Green Pets, Happy Planet: 3 Earth Day Tips for Pet Parents

Happy Earth Day, Pet Parents!

Happy Earth Day!

While Earth Day gets its own spot on the calendar each year, smart pet owners know that keeping their pets as green as possible is a year-long (and life-long) endeavor.

While a major green overhaul sounds intimidating, there are a few small steps you can take to make pet parenting easy and eco-friendly. Take a look at our suggestions and leave some tips of your own in our comments section below.

1. Use biodegradable waste bags - Doggie moms and dads know that having a pup can be a rather messy job. There will be plenty of, ahem, business to pick up on a very regular basis. Choosing biodegradable waste bags to collect your pet's "deposits" can save the Earth from having to break down those nearly indestructible plastic pet waste bags.

2. Use Earth-friendly bath and grooming products - A product doesn't have to smell strong to work well. In fact, bathing and grooming products that contain harsh and artificial fragrances can be very irritating to your pet's skin. Instead, choose gentle, natural bath products free from detergents and synthetic perfumes. Save your pet's skin and save the environment ... all at the same time.

3. Choose natural and organic pet treats - Natural, organic whole foods need not be reserved for the two-legged sect. Pets are getting in on the action, too. When you give your furfriends freshly baked treats made from natural ingredients, you're feeding their bodies well, helping them live their best and healthiest lives. A great side effect to all of this healthiness? Fewer trips to the vet, fewer illnesses that require synthetic medication and less taxation on our environmental resources. Another bonus: Buying pet treats made in the U.S. means less travel for the treats and fewer resources spent on transportation.

What do you do to keep your pet parenting green? Keep the conversation going by sharing your tips in the comments below.

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