Eco tips for Dog Moms
Sunday is #SustainableDogSunday on which we give tips and ideas for how we can support sustainability as sustainable dog moms and pet parents with the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Today it’s SDG 13’s turn: Climate Action! The ultimate eco - dog lover goal!
SDG 13 Climate Action with dogs
SDG Climate Action embodies everything that needs to be done to fight climate change when you’re an eco - conscious dog mom . While all SDG are connected in some way, SDG13 may be one that is very easily understood, as it has been ingrained in most of us from early on: Emissions are bad, the ozone layer protects the planet but is damaged, the polar caps are melting…etc.
In fact, in the Paris Agreement it is explained that to slow down global warming effectively, emissions need to start being reduced by 7.6% each year (read more here).
Sounds easy peasy? Well, to put this all into perspective: It is estimated that in 2020, due to COVID related world-wide travel bans, we (the world) only saved 6% Greenhouse gas emissions this year. It sounds sheer impossible then to reach 7.6% in a normal year, you would think.
So how exactly are we supposed to help with our pooches?
The problem is obviously a lot bigger than we can grasp or change as small individuals and small doggies. To achieve fundamental change, regulations and laws need to be put into place by the government to encourage and maybe force individuals and big companies to play by the rules to lower emissions and save the planet.
However, there are small things we can change in our day-to-day life that can help lower our carbon foot/pawprint as individuals and fluffy friends:
3 Quick And Easy Tips To Help Reduce Emissions Along With Your Dog
1 Mommy, Get me a Puppoccino!
During COVID times, we don’t even think about it twice, we have our pooch with us in the car, we rock up to Starbucks and sit in the line at the drive through and wait, and wait, and wait to order our iced double shot latte and of course a puppaccino.
Instead: Use the Starbucks app and order ahead before you hop in the car. By the time you’re there, your order will be ready – average prep time is 7-10 minutes. Many Starbucks now, thanks to the Rona, offer curbside delivery to your window, you don’t even have to leave your car. Even if you keep the car running to keep a cool car with the A/C (believe me here in Houston I know what I’m talking about), you will spend much less time with a running car than standing in line with 10 other cars, the queue often reaching to the curb.
Other ways to save emissions: walk to a local coffeeshop with your pooch and sit outside and enjoy coffee time together sitting on the porch.
Drink coffee at home, there you can pet your dog without disturbance as long as you want…
Use the app, save the world.
If only it were that simple, but it’s a small step in our dog parent life that is easy and free to take.
I am aware that many people consider Starbucks to be not very sustainable in the first place but we’re here for progress, not perfection.
Not all vegetables are good for dogs, check with your vet first and do your research!
2 Go Vegan! at least a bit…
The New York Times wrote about the connection between meat and environmental issues as early as 2006. Meat consumption makes up a huge amount of greenhouse gases which is causing the life-threatening climate change.
Not only do cattle cause immense amount of methane, in order to feed livestock, forests are eroded and valuable grounds which could be used for growing vegetables for humans are used to grow soy and other crop to feed animals.
It is estimated that a family of 4 could save 1400 lbs. of CO2 by reducing their meat consumption by only 2lbs every week.
Going vegan for two-thirds of meals could cut food-related carbon emissions by 60%.
BakedBones Vegan Treats
Small steps are already taken if you switch up your treat game every now and then. More and more companies, especially small businesses, understand the need for vegan and more sustainable dog treats. Our favorite dog treat bakery, BakedBones (@bakedbones) for example, just introduced their yummy Thanksgiving themed treats and their recipe was all vegan. In fact, the treats were their yummiest yet, I would say!
-Use code MISSY15 when you order on BakedBones.com to get a 15% discount on applicable products.
Though I am personally not a fan of feeding your dog strictly vegan, I do understand that making an effort to prepare vegetarian or vegan meals every now and then for your dog is already a big contribution to helping the world and won’t kill your dog at all.
I am of course aware that some dogs have allergies and intolerances to certain foods that make it necessary to feed a strict vegan or vegetarian diet.
Please ask your vet for more information before you decide to change your dog’s diet. Every dog is different, and vegan is not for everyone. Also, sometimes supplements are needed when feeding vegan to make sure your dog receives all the nutrition’s needed to maintain a healthy and well-fed life.
Further reading recommondation:
An Instagram tip here is the blogger @sustainable_doglife . Learn more about life with two vegan dogs.
My favorite Sustainability account though: @mysustainableme. Though not dog related Marisa is taking sustainable life and ethical living very serious and is a daily inspiration for me. Her journalistic approach to sustainable topics of our every day life is truly magnificent.
Shop small and local and support women owned businesses
3 Shop Local, Shop Small!
Shop local, shop small! Yes, we hear it everywhere, all over and may be almost sick of it, but it’s true. Every package we receive, and the further away it is (especially anything that was produced overseas), the more emissions we cause through transport.
Tips:
Visit a local market, check local resources and don’t ask me twice: Thrift whenever possible. These are things we all already know, indeed, but we seem to need a little reminder every now and then to understand fully, so it seems.
So, when you get your next collar, name tag or harness for your pooch, make sure to research small local shops first instead of buying from the big chains or Amazon.
Our favourite small shops to get our dog accessories, you ask?
Missy all stylish in her Modern Companion Scarf, supporting small women owned businesses.
Missy loves ModernCompanion and is even an official model for the brand located in South Carolina, run by the magnificent Maddie, who just has the most adorable prints of bandanas and bows for all animals in a wide range of sizes. themoderncompanion.com
@BubblesChoice from Houston is our local hero. Pragya only opened her online store Bubbles Choice, named after her Chipoo Bubbles, this summer and has already become a Houston favorite for dog bandanas and bows. Bubbles Choice also has rocking Dog Mom gear!
@ThePrintedPiper offers everything you want and did not know you need. However, you realise very quickly that the Dachshund dog mom shirt is too cool to pass. Janessa, the bad ass dox dog mom of Piper, creates all kinds of goodies from Macramé collars and leashes, dog mom sweaters, dog themed face masks and finally a place to store all your doggy accessories; a personalised hanging board.
Bonus Points: When you support small local businesses, you also support SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, throw in a woman-owned business and we have SDG 5 Gender Equality as well. If we are super spoiled anyway, let’s make it also SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption. Supporting 4 SDGs just by shopping small and local? That’s the #SustainableDogSunday’s Dream!
If you really want to know how your way of life is impacting the world, check your carbon foot and pawprint online on:
It’s a small step for you but if we collectively work on our behavior, it is a leap for climate action!
Be part of our #DogSustainableSunday and post your goals, achievements or even climate fails on Instagram, use the hashtag , tag us @missykeo and get in touch with us. We are not perfect, but we are trying really hard to be the best climate action version of ourselves.