LOS ANGELES, CA — When it comes to global warming, Fido and Fluffy are part of the problem, a new study by UCLA indicates.

Most cat or dog lovers would say they can't imagine living in a world without pets, but as the threat of global warming increases, environmentally conscious pet lovers may need to make some tough choices, according to the study.

Pet ownership in the United States creates about 64 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, UCLA researchers found. That's the equivalent of driving 13.6 million cars for a year. The problem lies with the meat-filled diets of kitties and pooches, according to the study by UCLA geography professor Gregory Okin.

Dogs and cats are responsible for 25 to 30 percent of the impacts of meat production in the United States, said Orkin. Compared to a plant-based diet, meat production "requires more energy, land and water and has greater environmental consequences in terms of erosion, pesticides and waste," the study found.

And what goes in, must come out. In terms of waste, Okin noted, feeding pets also leads to about 5.1 million tons of feces every year, roughly equivalent to the total trash production of Massachusetts.

"Given the significant environmental impact of meat production, the contributions of our omnivorous and carnivorous pets deserve special attention," according to Okin's study, published in the journal PLOS ONE. "The U.S. has the largest population of pet dogs and cats globally, with an estimated 77.8 million dogs and 85.6 million cats in 2015."

While previous studies have examined the impact of pet ownership on carbon use, water quality, disease and wildlife, Okin's study delved into its impact on total U.S. energy and meat consumption and the environmental impact of that consumption.


"This analysis does not mean to imply that dog and cat ownership should be curtailed for environmental reasons, but neither should we view it as an unalloyed good," Okin wrote in the study. "It is clear that a transition to pets that eat less meat, and therefore have less environmental impact, would reduce the overall U.S. consumption of meat."

Okin's report notes the social and emotional benefits of owning dogs and cats, insisting the study is intended to increase the awareness of the impact such pets have on the nation's meat-production industry and its environmental effects.

"Additional research is needed to evaluate the animal content and human-edibility of ingredients in dog and cat food after processing, but the calculations presented here indicate that these pets comprise a significant proportion of U.S. energy and animal-derived product consumption, with the consequent environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emission and feces production," he wrote.

Okin noted that the pet food industry has made advancements in manufacturing, product design and alternative protein sources, but more can be done.

Simple measures like feeding domestic dogs and cats nutritionally appropriate amounts will certainly reduce their environmental and energetic impact, Okin wrote. "However, without large-scale reduction in their number and changes to the food system that drastically reduces the per-capita animal product consumption, the environmental and energetic impact of these animals will remain significant."

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo by kitty.green66 via flickr.com

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The goal of the anti-humanists is to guilt you out of existence.

My 75 pound hound Louie contributes far more positively to this world than Gregory Okin does, so if anyone needs to be euthanized or curtailed for the benefit of the planet, I vote it should be Okin.

Worshipping Gaia, Mother Earth, and trying to appease her wrath has always involved animal sacrifice. There's nothing new here. I guess virgins are next?

Fire up the volcanoes.



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If these stupid "journalists" were stifled and we were freed from all their hot air, we would not need to worry about global warming.

If we could just kill all living things the planet would be safe from the global warming threat!

I'm sure some school will be along shortly to measure fish farts and add that to the rising CO2 total.

Perhaps in the next couple of years when my beloved pooch takes the rainbow bridge I will box up has ashes and send them to these people doing the study with a note on how I did my pat for the planet.

OK, that does it. I'm getting rid of Merlot and getting a fucking goldfish.

And here I thought we had seen every iteration of stupid..............I was wrong.
Mike

Why don't these jackasses lead the charge and kill themselves first. It's amazing that all of their studies and recommendations never include them.

Comet time!

quote:

The problem lies with the meat-filled diets of kitties and pooches, according to the study by UCLA geography professor Gregory Okin.

Just another avenue of attack from the anti-meat crowd.

How many tons of bullshit do liberal loons excrete each day?

I say we rescue all the pets in California and kill the humans.

If we eliminate all SJW, we would be able to save the planet, and let the pets all live. I'm good with that.

quote:

Originally posted by Bigboreshooter:

quote:

The problem lies with the meat-filled diets of kitties and pooches, according to the study by UCLA geography professor Gregory Okin.

Just another avenue of attack from the anti-meat crowd.

Those vile, hypocritical loons at PETA are already pushing this.

quote:

Originally posted by Bigboreshooter:
Just another avenue of attack from the anti-meat crowd.

Greenpeace, PETA, BLM, Social Justice, Liberation Theology, Keynesians, global warming nuts : they're all in the same socialist-fascist tent.



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quote:

Originally posted by gw3971:
If we could just kill all living things the planet would be safe from the global warming threat!

I read that book.

quote:

Originally posted by SIG4EVA:
Why don't these jackasses lead the charge and kill themselves first. It's amazing that all of their studies and recommendations never include them.

These are people that want to pass laws that they would never imagine breaking. These laws
always will apply to someone else "For their own good."

Volutary Human Extinction Movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/..._Extinction_Movement

At least this one is voluntary, and honest/transparent about its motives and goals.

quote:

Originally posted by SIG4EVA:
Why don't these jackasses lead the charge and kill themselves first. It's amazing that all of their studies and recommendations never include them.

I have said at times, those who are worried about man-made global warming destroying planet earth should themselves cease to emit CO2 and CH4. So doing would benefit the planet, but maybe not in the way they think.