Friday October 23, 2009, 5:20 pm
By the authors' estimates, Rover wolfs down approximately 164kg of meat and 95 kg of cereal products per annum.

The land required to produce that food is 0.84 hectares (ha) (or 1.1 for a large dog), while building and driving the jeep for a year requires just 0.41 hectares of land.
Felines are not that much better, according to the Vale's research.

The average cat's eco-footprint, 0.15ha, is only slightly smaller than a Volkswagen Golf, but is still ten times a hamster's 0.014ha – itself, surprisingly, half the eco cost of running a plasma television.

By comparison, the eco-footprint of an average human in the developing world is 1.8ha, while in the developed world it's 6ha. .... more!

Friday October 23, 2009, 7:46 pm
Well this might be true if the SUV is left parked in the garage except when you have to take it out for an oil change once a year.

Saturday October 24, 2009, 5:50 am
Well, Just as the Psych. people predicted, here comes the Cognitive Dissonance!

cowboss http://cowbossatwscc.blogspot.com/

Sunday October 25, 2009, 3:24 am
Thanks Cowboss!

Frankly I would get rid of the car instead of my dog, can't talk to my car, actually I do, but I yell and scream at it when it acts up! Only sweet talk and kiss my dog!

Also, Jessie my rescue is a vegan...she eats, Solid Gold Holistic, or maybe she is I should say "mostly vegan", since she eats fish sometimes.

Anyway, Get rid of the cars, keep the animals and ride mass transit.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 6:21 am
Thanks cowboss....The comment I posted (or rather, tried to post) yesterday didn't work.

I think the math is probably close enough to make the point and point taken. I have considered this for a few moments........I think I'll keep the pooch cuz I can't imagine life without her, and the SUV is a necessity on some of the back roads I travel in Northern Ontario during the winter.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 7:28 am
adopt, spay and neuter, people.

while i am definitely worried enough about climate change to change a lot of habits, there are lines i won't cross. i think we should value children and be happy when a woman is pregnant, and i think we should adopt pets from the shelter and the abandoned ones from the neighbourhood rather than killing them en masse because it would be 'better for the planet'. i believe the only thing more important than making sure the planet can continue to sustain human civilisation, is to make sure the civilisation that survives is worth having.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 8:00 am
Cowboss and Karen S...sorry can't send either of you a green star since I have already done so...

I personally think those Hummers that they drive here in Southern California can go to the yards to be pulled apart...They kept making bigger and bigger cars, then had to be bailed out.

As far as adopting your pet, yes, but am confused how it go on this article, and yes spay and neuter so we don't have more animals being put down needlessly.

But, back to the SUV and animals, personally I think that with everything else that is going on, I am going with Karen, keeping my pet and my truck until I have to decide between the two.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 9:24 am
Oh my word.. what about kitticats... can't part with mine for sure.... oh my perhaps we can feed our doggies something more environmentally friendly

Sunday October 25, 2009, 11:27 am
Cats are true carnivores. Their digestive tracts are too short to properly digest plant material. Making your cat vegetarian would be detrimental to its health. Somebody had too much time on his hands.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 1:00 pm
.. What about if we humans start at first to be vegan.. dogs can be vegan too.. if they are trained to eat with the owner.. however it is not about global warming,.. this is a myth and in fact some scientist do say that we are close to a new ice age again... Google about global warming ......!!!

Sunday October 25, 2009, 3:27 pm
This is where I have to put my foot down. What are we supposed to do about this? Take our dogs to the pound so they can kill it? My dog is the ONLY being in the world that totally accepts me. Her existence and presence in my life improves my quality of life, and I do my best to make her safe and content.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 3:42 pm
Deborah

I notice that you have 1 Care2 friend, Is that your dog? Just kidding, LOL hope you can take this, as well as this story lightly! My point of posting this was to show that "All is interrelated" -- Not just what is "Socially acceptable" We must all become more aware of how the "Bolt fits the nut" before we push for "Half baked solutions"

cowboss

Sunday October 25, 2009, 4:08 pm
Well, this article doesn't get man out of the woods yet, for in a way he's still the one responsible for destroying the woods in both instances---car & dog.

In other words, just as the SUV, dogs along with livestock are a direct result of man's doings. But we all would like to think of our pet as not categorized with a gas guzzling vehicle that has its negative impacts on the environment. So, Ill try and state a reprieve.

Technically, we could just feed Rover our tablescraps without negating any added impacts on the environment in growing food for him.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 5:55 pm
Interesting article cowboss. Since I only drive my car a very little bit and it is a 4 cylinder, and only has 43,250 miles on it and it's only almost 15 years old, can I still keep my adopted dog!? LOL The only problem with table scraps for dogs and cats is that they are not good for their digestive tracts, especially the smaller dogs and almost all cats.

