For so many of us, our pets are a part of our family.  We feed them, pamper them, and treat them very well.  And, if you are a responsible pet owner, on your daily walks, you make sure to clean up after Fido’s bathroom breaks; maybe even being green by using your old grocery bags to scoop it up.  But have any of us ever stopped to think about the impact that particular bag of poop has on the environment? 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture  estimates that the average dog generates approximately 275 pounds of waste per year.  According to The Humane Society of the United States, there are more than 77 million dog owners in the United States, and almost 94 million cat owners.  That is a lot of pet waste.  If left outside, bacteria and viruses from this waste can be washed into our waterways; but picking it up using bags that do not biodegrade does not help much.  Authors of the book, Time to Eat the Dog?, Brenda and Robert Vale, state “If you have a German shepherd or similar-sized dog, its impact every year is exactly the same as driving a large car around.”  Their research found that a “dog’s carbon pawprint was twice that of a Toyota Land Cruiser being driven 6,213 miles a year. A cat’s eco pawprint was ‘slightly less than a Volkswagen Golf,’ and keeping two hamsters is the same as owning a plasma TV.”

While this may be true, it probably will not stop many of us from having a pet or getting rid of our beloved pets.  So, how can we lower our pet’s “pawprint”?  Here are some ways:

1. Scoop poop into biodegradable bags and throw it into the trash.  You can even build a pet waste composter in your backyard where the waste can biodegrade safely using septic tank enzymes.  Ornamental plants love this type of composting.
2. Buy pet toys made from recycled materials or even actual food.  A frozen carrot is great for your dog to chew on.  Hemp ropes are also a great chew toy.
3. Feed your pet’s higher quality pet food; they are better digested which means less waste in your backyard and more nutrients absorbed by your pets.  While some of these products can be more expensive, we recommend not breaking your budget.  Buy the best quality that your budget allows.  Or better yet, you can even make your own pet food. 
4. Use environmentally friendly pet accessories.  Some companies who make eco-friendly pet beds, collars and leashes are Great Green Pets, and Only Natural Pet.
5. Use non-toxic grooming products.  These cleaning and grooming products reduce the risk of damage to the ecosystem, as well as our pets and families.
6. Use biodegradable kitty litter and if you have an outdoor cat, try to pick up after their bathroom breaks, as well.  A study in 2002 found that sea otters off the California coast were succumbing to a brain disease caused by Toxoplama gondii.  This parasite was traced back to cat feces ending up in rivers and oceans from pet owners who flush the waste down the toilet or allowed their cats to poop outside without picking it up.  Along with sea otters, dolphins and whales have been affected, too.  Since cats are nocturnal, if you have an outdoor kitty, consider keeping them in at night to reduce the outdoor waste.

Studies have shown pet ownership to be a reducer of stress; they even have the ability to lower your blood pressure.  For most of us, the benefits of having a pet as a part of our family far outweigh the negatives their carbon footprint and expense can bring.  With just a few of the tips above, we can feel better about our pet ownership responsibilities.