“You cannot share your life with a dog…or a cat, and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities and minds and feelings.”
-Jane Goodall
The impact of pets on the environment? Did I read that wrong? Why would pets be dangerous for the environment? Aren’t they a part of the natural environment? When you first read the title, I am willing to bet that these were some of the many questions that immediately came to your mind. A study found that raising pets may actually contribute to global warming. Mind-blowing, isn’t it?
“Buy Organic Products Online at best prices at http://www.getgreen.co.in “.
Before we start complaining about these furry friends of ours, be certain that pets play an important role in our lives, and getting rid of them is not the answer. Pet owners will know all the benefits of having a pet. If you have a pet, you will definitely get more exercise. Dogs need walks every day. By taking them for walks, you are going on a walk as well and staying fit without even realizing it. And let’s not lie; having a pet is a great conversation starter. When you are casually walking your dog on the street, many people walking by would stop to pet him and you can socialize with new people even if you are socially awkward because you now have a common topic of interest.
https://side-out.org/patient-reflections-learning-about-cancer/the-healing-power-of-pets/
Animals can sense your emotions. They know when you have had a bad day and need comforting. Sometimes when you get in a sad or depressed mood, and you don’t want to talk to anyone, they know that. They can understand words we never speak. They will stay with us, and even though they can’t talk to us, we feel comforted in knowing that they are there for us. Even if you have a tough time making friends, you know that they will never leave you. Even if it’s just a fish, you feel relaxed watching it swim around.
So why are they supposedly dangerous? Why do they cause global warming? Honestly speaking, they do absolutely nothing to contribute to any environmental problems. It is the pet owners who are contributing to increased global pollution.
The biggest cause of pet-related global warming is pet food. As pet owners, you want only the best for your pets. That includes giving them the best pet food. You watch a lot of advertisements on TV about which pet food brand to buy, do a lot of research, and eventually settle on some famous company pet food. What you don’t know is that the pet food-making companies use up a lot of land, water, and energy resources in order to make the food. These industries also let out toxic gases into the atmosphere as a by-product. That is where global warming comes into play.
Read Also : Foods to eat as you age
https://www.eco-business.com/news/what-is-the-environmental-footprint-of-your-pets-diet/
A few recent studies show that owning and maintaining a dog can provide a carbon footprint that can be comparable to that of an SUV. Notice how I said owning and maintaining, and not just a dog provides? Like I said earlier, dogs and other pets don’t really harm the atmosphere by just existing. It is us, yet again, who cause these concerns to the planet.
Pet medicine can also be dangerous to the environment. Some tick sprays and shampoos that we use on our pets can harm the atmosphere. They may even be carrying some viruses that may not directly affect them but may have an adverse effect on our health or our children’s health.
We buy a lot of accessories and toys for our pets to play with. The factories that make these toys and accessories emit toxic gases into the atmosphere, another cause for global warming. Another main concern is their waste. When we take our dogs for a walk, they don’t ignore nature’s call. Dog waste left on the road is not a very pleasant sight to see. Also, it is not healthy when children play around in those areas. To prevent this, pet owners carry around plastic bags to throw away the waste. But plastic is non-biodegradable as we know. These plastic bags just make their way to landfills and stay there as a part of the waste in that area.
https://ecofriend.org/why-and-how-to-reduce-your-pets-environmental-impact/
Carnivore pets are the ones that actually do most of the damage to the environment. If you have herbivores like rabbits or goats, their maintenance is not that hard. They can get by eating the grass around your homes or even carrots and cabbages that are found in your fridge. I can’t really tell you to make your dog or cat start eating only vegetables because of this. That will cause serious harm to their diet and their health. Carnivores derive their energy from protein, so carrots and cabbage won’t help your pets.
Read Also : 8 Nutrients and 16 Foods to Boost Your Mood — What to Eat to…
Consider giving them some of the food that you prepare. Dogs can handle home-cooked chicken or other meats. These may even be healthier for them than the store-bought dog food filled with preservatives. Cats can get by with any fish that you make, and they are a very big fan of chicken as well.
When you think about it, maintaining a pet seems safer now. You just have to think of ways to be more environmentally friendly. You could flush pet waste down a toilet instead of putting them inside plastic bags. Buy toys made from recycled materials for them to play with. Every little thing counts.
I am sure that you don’t want to give up your pets because obviously, they bring so much happiness to us. You find comfort in knowing that they will always be there for you, even if you did get mad at them the day before. Just find ways to keep their maintenance environmental-friendly, spread awareness on how to do so.
-Sharon Ajith -15/05/2021
Tags: #cats, #climate, #climatechange, #climatecrisis, #dogs, #environment, #getgreengetgrowing, #globalwarming, #gngagritech, #greenstories, #natural, #nature, #pets, #Pollution
