Going Green — and Your Little Pet, Too!

Environmental consciousness is a huge concern for people these days, but sometimes that concern doesn’t translate over when thinking about pets. Overly processed foods, chemical-leeching plastic toys, dozens of plastic bags during walks — all of these can leave an unhealthy impact on the Earth and even your pet, but it doesn’t have to be that way! There are plenty of ways to include your pets in your efforts to go green, and AllYou budget blogger Carol Frischmann lists five of the best and simplest ways to get started.

First on the list is food, which will benefit your pet’s health as well as curbing the amount of waste that often goes on:

Adjust your feeding routine. Many owners overfeed their animals, leading to obesity. Consult with your vet on how much food your cat or dog really needs. Feeding a smaller amount of food will improve your pet’s health and help you save money on pet food. (And the next time you need a new food bowl, buy stainless steel instead of plastic―it lasts much longer.)

The stainless steel bowl is a great tip — we would also suggest looking out for organic brands of pet food, which are often produced with pet health and sustainability in mind.

Frischmann also addresses the dangers of household chemicals, the perks of giving old sweatshirts and pillows new life as pet beds and kennel pads, and dispelling the notion that plastic grocery bags are the best tool for picking up after pets:

Get rid of waste the right way. Pick up after your dog using newspaper or compostable bags, such as Bio Bags. These items will break down over time while regular plastic bags can sit in landfills for hundreds of years.

Check out the list in its entirety here, and see how you can start implementing greener living with your pets today. It’s good for you, for your loved ones, and for the world.