print!
- Choosing Sustainable Pet Food
Let’s start by looking for pet food that supports environmental practices like using organic ingredients and utilizing their packaging. Buying in bulks also lessens the store runs and helps cut down the packaging waste. Try selecting products that don’t have artificial additives and preservatives.
- Grooming Products
Try opting for products that use biodegradable and non-toxic ingredients to avoid the harsh chemicals. Grooming tools that are made of sustainable materials like bamboo or recycled plastic are probably the best option you can choose for their well-being as well as it is good for the environment.
- Consider Spaying & Neutering
Spaying or neutering our beloved pets helps decrease the number of animals on the streets and shelters. This helps lessen pet overpopulation and overall lessen the environmental impact that is linked to large populations and the resources needed to care for them.
- Switching to Compostable Waste Bags
On average, 1,000 poop bags are used by pet owners within a year (Pooch, 2025). Most people use traditional plastic bags, but plastic is known to take hundreds of years to decompose; instead, compostable poop bags break down naturally over time which also minimizes their impact on the environment.
- Biodegradable Litter
Consider using newspaper, wood shavings, sand, or potting soil as an eco-conscious litter options. Cat poop and regular litter mixed together should not be added to the compost pile may cause harm to people and the environment due to the presence of undisclosed fragrances and, or bentonite clay (Pooch, 2025). Try opting for brands that are zero-waste and can be composted with the cat poop itself.
As pet owners, we should make mindful choices that benefit both our pets and the environment. Let’s try building good habits by opting for more sustainable supplies, and being eco-conscious about grooming practices. Every small eco-friendly action can help the planet significantly even though we might not realize it.
References:
Sharp, L. (2023, June 23). Eco-Friendly Pet Care: A guide to sustainable and responsible choices - Green Oklahoma. Green Oklahoma. https://greenokla.com/eco-friendly-pet-care/
Is your pet care planet-friendly? - David Suzuki Foundation. (2024, January 22). David Suzuki Foundation. https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/is-your-pet-care-planet-friendly/
Pooch, S. (2025, March 24). Green Pet Care: Eco-Friendly tips for responsible pet owners. Smoochie Pooch. https://smoochie-pooch.com/eco-friendly-tips-for-responsible-pet-owners/
