The Guardian – Dogs have “extensive and multifarious” environmental impacts, disturbing wildlife, polluting waterways and contributing to carbon emissions, new research has found.
An Australian review of existing studies has argued that “the environmental impact of owned dogs is far greater, more insidious, and more concerning than is generally recognised”. While the environmental impact of cats is well known, the comparative effect of pet dogs has been poorly acknowledged, the researchers said.
The review, published in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology, highlighted the impacts of the world’s “commonest large carnivore” in killing and disturbing native wildlife, particularly shore birds.
In the review, the researchers attributed the extent of the environmental impacts to the sheer number of dogs globally, as well as “the lax or uninformed behaviour of dog owners”.
“A lot of what we’re talking about can be ameliorated by owners’ behaviour,” Bateman said, pointing out that low compliance with leash laws was a problem.
“Maybe, in some parts of the world, we actually need to consider some slightly more robust laws.”
He suggested that dog exclusion zones might be more suitable in some areas.
Bateman also raised sustainable dog food as an option to reduce a pet’s environmental paw print, noting however that “more sustainable dog food tends to cost more than the cheap dog food that we buy which has a higher carbon footprint”.
“If nothing else, pick up your own dog shit,” he said.
I think Australia has lost it guys.
Covid officially cracked them.
And it sucks, because they were doing so well. Killing it even.
They were the envy of every warm-blooded male.
Crocodile Dundee
Giant cans of beer
(Sidebar- Fosters is a very underrated beer by the way)
And a never-ending array of the hottest fitness models on the planet.
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That’s just what Australia did.
Now?
It’s basically a police-state that’s decided dogs are now public enemy #1 of the environment.
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Are we really gonna sit here and act like dogs, the very creatures that bring us joy, purpose, and emotional stability, are somehow a bigger problem for the planet than, I don’t know, literally everything else we’ve done as a species?
And this idea that dog poop is messing with the soil? Are you serious? People leave their trash everywhere, and we’re focused on dog shit?
I’ve seen more human waste on a drive to Ohare along the side of a highway, than I’ve ever seen from a dog in a park.
It’s almost as if, when you’re out walking your dog, you’re the only one cleaning up after their mess, unlike the rest of the world that has its trash blowing around. Are we gonna blame dogs for our trash problem, too?
Looking at you South Asia.
Let’s talk about these so-called “environmental impacts.” Dogs kill wildlife? Yeah, okay mate.
This isn’t the fucking days of “White Fang”. We’re not talking about wolves and them killing farmer’s livestock here. Your little study specifically said “pet dogs”. As in labs and goldens, and beagles (shout out Pete).
It also specifically referenced birds- namely “water fowl”.
Everybody knows I’m a huge bird guy.
So I’m not defending dogs killing birds.
But Darwinism here folks.
If a bird can’t evade big old goofy Sparky the Dalmatian, that’s on the bird. It probably wasn’t going to stand a chance when a real predator was feeling hungry.
And are we seriously going to drag dogs into the whole “carbon footprint” debate? Give me a break.
Yes, dog food is part of the pet food industry’s emissions problem, but we live in a world where people are more obsessed with the latest iPhone, which is designed to break in a year so you can buy another one.
How about we start talking about the emissions from the tech and fashion industries, or the insane carbon output from billionaire’s private jets, before we start pointing fingers at the poor dog?
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Team dog 4 life.
Giphy Images.
Fuck Australia.
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*P.s.- this entire defense argument in favor of dogs does not apply to Australian-Shepherds. (Which I’m guessing there are lots and lots of in Australia…) Love them to death, one of my best friends has one, but those guys are fucking nuts. Endless energy. Strong as an ox. Crazy colored eyes. Fast as fuck. They’re a handful and if they wanted to form a pack and go on a rampage, we’d be in big trouble.
