Pet dogs may be ‘man’s best friend’, but they can also have a ‘far-reaching negative effects on wildlife, ecosystems and climate’, a new study by Curtin University in Australia has suggested.
The study, Bad Dog? The environmental effects of owned dogs, which was led by associate professor Bill Bateman from the School of Molecular and Life Sciences, claimed that pet dogs can ‘present a significant and multifaceted environmental threat’, harming wildlife even when on a leash.
Animal behaviour
“As well as predatory behaviour like chasing wildlife, dogs leave scents, urine and faeces, which can disrupt animal behaviour long after the dogs have left,” Bateman explained. “Studies have found that animals like deer, foxes and bobcats in the US are less active or completely avoid areas where dogs are regularly walked, even in the absence of the dogs.”
He added that dog waste also contributes to pollution in waterways and inhibits plant growth, while chemical treatments to address fleas and ticks pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems.
Elsewhere, the pet food industry has a “substantial carbon, land and water footprint,” Bateman added, noting that just 12% to 16% of pet owners would be willing pay more for eco-friendly pet food.
He said that addressing these challenges required a careful balance between reducing environmental harm and maintaining the positive role of dogs as companions and working animals.
Among the measures suggested are banning dogs from sensitive areas in order to protect vulnerable species, however this does not represent a ‘complete’ solution.
Environmental issues
“Dogs are incredibly important to people’s lives and their roles range from providing companionship to contributing to conservation efforts as detection dogs,” Bateman said. “However, the sheer number of pet dogs globally, combined with uninformed or lax behaviours by some owners, is driving environmental issues that we can no longer ignore.”
“Many owners simply don’t realise the environmental damage dogs can cause, from disturbing wildlife to polluting ecosystems. Others may feel their individual actions won’t make a difference, leading to a ‘tragedy of the commons’ where shared spaces like beaches and woodlands suffer cumulative degradation.”
The full study, Bad Dog? The environmental effects of owned dogs, was published in Pacific Conservation Biology. Read more here.
