Paws to Be Greener: Gifts That Give Back

Guest Post by Yuki Seymour Yuki is Kristen Seymour’s oldest dog and will be writing a few posts for us on how to be a greener pet owner. She and her little sister, Rudi, are both black Lab mix rescues and are big fans of the outdoors. While Rudi is mostly interested in chasing lizards and examining poop, Yuki is a little more refined, enjoying the feel of the breeze through her fur, the sun on her face, and — wait! Did someone say squirrel? SQUIRREL!

If you're here at Tonic, I have no doubt that you care about the impact your gifts make, both on the environment and fellow creatures. I care, too — unless it happens to be that cat from across the street, because mostly I care about catching him. But, still, if you're going to give a gift, don't you want to make sure it reflects your beliefs? Of course you do, and I want to help you out.

Some of my favorite charities have online stores that benefit pooches like me. Well, like I used to be, before I was adopted, anyway. For example, check out the cool stuff at The Animal Rescue Site Store. Not only do they have great dog- and cat-themed gifts, but they have a Shop Green section as well as a Fair Trade one. Your purchase helps provide food and care for rescued animals. And, since the recipient is sure to love the gift, you're doing all kinds of good!

The Humane Society also allows you to shop online at their Humane Domain. You can find holiday-themed decorations as well as gifts for friends and pets (like this canister of tennis balls — would someone please tell my mom to get these for me?). And I have to give them props, with this ridiculous Christmas-y ruffle comes a bag of treats. If you're going to put me in one of those, there had better be something in it for me!

If you haven't found quite what you're looking for just yet, don't worry. The ASPCA also has an online store where you can find everything from books to jewelry to animal toys to clothes. One other thought: If you're getting gifts for your dogs, consider doing a toy swap with friends. We love nothing more than playing with a toy that smells like another dog. It couldn't be cheaper, plus, you're not creating any new waste.

Other posts in this series: Eco-friendly Pets, Food for Thought, A Happy Howl-o-ween, Play Until You Crash, Tips for Pet Travel, Keep Warm, Look Cool, A Pet-Safe Thanksgiving