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

Bette Hanson and co-pilot Sascha share my concern about the #1 environmental problem concerning pets. That problem is pets losing their original homes.

In any economy, millions of pets lose their homes each year, but with the sagging economy driving foreclosures, families often need to find someone else to care for their pets; county shelters try to fill that role. Did you know that much of the funding for caring for animals that must be given up comes from the licensing of pets?


If you have an unlicensed pet, please take that step. Many county organizations make licensing easy with online registration systems. If you want a new pet, consider a shelter pet, and be sure your new friend is neutered or spayed. If you want to spend time with animals, but can’t commit to a pet, volunteer at a shelter.


Life sometimes dictates that a well-loved pet must be rehomed. That’s what shelters do. Yet, if you spend time at shelters, you’ll realize that it’s not just people forced to move and give up their pets. The flow of unwanted pets is constant, and our cities and counties devote an enormous amount of resources to collecting and housing these animals. That’s a huge environmental problem, and one that seems preventable.