Going pet free to reduce climate change

[LittleLottieChaos]

I don’t think I’ve seen a thread where people get told not to have a pet because it contributes to climate change… but more often than not when someone asks ‘shall I have a child’ there’s an immediate ‘but think of the planet’ response.

Does anyone else find this ridiculous as a double standard? Pet food farming IS an issue and pets are not necessary (yes yes nor are kids but that’s not the debate here), we should be keeping less domestic animals. Why does a dog owner need 3+ dogs?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.euronews.com/green/amp/2021/04/28/what-s-worse-for-the-climate-crisis-your-child-or-your-pet

This is so true. I try to be as eco friendly as possible in general life and I’m looking out for new ways to do more al the time but I often feel like a hypocrite because I have four children! But I was thinking about the carbon footprint of pets whilst on the beach this year and there were dogs everywhere. It seemed like there was rarely a group on the beach without a dog and the most common type of litter I noticed were those black dog poo bags.

Horse's are perhaps the worst "pets" imaginable, the amount of land, water and feed that could be put to much better purposes is far on excess of all the cats and dogs.

As PPs have said it depends on whether you adopt a rescue, or buy from a breeder. If the former, then I think it's fine, as they're here already, and need a loving home.
I'm the world's biggest animal lover. In fact one of the main reasons I feel so sad about the climate crisis is the impact it's having on wild animals. So, the issue is morally complex. For some people, their furry friends are their lifeline, and the proven benefits (to mental health etc) of animal companionship cannot be overstated. Animals save human lives every day.
I'm a vegan, and there are some fabulous vegan dog foods available nowadays. I used to worry about dogs on vegan food, but not anymore, as the current formulas contain complete nutrition, and most dogs seem to love it. My friend did a taste test with her dog and he preferred it to his old food! That's one great way to reduce your dog's carbon footprint.
I still think western humans have the biggest negative impact on the environment though. No contest at all...

I still think western humans have the biggest negative impact on the environment though. No contest at all...

I agree. What a load of nonsense. Of all the things humans do to stuff up the planet, having pets would be very far down the list. Just another excuse for people to blame something else so they don't have to modify their behaviour.

I'm wondering if people who write these articles are going to end their life for climate's change sake? Or they are just going to tell people what to do.

I guess that’s the idea. To consider what your lines are.
Every change makes a difference.

Its interesting as people are increasingly aware of impact of flying, cars, even number of children. So I see this as another awareness raising that people may not have considered.

It is worth considering and raising the profile of the carbon cost of pets. And the differences between different pets. Promoting restraint in pet ownership etc.

We have to cut back on energy use and every little bit helps. If some people have fewer or no pets, some have a smaller car or walk more, some insulate the house better, others cut back on other things. (Fast fashion and stuff from China)
Different people will make different choices in what to give up. But it all helps.

Compare a horse vs a hamster and include land use change? I like it.

I like the idea of a big family and a handful of cats too! And not so long ago that would have been (thought of as) fine. I think we’re in the climate change denial stage of grief: it is really saddening to confront how different life is, and will be, and on such a huge scale. I read a piece the other day about how the rose may die out in england due to the change in our climate, and I cried! I love my David Austins and I don’t love most drought-tolerant plants! It’s just a grieving stage. It’s sad to let go of the idea of a big family and cats. But I do think in a few years, collectively, we’ll move past denial and into bargaining or depression.

(obviously people are at different stages in the grief and some have already moved past denial. But I think the past couple of years have been so shocking and so “the world is going to be different” that denial is probably the healthiest mechanism for people just waking up to it, and finding it difficult to comprehend.)

I don't know if you've noticed but the people shouting really hard to not have kids or less kids because of the envirement, have 2 or more kids themselves. Basically they want the rest to save earth for their offspring...

I haven’t noticed this.

Pet ownership is a human behaviour. Can't understand people saying don't blame you he pets. They would not be here if it were not for humans.

We need to look at all aspects of our lifestyles from pets to children to fashion to food to cars to holidays to heating to Aircon to whatever. It is worth having a discussion about pets. We probably should reduce the number of pets overall. Perhaps downsizing type/impact/food/number. There are probably people who should not have dogs due to not being able to provide the right conditions. Perhaps licensing should come back. Or dog sharing. Dog goes to stay at home person in day, back to other person in the evening.

Fewer cats per household? (Max number?)

I think it should be max 1 dog, max 2 cats (as cats benefit from companions) if bought from breeder. For rescue animals, you could have more. Rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters are vegetarian so have a smaller footprint and there is no limit (though of course hamsters are solitary). This only applies for new pets though; people are allowed to keep existing pets until they die. Would help the rescue situation.

I'm pretty sure my 8lb Yorkshire terrier has a lot less environmental impact than having a child. I don't try to stop people having children but you can leave my dog out of it

A dog has the same impact as a car.

I don’t think anyone’s advocating for dogicide, are they? Just, you know, future choices.

www.zerosmart.co.uk/post/the-average-carbon-footprint-of-a-pet#:~:text=The%20Average%20Carbon%20Footprint%20of%20a%20Dog,is%20generated%20from%20th

mossy.earth/guides/lifestyle/pet-carbon-footprint

An average size dog emits770kg of CO2e per year. A bigger dog could create a footprint of up to 2,500kg per year. This is the equivalent of a ninety-hour drive! The majority of their carbon footprint is generated from their diet. A study published in the journal PLOS One reported that a country made up of just cats and dogs would rank fifth in the world for meat consumption, which has a huge impact on the climate.

I really don't give a shit about my pup's footprint. I don't take holidays abroad, only have one child and refuse to be lectured on my pet

I never understand why people ever compare pets (esp dogs, why is it always dog people) and children. A Yorkie isn't going to be working in the hospital wards when I fall and break my hip in 40 years time. I've yet to meet a Labrador who can pick up it's own shit and drive the bin lorry to the recycling centre.

What @gofg said.

our young cat was pts in January and as much as I love cats, I dont think we'll have another. it was more the impact on wildlife than his diet that bothered me. now I can feed the birds and love to see them in the garden without worrying the cat will kill them.

I have 5 rescue guinea pigs, they eat hay and use bedding grown and produced locally.

It is important that children are born to produce the next generation which we need. We do not need pets and they are using up the worlds resources.

There’s always pushback when people are told that perhaps not having something that actually impacts them might be better for the environment.

on this thread it’s pets “of course you can’t expect me not to have mine”!. On other threads it’s kids, holidays, cars.

I completely agree OP, but whenever I have mentioned this in real life it has been a very unpopular opinion.

It needs to be seriously considered as part of an overall reduction in consumption. Less pets, less cars, less overseas travel, less clothes, less mindless junk.

Well there is a huge problem with unwanted pets that are already here because of humans over breeding and the ones that don’t think through what having a pet actually entails so give it up. I have a lot of animals because people didn’t want them not because I bought them. I have no interest in having a child.