Earth Day: 45 Years of Caring for Earth; Be a Leader, Reduce Your Pet's Carbon Pawprint

April 22, 2015

Our FiveSibes Earth Day Poster

We are going "wordy" for today's Wordless Wednesday as we are sharing in the Earth Day celebration! This year marks 45 years of the Earth Day Network caring and promoting for the care of our Earth - everyone's backyard. States EarthDay.org, "Earth Day 2015. The year in which economic growth and sustainability join hands. The year in which world leaders finally pass a binding climate change treaty. The year in which citizens and organizations divest from fossil fuels and put their money into renewable energy solutions. These are tough issues but we know what’s at stake is the future of our planet and the survival of life on earth. On Earth Day we need you to take a stand so that together, we can show the world a new direction. It’s our turn to lead. So our world leaders can follow by example. In 2015, let's redefine what progress looks like. It’s Our Turn to Lead."

We here at the FiveSibes have thought about not only our carbon footprint, but also our pet's carbon pawprint. We take the lead in our home by:

Once again this year, I'd like to share some tips* that are also in my article published in the Volume 2/Issue 2 of American Pet Magazine to help everyone "think green" when it comes to our pets and their pet care, and help to reduce not only our carbon footprints, but their carbon pawprints as well:

Walk your dog whenever possible instead of going by car.

Use recycle shopping bags when going grocery shopping for your supplies and food.

Feed your pet their food in a stainless steel dish.

Make your pet's snacks whenever possible.

Recycle pet food containers and cans instead of throwing them in with the trash.

Recycle pet medication containers (check with your vet, pharmacy, and acupuncturist as many happily accept them. My acupuncturist loves them!).

Clean "green" with chemical-free household supplies (we should be anyway for the health and safety of our pets).

Use biodegradable "doggy-do" bags.

Don't use the microwave to warm up their food.

Plant a tree in memory of a pet.

When emptying out a pet pool or water dish, use it to water flowers, shrubs, and trees.

Recycle old dog beds, blankets, and toys. Stitch em' up, give them a wash, and donate to shelters.

Spay or neuter pets to reduce the epidemic of homeless animals and overpopulated shelters.

Look into reducing energy by installing solar panels, or simply by turning off TVs, computers, lights, iPods, radios, etc. and getting outside more to play with your pets or volunteer at a shelter to play with some homeless

animals. You'll save energy AND have happier furbabies!

Us Hu-parents have also "taken the lead" by installing solar panels this past year on our home.

Do you think you're pretty green? Take the Earth Day Carbon Footprint Quiz. It may surprise you! We're pretty green here with the solar panels, recycling, less driving, and in our pet care...and we still have room for improvement!

Take the quiz HERE.

This stunning time lapse video, "The Untouched" by photographer Shreenivasan Manievannan, is a project that was two-years in the making and contains photos from National and State parks throughout the United States, says Manievannan, "to create awareness about conserving natural resources of our planet, including preserving our skies." Such beauty is a true gift, aren't we all stewards of the Earth and therefore responsible for ensuring the care, safety, and future of such a gift for generations to come?

According to EarthDay.org, 1,123,964,427 Acts of Green have been reached! Let's all do our part with our pets to reach 2 Billion! After all, the Earth is everyone's backyard.