Pets | Eco-Mothering

5 Ways Dog Owners Can Go Green | Eco-Mothering.com

Adopt Instead of Buy Millions of dogs are put down every year in animal shelters. Shelter animals are often owner surrendered for numerous reasons (family allergies, didn’t get along with another pet in the house, etc.), and they just need a loving home. You can even rescue specific breeds of dog if you’re pining for a certain kind. Sure, puppies are cute, but puppies are a lot more work, and that adorable puppy stage doesn’t last long. Read why rescuing a dog is a better option than buying one from a pet store. Choose Eco-Friendly Products So many dog products are made from synthetic, chemical-ridden fibers or harmful plastics. Yet there is a good selection of pet supplies made from natural materials and recycled products. And, in most cases, these eco products are constructed better and last longer than the cheap ones you’ll find in most stores. From toys and bowls … Continue reading →

How Adopting a Dog Mimics Early Motherhood

By Donna DeForbes | September 16, 2014 - 5:00 am | Pets

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Last month my family rescued a two-year-old maltipoo from Arkansas. All we knew of her background is that she was picked up as a stray by a southern shelter. Her friendly, laid-back personality and love of children leads us to believe that she once lived with a family. We named her Dolce, Italian for “sweet,” also in reference to La Dolce Vita to represent “the good life” that we’re giving her and she to us. I assumed that finding the right dog would be the biggest hurdle. Little did I realize how much adopting a dog would resemble the early weeks of parenthood. We’re completely exhausted and wondering what exactly we got ourselves into. Sleeplessness The first several nights I slept fitfully, alert for any sounds from Dolce in her living room crate. Was she whining? Was she scared? Would she think we had abandoned her? This was preceded by … Continue reading →

Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Family Pet

By Donna DeForbes | June 10, 2014 - 5:00 am | Pets

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Welcome to the June 2014 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Kids and Animals This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have shared stories and wisdom about kids and pets. *** We are currently having dog discussions in our family. While it has been a long-time vision of mine to have a dog (since asking for a puppy every Christmas as a child), I’m still not sure if I’m quite ready for the reality of it. My daughter Sofie is an animal lover who has been collecting the stuffed variety of every species — including bears, owls, chimps, jaguars, horses — to fulfill her love of furry creatures. She’s been asking for a family pet for years, even after her birthday bunny died just three weeks after bringing her home. An only child, Sofie … Continue reading →

Dogs, Cats and Bunnies - Oh My! Finding the Perfect Eco-Pet

By Donna DeForbes | July 27, 2012 - 11:59 am | Pets

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My husband and I have lived with pets off and on for 12 years. These included 1 cat, 2 guinea pigs and 5 bunnies—not all at the same time! Bunnies were most popular with us because: (1) I am not allergic, (2) They are so darn cute, and (3) They were the furriest animals our landlord would allow—little did he know how much bunnies like to chew. While we are currently pet-less, we do anticipate another family pet in our future. Sofie especially loves animals. Her preference is for a horse, although I’ve always envisioned having a dog. There have been many studies on the positive effects pets have on their family. I wondered: what about ecological effects? Certainly our furry companions increase our carbon footprint. Is there such a thing as a perfect eco-pet? One study claims that owning a large dog is as ecologically harmful as driving an SUV. … Continue reading →