Posted by Danielle Downs on Apr.06, 2009

©iStockphoto.com - Gemma Ivern

It is estimated that a pet dog produces about 1.75 tons of CO2 per year. This is not because they like truck rides. It’s their food. Dogs and cats are both meat eaters. While they often enjoy a carrot stick, a smear of peanut butter, or (in my dogs’ case) raw kale, they’re little vicious wolves. They eat other animals. We all know how deeply the commercial meat industry has impacted the environment. (A vegan in a Hummer produces less CO2 than a meat-eater on a bicycle, says the carbon calculator.)

Pet food can be more frightening than mystery meat. Basically, commercial dog food manufacturers throw the animal and plant parts humans don’t eat in the dog food maker. This makes sense because pets like scraps, and maximizing the usefulness of raw materials keeps prices low. Well, some of those scraps are sick animals, the kind they call 4-D (diseased, dying, dead, or disabled), and that has the potential to be pretty lethal. Remember the foot-and-mouth scares in Britain?

I don’t feed my dogs anything with corn in it as a general rule. They can’t digest it, they make more poop, and the over-use of corn for calories is a freakish problem in our country. I also buy super premium kibble for them because it is more calorie and nutrient dense, thus more digestible, and they make less stool. A high quality diet will keep their immune systems in high gear, preventing the need for antibiotics, antiparasitics, and other medicines that can contaminate waste-water streams. Here are some more ideas to lower your furry child’s carbon paw print.

Poop Compost

This really isn’t as gross as it sounds. You can have your own at home or you can use guerilla methods. I’ve been a guerilla dog poop composter. I’ve been sneaking dog waste into the lawn and leaf bags and letting the city take it to the mega-compost. Now, my dogs are trained to go in a designated spot in the yard, in an ornamental bed. Every month I rake leaf compost over the waste. It breaks down very quickly.

Chew it up Right

Don’t buy stuffed toys new. The Goodwill has plenty of used toys that smell like someone’s kid. Delicious! Then when your dog drags it all in the mud and tears its arm off, 50 cents seems like a good investment. If you want new toys, check out things made from recycled fibers or natural materials. Hemp fabric won’t twist up your puppy’s insides like petro-stuffing will if swallowed. And say no to plastic squeakers! Harmful if swallowed! As for bones, get the meat man to bag you a couple up. Boil them, save the liquid to pour over your dog’s food (or for your own soups later), and you’ve got something clean and natural. Beef bones are best since they don’t splinter and last the longest. Your butcher can even get you hooves.

Get Clean and Pretty

Use all organic cleaning products and shampoos for the dogs. And to save water, bathe them together or get them to climb in the shower with you! Dog washing always soaks you anyway.

Canine Cookin’

I cook for my dogs all the time. It’s cheaper to buy human food and cook it than the prepared food. I still feed super premium kibble, but I make Beef ‘n Barley stew for them. If you have a butcher or a local farmer’s market, ask someone to package up some scraps from the grass fed beef and even throw in a few bones. The “buy me now for I rot tomorrow” shelf at the co-op always has a few yummy greens to throw in. Even finicky eaters love hot food made with real meat.

Basic Doggie Stew

2 parts organic pearl barley (buy in bulk at co-op for cents per pound)

1 part meat scraps and bones

1 part veggie scraps (sweet potato peels, kale ribs, broccoli stems, apple peels)

2 parts water

Boil meat and bones in water for 40 minutes. This can also be done in a slow cooker. You want the cartilage and marrow to break down into the broth because it is very nutritious. If using bird bones, discard the boiled bones. They splinter and are not safe to eat cooked. Raw bird bones are safe to eat because they crumble. Beef, pork, and lamb bones are safe to eat raw or cooked. Add barley and cook for 30 minutes on low heat covered, stirring occasionally. Add veggies last 10 minutes of cooking. Food can be stored in fridge for 1 week and freezes well.

Important! Dogs can’t eat onions or grapes because their systems are different from ours. Some dogs may go into shock or could even die. If you have a puppy with a tender tummy, consult your vet before making drastic changes to his diet.

What’s your dog doing to save the planet?

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Posted under Family.