Buy Earth-Friendly Pet Gifts: Our country is great in so many ways, one
of which is the fact that we can "vote with our wallet"
every time we shop! By choosing earth-friendly pet products
that are made from recycled or recyclable materials,
minimally packaged, sustainably harvested and produced, you
are letting pet product manufacturers know that our planet
matters to you. We carry many
earth-friendly pet items,
including
beds,
toys, and
organic and
natural food and
treats, all of which support a healthy planet, and some of
which are on sale this month (see above).
Avoid Air
Fresheners and Scented Candles: Many
people buy air freshener sprays, plug-ins or scented candles
to help mask odors when holiday guests arrive or just to
give their home a "holiday" aroma. The truth is that most of
these products are toxic to people and pets, and contain
many chemicals (like pthalates and formaldehyde) that are
linked to asthma, respiratory problems, and worse. If you
want to give your home a natural holiday scent, try a drop
of mint or cinnamon essential oil on a light bulb, or put a
small pot with cloves, cinnamon sticks, or other herbs to
simmer on your stove.
Skip the Gift Wrap for Pets: Tons of gift wrap ends up in landfills each holiday
season, and most likely, your pet won't care whether the
gift is wrapped or not. If you feel you must conceal gifts
for your pets, put them into a reusable gift bag or recyclable
paper bag and let them gently pull out the gifts when you
present them. If you are celebrating Christmas, a
re-usable
eco-friendly stocking for your pet serves this purpose well.
Give D-I-Y Gifts: If you're kitchen proficient, why not make your dog some
treats? Dog treat and biscuit recipes can be found in pet
cookbooks and healthcare reference books like
Dr. Pitcairn's
Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats and
The
Good Food Cookbook for Dogs. If you're a crafty type, how
about making some toys for your cat? Small toys can be made
quite easily with a sewing machine or needle and thread,
fabric scraps and some natural catnip. Dog tug or chew toys
can be made from natural rope or old clothing scraps
like denim.
Don't Give Pets as Gifts:
For many reasons, we strongly urge that no one give a pet as
a holiday gift to a friend, roommate, or dating partner. Pet
guardianship is a serious responsibility and people must
decide for themselves if and when they are ready to bring an
animal into their lives for a 10+ year commitment to the
care and expense of a pet. The cute puppy you give to a new
boyfriend or girlfriend may end up in a shelter if the
relationship doesn't work out, adding to the serious burden
that unwanted pets place on shelters and on our planet's
resources.
Buy from Green
Businesses: Much in the same way that buying
earth-friendly pet products can give you a voice in the pet
product industry, so can making the choice to buy from green
businesses. When you choose to buy from companies that
adhere to green business practices like recycling, using
eco-friendly packaging, and choosing wind-power and other
carbon footprint offsets, you increase the chances that more
businesses will adopt these practices. You can feel
confident buying pet items from Only Natural Pet Store. We
are 100% wind powered and a Zero Waste Program participating
retailer.
Click here for
more on our green business
practices.
Adopt from a Shelter: If
you are bringing a pet into your own home this holiday
season, adopting is the best way to go. Everyone (and our
planet) benefits when a stray or unwanted pet finds a home,
and with so many breed rescue groups around, there's no
reason you can't find the pet of your dreams. Give a dog or
cat a second chance and help reduce the number of unwanted
pets in our world. Adopting a pet from a shelter also does
not support the puppy mill industry, a cause we can all get
behind!
Give Your Pet an
"Intangible" Gift: That trip to the dog park you've
been meaning to make, or the field, trail or hike you've
been intending to take your dog to experience. Extra playtime
for active cats, or some quality lap time with snuggly
felines. These are the types of intangible gifts that your
pet might not be able to appreciate the same way they would
a treat or other gift, but like other "service" gifts for
people, they can improve the quality of life of the
recipient, and who deserves this more than your beloved
pets?
Happy Green Holidays from your
friends at Only Natural Pet Store! |
