Monday, April 22nd was Earth Day - a day to celebrate our amazing planet which sustains us, the planet that is currently being destroyed by our actions and our lifestyles. This made us think about how we are being eco-conscious here at Wanaka Dog Walking, and how our customers are being sustainable too.
There is a lot we can do as individuals, and families, that can help the environment... so we wanted to re-share our tips from a sustainability article we wrote, which can help you be an eco-friendly pet owner!
Here are our 5 top tips to being a responsible and eco-friendly pet owner:
Neutering your pets
Getting your pets neutered prevents unwanted breeding and the potential for homeless and feral animals.
Feral cats in particular can damage the environment. They kill billions of birds, reptiles and small mammals every year. According to the ASPCA, one unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce up to 420,000 kittens!
Make your own treats
Making your own treats means you will reduce the amount of plastic you are responsible for, but you also won’t be contributing to the destructive mass production of these treats in factories that let out tons of toxic waste and gases.
Another positive? You will know exactly what your furry friend is consuming - no nasty ingredients.
Use biodegradable cat litter
Most popular cat litters are not eco-friendly as they do not biodegrade. Some of the ingredients used in these litters are also questionable, especially sodium bentonite which is sourced through strip mining, which is environmentally destructive.
So have a look at what litter you are using, research what is environmentally friendly and what is not, and make the change!
Compostable poo bags (and actually composting them!)
We’re so happy these are being used more and more. It means a lot less plastic bags roaming around, ending up in the sea and landfills, destroying natural habitats.
If you don't already use compostable bags, you can buy them online through pet stores (so it's easy enough to add to your order next time you spoil your companion!), or you can even get in touch with us for some.
Organic pet care products
By using organic and eco-friendly grooming and cleaning products, you will not be supporting companies that include harmful and toxic chemicals in their pet care products.
Or even better, become a diy warrior by making safe, eco-friendly products for your pets and home.
These are just little things we can all change in our lives to make us more responsible and eco-conscious pet owners. Lets work together to make the Earth a better place.