FAMILY: How your family pet can save the planet

An extra Fourth of July tip. Plus, showing gratitude, exploring the skies, thinking about less meat

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July 4, 2021 3:15pm EDT

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THE BIG QUESTION:

CAN MY KID’S PET HELP
PROTECT THE PLANET?

Sunday, July 4, 2021

PHOTOGRAPH BY PICTURE PARTNERS / ALAMY

By Rachel Buchholz, KIDS and FAMILY Editor in Chief

My childhood pet was a tiny white poodle named Killer (don’t ask) that would do a very weird thing every time he pooped. After doing his business in our wooded backyard, he’d run back in, frantically scooch around in a circle with his right ear on the floor, then change directions to frantically scooch around in a circle with his left ear on the floor.

Maybe he was just that excited about being a very good boy. I, of course, was just excited that I didn’t have to pick up said poop since it was in the backyard. Back then, pet poo was considered fertilizer, something that would help your backyard habitat stay healthy. But it turns out that because of a dog’s protein diet, that “fertilizer” is too acidic to do much good to any yard, plus can carry parasites and diseases that might endanger the habitat’s critters, including humans.

Our family pets have a bigger eco paw print than you’d expect. For instance, a 2017 study calculated that all the methane-producing feces produced by pet dogs and cats in the U.S. each year add up to about 5.1 million tons. As Nat Geo’s Jason Bittel writes, how you dispose of that waste matters to the environment, as well as the kind of food you feed your furry friend and even the type of pet it is. (For instance, small animals like the guinea pig above might be the most environnmentally sustainable pets. Here’s a kid-friendly article to help kids pick their perfect pet.)

Your pet doesn't have to go vegan to do its part to protect the planet, but simple steps can teach kids about being sustainable pet owners. (In the meantime, these ideas can teach them to be amazing pet photographers.) For instance, one study shows that playing with house cats cuts back on the feline’s desire to murder wildlife critters. Feeding the animal the proper amount of food to minimize the resources needed to fill your pet’s belly helps, too. (Experts estimate that over half of U.S. dogs and cats are overweight or obese.) Check out these other tips on making your family pet more eco-friendly.

“There are small changes you can make that do add up quite a bit,” says Kelly Swanson, a nutritionist at the University of Illinois’s Department of Animal Sciences. (For kid-friendly videos, science experiments, and photo galleries of all-things-pets, check out our Pet Central hub. Or try these helpful training guides from Nat Geo Kids—Pounce for cats and Fetch for dogs.)

Another interesting idea: serving meat-loving cats a more insect-based diet, since they often hunt and eat bugs anyway.

I guess since I recently found my cat with a cockroach in her mouth, I’m well on my way to offsetting Killer’s poopy carbon paw print.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

PHOTOGRAPH BY TOM WERNER / GETTY IMAGES

So your kid wants to be a vegetarian … My sister suddenly announced one September that she was going vegetarian—then came home from college, smelled the Thanksgiving turkey, and quickly changed her mind. But as more and more children continue to embrace their roles in protecting the planet, many of them are announcing similar veggie intentions—and sticking with them. Whether your family is carnivorous, omnivorous, or vegan, you can still support your child’s decision with some simple ideas. For your consideration: embracing Meatless Mondays, asking the child to pitch in on their veggie meals, or have a weekly international night with food from cultures that lean heavily on vegetables. (Here’s a kid-friendly recipe for Mediterranean hummus.) Try these other ideas for supporting your newly vegetarian child.

DIY OF THE WEEK

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW RAKOLA

Sky explorer: This week, the Planet Possible Family Challenge asked kids to make a telescope out of eyeglass lenses and paper towel tubes so they could explore the skies. Activities like tracking a bird for five minutes help them discover the importance of the microhabitat, then gives them ideas on how to protect it. Check back next week for Challenge 6: building a birdsong maker!

Family discussion: As the nation celebrates another birthday today, this might be a good time to quiz the family on what they are grateful for these days. Good health? Friendship? Video streaming? Thinking about gratitude is important. “Gratitude is like a secret ingredient to happiness, or a superpower to foster positive feelings,” pediatrician Hina Talib told us in this article.

TRY THIS: BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE MERICER, SHUTTERSTOCK

Sparkle time: Happy Fourth! Help kids celebrate this annual birthday party with these patriotic fruit pops, or a just-for-kicks personality quiz to see which U.S. president best matches their own personality. Then surprise them with fun facts about those U.S. presidents and others, or teach them about the history behind Independence Day. Watching fireworks tonight? This kid-friendly how-to gives tips on photographing the moment.

Hop in for a summer road trip! Activate the inner explorer in your kids as they venture to America's national parks—in real life or virtually. Sign up for updates to join the National Geographic Society on our upcoming Summer Road Trip Series, an immersive educational journey across some of the most popular U.S. national parks. We'll be exploring history, Indigenous stories, biodiversity, and more.

This newsletter was edited and curated by Rachel Buchholz, with David Beard and Monica Williams. Have a healthy and a sane (as possible) week ahead!

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FAMILY: How your family pet can save the planet

An extra Fourth of July tip. Plus, showing gratitude, exploring the skies, thinking about less meat

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