Guide to managing pets

If you are interested in eco friendly sustainable living then consideration for managing your pets is a natural extension to your daily routine. Managing pets creates large amounts of unavoidable waste, from the food pacaking to their toys, bedding and other accessories. Use the following considerations in your decision making to live a more sustainable lifestyle with your furry friend.

Cleaning

1. Maintain a clean and eco-friendly environment for your pets:
2. Biodegradable Pickup Bags: Use biodegradable pickup bags when cleaning up after your pet. They break down naturally, reducing plastic waste.
3. Eco-Friendly Kitty Litter: Opt for eco-friendly cat litter options like the unscented Only Natural Pet clumping litter.
4. Brushing: When brushing your pet, collect the fur and leave it outside for birds to use as nesting materials. Buy eco-friendly cleaning accessories such as a bamboo brush
5. Eco-Friendly Cleaners: Make your own pet-friendly cleaner by mixing 1 tablespoon of castile soap with 250 ml of water in a reusable spray bottle.
6. Flushing: You could flush dog poop, as the councils usually have good and effective systems to disinfect faecal matter. Don’t flush cat faeces as it contains deadly parasites like Toxoplasma.
7. Potty training tips: Use newspapers or washable pee pads for potty training purposes. The newspapers can be composted along with the faecal matter.

Food

When it comes to your pet’s food, there are several eco-friendly considerations. Read our guide to pet friendly food planning .

Composting

Dispose of your pet’s waste responsibly by composting.

1. You shouldn’t mix your pet’s poop into your regular compost as it can contain harmful pathogens. Be cautious not to use the compost for edible plants to minimize the risk of pathogens.
2. Picking up pet waste with a plastic bag and throwing the bag into your garbage isn’t a good option, either. Most trash ends up in landfills, and landfills can pollute the surrounding soil, air and water.
3. Here is a link on how to recycle your pet poo:

You can use specialized systems designed for pet waste or create your DIY pet waste digester. Regular composters aim to produce compost for spreading on gardens, while pet waste composters are designed to dispose of pet waste and enrich the soil below the surface. The placement and structure of pet waste composters, such as the Pet Poo Worm Farm, are distinct and facilitate the seepage of nutrients into the soil.

4. Make a your own pet waste composter:
   1. For a small composter, take a bucket, and cut or drill holes in the sides of the can.
   2. Cut the bottom off the garbage can.
   3. Dig a hole as wide as the diameter of your bucket and as deep as the height of your bucket.
   4. Place the can in the hole and place the lid on top.
   5. Ensure that the compost reaches a temperature of around 145°F for effective decomposition.
   6. There are specialized bacterial cultures that you can buy that will ensure the right temperature and breakdown the faecal matter.
   7. Worm Farms: Worm farms are an efficient and reliable solution to composting pet poo and kitchen scraps. Worm farms help get nutrients and carbon back into the soil. The Tumbleweed pet/worm farm is a stylish and ergonomic solution for composting pet waste.

Toys

Many commercial dog toys contain BPAs and harmful plastics. They can tend to swallow parts of the toy. It is absolutely necessary to make sure that the toys are pet-friendly.

1. Chew toys: Kongs are one of the best when it comes to zero waste options. They are made of natural rubber, and provide hours of fun when stuffed with treats and frozen. Chewber is another brand of chew toy made of natural plastic. Hemp rope toys are also a great option.
2. Bamboo pet toys: are a great alternative to the plastic ones.
3. Soft Toys: If your pet enjoys soft toys, select options without harmful dyes. You can also repurpose old fabrics at home into tug toys or introduce natural items like coconut husks, shells, or toilet roll tubes as playthings.
4. Second-hand toys: are an eco-conscious choice as well.

Dog hygiene

1. Use What You Have: Before buying new grooming products for your dog, finish the ones you already have, even if they come in plastic containers. Reducing waste is the goal, so avoid shopping unnecessarily.
2. Test New Products: When trying a new grooming product for your dog, it’s a good idea to test it first to ensure it won’t cause any adverse reactions. While most zero waste dog shampoos are gentle, better safe than sorry. Unscented soaps are less likely to irritate your dog’s skin.
3. Bar Shampoo: Soap and shampoo bars with minimal packaging are available online and in pet stores.
4. Liquid Shampoo: Look for stores that offer bulk liquid dog shampoo, where you can refill your own container. If this is not an option, unscented liquid castile soap can be used as a shampoo for your dog.
5. Bamboo Brushes: Bamboo brushes are great for detangling dense dog coats, and they are eco-friendly.
6. Stainless Steel Clippers: Use stainless steel clippers for trimming your dog’s nails. They are durable and readily available.

Adopting a rescue dog

If you are planning on getting a dog, please think about getting a rescue dog. Like any new pet in a new environment they need support settling in but rescue dogs need some additional care until they are settled in. Read our quick guide on things to considering while adopting a dog.

Misc

1. Hug your pet, it’s easy and planet friends
2. Before buying anything new such as furniture, scratching posts, crates, check free sites, social media groups.You will help reuse things destined for landfill and also make a saving
3. Donate any leftover crates to your local shelter
4. Make DIY beddings and toys for your pets from your old clothing. Since they smell of you these will be more comforting to your pets.
5. Consider regenerative bamboo dog products for bedding and housing.
6. Look for sustainable dog mattresses stuffed with recycled materials.

Support your pets

1. Instead of buying fireworks buy 2 cans of pet food for a shelter animal

DIY home remedies

Every year pet owners collectively spend billions on buying medicines for their pets. Some of these medications may contain synthetic if not toxic ingredients and the additional logistics of packaging, shipping and distribution adds to the carbon footprint and waste. Our guide on Home remedies for your pets lists out some home made remedies using natural materials that you could try for your pets.