The Blue Cross top 10 tips to reduce your carbon ‘pawprint’

1.

• Choose high quality pet food with reduced and/orrecyclable packaging. The better quality food means you can feed your pet less. Paper-based packaging is best however if you do use tins and containers ensure they are washed out and recycled after use. Most councils will recycle tins and plastic containers with the recycling triangle on them (check with your local council).

2.

• Always pick up after your pet. Faeces pollutes your local environment and can end up in local waterways affecting wildlife (and on your neighbours shoe!). Use biodegradable poo bags, or re-use waste plastic from your kitchen. You can also use newspaper as way to dispose of poop!

3.

• Small animals like rabbits love small amounts of carrot or apple as a special treat - why not grow your own? You can also feed rabbits dandelion leaves or let them graze (safely) on grass. Avoid cut grass or exotic plants though as some are poisonous for bunnies.

4.

• Your cat will love you forever if you grow your own organic catnip or cat grass.

5.

5. There are several good animal-friendlyholiday guides available for a low carbon footprint holiday in the UK with your companion animal, with some large hotel chains allowing dogs. Dogs and cats can travel on most UK public transport for free or for a small extra charge.

6.

• Walk your dog every day - good clean green exercise for you both. Instead of driving to the post office, or taking the kids to school in the car - turn it into a walk for you and your dog.

7.

• Re-use your old blankets and towels for your animals beds - they will be just as happy (if not happier) on a well loved blanket than a brand new designer fleece.

8.

• Avoid buying plastic toys and save money by recycle rubbish into exciting pet toys. Make woolly pom pom balls for cats out of cardboard and an old jumper, shredded paper or scrap fabric in a cardboard box with treats hidden inside will also keep pets entertained for hours!

9.

• Using organic and natural pet-care or cleaning products for your pets reduces their exposure to pesticides and is less harmful to the environment than chemical based products.

10.

Cuddle up with your dog or cat instead of turning the heating up in winter!