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 Hi,
my name is Mason and I’m proud to be a recycled dog! April 22
is Earth Day so I thought this would be a great time to share my
ideas for going “canine green”!
Tell Family & Friends to
Adopt a Pet from a Shelter or Rescue
By adopting a rescue
dog, you reduce the canine carbon paw print on this planet
making Mother Nature very happy! Each year approximately 4-6
million unwanted pets enter shelters across the country. These
animals require shelter space, increasing the usage of
electricity and water; not to mention the carbon emissions from
all the “dog catcher” trucks! Don’t purchase pets from pet
stores as this promotes puppy mills & backyard breeders.
Spay & Neuter All Your
Pets
Besides helping
reduce the pet over population crisis, spaying and neutering
decreases the chance of certain types of cancers, illnesses and
certain behavior problems. A healthy pet means fewer trips to
the vet – that equals less air pollution from your car!
Feed Organic Food
Consider organic for
your four-legged friend to avoid harmful things like animal
by-products and preservatives. These foods may cost a little
more but in the long run, fewer health problems mean fewer trips
to the vet!
Avoid giving your dog added
hormones and antibiotics by feeding foods whose protein source
is from grass fed animals or pastured poultry. How these
protein sources are raised has a big impact on the earth and
ultimately the quality of your dog’s food. Research is showing
a link between nutrition and diseases such as cancer, low
thyroid and chronic allergies.
 Choose
Eco-Friendly Dog Supplies
Avoid shampoos and
grooming supplies that contain petrochemicals like propylene
Glycol, a strong skin irritant. Use products derived from
plants and other natural resources such as herbal cleansers.
Read the labels on toys. Are
they made from recycled material or can they be recycled? Avoid
vinyl toys because they contain plastic softeners called
phlalates which are very toxic to cats and dogs.
Use environmentally friendly
household cleaning products. When your pets are licking crumbs
off the floor they are also ingesting any cleaning products used
on the floor.
Clean Up
After Your Pet
 Picking
up after your pet protects other animals and humans from coming
in contact with harmful parasites. Remember, what your pet steps
in will soon be in his system when he licks his feet. Be
respectful of others and the planet by doing your part to
control poop-lution!
When picking up after you pet,
use biodegradable poop bags. Other plastic bags are like
diapers and will sit in a land fill for 1,000 years. As regular
plastic bags breakdown, they release toxic chemicals which can
further contaminate our soil and water.
This list is just a start. You
and your family can have lots of fun researching and creating
your own list to help your four-legged friends reduce their
carbon paw print.
Have a Happy Earth Day!
Love,
Mason
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