Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 15, 2014

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS Mountain Views News Saturday, February 15, 2014 9 JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS Mountain Views News Saturday, February 15, 2014 9 
Happy Tails 
ECO-AWARE KITTYCAT 
CARE 

 Any cat lover worth their own salt knows that the end 

by Chris Leclerc 

results of caring for their furry feline friend can have an 

impact on the environment. It may seem quite slight from 

a single owner’s perspective if they only consider their own 
personal contribution, but if one considers the contribution of all owner cat care in today’s society, the 
global impact becomes rather significant.

 We all make daily choices in our lives that may or may not be eco-friendly, and many of us have 
decided to make choices that will lessen our environmental footprint, whenever possible. For 
example, you might choose to drive a small economy-sized vehicle versus an enormous gas-guzzling 
SUV to conserve fuel and decrease pollutant output. We work harder at turning off the lights and 
appliances in our homes when we walk out of a room, to conserve energy, and we do our best to help 
keep the oceans clean by safely tucking our trash into a bin where the wind won’t blow it away. This 
same ecological ethic can also apply to choices we make when we go about caring for our furry feline 
friends.

 Here are a few tips to help minimize the global impact of the cat owner’s household. Many cat owners 
are already very aware of these simple nature-saving practices, but others may not be so aware. I hope 
you find this list of suggestions helpful for your feline care routine. 


Manage Waste ~ A visit to the landfill reminds 

us that waste production is an environmental 

problem of epic scale. While people are the 

primary contributors, anyone who has ever 

had a pet knows that animals also produce a 

lot of waste. An estimated 10 million tons of 

waste from pets fill landfills yearly. What can 

you do? Although we know waste production 

cannot be eliminated completely, there are a 

number of things we can do to decrease the 

quantity of waste we generate. For starters, use 

biodegradable poop bags or recycled plastic 

bags when scooping and disposing of your 

cat’s waste. 

Consider switching to a litter made from 
biodegradable materials such as corn, wheat, green tea, soy, walnut, recycled newspaper or pine 
sawdust from lumber waste. Remember to transition slowly so your cat has a chance to get used to the 
new product. Add the new litter to the old in part, and gradually add more until it if fully replaced. 

Buy Green ~ Whenever possible, buy pet products made from recycled or sustainable materials. 
Environmentally friendly beds have filling made from recycled plastic, and eco-friendly cat trees and 
scratchers are constructed from repurposed cardboard. You can also purchase pet products made 
from sustainable materials such as hemp or bamboo. Environmentally friendly hemp can be used to 
make almost everything - collars, food bowls and toys. Sustainable bamboo can be used to make food 
bowls and cat furniture. If you really want to be creative, you can even make your own eco-friendly 
cat toys!

 Buying green also means choosing products that are less harmful to the environment. This applies to 
grooming and cleaning products that can have an immediate impact. Select grooming products made 
from all-natural ingredients rather than harsh detergents. It is not only better for the environment, but 
way better for your cat. Likewise consider buying natural cleaning products for your home. Cleaners 
such as Pine-Sol and Lysol contain phenols that are poisonous to cats and can cause liver failure if 
they come into contact. Bleach contains sodium hypochlorite that can cause burns on sensitive cat 
paws. 

Recycle ~ When people consider recycling they typically think about materials such as newspapers, 
plastic bottles, glass and aluminum. They usually overlook another way to recycle: reusing instead of 
throwing away old pet supplies, think about donating them. Many shelters and rescue groups accept 
donations of gently used pet products, such as carriers, beds, toys, collars and bowls. They also use 
old newspapers to line cages and old towels to clean animals or cushion beds. Call your local shelter 
and rescue groups to find out if your old pet supplies can be put to good use rather than ending up 
in a landfill. 

Buy in Bulk ~ One of the easiest things you can do to help the environment is to buy in bulk. When 
you purchase pet food and pet supplies in bulk, you are not only saving money, you are conserving 
fuel and lowering emissions by avoiding extra trips to the store. Buying in bulk also cuts back on 
excess packaging that ends up in a landfill. These suggestions may seem trite, but it all adds up in the 
long run. 

Keep Cats Indoors ~ It’s easy to forget that our cuddly feline companions are also one of nature’s 
fiercest predators until we remember that what they are related to. Like their larger cousins, they big 
cats, they are prolific hunters. Pet parents who let their cats go outside are quickly reminded of their 
cats’ prowess powers, as they are often greeted with their cats’ daily haul. Cats prey on frogs, lizards, 
snakes, birds and rodents. The best way to protect native wildlife is to keep our feline friends indoors. 
Not only is this choice good for the environment, it is safer for your cat. 