Lync

Sunday October 25, 2009, 6:02 pm
Why not kill off the big steak eaters and leave our dogs alone. Begin with the author of the book.. . fire up the barbeque.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 6:55 pm
Carol

You may be on to something. Maybe that is what the US Gov. folk (FDA and USDA) have in mind by refusing to Ban the Practise of feeding poultry feces to livestock. Maybe it is, as you say all about population control! Who would have "thunked"

cowboss http://cowbossatwscc.blogspot.com/

Sunday October 25, 2009, 7:20 pm
Jeepers....all I can come back with this one is UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM What is that fire up the barbeque for...now I am at a loss on that one...

This news was about a SUV and a dog what does fire up the barbeque have to do with that????

I'm appalled at that!!!

Sunday October 25, 2009, 7:22 pm
OK...I can say fire up the barbeque on all of MANKIND...that would would make me smile to no end...mayhbe that is what Carol meant and I took it wrong!!!

Sunday October 25, 2009, 7:51 pm
Hmmm, think I'll keep both my little SUV and my Jessie dog, I need them both.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 8:31 pm
Fire up the barbeque is referring to eat the author of the book or cook the book and leave our beloved animals alone. How about people stop eating steak. the farts and breath of cows we raise inhumanely in herds for people to eat cause more methane that all the cars put together. To pick on our dogs, our best friends is ugly indeed but to write a book like this combines sick thinking and greed.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 8:36 pm
The most mean beings are the big meat eaters and they want to kill our loving animals?
I have even heard that arginine in beef makes one more aggressive perhaps those quarter pounders fuel wars!
We would all be better off if we didn't have big, greedy factory farming for big greedy people wouldn't we?

Sunday October 25, 2009, 8:57 pm
Well Carol...UMMMM

Sunday October 25, 2009, 9:01 pm
Before I got to finish my comment this just took off on it's own since I am not using a mouse and have my hand over the top.....YEP GREEDY FACTORY FARMING IS RIGHT ON!!!!

What is wrong with this Country???? Getting back to the news, Yes I will keep my dog and the truck and I will be happy that I only do drive it 10 miles a week!!

The rest of the time I do walk!!!!

Sunday October 25, 2009, 9:08 pm
You go Marilyn! You got it right. Hope doggie is walking with you :)

Sunday October 25, 2009, 9:08 pm
Hey everyone boycott this horrible book!

Sunday October 25, 2009, 10:20 pm
It's a terrible book title.

I LOVE cats and dogs, but I did read somewhere that worldwide overall they eat an incredible amount of meat and fish per year, which was pause for thought anyway. There's also an incredible amount of abuse and neglect of cats and dogs in this world. Don't know any answers ... just musing out loud ...

Human consumption of animals is greater than pets', tho.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 10:57 pm
Fish is also fed to chickens and pigs ... so factory farming again causing more deaths ... also small fish are hunted for cat food:

http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/ar-aquaticcats.html

well, don't bite my head off, just thinkin' about it.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 10:59 pm
What turnip truck did the Vales fall off of? Did the Vales pay for this ridiculous research or did taxpayers have to pay for it. What a waste at this time with the economy in the shape it is in.

Sunday October 25, 2009, 11:18 pm
Ann, I agree. Have we fallen so low and gotten so dumbed down that we are now picking on our sweet, lovable, innocent pets who offer us many health benefits? Why don't we face it that humans are the main problem not the animals. Humans must use our "large brain?" to address the problems of climate change and stop doing stupid things like blaming animals. We are the "bad" guys here on this earth. The authors have too much time on their hands and need to look for a new profession if they have had to pick such a stupid hypothesis. Lets research constructive ideas not talk about eating our dogs. They probably don't realize that their book can cause real damage in the hands of dumb people who already harm animals just for fun.

Monday October 26, 2009, 2:05 am
No, Marilyn. If you were appalled, you got it right. What kind of statement is that......"Kill off the big steak eaters"....some twisted way of cleansing the world of omnivores? Sheesh, where is the compassion in that statement? It doesn't sound like the best read in the world, but I don't think it warrants killing off the author. Sounds like something from the dark ages!

Monday October 26, 2009, 4:27 am
Thanks for the write-up, but after reading it, I'm not sure what was being said.


fischöl

Monday October 26, 2009, 4:30 am
This is perfect nonsense. So what happens next? We have no more children, because they will surely take up more of the earth's resourses. Authors need to be careful what they implant into susceptable minds.They can cause great harm and make the lives of animals, already tenuous, go over the brink.
I feel these people and their findings need to be treated with the contempt they deserve !

Monday October 26, 2009, 6:13 am
The day I cannot keep an animals. dog or cat, is the day I will surely end my life. How ignorant. We eat so much snyways, just give pooch or kitty half of what you consume, and there you go.

Monday October 26, 2009, 7:21 am
Where are the sources and references? Statistics can always be cleverly twisted. Comparing land hectares, to eating protein, eco-footprints, etc. feels jumbled and is like comparing apples to oranges. This is a rambling article that wants to make light of global warming. Since the dog is descended directly from the wolf, canines had nothing to do with creating climate change. NASA reports the trend is most likely from carbon dioxide and methane (not dogs!) and was brought into being by human beings via their use of fossil fuels. It seems some people never want to take any responsibility or blame, just blame it on the dog! Besides, he can't speak back.

