More than 60% of US households have pets, here are a few tips to green your pet:

Check the Label:

From the foods you feed your pet(s) to the shampoo, conditioner, nail polish, etc. use the same common sense you would for yourself in living the Green Life. Think about the packaging, source, and contents when making choices for your pet supplies.

Recycle a Pet:

When looking for a new pet consider adopting from a shelter or rescue. Most shelters and rescue organizations offer you the opportunity to search online for the perfect pet. Not just dogs and cats, but hamsters, fish, ferrets, parrots, you name it. Google local shelter and rescue websites or, for one-stop searching, consult PetFinder.com a site that allows you to search by zip code for the type and location of pet you would like to welcome in to your home.

Remember They Are Not From Here:

Our pets, especially dogs and cats, have been domesticated and bred for thousands of years. Many bear little to no resemblance to the wild animals from which they descended. It is important to remember that domesticated animals do not play well with our wildlife. Although we have managed to breed a beautiful coat of fur, excellent retrieval skills, a propensity for life in a handbag, and many other traits into our furred, scaled and winged pets, many innate behaviors remain, including hunting. Feral and non-housebound cats and dogs account for amazing negative impacts on our native wildlife.

Dogs play an important role in healthy ecosystems as well. Leaving a dog’s “doo” on the pavement or in the lawn exposes wildlife to the pathogens which may reside there. Your pooch may be fine, but the viral load it is carrying (and possibly unaffected by) may mean death to a wild critter. Uncollected dog excrement has lead to an increase in nutrient runoff to local waters as well.

Additional Resources

http://www.petfinder.com/

http://www.myfwc.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/Cats_Free_RangeDomestic_index.htm