Pets and the Environment: A Convenient Truth

My latest adventure for DivineCaroline put me to the task of uncovering the world of eco-friendly pet food and products. A long-time resident of San Francisco, I had my own vision of what it meant to be eco-friendly: here, we are known to recycle, ride our bikes or the local transit system, eat organic food at Café Gratitude, and play the drums outside in parks on Sundays. I was excited to learn if and how our earth-consciousness extended to our furry companions.

According to a Packaged Facts article about the market trends of pet products, published in 2005, “the number of new pet products (both food and non-food supplies) tagged ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ almost doubled in 2003, while the number of products making other ‘natural-related claims’ more than doubled, and the new product surge continued through 2004, when approximately 500 new pet products with natural, organic, or natural-related tags appeared.” They added that sales for such products are “expected to top the $1 billion mark by 2009.”

There are thirty-six listings of pet food and pet product suppliers in California that claim to be environmentally accountable in the Green People directory on the Internet. This includes everything from organic tinctures for your frisky feline to pooch sweaters made out of 100 percent cotton or hemp. Annabelle’s Doggie Treats in Belmont offers 100 percent corn and wheat-free biscuits made of the finest human-grade ingredients (meaning, these biscuits are made in facilities that are FDA approved because they also make people food), while Canine Connections right here in San Francisco offers yummy treats like Bella Brittle and gourmet tropical bars that are also organic, natural, and wheat-free, and can be delivered fresh right to your door daily. There are a plethora of organic items for cats, dogs, and other small animals, including aromatherapy dog grooming products, azo-free dyed goods like polar fleece blankets and bone toys, and the “Kong Ferret Treasure,” a non-toxic red natural rubber toy designed to increase a ferret’s socialization skills. Most products that claim to be earth-friendly come in recycled or recyclable packaging.

I was most impressed by businesses that incorporate their love and care of pets and the environment with the global community by establishing relationships with fair trade organizations. For example, among other holistic health care products for pets, Robbins Pet Care carries organic Guatemalan cat collars, kittynip hackey sacs, and catnip mice made by a group of women outside of Guatemala City who call themselves “Unidas Para Vivir Mujer,” or “United for a Better Life.” This group of women got together in 1990 and started making crafts in an effort to provide for their families. Today, their membership has grown from ten to sixty-eight women, all widowed or abandoned by their husbands, and they have been able to contribute to their community in many ways, including building medical and dental clinics, with the proceeds garnered in part by these products.   

After reading about all of the organic and holistic products available on the Web, I decided to investigate what products were offered in my immediate neighborhood. A hostile and harrowing experience in an upscale Castro pet food boutique (dog-friendly, yes—eco-friendly maybe—but certainly not people-friendly) led me to the local Pet Food Express on Market Street. Because I had already learned that Pet Food Express is the sixth-largest pet specialty retail store in the U.S., I assumed that quantity might compromise quality. I was happily mistaken.

I was greeted warmly by an employee who, after learning of my mission, introduced me to Michael, one of the managers. Even though a camera crew was present in the store filming an upcoming new segment called “Pets around the Bay” for a local TV show, he still took me on a tour of the entire store, introduced me to an assortment of eco-friendly products, and answered all of my questions.

As a person who’s allergic to most animals and currently lives in a downtown studio apartment where there are no dog parks around, I certainly can’t claim to have the slightest knowledge of things like kitty litter, poop bags, or how a dog’s nutritional needs change throughout the course of its life, but Michael was patient with me.