Monday October 26, 2009, 7:46 am
It was a joke. It is also a joke to picl on poor doggies for climate change. I am against killing period... but when someone says eat the dogs it warrants a warrents a "sick' joke. The whole thing is sick!

Monday October 26, 2009, 8:32 am
Denise
You said it! Perfectly. We should all boycott such as destructive book.

Monday October 26, 2009, 8:57 am
i'l change my dogs food but i need my gogs

Monday October 26, 2009, 9:51 am
I think the point is much deeper than getting rid of your dog to save the planet. The truth is that IF we are truely in the process of causing catastrophic climate change, then parking the SUV's ain't gonna fix the problem. It of course never was because developing countries are not going to slow down their emissions anyway no matter what we do in the west. And we are not going to appreciably reduce ours either. We are just going to tax the hell out of energy to give more dollars to the government for them to waste for us.
This article illustrates that to REALLY meaningfully reduce "greenhouse" gas emissions it will take much more extreme actions than smaller cars and windmills. These actions I frankly hope most of us would find unacceptable. Like for example the extermination of over half the humans on earth. Because short of that we will continue to produce these gases in large quantities through at least the better part of this century no matter what cap and tax plans are implemented in Washington or anywhere else.

Monday October 26, 2009, 1:35 pm
ha!!! did they figure out how much Humans eat, over population of Humans in this world , eat less or no beef have 1-or 2 child and you can keep the dog and while you at it, get rid of the SUV

Monday October 26, 2009, 3:43 pm
Actually, this whole line of thought is totally ridiculous, since it assumes that CO2 and methane are actually greenhouse gases of any significance, which they ARE NOT.

CO2 is the needed gas for the survival of ALL plants on earth, and bluegreen algae, and any additional C02 generated by anything just stimulates plants and buegreen algae to grow more and use the additional C02, and methane is nothing but plant decomposition byproduct, bacteria, fungi and animal flatus, which is a natural part of the life cycle, and does not build up in the atmosphere.

Therefore, the pitch to wipe out dogs to save the planet is just as silly as saying that Zombies and human cannibalism is green, since it is eliminating excess CO2 and methane generation by getting rid of people.

Global Warming is a very clever scam to make one world government necessary, and Al Gore and his greenie army very filthy stinking rich. The whole carbon credit scam is just a rework of the old catholic concept of selling indulgences for sin, but with a secular stand, rather than religious idea of sin and penance.

If Global Warming is happening, it is occuring from the other forms of toxic pollution spit out by major pollutors like China and India, and this insane diversion to worry about natural gases like C02 and methane is just a song and dance by the Albertus Goracle.

Earth has had radical weather change and shifts for billions of years before we were here, and it will continue after Gore convinces us to kill ourselves off for the greather good of the worms and bacteria.

Monday October 26, 2009, 4:04 pm
I think this article was written to make climate change appear laughable and ludicrous, and to have us believe there is really nothing realistic we can do about it (short of killing dogs). It makes everyone want to give up, just as the South and North Poles continue to melt away. Climate change is very real, but killing dogs will never solve it. It's a ridiculous argument meant to ridicule global warming which is presently a confirmed scientific fact.

Monday October 26, 2009, 4:15 pm
But the idea that humans control climate by how much CO2 they produce IS laughable and ridiculous...besides being a product of complete and utter fakery. It has all the scientific verity of an Urban Legend.

"the belief in human-caused global warming as a dangerous event, either now or in the future, has most of the characteristics of an urban legend. Like other urban legends, it is based upon an element of truth. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas whose concentration in the atmosphere is increasing, and since greenhouse gases warm the lower atmosphere, more CO2 can be expected, at least theoretically, to result in some level of warming.

But skillful storytelling has elevated the danger from a theoretical one to one of near-certainty. The actual scientific basis for the plausible hypothesis that humans could be responsible for most recent warming is contained in the cautious scientific language of many scientific papers. Unfortunately, most of the uncertainties and caveats are then minimized with artfully designed prose contained in the Summary for Policymakers (SP) portion of the report of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This Summary was clearly meant to instill maximum alarm from a minimum amount of direct evidence."

Spencer: AGW has most of the characteristics of an “urban legend”
24 10 2009

An Expensive Urban Legend
by Roy W. Spencer, Ph. D.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/10/24/spencer-agw-has-most-of-the-characteristics-of-an-urban-legend/

Monday October 26, 2009, 4:22 pm
Thanx for all your interest and comments, I must say that I have, through this exercise been convinced that Cognitive Dissonance is "Even more common" than I had thought!

cowboss http://cowbossatwscc.blogspot.com/

Tuesday October 27, 2009, 12:18 am
Not worth giving this author even the space on this page. What about the paper that will be wasted on this tripe
when it goes on sale.
Ditch the car and walk with you dogs. Does wonders for your health.