Ecological impacts of having a dog: more than you think

The canine population in Europe has seen a nearly 200% increase, tripling in just eight years, as per the data from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and the European Commission. The total count of dogs has now touched the 73 million mark. In Spain alone, the number of dogs is 9.3 million, surpassing the number of children under 14.

While offering companionship and serving as crucial emotional support for many, pets also contribute to climate change.

Matthias Finkbeiner, a specialist from the Technical University of Berlin, who conducted a study in 2020 on the environmental impact of domestic animals, asserts that “A significant portion of a dog owner’s CO2 footprint is attributed to their pet.”

"The size of the animal determines the impact. A large dog can produce up to half the annual carbon emissions that a planet's inhabitant should produce, at most."

As many CO2 emissions as 2,830 kilometers by car

Specifically, according to calculations by ESU-services, a Switzerland-based company dedicated to environmental consulting, keeping a dog for a year generates emissions equivalent to travelling about 2,830 kilometres by car.

This consultancy states that for various reasons such as food, road transport to walking areas, accommodation, equipment, veterinary care, etc., a dog generates around 1,020 kilos of CO2 per year.

However, given that other similar works also account for the origin and production of food, its packaging and transportation, as well as the environmental contamination of urine and feces and the subsequent road cleaning in their calculations, they may cause an even greater impact.

In addition to consuming a large amount of water for their use and for cleaning the animal itself and its feces in 'inappropriate' places in the home, they also increase the plastic waste pollution through their improper recycling of plastic bags used for removing feces from the street.

Throughout its life, an average dog produces about 2,000 liters of urine and a ton of excrement, which leads to overfertilization of the urban environment. Most of the environmental and climate impact, however, comes from their food. Studies exist that show pet owners often overfeed their pets. According to experts, people overfeed up to 59% of dogs.

Dogs also deforest

Furthermore, while it might appear incredible to us, our dogs also contribute to deforestation. The University of Edinburgh has calculated that nearly 50 million hectares worldwide are reserved for producing pet food. The process of producing animal protein-based feed releases vast amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG).

"And the number of pets in homes is still growing. Europe has registered more than 70 million dogs, with about 9 million of them residing in Spain. These animals, along with cats, collectively produce between 0.30% and 1.20% of our country's total emissions annually," states the study on the Calculation of the carbon footprint of companion animals from the University of Alcalá in Henares.

Pet Dogs: Impact on Environment and Climate

The primary contributor to the substantial carbon footprint of dogs is their diet.

Agriculture, which is a significant environmental influencer, is responsible for the protein and other nutrients in your dog’s food, thereby leaving a considerable carbon footprint.

The resources used for meat production, such as land, water, and energy, along with the methane emitted by ruminants like cows and lambs, are significant factors. This includes methane produced through enteric fermentation in the ruminant digestive system and emissions from their waste in the form of methane and nitrous oxide.

These greenhouse gases, when trapped in the environment, pose a substantial challenge for the planet. The rise in global temperatures due to these gases can lead to resource wastage and an increase in natural disasters.

When dogs consume a diet primarily consisting of beef, the environmental impact of agriculture becomes apparent in their carbon footprint. However, chickens, not being ruminants, do not emit as many greenhouse gases, although they still have a significant carbon footprint due to agricultural practices.

Another environmental factor is the daily use of dog poop bags. These plastic bags are non-biodegradable and take over 1,000 years to decompose fully.

Over time, these bags break down into toxic particles, affecting the environment and marine life.

Moreover, the production and distribution of plastic bags emit greenhouse gases at every stage, contributing to these effects when you use plastic dog poop bags.

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