Earth Day is a great time for all of us to stop and evaluate our impact on the environment. A lot can be done to conserve and recycle in your home to reduce your family’s environmental impact, which includes your dog's environmental paw prints.
I know this coming Monday might truly be another in a series of Mondays that, sometimes unintentionally start to all blend together....buuuuut what if it isn't?
Hear me out: what if it could be a fresh start for you and your dog? (I mean, why not?)
This Monday why don't you make a shift.
And it doesn't have to be a big one!
Even the smallest changes can have a huge impact on our environment. Celebrate Earth Day by going green at home or doing a fun, nature-based, low carbon footprint activity with your dog.
Go Green at Home
Recycle
Recycling is a great way to help reduce the impact both you and your dog have on the environment. When you think of all of the packaging that pet food, treats, and toys come in, it’s easy to see right away that purchasing in bulk or choosing products with recyclable packaging can be a way to “go greener” with your dog. Want to take it a step further? If you live in Seattle or Portland, subscribe to Ridwell and get rid of things like multi-layer plastic, Styrofoam, shipping bags and stretchy plastics, batteries, lightbulbs, prescription bottles, clothes, shoes and textiles etc.
Donate
Do you have old blankets, towels, or dog gear (leashes, beds, toys, etc.) that you no longer need? Consider donating them to a rescue or your local animal shelter. Not only are you keeping these items out of a landfill, but you’re helping out a great local organization and helping to keep animals comfortable during a potentially scary time.
Start Using Eco-Friendly Products
Earth Day is an excellent opportunity to switch to eco-friendly dog products. Some of our favorite examples include:
Purchase eco-friendly toys made from sustainable materials like hemp, jute, or recycled rubber.
Switch to a natural dog shampoo that is free from harsh chemicals.
Dog-friendly Earth Day Activities
Spend Time Outdoors
Forgo the car ride and opt for a nice trail walk or hike with your dog. Fresh air, sunshine, more exercise and less screen time is healthier for you both + you get to spend more time together.
Make Your Own Dog Treats Whipping up a batch of homemade dog treats can spare your dog from ingesting questionable ingredients and won't contribute to more packaging that's already overflowing landfills.
Plant a Tree
Another activity you can try is to plant a tree in your backyard that your pet will enjoy lounging under during warm days. If you don’t have a yard (or room for any more trees), you can donate a $1(or more) to One Tree Planted and get a tree planted in an area that needs it most!
Advocate for Spaying and Neutering Dogs
Just like humans, animals leave a carbon footprint on the earth. After all, the more animals, the more products and resources you need to take care of them. Therefore, for the good of the planet and for the good of the animals, advocate for spaying and neutering dogs. It also helps keep the pet population down in shelters and rescues, giving the dogs that are there a better chance of being adopted and finding loving forever homes.
Okay, that's our short and sweet list. Now there's only one thing to do...
Go celebrate Earth Day with your dog!
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