Feed your furry friends well
"Start by looking for pet food that is all natural and doesn't contain any chemicals or fillers," says David Yaskulka, vice president of marketing communications for Halo, Purely for Pets. There are numerous ingredients frequently used in pet foods that aren't allowed in foods made for humans. "The rendering process that removes bacteria from disabled, dying, diseased or dead animals to make them safe to put into pet foods is not an environmentally friendly process," Yaskulka says. He also urges pet owners to look for foods that source their ingredients within the U.S. (many are imported all the way from China). "That's an easy way to cut down on your pet's carbon footprint," he says.

Scoop the poop better
When you take your dog for a walk, take along some biodegradable plastic bags. Reusing any old plastic bag to scoop the poop may seem like a great way to cut down on the number of bags in circulation, but the problem is that those non-biodegradable bags - and the poop sealed inside - can languish in the landfill for eternity. Better to recycle your old plastic bags and use biodegradable ones for poop-scooping. You can purchase biodegradable bags inexpensively at many pet stores, or you might find them free for the taking at your local park or off-leash dog area. If there isn't an off-leash area near you, consider banding together with other dog owners (and perhaps getting help from your parks and recreation department) to start one - it will help green both your pet and your community. When it comes to your kitty's bathroom scene, look for more natural, biodegradable litter. There are brands made from corn or wheat, or you can make your own by shredding your old newspapers.

Clean up naturally
When you purchase pet shampoo or products to clean up pet accidents, look for ones that aren't filled with toxic chemicals. Not only are they better for your pet, they're better for the environment, too - since any product you use can find its way into the water supply or end up in soil. You can even make your own natural deodorizer to combat pet odors - just add a few drops of rosemary, lemon and grapefruit essential oils to a spray water bottle.

Adopt, don't purchase
There are about 8 million pets surrendered to shelters every year, and nearly half of those will be euthanized. "But currently, only about one out of every five pets in people's homes came from shelters," according to Yaskulka. Providing a loving home to an animal that might otherwise be euthanized is definitely a better plan than buying from a breeder.

Sally Wadyka is a freelance writer based in Boulder, Colorado, who specializes in health, nutrition and fitness. Her work has been featured in such publications as Shape, Real Simple, The New York Times and Runner's World, as well as on MSN. When not writing, she can be found doing activities that feed her body, mind and soul - such as hiking, trail running, rock climbing and skiing in the Rockies.