So you're getting on board with the green movement and you want to become more environmentally responsible.

You've changed the light bulbs, you're recycling, and you've installed a low-flow shower head. But you want to do more.

If you have a pet, we have some ideas.
   

There are many things responsible pet owners can do to green their animals.  Number one on the list of planet-saving steps is to adopt from a shelter.

"Well, it's really important because the shelters are typically privately-funded and always overcrowded," says Dr. Lamon Custer, veterinarian.  "All those pets need homes just like ones you would go and purchase in a pet store...but their situations are a little bit different."

Most shelters spay or neuter animals before making them available for adoption.  But if you get your pet somewhere else you should still get it fixed.  If you don't, your pet could produce hundreds of unwanted offspring.

In addition, spaying and neutering helps avoid a number of pet health problems, including cancer and prostate disease.

"There's health reasons,  there's behavioral reasons,  and then there's the fact that there's so many unwanted pets out there," Dr. Custer says.

Keeping your cat indoors can be good for a couple of reasons.  First, it will cut down on the number of bird kills.  That may not sound like a big deal, but some say cats are as big a threat to birds as habitat destruction.

And, a well-fed, well-rested domestic cat is usually in pretty good fighting shape.

Secondly, keeping fluffy indoors may lead to a much longer life.  Indoor cats don't have to worry about cars or other predators.  They can live up to 18 years.  The average lifespan for an outdoor cat is just three.

Buying organic or natural pet food can also be a good thing.  These foods are produced under strict u-s-d-a guidelines.  The arguably healthier foods have been produced without added drugs or hormones.

Because they use meat from sustainable resources, they also impact the environment less.  Those that make it claim it's a healthier food that could lead to your pet living a longer life.

"For starters, you get what you pay for," Dr. Custer says. "A 50-pound sack of food for $20 bucks, probably not the best protein source. But it still has to meet the AVCO standards, which is what the government says the protein levels have to be."

Another way to green your pet is to replace nylon leashes and collars with organic ones.

"A lot of this is sample stuff like hemp and natural fiber collars, work much better because they don't have the added oil in it.  They don't have dyes. They don't have anything that could react to the skin."

So the bottom line is simple; going green can make for a happier pet and a healthier planet.

Among all the pet-friendly environmental tips, spaying and neutering is by far the most important.

More than 70,000 puppies and kittens are born everyday in the U.S. That's 5,000 animals every hour.