Eco-Friendly Pet Species

Cats and dogs are, by far, the most common companion animal species. Although cats and dogs are affectionate and entertaining, they impose a fairly dramatic impact on our environment. Despite pet guardian's good intentions, conventional carnivorous pets can be ecologically disastrous.

If you're considering getting a companion animal in the near future, consider some of these eco-friendly pets. The diets, housing needs and behaviors of these species make them more ecologically friendly than cats or dogs.

Rabbits

By far the most common eco-friendly pet, rabbits offer all the warm-fuzziness of a cat with a fraction of the ecological impact. While a carnivorous pet's diet depends upon the unsustainable factory farm industry, rabbits are natural vegetarians. The primary staple food in a rabbit's diet is hay, which is an organic by-product of the grain industry. It requires less energy input, less fertilizer and fewer pesticides than any other crop.

Additionally, rabbits will eagerly eat your refuse-- lawn clippings, strawberry tops, corn cobs, melon rinds and all. Read here for more information about eco-friendly pet rabbit care.

Finches

Finches are an excellent choice for the aspiring eco-friendly pet owner. These small birds are not as vocal or affectionate as large birds like macaws and African greys, but they offer some ecological benefits over their psittacine counterparts. Pet finches like the society finch, spice finch or zebra finch breed readily in captivity, and they are never taken from the wild like large parrots. Finches require less food than larger birds and can thrive on an inexpensive, bioregional diet.

Rodents

As natural vegetarians, pet rodents do very well on a low-impact diet. Rats, hamsters, gerbils and mice will eagerly devour rodent-mix pet foods, which have a minimal ecological impact compared to other animals. These eco-friendly pets enjoy playing with all your unneeded waste. Your hamster will gladly "recycle" your cardboard paper towel tubes by using them as tunnels and chew toys. Minimize your pet rodent's ecological impact by using shredded, unwanted paper as a bedding material. Not only will this step keep your pet green, but it will also protect him from the harmful fumes of pine and cedar bedding.

Freshwater Fish

A sustainable freshwater aquarium can be an excellent home for an entire community of eco-friendly pets. Although saltwater tanks are associated with a significant ecological impact, freshwater ornamental fish are surprisingly sustainable. Some species, such as the red-tail shark, now survive as a species only because of captive-breeding efforts for the aquarium industry