You have love and compassion for your pet, and, if you’re anything like the team here at Happy Puppy Tips, you consider them a part of the family. But did you know some pet brands aren’t so kind to animals?
Some products lining your pet store’s shelves that are not certified as cruelty-free are typically tested on animals — which is probably not something that any responsible pet parent would want to support. As the Humane Society of the United States shares, when products are tested on animals, the testing process can be quite grueling, involving force-feeding chemicals, dousing animals’ eyes with chemicals, and shaving fur before rubbing chemicals onto their raw skin. Even worse, when tests are complete, the animals are usually euthanized.
Thankfully, more and more brands are coming to the market that are certified as cruelty-free, making them a great option for compassionate pet parents and animal lovers. Read on for our list of cruelty-free brands to shop responsibly this year.
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What Qualifies a Brand as Cruelty Free?
Before you get shopping, it’s important to know that there is no “official” or government-sanctioned cruelty-free label. When it comes to understanding what exactly qualifies a brand as “cruelty-free,” consumers are often left to fill in the gaps because, while the final product of a cruelty-free brand has not been tested on animals, the ingredients that make them may have been. And while the manufacturer of a cruelty-free brand does not conduct animal tests internally, they may rely on data from animal testing, or ingredients from outside manufacturers that do test on animals.
That being said, the CCIC’s Leaping Bunny Program is the best, most-trusted resource to help consumers find products that have met a “cruelty-free” standard, since it provides a single, comprehensive standard for cruelty-free labeling. In order to get Leaping Bunny’s stamp of approval, participating companies must pledge to end animal testing at all stages of product development, in addition to recommitting to the program annually and being open to third party audits.
So while you’re shopping, look for the CCIC Leaping Bunny logo on products to rest assured that your purchase is a responsible, truly pet-friendly option.
Cruelty-Free Pet Care + Grooming
From shampoo and conditioner, to paw balms and bug repellent, these zero-waste pet care and grooming brands use ethically sourced, natural ingredients – without harmful chemicals – making them an excellent choice for pet parents looking to make the switch to cruelty-free.
Cruelty-Free Pet Food
Many dog food companies buy dogs and cage them in laboratories for feeding trials. This list of companies doesn’t run feeding trials on caged dogs, and sources their ingredients ethically and organically when possible.
Visit PETA.org for a searchable, comprehensive list of cruelty-free pet food brands.
Cruelty-Free Vitamins and Supplements
Whether you’re trying a 100% vegan diet for your pup, or want to provide your cat with some nature-rich vitamins and minerals, you can do so in a cruelty-free manner with these brands.
Whether your goal is to go 100% vegan in your household, or just shift your shopping habits to support more ethically-conscious brands, going cruelty-free not only supports better treatment of animals, but also helps the environment.
Cruelty-free brands not only use fewer chemicals (which are harmful to the planet), but also are committed to using more sustainable ingredients and materials. So, by supporting cruelty-free brands, you are part of making a better choice for the health of our planet, which is something we can all support!
