Do pets kill the environment? (Response to “Ditch the Dog”, News.com.au)
// October 25th, 2009 // Renting with Pets, This is the life
On October 23, News.com.au threw fuel into the fire about the worth of our pets, by citing new research to prove that our humble canines “us up more energy resources than a car.”
Dogs use up more energy resources than a car, authors claim
I am not in a position to disprove these findings, however, I want to look at the possible social implications of this study.
Firstly, I find that this study is once again crossing the fine line between “owning” pets and “adopting” animals. One correlates with the idea of animals as material possessions, the other with a notion of animals as “family”. By comparing and contrasting dogs, cats, and even birds with the ownership of a motor vehicle, both Robert and Linda Vale are going to get a lot of negative feedback from humane organisations who are trying to combat the “ownership” analogy that leads to many thousands of animals dumped at shelters or even in the wild every year.
Secondly, there is the inevitable question of “well, here’s the research – what are you going to do about it?” Does having a pet in the family negate your responsibility to the environment?
Let us look at the comparison that is provided in the article: between a German shepherd who creates an eco footprint of approximately 1.1 hectares, and a human in a developed country whose eco footprint is anywhere between 1.8 and 6 hectares.
Are we asking fertile women to undergo procedures to get their tubes tied? Are men guilted into having vasectomies so that they do not bring a child into their household that would create a eco footprint up to five times that of a large dog? No, they are not. However, “larger animals” are being victimised simply because they are large, with the author of the article suggesting goldfish and hamsters as a eco-friendly option for families who “want to own” an animal.
Lastly, there are many other ways to reduce your eco footprint other than giving up your companion animal. Take a walk instead of switching on the plasma. Have a candlelit dinner instead of using lightbulbs. Play board games instead of heading straight to your favourite console. Only purchase food that you know that you are going to consume, or have a worm farm to pick up the scraps.
I find it interesting that none of these options were discussed in the article.
Or, perhaps, I am not surprised that these suggestions were completely ignored in favour of “ditching the dog.”
Long story short – don’t believe all of the hype. If you want to be ecologically aware and still adopt an animal, do your research so that you can fulfill both obligations responsibly.
