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7 Tips for Pet Parents to Be Environmentally Friendly

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(Family Features) For many people, “going green” means walking rather than driving, ditching single-use plastics and conserving energy. To go above and beyond, pet parents can follow additional measures that aid the planet while also supporting their furry friends.

Consider these eco-friendly ideas from Freshpet’s Nature’s Fresh line to support your pets and those in your community while also being environmentally friendly.

Explore Locally
An easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is to visit dog parks and other pet-friendly locations within walking distance rather than driving. It’s a perfect opportunity to explore new hiking or walking trails, contribute to pet-friendly establishments and get a little exercise for both you and your furry friend.

Opt for Eco-Friendly Foods
There are planet-friendly food choices available for pets, like Freshpet’s Nature’s Fresh, which sustainably sources ingredients with regenerative farming methods and offers certified humanely raised proteins. All of the recipes are produced with the planet in mind as waste is reused, recycled or transformed into energy. The kitchens in which the food is made and the refrigerators where customers find it use electricity generated by renewable wind or solar energy.

Swap Out Single-Use Products
When you’re out for a walk with your pet, bring Earth-friendly products like a reusable water bottle rather than a single-use plastic bottle that may one day become a pollutant in waterways or food sources. For your furry friend, a water bowl that collapses completely makes the item easy to store when not in use while also minimizing waste.

Support Local Shelters
If you’re not yet a pet parent but would like to become one, consider turning to local shelters. Adopting versus buying helps control overpopulation and its environmental impact. Another way you can contribute to local shelters is donating gently used blankets, towels, water dishes, leashes, collars, grooming tools and beds. This gives items a second life and helps reduce landfill waste.

Use Compostable Pet Waste Bags
Picking up after your pet doesn’t have to create additional waste. Use compostable bags to avoid adding single-use baggies to landfills. Made from natural plant starch without toxic materials, compostable bags are an eco-friendly option for disposing pet waste. If you have a compost pile used for plants you don’t plan on eating, simply toss the bag in that pile. Alternately, if your compost pile is used for fruits and veggies in a garden, be sure to bury the waste bags elsewhere – pet excrement can contain pathogens that are harmful to humans.

Go Digital with Pet Health Records
Many veterinarians still utilize paper records, but these records are easily lost and can be harmful to the environment. Consider creating a digital record of all your pet’s health documents via the cloud so you and your family can access it anywhere. Pet parents can be sure the documents are always on-hand if they have their smartphones and can recycle the paper documents once they’ve been saved digitally or re-use the documents as scratch paper.

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Find more environmentally friendly advice for pet parents at Freshpet.com/NaturesFresh.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images


SOURCE:
Freshpet

Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art.

pets

More Than Half of Campers Bring Their Dogs (And Some Bring Cats)

“We often run The Dyrt remotely from our camper van and Brandy, aka The Dyrt Dog, is with us for every mile,” says Sarah Smith, founder of The Dyrt.

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PORTLAND, Ore. /PRNewswire/ — The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping availability, photos and reviews, has found that more than half of campers camped with dogs in 2023. The Dyrt’s 2024 Camping Report presented by The All-New Toyota Tacoma revealed that 53.7% of campers brought their pooches to the campsite last year.

While dogs are by far the most popular pet to camp with, 5.8% of respondents said they went camping with cats. Other campers reported bringing along chickens, box turtles, guinea pigs and parrots.

Photo Credit: The Dyrt camper Brandy C. at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee

“We often run The Dyrt remotely from our camper van and Brandy, aka The Dyrt Dog, is with us for every mile,” says Sarah Smith, founder of The Dyrt. “Sometimes it seems like she has to pack more gear than us, but it’s so amazing to have her with us 24/7 as we work and enjoy campgrounds across the country.”

Property owners and campground managers worked to accommodate dogs as well as campers in 2023. Dog parks were the third-most popular amenity to be added to campgrounds, behind only Wi-Fi and pickleball courts. And non-human companions are especially prevalent in the RV camping community, as RV campers were 20.8% more likely to camp with pets.

“I love taking my dog Lola with me camping because to me it reminds me of the quintessential Americana where an individual is hiking on a trail or sleeping under the stars with their beloved friend,” says The Dyrt camper Steven M. of Utah. “When Lola sees me packing up the camper and truck, she starts her little zoomies happy dance. The bond we share while out in nature or in the middle of nowhere is priceless. Also, camping and dogs go together like pancakes and syrup!”

Bringing dogs and cats on camping trips was most prevalent in Washington, where campers were 8% more likely to camp with dogs and 24% more likely to camp with cats.

Each year The Dyrt presents the Top 9 for K-9s list of best places to camp with dogs, largely based on reviews and amenities tailored to the tailed. The 2024 list will be released in July. There are more than 12 million reviews of 70,000 campgrounds on The Dyrt, and some of them include dog- and pet-specific information that is extremely helpful for planning camping trips when being accompanied by four-legged friends.

