Tell Me Tuesday: Are you a “green” pet owner?

This year, I got the best birthday present ever: a puppy!  (Though this was the most amazing gift for me, please keep in mind that this isn’t the best idea for everyone – and is definitely not a good surprise present.)

The Stanley Pup (c)Riannon John
But my delight was tempered (just a tiny bit), when our Climate and Energy Director pointed out that pet ownership comes with a pretty big carbon footprint.
Since not having a dog is totally out of the question for me, I did some research in to how I could be a more eco-friendly pet owner.
Not surprisingly, there are tons of “green” pet products out there – organic dog kibble, non-toxic flea and tick remedies, biodegradable scooper bags, organic soy fibre collars and leashes, etc.   I almost went a little crazy at the store until I realized that there might be an even better way: reusing previously loved items.  I dug up an old halter for my new pup, bought some dog-friendly stuffed animals at Goodwill (and washed them thoroughly first, of course), borrowed a crate from a friend, and used old towels for bedding.
Stanley (who is a cocker spaniel-poodle cross and 10 weeks old today), seemed just fine with all of this.  His favourite toys are an old Tupperware container that he slides around on the floor, an over-sized blue alien stuffy, and my feet.  He wants to sleep in my lap all the time and couldn’t care less about a fancy new bed.  And he definitely would avoid a shiny new crate as much as his borrowed one – he’s more of a couch and bed kind of guy.

Stanley, the lap-sleeper (c)Riannon John
So far, Stanley seems pretty happy being an eco-friendly pup.  He has even taken the initiative by drinking from puddles in the back yard, eating anything on the floor (including leaves, pebbles and ants), and stretching out on the kitchen floor to stay cool on hot days.
We’re both interested in new ways to be more earth-friendly, though, so please let us know: how are you a “green” pet owner?