By Carol Frischmann, author, Pets and the Planet: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Pet Care

Bette Hanson and co-pilot Sascha share my commitment to purchasing “green” whenever we can.  Properly selected toys can provide exercise, stimulate the mind, and provide plain old fun.

Toys made of recycled materials can be very good, and some endure the punishment our committed chewers give them. If you have a pet that destroys toys, be sure to find the extra heavy-duty toys. Toys that my pets use and abuse come from quality manufacturers such as Kong, Planet Dog, SmartyKat, and Pooch Planet. Manufacturers constantly introduce new products, so keep checking your neighborhood planet-friendly pet store.

Excessively cheap toys, whether manufactured in the United States or overseas, reflect poor raw materials and manufacturing quality, and usually poor worker conditions with lax regulations about process and raw material safety. The consistent discovery of toxic materials in children’s toys manufactured in China also pertains to pet toys. Toxic materials which pose problems for children become more toxic in the smaller bodies of pets. Besides poisoning your pet, your pet may eat these toy parts, causing blockages that will require surgery. Finally, inexpensive toys made of non-recyclable materials become part of our municipal solid waste.

Everyone knows the best toy for your pet is you. Use green toys during play with your pet. Green toys make playtime safer and better for the planet.