6 things to do with your pets in Manchester

Did you know that Manchester has fewer cars per person than any other UK city outside London? But for those that do drive, 1/3 of journeys we take are less than a mile! 

For dogs, sniffing out new spots helps to build up their confidence and develop their social skills. The more new places they sniff out, the more relaxed they’ll be around new people or animals (even cats!). But it doesn't mean you need a car to reach those new spots!

Luckily, dogs are now allowed on Manchester’s tram network so the whole city can be easily explored by our four-legged friends. 

Want more ways to travel round Manchester without the car? Check out Transport for Greater Manchester's journey planner!

Pet peeve? Buying a new toy that’s ripped up in minutes. Can you believe Brits spend an average of £264 a year just on presents for our pets!?

If you're looking to save a bit of money, and help reduce the amount of things we throw away, you can make toys from things lying around the house. To give some perspective, a whopping 11 million items of clothing are binned each week in the UK! (Oxfam).  Think of all the dog toys those could have made!

With these homemade toys they’ll have just as much fun (read: destroy it just as fast) so win-win!

• Old t-shirts (to save your new ones from being shredded)

• Denim jeans (ideal for any dogs and cats who love to chew or scratch)

• Plastic bottles (because is there a more satisfying cronch ?)

So the next time you’re thinking of chucking out some old jeans or staring at that sad pile of knackered pet toys, have a think about making some DIY ones instead!

Click here to explore the wonderful world of homemade toys and get tails wagging.

Although they’re not always that convenient (like first thing on a Monday morning or in the middle of a Manchester rainstorm…) the daily plod of walking our pet helps keep us fit, healthy and connected to the great outdoors. 

We all know that spending time in nature can make us happier, keep us fit and less stressed out, but did you know research also shows that the more connected you feel to nature, the more likely you are to take everyday action to protect it? Thankfully in Manchester there are loads of amazing green spaces we can visit with our pooches.

Click here to find out more about them and see which ones you haven’t heard of!

Most cat owners have probably experienced the simple joys that their cats find in a cardboard box. Even when we spoil our cats with fun toys, scratching posts and cat trees, they still love exploring a mysterious new box whenever one arrives.

But have you tried taking things up a level? By getting crafty, we can turn cardboard boxes into fun games for our cats, with compartments to hide treats, or attach other DIY toys to make homemade cat trees.

Check out our DIY pet toys guide for some crafty inspiration.

After you’re done, you can easily recycle the cardboard at home so it doesn’t go to waste – but what about other items? It can be confusing to know what to do with things like pet food packaging, especially as they can stink up our kitchens if they’re hanging around for too long! Dig into these tips for how to best recycle some of the most common pet-related items:

Plastic pouches:

Clean the packaging thoroughly to remove any food residue. Most pet food pouches are made from different plastics which can be difficult to recycle at home. Check for recycling symbols on the packaging and refer to Recycle 4 Greater Manchester for more info about how to get rid of them properly. Lots of supermarkets now offer recycling points specifically for items like these, so take a look next time you’re doing your weekly shop or check your local Pets at Home store to see if they’ll take them.

Tins and cans:

Rinse out cans to remove any remaining food. Metal cans (aluminium or steel) can be put into the brown bin at home.

Top tip: Remove any paper labels from cans so that they’re easier to recycle!

Paper Bags:

Recycling: Empty the bags completely and ensure they are dry. These can usually be recycled with other paper products in the brown bin, but double check the packaging for recycling labels to make sure.

Pet food packaging isn’t the only thing that can easily catch us out when it comes to recycling, and there are lots of items that many of us aren’t so sure what to do with. For more guidance, check out our guides for getting recycling right in Manchester and how to spot hidden plastics in your home.

Dogs love to explore the world with their noses, but this doesn’t just mean visiting parks or going for a walk around the block!

Our dogs love spending time with us wherever we are, and there are lots of dog friendly café’s and bars dotted all over Manchester that we can visit with them!

Fancy another way to improve your health and tackle climate change? Why not try Meat-Free Monday! Avoiding meat like beef throughout the week is one of the biggest actions you can take to help protect the planet.

Check out this list of some of our top dog friendly spots, which happen to do tasty veggie and vegan food too!

• Feel Good Club (Northern Quarter)

• Seven Brothers (Multiple)

• Pollen (Ancoats)

• Crazy Pedros (Multiple)

• Mackie Mayor (Great Ancoats St.)

• Rudy’s Pizza (Multiple)

• The Black Friar (Salford)

• Cask (New Islington)

Click here to read our full list and get some inspiration for your next weekend wander.

And check out our guide on how to start eating less meat and dairy!

Are your eyes bigger than your belly? If you’ve got a few too many things in the fridge, that’s where our hungry helpers come to our rescue!

In the UK, 60% of our food waste comes from our households! This wasted food costs families around £80 per month - That’s £960 a year! (WRAP)

Our pets can be brilliant at helping to save food from going in the bin. Some of our leftovers can be made into their own little treats, saving money too. Before giving our pets anything new, we first need to know that not all human food is safe for pets. Here’s a quick guide to what’s usually okay:

• Lean Meats: chicken, turkey, and beef are great as long as they’re cooked and free from seasonings like garlic and onions.

• Vegetables: carrots, peas, and green beans are generally safe and can be a crunchy, nutritious treat.

• Fruits: apples (without seeds), blueberries, and bananas can make for sweet, healthy snacks.

Every pet is different, so it’s a good idea to start out small when experimenting with any new type of food to make sure it doesn’t end up in an upset tummy.

Check out these examples of pet treats using leftover food items to expand your pet’s palate, treat them to something a little different and help you make your food go further:

• 5 DIY Pet Treats Using Pumpkin (for smaller animals too)

• Sunday Roast Scrap Treats for Dogs

• Sweet Potato Treats for Dogs

• Vegan Dog Treats Using Leftover Juice Pulp

Looking for more ways to make food last longer? Check out our guide on common foods you can freeze!