Greening The Pet Industry

Pet owners now have a growing number of green choices, with options that range across just about any pet product category you can think of.

Take toys. Many new companies offer toys made from natural products such as hemp, boiled wool, organic cotton and even loofah and natural palm leave fibers. And in addition to natural materials, many companies also use vegetable and fruit instead of synthetic chemical dyes.

Toys

Companies such as Simply Fido, Earth Dog and A Cheerful Pet have introduced well-made, wonderfully creative dog toys in recent years. And many companies use a portion of their profits for sustainable agriculture practices in developing countries. For example, Loofah Pet, which makes toys from loofah (a member of the pumpkin, cucumber and melon family) and palm tree leaves, supports some 11,000 native farmers in Paraguay who make the toys by hand from the products they grow. The company also supports the animals and wildlife of the Bahia Paraiso Preserve along the Paraguay River.

A Cheerful Pet is a company whose hand-made toys support women’s small businesses and orphanages in Nepal. Made of 100 percent wool, these toys are unique and just plain adorable.

Apparel

You can find natural fibers and recycled materials in doggy apparel, beds, collars and leashes. Earthdog, known for its stylish hemp collars and toys, uses recycled cotton and recycled polyester for its lines of funny t-shirts for dogs. West Paw has a line of soft, colorful crate pads made from recycled plastic soda bottles. These dog beds cost a bit more, but they are extremely durable and washable.

In addition to environmentally sensitive toys and equipment for your pets, conscientious pet owners can turn to grooming supplies and dietary supplements that use natural botanicals and herbs as well as traditional knowledge about health and healing.

Nutrition

Companies such as Animal Essentials, Animals’ Apawthecary, Ark Naturals and Casey Petraceuticals offer a wide range of natural dietary supplements, tinctures and tonics to help your dog or cat achieve balanced health.

Grooming

Earth Bath and Buddy Wash shampoos provide a mild, natural alternative to chemically-based shampoos. Shea Pets provides a line of grooming products made from shea butter, and the company helps support small, independent businesses in parts of Africa.

Cleaning

Green cleaning products for homes with pets are becoming increasingly available. Petganics offers all-natural, organic, non-toxic cleaners for floors, glass and household surfaces. It works and it’s not tested on animals.

Treats

And finally, always fun, are treats. When thinking green about treats for your dog or cat think “functional value” as well as quality, natural ingredients. Look for treats that offer anti-oxidants from ingredients such as blueberries or flaxseed. When thinking about good things for to chew, look for natural body parts – bones and tendons, for example, instead of highly processed rawhide chews.

Green isn’t complicated; it just requires that we try to consider our choices in new ways. Fortunately the pet industry is moving quickly to help us do just that.

About the Author

Dan Headrick is a freelance writer who, with his wife Pam Guthrie, is the owner of Wag Pet Boutique in Raleigh NC. The couple, former corporate burnouts who just got fed up with having to leave their dogs home alone all day, opened Wag in 2003. The store has received numerous community and industry awards. Their dogs, Millie and Heidi, serve on the board of directors.