Little things you can do to help the environment and your dog on Earth Day!

Tomorrow, April 22nd is Earth Day, a great day to take action to help our Earth and your pup!

We like to celebrate Earth Day everyday, but the nice thing about having a designated day is it can bring attention and awareness to things that each and everyone of us can do to help the environment.

What is Earth Day? According to Wikipedia: "Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. Earth Day is celebrated in spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Many communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues."

In preparation for Earth Day, we thought it would be fun to share just 10 things you can do to help the environment, and have a healthier, happier pup. There are so many things you can do we couldn't begin to list them all, so here are our 10 ideas for this years Earth Day!

1. Take your pup to one of the local Earth Day celebrations being held all over the country and learn from and meet wonderful, like-minded people that share your passion for keeping our Earth more friendly, and get in some fun socialization for your dog at the same time!
2. Plant a tree in honor of your dog in your yard, or at your local dog park, or a place that's near and dear to you and your pup.
3. Take a day to volunteer at your local animal shelter, and help them however you can. Maybe it's just walking and playing with the dogs and kitties, or helping with or planning a special adoption event. And before you go, gather up some items that your shelter would be very happy to have...old towels, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, dog toys your not using, pet food, grooming supplies you no longer use and more.
4. Start an organic garden for you and your dog. I think this one sounds really fun. Did you know that dogs love fresh vegetables and fruits just as much as we do? Here are some great fruits and veggies you can grow in most parts of the country for you and your dog, and the great part is you know they will be organic, healthy and safer: carrots, green beans, zucchini, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, swiss chard, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon (no seeds, K?) and more. Just remember there are some fruits and veggies not suitable for dogs, and we like to steam them slightly before serving.
5. Take the time to appreciate the Earth. We love this one...with our lives so busy, there just doesn't seem to be enough time to enjoy the great outdoors. Plan a day to take your dog hiking, or to the beach, or a local park and spend time enjoying each other and the Earth. Check out our Squidoo lens, "Fun Things to Do With Your Dog," for some great ideas!
6. One of the most important things you can do for your dog and the environment is turn your lawn organic. Your dog spends most of their outdoor time in your yard, so why not make it a safe haven? "Dogscaping" is a great book to get you started from our friend, Tom Barthel.
7. Take the afternoon and make your pup a toy from reused items around your home. You can make a great tug toy from old towels, interactive toys from used BPA free water bottles and much more!
8. Reduce the pawprint of your pup on the environment by purchasing items in bulk and Made in the USA, whether it be food, toys, or other supplies. Look for items packaged utilizing recycled materials, too. Then when you're done, recycle that packaging! Not only will you reduce trash contributed to landfills, but you'll save on the costs of shipping those products too.
9. Purchase one of pawsome Green Dog shirts from Zazzle - we have everything from "Reduce your carbon pawprint" to "Lift a leg, fertilize a tree" and more. And the best part is 10% of the profits go to no-kills animal shelters and rescues!
10. Subscribe to Raise A Green Dog and get updates to help the environment and your pup live a healthier, happier life! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!

And remember, if you can participate on April 22nd, make your Earth Day one day this weekend. From then on...try to make Earth Day, every day!