Fido’s and Fluffy’s Sustainable Diet
Last week we revealed that the pet industry produces more than 300 million pounds of plastic waste yearly and 90% of that ends up in landfills and oceans. This week the focus is on pet food, which also comes with a carbon cost. One study says a single country made up of all the world’s dogs and cats would rank fifth globally for meat consumption, delivering up to 64 million tons of greenhouse gases.
Dogs and cats are NOT herbivores, but there are some things to consider when choosing their food. One way is to choose pet food packed with nutrient-dense ingredients. Canine nutritionist Charline Touchard recommends pet food that is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. They regulate ingredients appropriate for your pet’s life stage. West Paw, Shameless Pets, Portland Pet Food Company, Brew Chewz and Leashless Lab are examples of new companies offering sustainably minded options.
Want to learn more? Join the Climate Action Committee monthly meeting via Zoom the first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm. Contact climateactioncoord@uufsd.org for details.
Posted by Donna Gerhauser