Green your Pets

They're your babies, your pride and joy. No we're not talking about your kids, although they are cool enough, we're talkin' about your pets.

Whether you’re a cat dude or dog lady, if you’ve got a four-legged friend or two you probably love their little faces off. But as much we all love our little beasts, when people say “you can green your pets” we can hear eyebrows being cocked all over. “Wait, buddy, aren’t you taking this sustainability thing a bit far?” Well, no. First of all, going green with your pet can mean a healthier pet and a healthier pet population. And hey, as we’ve shown you here at 1 Thing, going green often takes no extra effort from you. It’s just a choice you make. So take a look at how you can make Fluffy a little more green (seriously, though, who names their pets Fluffy anymore?)

Get Thee to a Shelter

Thinking about adopting a new friend? Great, there is a bevy waiting for you at your local animal shelter. Skip the pet store and find your new companion at the place where your love is needed most. After all, there is no such thing as second-hand love.

The Kindest Cut: Spay or Neuter

One of the best things you can do for your pets, and animals in general, is to get them fixed. 70,000 kittens and puppies are born in the US every day, that’s 15 puppies and 45 kittens for every human baby. That makes for a lot dog and cats that won’t be able to find a home; 3-4 million homeless cats and dogs are euthanized annually. Not only does getting your pal snipped avoid that needless suffering, but it helps your pet live longer by eliminating the possibility of uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancer, and decreasing the incidence of prostate disease.

Cut out the Junk Food

Much of the standard pet food you find at the store is filled with by-products, low-grade waste and unsustainably produced ingredients. If you want to skip all the pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, artificial ingredients and genetically engineered ingredients (for your pet’s health and the earth’s) go with natural and/or organic pet foods.

Nice De-Ice

Many commercial de-icers are toxic to children and animals. Skip that junk and look for a kid/animal/environment friendly rock salt-based ice dissolver.

Let’s Talk Poop

Cleaning up after our pups is a necessary evil. Here’s a way to make it a little less evil: use biodegradable doggy bags. Doggy doo is a perfectly degradable substance, but it can’t break down if it’s sealed away in plastic.