Celebrating Earth Day: Eco-Friendly Ideas for Pets

On Thursday, April 22, over one billion people in 190 countries will be celebrating and taking action to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Whew! How quickly time flies! I remember the first Earth Day celebration and how many of us felt so powerfully connected with our "blue" planet.

By participating in the Earth Day 2010 festivities, there are many things we can do to express our concerns for the need for renewable energy, positive changes in climate policy, efficient energy and our own commitment to their sustainability. By joining together and taking action, expressing the importance of the preserving of all our natural resources, our voices can be heard. It is crucial that we create a "global green economy".

Pet people in particular have an excellent opportunity to get involved by "greening up" with small changes in the way in which we take care for our animals. Make a pledge to become a more eco-friendly pet owner. Since approximately 63 percent of all households in the United States own at least one pet, as a group we are very powerful and can certainly make an impact.

There are so many things we can do to which can make a huge difference if each of us just simply commit to making some basic small changes in the way we care for our pets, and these changes won't break the piggy bank, either. Photo credit: Petfinder blog

So what can we do to get involved in the "greening" of our pets and at the same time, aim for a healthier environment?

Purchase pet toys that are made from sustainable materials. For kitties, stuffed toys made of organic cotton filled with cat nip are very appealing to cats. Make your own by recycling old cotton socks and fill them with catnip. For some great ideas for eco-friendly Earth Day toys for dogs, visit: http://www.dogtoys.com/dogearthday.html Safe pet bedding manufactured from hemp is very eco-friendly.

When cleaning your litter box or taking your dog for a walk, instead of flushing your pets wastes down the toilet, which has a negative effect on the environment, start a composting bin. Additionally, once the compost is "ripe" and ready for use, it makes an excellent fertilizer for ornamental plants around your home.

Use litter made of corn or cedar shavings. For example: Worlds Best Litter is virtually dust-free, clumps great and helps to keep unpleasant odors at bay. Our cats love this product. Used cedar shavings can also be safely disposed of in the garden.

So with a bit of imagination, and "googling" environmentally-friendly pet products, there is a huge variety of articles available and easily obtainable to help in this most essential cause. Visit petside's Living Green with Pets page for even more green pet tips, products, ideas and even calculate your pet's carbon paw-print!

Don't forget: "Together we can make a difference"!

How are you planning to celebrate Earth Day? Leave a comment and share your ideas.