Embedded Files
This site is under construction 🚧🙂🚧 Message the mods at our Reddit community if you'd like to help. We'd be excited to have it!
Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Humans have enjoyed pets for thousands of years. Pet ownership can have many benefits for humans, but is not always so beneficial to animals themselves. There are also a variety of environmental consequences.
This page is intended to explore which pets have the most impact, and how to reduce our pet-related impact in ways that also consider the animals' wellbeing.
Types of Pets
Types of Pets
Cats
Cats
"There are an estimated 600 million cats on the planet... experts believe that there are more cats than any other species of mammal, other than humans." - Catster
"Estimates of the number of feral and wild cats in the world vary widely, from anywhere between 30 million and 100 million animals." - Catster
In the USA, "Of the cats entering shelters, approximately 37% are adopted, 41% are euthanized, and less than 5% of cats who came in as strays are returned to their owners." - Community Care College: Pet Facts
Environmental Impact of Cats
Environmental Impact of Cats
"Cats are apex predators that can wreak havoc on local biodiversity. Research shows that outdoor cats on islands have already caused or contributed to the extinction of an estimated 33 species. Wild cats pose an outsized threat to birds, which make up half their diet. In Hawaii, known as a bird extinction capital of the world, cats are the most devastating predators of wildlife. “We know that cats are an invasive, environmental threat,” said Lepczyk, who has published papers proposing management policies for outdoor cats." - Wired: Kitten Season Global Warming Cat Breeding
Dogs
Dogs
Population Statistics
Population Statistics
Between 400 million and 900 million dogs in the world, many of which are free-range with around 20% being owned and restrained.
In the USA, "Of the dogs entering shelters, approximately 35% are adopted, 31% are euthanized and 26% of dogs who came in as strays are returned to their owner." - Community Care College: Pet Facts
Eco-Friendly Dog Toys & Equipment
Eco-Friendly Dog Toys & Equipment
Fish
Fish
Population Statistics
Population Statistics
Rabbits
Rabbits
Population Statistics
Population Statistics
Pros & Cons of Rabbits As Pets
Pros & Cons of Rabbits As Pets
Diet
Diet
Rabbits are vegan by nature, so they have a particularly low-impact diet compared to dogs and cats. Any waste is safe for composting, as are their bedding and droppings!
Exotic Pets
Exotic Pets
Unfortunately the exotic pet trade fuels global poaching and wild life trafficking which often has ties to other illegal activities including drug and gun smuggling. These all contribute to species decline and even species extinction.
It is generally looked down upon to support the exotic pet trade as this has already led to problematic amount of habitat disturbance and species loss. Exotic birds such as African Parrots; primates including monkeys and chimps; cheetahs; and many tropical fish are frequently killed by poachers accidentally, or later from injuries or improper care and stress from being smuggled and fed improper diets. Even once-common species like hedgehogs are at increased risk of extinction because of the pet trade.
Population Statistics
Population Statistics
Ways to Reduce Pet Impact
Ways to Reduce Pet Impact
Pet Diets
Pet Diets
"Pet guardians have been keen to adopt vegan pet diets. The BVA noted that 42% of companion animal vets reported they had clients who feed meat-free diets. The switch to such diets is being driven by concerns about the health, environmental, and food animal welfare impacts of meat-based diets. Considering pet health, by mid 2024, 10 studies in dogs and three in cats had demonstrated equivalent or superior health outcomes using (nutritionally-sound) vegan or vegetarian diets. These included large-scale studies, studies using veterinary clinical examinations, diagnostic tests and laboratory data, and studies reporting veterinary health assessments, as well as owner opinions (which were recently found to be uninfluenced by diet choice, also increasing confidence in their reliability).
When considering environmental benefits, the key study in this field recently found that a global transition toward nutritionally-sound vegan diets for the 471 million pet dogs and 373 million pet cats owned worldwide in 2018, would provide major environmental benefits. If all pet dogs were transitioned, it would save more greenhouse gases than produced by the entire UK. If all pet cats were transitioned, sufficient food energy could be saved to feed 70 million people - more the entire UK population. Transitioning pet dogs would allow 450 million people to be fed - greater than the entire EU population. And around seven billion farmed land animals would be spared from slaughter annually, or 9% of the global total, with significantly higher proportions in countries with high pet ownership, such as the UK or US." - Access Wire: British Veterinary Association Ends Opposition to Vegan Diets for Dogs
Pet Waste
Pet Waste
When pet waste is not properly handled it can get into waterways, spreading diseases and viruses to wild life.
