Pets contribute to greenhouse gases like us. Here’s how to reduce their carbon pawprint

[PeteS in CA]

Pets contribute to greenhouse gases like us. Here’s how to reduce their carbon pawprint

https://apnews.com/article/dog-cat-pet-sustainability-diet-climate-environment-f78cdd2e594d9898d4832e667ed2c6a5

The whole “pets are family members” idea isn’t just a sweet sentiment. Data shows that pet owners are increasingly buying food that resembles their own diets.

The trend toward refrigerated, “fresh” or even “human-grade” pet food can come with a price beyond the pet food budget.
...
“What else do pets do? We have to feed them. I think that that’s why it’s number one,” said Allison Reser, director of sustainability and innovation at the Pet Sustainability Coalition.

But just like people, a pet’s impact on the planet can vary greatly depending on their diet.
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In the U.S., feeding dogs and cats accounts for more than a quarter of the environmental impact from meat consumption. The pollution created from the meat that dogs and cats consume in the U.S. is equivalent to the pollution created from driving 13.6 million cars for a year, according to a UCLA study.
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Protein should make up roughly 18% of an adult dog’s diet and roughly 26% of an adult cat’s diet, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

Manchester said it’s possible for dogs to be healthy on a vegan diet.

“Dogs can get plenty of protein and the right balance of protein without actually ingesting any meat,” Manchester said.

Cats rely more on animal products. Manchester said she doesn’t know of a balanced, commercially available vegan cat food. That means minimizing their impact comes from choosing less pollutive meat options when possible. Beef is the most pollutive protein. Chicken and fish are lower-impact, and plant-based options pollute the least.

Fifi and Fluffy are evil! EEeeeee-VILE!!!

[bigheadfred]

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I thought cats were obligate carnivors? Anyway, dry food... that's it? I guess I'm climate friend? Yay.

[Smokin Joe]

As a rule, my dog eats what I eat. She has maintained her body weight, is still energetic, despite the abuse she endured before her rescue having caused lasting injuries that were only recently discovered. (The vet gave me a dirty look before I explained that she was a rescue.)

I eat a very low carbohydrate diet to maintain my A1C, so she doesn't get pumped full of grain either.

We eat a lot of meat, eggs, and some cheese with a few vegetables. So she's equally complicit in whatever Earth-wrecking damage that does, and probably cares about it twice as much as I do.