FRIDAY NIGHT DOG BLOG: PAWPRINTS October 30, 2009
Posted by wmmbb in DOG BLOG -.trackback
It seems that having dogs as pets may be leaving a greater ecological footprint than expected.
Kate Ravilious in The New Scientist (via Brian at Larvatus Prodeo) observes:
Robert and Brenda Vale, two architects who specialise in sustainable living at Victoria University of Wellington . . . In their new book, Time to Eat the Dog: The real guide to sustainable living, they compare the ecological footprints of a menagerie of popular pets with those of various other lifestyle choices – and the critters do not fare well.
As well as guzzling resources, cats and dogs devastate wildlife populations, spread disease and add to pollution. It is time to take eco-stock of our pets.
. . . In 2007, Peter Banks and Jessica Bryant from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, monitored bird life in woodlands just outside the city to assess the impact of dogs being walked there (Biology Letters, vol 3, p 611). They showed that bird life in areas frequented by dogs, even when kept on a lead, had 35 per cent less diversity and 41 per cent fewer birds overall.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Sasha and Dexter regardless of their other environmental impacts are vegans. They do not seem to be faring too badly on their diet as might be confirmed this week.
Even vegan canines have a significant impact on the environment it seems. While not gadflies they do have a tendency to annoy other animals. Of course if they did not go out they would be melancholy, bring to mind Dmitri Shostakovich:
Same tune, different pictures:
………………………………………………………………………………………
As we tend to do, we will now go over to Modulator and join the crowd their on board Friday Ark, and hope that we all can get along.
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
The photos are produced here by means of Picasa
Comments»
No comments yet — be the first.