Spay or Neuter ~ Although technically not an eco-issue, I consider pet overpopulation an extension 
of our society’s consumerism. Sadly, some people treat their pets as thought they were expendable, 
and those pets end up at the animal shelter when they become inconvenient. Likewise, many people 
contribute to the overpopulation problem when they don’t spay or neuter allowing accidental litters 
to occur. Make sure you are not part of the problem by spaying or neutering your pet. 

Stop Shopping, Start Adopting ~ Finally, if you are thinking about getting a cat, consider finding a 
feline friend at a local shelter or rescue group. This is a win/win way to help reduce the overpopulation 
problem while giving a “recycled” pet a new lease on life! An estimated 3 to 4 million cats and dogs are 
euthanized annually in the US. Although you are not lowering emissions or saving rainforests when 
you adopt a pet, you are chipping away at this dreadful statistic, one precious life at a time. 

Source: Eco-Friendly Felines by Dr. Ruth Macpete, Cat Fancy Magazine, Oct. 2013 

LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND,,, 

......To be yourValentine? 

So is Beverly! 

Beverly is a very sweet white and cream colored, 
long legged Chihuahua girl between 1 ½ - 2 
years old. When she first arrived at the shelter 
back in November, 2013, she was very skittish, 
timid, quiet and hid under the cot in her 
kennel. But after a few weeks of socializing with 
volunteers and other dogs, came out of her shell 
and blossomed into a very happy, friendly and 
playful doggy with a lot of personality!
Beverly is an active and independent girl who 
loves other dogs and gets along with her kennel 
mate. Once she becomes more familiar with 
you, she will sit on your lap for pets, cuddles and 
sit for treats. She thoroughly enjoys going on 
walks, playing and socializing with other dogs. 
She is very entertaining to watch when she meets 
and invites other dogs to playfully interact with 
her. She transforms into a cute, silly, expressive 
and animated little show-off that puts smiles on 
the faces of people watching her. 
Beverly is looking for a person, couple or small family who would give her a loving home with a yard, 
another dog and many opportunities to meet up and play with other dogs on her walks and outings. 


She is spayed, up to date with all routine shots and ready to move in. Please consider making this gal 
part of your family!
She currently resides at the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society located at 851 E. Grand Avenue in San 
Gabriel. We are located off San Gabriel Blvd., north of Mission and south of Las Tunas. 


To arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Beverly (aka….. 5737), please stop by any time from 10:00am to 
4:30pm Tuesday thru Sunday. 
Her adoption fee is $120 which includes her spay surgery, a microchip, first vaccinations and a free 
wellness check-up at a participating veterinarian. Feel free to call us at (626) 286-1159 for more 
information on Beverly. 
See our website at www.sgvhumane.org for information and photos of all our available pets. 


PET OF THE WEEK 

COCOA: ANIMAL ID #A4674103 

This girl is as sweet as they come! Meet Cocoa (A4674103), a super cute and cuddly five-year-old 
tan and white female Chihuahua who was found in West Covina on February 5th and brought to 
the Baldwin Park Shelter. Weighing eight pounds, this girl seems to have had some leash training, 
though she prefers to be carried around to be as close as possible to her human. She recently had 


a litter of puppies who did not 
accompany her to the shelter. She 
is good with other dogs, but seems 
happiest to be in the arms of people. 
Volunteers think she will be happy 
to join a family with well-behaved 
children. Cocoa is a sweet, loving 
and affectionate companion for 
anyone in any living situation and 
would be a superb match for a 
senior citizen. 

To watch a video of Cocoa 
please visit: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=nRlnIJmfj2c 

To meet Cocoa in person, please 
see her at the Baldwin Park Shelter, 
located at 4275 N. Elton, Baldwin 
Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430


2378 or 626-962-3577). She is currently available now. For any inquiries about Cocoa, please 
reference her animal ID number: A4674103. 

The shelter is open seven days a week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-Thursday and 10am-5pm Friday-
Sunday. This is a high-intake shelter with a great need for adoptions. For more information about 
Cocoa or the adoption process, contact United Hope for Animals Volunteer Adoption Coordinator 
Samantha at Samantha@hope4animals.org. 

To learn more about United Hope for Animals’ partnership with the Baldwin Park Shelter through 
its Shelter Support Program, as well as the many dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes available for 
adoption in local shelters, visit http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/shelter-supportprogram/.