Do you follow the three “R’s” of environmental responsibility: Reduce, reuse, and recycle? As a dog owner, there are lots of ways to go green.

Go green with waste.

It’s a fact of dog ownership that your dog will poop, and you’ll have to dispose of that poop. Dog waste may contain pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms that can be transmitted to humans who are gardening in contaminated soils or swimming in infected water.

Buy food and other pet supplies in bulk.

This reduces trips to the store and the amount of packaging you contribute to the landfill. Pay attention to packaging materials, and try to buy products packaged in recycled or recyclable materials

Support environmentally conscious manufacturers.

Support environmentally conscious manufacturers by buying eco-friendly pet products, such as those made from recycled materials.

Use environmentally friendly shampoo and grooming products.

There are lots of products on the market that are made of plant-based, natural, or sustainably produced materials.

Give away, don’t throw away.

Animal shelters can make great use of old towels, pillows, and toys your dog isn’t interested in. Shelters also welcome gently used food and water dishes, leashes and collars, brushes and grooming tools, and beds.

Feed your dog safely.

Plastic bowls are porous and prone to gouges and cracks. They may likely contain bisphenol A (BPA), which is a synthetic used in epoxy resin and plastics that are potentially harmful.

Go digital, save a tree.

Encourage your veterinarian’s office to email treatment plans and bills instead of printing them. They may even be able to take advantage of digital payment technology, for example, Stripe, Square, PayPal, and Apple Pay.