Pip Magazine

WASTE-FREE PETS

And the desire for pet ownership seems to be increasing, as the dog population rose by 600 000 between 2013 and 2016. Australians spend more than $12.2 billion on pet products and services each year. So we are talking about a massive industry and a whole lot of mouths to feed.

Most people feed their dog or cat pre-prepared and processed pet food, and the majority of pet accessories available are made from synthetic and plastic materials. The environmental impacts of owning a pet are often not immediately apparent, but with a considered approach, you can keep the impact of owning a pet to a minimum.

It’s well worth taking the time to decide what sort of pet is right for you, and taking the waste that comes with owning a pet into account. Would you like to buy a pet from a breeder or give a loving home to a pet that has been abandoned?

Do you want your pet to provide food, such as eggs, for your family, or fertiliser for your garden? Will keeping your pet create excess waste to send to land fill? Is a large pet going to create more waste than you can feasibly deal with on your patch of land?

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