Dogs Waste
Dogs Waste
This often happens when dog owners don't pick up after their dogs, and then rains washes the feces along the watershed. This can make streams and rivers unsafe for swimming or other activities.
Cat Waste
Cat Waste
The same can happen with cat waste, though cats should be kept indoor to protect wildlife anyway. Kitty litter has a fairly big environmental impact, but flushing cat poop down the toilet is particularly dangerous to certain wildlife, since our sewage system doesn't filter out the parasites that kill otters in particular.
Resources & Guides
Resources & Guides
International
International
This Enviro Pet Waste Network: Resources "is a useful all-inclusive resource to help communities and households make informed decisions on how to repurpose pet waste, considering options available in their city or region. Situations differ geographically, and opportunities are continually changing. That’s why an online site will be the best way to find support and share experiences.
Resources available at this site may be used to provide backing for grant requests, obtain community funding or advocate for cycling pet waste back to nature. All of the site's available fact sheets can also be downloaded..."
Organizations
Organizations
Many animals are in need of forever homes, so if you are planning to have a pet, please consider adoption over buying from pet shops or breeders.
International
International
The Enviro Pet Waste Network (EPWN) 💩 "connects people and communities that are successfully diverting dog and cat waste from landfills with those who want to learn how to develop similar programs in their own cities and towns. This website will help you find eco-friendly options for managing pet waste.
Want to help reduce the environmental impact of cat waste or of dog poop at your park, beach, trail, home or community? You’ve come to the right place. It is estimated there are about 900 million dogs and 700 million cats worldwide!"Memorial Reefs International: Pet Reefs "Memorial Reefs International is now offering Pet Reefs- a unique resting place for your companion animals. Pet Reefs are an ecological way to respectfully honor your precious pets.
Their living legacy begins with the addition of their cremated remains within a Memorial Reef, which is then placed in our Florida or New Jersey undersea memorial garden dedicated specifically for pets.
The surface of the memorial is textured to allow adhesion of coral polyps, while its hollow center shelters fish and other marine animals."
Europe
Europe
UK
UK
The Enviro Pet Waste Network: UK (EPWN) 💩 "connects people and communities that are successfully diverting dog and cat waste from landfills with those who want to learn how to develop similar programs in their own cities and towns. This website will help you find eco-friendly options for managing pet waste.
Want to help reduce the environmental impact of cat waste or of dog poop at your park, beach, trail, home or community? You’ve come to the right place. It is estimated there are about 900 million dogs and 700 million cats worldwide!"
North America
North America
Canada
Canada
The Enviro Pet Waste Network: Canada (EPWN) 💩 "connects people and communities that are successfully diverting dog and cat waste from landfills with those who want to learn how to develop similar programs in their own cities and towns. This website will help you find eco-friendly options for managing pet waste.
Want to help reduce the environmental impact of cat waste or of dog poop at your park, beach, trail, home or community? You’ve come to the right place. It is estimated there are about 900 million dogs and 700 million cats worldwide!"
USA
USA
The Enviro Pet Waste Network: USA (EPWN) 💩 "connects people and communities that are successfully diverting dog and cat waste from landfills with those who want to learn how to develop similar programs in their own cities and towns. This website will help you find eco-friendly options for managing pet waste.
Want to help reduce the environmental impact of cat waste or of dog poop at your park, beach, trail, home or community? You’ve come to the right place. It is estimated there are about 900 million dogs and 700 million cats worldwide!"
Oceana
Oceana
Australia
Australia
The Enviro Pet Waste Network: Australia (EPWN) 💩 "connects people and communities that are successfully diverting dog and cat waste from landfills with those who want to learn how to develop similar programs in their own cities and towns. This website will help you find eco-friendly options for managing pet waste.
Want to help reduce the environmental impact of cat waste or of dog poop at your park, beach, trail, home or community? You’ve come to the right place. It is estimated there are about 900 million dogs and 700 million cats worldwide!"
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse