Find natural and organic pet food and other green pet products in Australia.

Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world - about half of us have a cat or a dog, and two-thirds have a pet of some kind. The pet food industry turns over $1.8 billion a year (85% of that for cat or dog food), which is similar to what we spent on dairy products or bread.

   In fact, the average Australian dog gets more protein than many people in the world's poor nations, largely meat. But because meat contributes enormously to greenhouse gas emissions (see our Food section) you can help the environment by feeding your dog or cat less meat.

   In fact dogs (but not cats) can live on a vegetarian diet, although it requires a lot of care to make sure they get sufficient protein and vitamins and it is perhaps wiser to keep some meat in their diet. 

   Kangaroo meat is widely used in pet food, and you can also buy fresh kangaroo meat for your pets. Kangaroo meat is an environmentally-friendly alternative to beef and lamb because kangaroos are better adapted to Australian conditions and cause less harm to the land. However, some people say kangaroos are culled inhumanely and unsustainably.   

   In any case, you can be greener by buying pet food in bulk and avoiding overpackaging, buying local, buying organic and making it yourself.

   Your pet's "ecological pawprint" depends on the size of the animal, and how much food it eats. A large dog eats a lot more than a small dog or a goldfish! So a good rule is to be green, think small. Instead of a dog or cat consider small, herbivore pets such as guinea pigs.

   However, even goldfish can have an environmental impact. Exotic plants and fish from aquariums have become significant problems in Australian waterways. To avoid adding to the problem, never dump fish or plants from your aquarium in the wild.

   If you have a cat, make sure it isn't outside killing native wildlife at night by keeping it indoors or putting a bell around its neck to prevent it hunting.

   Or instead of owning a pet you could get involved with native animal rescue and rehabilitation services, caring for injured native wildlife.