How to Be a Green Pet Owner

Pets have a way of stealing our hearts. With their loyalty, affectionate demeanors, and silly antics, our animal companions easily make themselves a part of the family. When it comes to being a pet owner, we want to do everything that we can to ensure that our pets are living a long, healthy, and happy life.

While owning pets may be full of chaos and expenses that may consume your time, you should not have to eliminate your eco-friendly way of life to focus on your pets. In fact, we know of a few ways to still eliminate the planet’s waste while still giving your pets an amazing life! Here are a few tips to help maintain a green lifestyle for both you and your pets.

Adopt, Don’t Shop

For those of you who are looking to get a pet in the near future, our biggest recommendation is to adopt a rescue from an animal shelter. There are so many sweet animals in shelters whom need a loving home, and won’t be adopted due to people purchasing puppies and kittens from breeders and puppy mills. This causes a lot of shelters to fill up with strays, which leads to many strays being euthanized. You can feel great about rescuing a sweet animal, spending less on adoption fees than on a puppy or kitten from a breeder or mill, and opening up more space for another rescue in the shelter instead of being euthanized!

Buy in Bulk

Buying bags of pet food is something that is consistently on our to-do lists. Unfortunately, our pets go through those bags of food rather quickly, and the bags are thrown away. This adds to landfills, which is terrible for our planet. Instead of buying a small bag of pet food every two weeks, why not buy a huge bag of food and save yourself some money? It will last longer, eliminates the amount of waste expended, and also gets rid of gas used to run to the pet store when your pet runs out of food. Your wallet and the planet will thank you!

Make Your Own Pet Food and Treats

If you like to cook and make your own recipes at home, you might enjoy preparing your pets meals instead of buying store-bought pet food. This would eliminate waste from pet food packaging, and gas used to run to the pet store. Just be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure that this is safe for your pet; they may even have some recipes or advice on hand!

Switch Your Insulation 

Does your home have fiberglass insulation? While any insulation can be dangerous to your pets if ingested, fiberglass can be even more hazardous. The small shards of fiberglass can be dangerous to the touch, and the dust is hazardous if inhaled. Instead, consider switching to a foam insulation that is both eco-friendly and affordable. Our PlastiSpan insulation is a great option, as it is available in various thicknesses and R-values to meet your needs, and can be applied to walls and roofs, and eliminates thermal bridging (which will save you some cash on your energy bills). Your pet will not be harmed by touching it, and your home will be better insulated!

Buy Eco-Friendly Supplies and Toys

Did you know that they make eco-friendly pet supplies? There are pet collars, toys, beds, and leashes that are made from recycled materials, as well as plant-based materials. You can look online for all of these commodities, and have them shipped to your home! This will save you gas, and also reduce the amount of packaging used for these supplies!

Use Biodegradable Bags and Litter

Instead of using plastic bags to pick up your pup’s poop, opt for biodegradable bags. They will offer the same use, but will break down naturally instead of depositing into landfills and oceans. If you own a cat, biodegradable litter is an option, and can even be used for compost! Less plastic used for your pet’s “waste” will make for a happier and cleaner planet!