5 Quick Tips For Becoming an Eco-Friendly Pet Owner
By Nicole Bruder, Owner and Founder of Lucy Goo Pet Sitting

There are many ways to help keep our environment clean and beautiful althoughmost of us live our lives at such a pace that we rarely have time to stop and smell the roses--let alone lend them a hand.  When I was little girl, I developed a love for animals that began with my brother's pet minnow, Scooter.  Since then I've kept gerbils, mice, goldfish, cats, and dogs, and my affinity with all creatures great and small has continued to grow. In college, when the global warming debate began to pick up steam, I also discovered that I had a passion for environmental issues.So when I decided to start my own pet sitting business, I sought to combine these two elements. These days I make the effort to slow down life, even if just a bit, to see what I can do to help the Earth--and so can you.

You can start today with your pets. Here are 5 quick tips for becoming an eco-friendly pet owner.

1.Adopt a pet.  Most pet stores are supplied by an industry that is notorious for running “puppy mills” and other abuses.  There are an abundance of loving animals who need a home to be found at the SPCA, your local humane society or through rescue organizations.

2.Spay or Neuter your pet.  Spay and neutering is beneficial to both male and female dogs.  Females will live a longer, healthier life; and males experience many health benefits and will stay closer to home when neutered. Overpopulation is a problem that can lead to strays who will often raid garbage and recycling bins looking for a meal.  Fewer strays reduce the number of animals that must be euthanized by shelters every year.

3.Use biodegradable doggie-doo bags.  One of the three “R’s” of environmentally friendly behavior stands for “reuse” Unfortunately, when you use a plastic grocery bag to gather your dog’s “business,” you only support their manufacture. These bags and their contents wind-up in a landfill where both will be preserved for the next 100 years.  If you have plastic grocery bags in your home, there are places you can take them to be properly recycled.

4.Buy natural, organic pet toys.  It's tempting to buy the discounted plastic toys on sale at the local Pet Shop.  I've done it and it and they’ve caused my dog to cough and sneeze. Here I was, feeding organic pet food to my dog, yet letting her chew on a synthetic toy which could potentially make her ill. I felt so guilty.  Since I made the switch, my dog seems healthier, and Mother Nature seems happier. It's a win/win situation!

5.Use natural cleaning products.  When your pets are indoors, they spend most of their time in close contact with surfaces that we prefer to keep clean, like floors, counter tops and plumbing fixtures. Most cleaning solutions leave residue that can be inhaled or ingested. Natural products present much less of a threat in these situations and can even be cheaper than their chemical counterparts.   For example, vinegar and water will clean much more than your coffee pots, it will clean mirrors, hardwood, laminates, etc.

This article provided by Nicole Bruder.  Nicole is founder and owner of Lucy Goo Pet Sitting Service.  

Lucy Goo Pet Sitting is a GREEN business and Houston's only premier pet sitting service.  It is environmentally-conscious and socially responsible pet sitting and dog walking service with a purpose. Their business practices include, among other things, recycling and using recycled products in their office. They conduct business electronically as much as possible to cut down on paper usage and use natural, organic, and recyclable materials such as biodegradable doggie-doo bags and cleaners.  They are  always on the look out for new ways of protecting the environment.  For more information about Lucy Goo Pet Sitting or to contact Nicole, go to her website at: www.lucygoopetsitting.com 

Photo: Lucy Goo of Lucy Goo Pet Sitting Service