Enviro-friendly Pooches!

As humans we are increasingly trying to reduce the impact that our activities have on the environment. Although our pets have little choice in how their lifestyle affects the planet, there are a few things that we as owners can do to reduce their carbon paw-print! N.S.W. Veterinarian Dr Marc Simpson recently lent his ideas to us in the Green Garden & Home Magazine (issue 2).

Dr Marc Simpson’s tips on environmentally friendly pet activities are listed below:

Watch your pet’s diet

• Dogs generally produce more gas than cats! In addition to smelling unpleasant, this flatulence can also have an unfortunate impact on the environment. The gas (methane) produced is one of the most harmful greenhouse gases!
• To reduce the flatulence produced by your dog, aim to feed a high quality diet. This includes highly digestible proteins.
• Feed your dog more dried food as it contains less water and reduces the quantity of food consumed. Dried food also has the added benefit of cleaning a dog’s teeth.
• Don not overfeed your pet as this causes bloating and therefore gas.
• Try to buy Australian made food. This will reduce the transportation effort required to deliver the food to your pet. Just imagine how big the carbon footprint is for food being transported from overseas!
• Dogs and cats are natural hunters so try to monitor their activity when outdoors to avoid attacks on wildlife.

Reduce your pet’s energy usage

• Use dog jumpers and coats in winter instead of turning up the heater.
• Shave your dog in summer to reduce the need for air conditioning.
• Walk your dog to the park rather than driving there!

Poo Patrol 

• Use biodegradable dog poo bags as these will not take over 1000 years to break-down!
• Use biodegradable scoops made from recycled materials.
• Do not leave poo in the garden or on the path as it may pollute waterways and release gases into the atmosphere.
• Bury your dog’s poop instead of using it as compost as this will reduce the risk of spreading dangerous bacteria.

Eco-friendly pet products

• There are many eco-friendly pet products available in Australia.
• Use organic shampoos and conditions, buy collars and leads made from recycled materials, use non-plastic toys and buy kennels and beds made from recycled materials.

Source: Belshaw, Rachel. Paws for thought, page 74-76. Green Garden & Home Magazine (Issue 2).

Paddington Pups stocks many of the above mentioned product including FuzzYard’s organic grooming products, biodegradable poo bags, non-plastic toys and lots of jumpers to keep your pooch warm in winter. Paddington Pups also offers grooming services to help keep your pup cool in summer.

By Sophie Pimblett