About The Dyrt

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The Dyrt is the only comprehensive camping app with over 12 million user-generated reviews, photos and tips for RV sites, cabins, glamping and tent camping locations, including all public, private and free camping areas in the United States. The Dyrt is how campers find and book camping of any type anywhere in the U.S. With The Dyrt PRO, campers get reservations at sold-out campgrounds, advanced maps, discounts on camping and more. The Dyrt is the most downloaded camping app in both the iOS and Android app stores. The Dyrt helps millions of campers find “camping near me” — download The Dyrt app today.

Photo Credit: The Dyrt camper Brandy C. at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee

SOURCE The Dyrt

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Lifestyle

National Puppy Day: Celebrating Cuteness and Compassion

“Join us in celebrating National Puppy Day on March 23! Embrace the cuteness, raise awareness about puppy mills, and consider adoption to spread love.”

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National Puppy Day, observed on March 23rd, is a delightful occasion that brings a flood of cuteness and joy to dog lovers worldwide. Established in 2006, this day is dedicated to celebrating the boundless love and irresistible charm that puppies bring into our lives. It’s a day to shower these adorable furballs with affection, appreciation, and perhaps a few extra treats!

Celebrate National Puppy Day


The sight of playful puppies frolicking around with their wagging tails and innocent eyes has a universal appeal that can melt even the coldest of hearts. Whether it’s their clumsy antics, unwavering loyalty, or the sheer happiness they exude, puppies have a unique way of brightening our days and teaching us valuable lessons about love, compassion, and living in the moment.

However, beyond the cuddles and the Instagram-worthy moments, National Puppy Day also serves as a gentle reminder to raise awareness about the harsh realities of puppy mills. These commercial breeding facilities often prioritize profit over the well-being of the animals, leading to issues like overcrowding, poor living conditions, and inadequate healthcare. By promoting adoption from shelters and rescue organizations, we can help give deserving puppies a second chance at a loving home and a brighter future.

So, on National Puppy Day, let’s take a moment to cherish the presence of these furry companions in our lives, advocate for their welfare, and consider how we can make a positive difference in the lives of all puppies, both young and old. Whether you’re a proud puppy parent, a dog enthusiast, or simply someone who can’t resist a wagging tail and a wet nose, let’s come together to celebrate the joy and magic that puppies bring into our world. Happy National Puppy Day! 🐾

https://nationaltoday.com/national-puppy-day/

https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/pets/

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Lifestyle

Caring for a Feathered Flock

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(Family Features) An antidote to the stresses of work and the fast pace of modern life may be closer than you realize. Whether on family farms or in urban backyards, chickens have the power to make your corner of the planet better.

Not only does raising chickens provide you with access to eggs for a tasty, nutritious and versatile food source, it also allows your family to be more self-sufficient, reduce your food miles and establish a family hobby that allows you to connect with one another.

“Chickens make wonderful companions and are often an overlooked option when a family is seeking the countless social, cognitive, physical and emotional benefits of pet ownership,” said Dr. Tanya K. Bailey, a pet therapist and creator of Pet Away Worry & Stress, a program that celebrates the healing connection between humans, animals and nature. “The fact is, many backyard chicken owners view their chickens as lovable household pets that contribute to their family’s sense of well-being.”

Before you bring your own flock home, consider these tips for raising chickens successfully:

Food
You may think of chickens as grain-eating vegetarians, but they’re actually omnivores with a diverse diet. Most chickens eat insects, as well as herbs, fruits, vegetables and grains. Experts recommend having enough food available for chickens to graze throughout the day, but a single daily feeding is usually adequate.

A specially designed chicken waterer can help ensure your hens always have a supply of clean water, but some prefer a trough-style waterer instead.

Housing
Chickens require room to roam, but they also need protection from predators and the weather. The most common setup for chicken housing involves an enclosed coop and a secure area where they can wander freely. Plan to secure several square feet of space per chicken to avoid crowding.

The coop you need will depend on many factors, but a versatile option like the Eglu Pro chicken coop is suitable for flocks of varying sizes. It provides housing for up to 10 large hens or 15 bantams with a low-maintenance design and hygienic, comfortable habitat. The coop offers a controllable climate with adjustable vents and double-walled insulation and numerous features to protect chickens from predators, including raccoon-proof locks.

“Over many hours, we watched, learned, asked and then invented an enhanced coop that does justice to the brilliance of the humble chicken, a pet that can bring so much joy to family members of all ages,” said Johannes Paul, co-founder of Omlet. “The ingenuity of the Eglu Pro is that it turns the dream of keeping chickens into a reality for everyone. Created not just for the chicken but because of the chicken, this coop helps those who are looking to slow down, destress and take control of their busy lives or crave the need to build a community around them.”

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Health
It’s important to keep a close eye on your chickens’ health and safety. Proper housing and routine cleaning are keys to deter predators and prioritize hygiene to help minimize illnesses. Just like other pets, chickens require sufficient exercise and stimulation to maintain good health, which you can provide with foraging activities.

If you’re considering a new pet, chickens make for a lovable, economical option. Find more advice for raising a feathered flock at omlet.us.


SOURCE:
Omlet

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