Emissions of cats and dogs raised as issue at council meeting

Cllr Mark Howell raised the subject during a wide-ranging and lengthy discussion on BCP Council's climate action annual report.

During an overview and scrutiny board meeting on January 5, he described the subject as a "big elephant in the room" and "something that people generally are not prepared to talk about"

"In this nation, especially over Covid, there has been a massive increase in the number of pets that people have," said Cllr Howell.

The Poole Town ward councillor asked sustainability and transport portfolio holder and Conservative councillor Mike Greene if the local authority area can meet its 2050 carbon neutral "without addressing the carbon footprint and methane of pets".

Cllr Greene said: "I can appreciate that there may be some members who would like to see dogs banned but I think it is safe to say that prior to 2050 or 2045, whenever it is, we will be looking to ensure the trajectory is correct to bring us down to net zero."

Cllr Mike Greene

Discussing the consideration of all areas of emissions in the local authority's climate work, Cllr Greene said: "As any more information comes forward, as we see what's happening with other authorities, we will look to ensure that we have an all encompassing range of emissions, as all encompassing as possible."

Cllr Howell said people were "quite dismissive" of the subject he had raised.

"There is obviously an emotional reaction as half adults in this country own pets but the average dog emits double the annual electricity carbon emissions for the average UK household and that's before you consider a whole range of other environmental costs relating to pets, including the unsustainable nature of cat litter, all the plastic bags that people use, the cost of actually disposing of all of the litter," said Cllr Howell.

Cllr Mark Howell

"It is a big problem which I feel should be represented within the 2050 analysis of carbon emissions."

Asked by overview and scrutiny board chairman Cllr Stephen Bartlett if he was objecting to people having pets or if he wanted the impact of people owning pets to be taken into the scope of the calculation, Cllr Howell said: "My understanding of the analysis for the purpose of the 2050 analysis is to look at all areas that produce and impact on green house gases and I think that is one.

"But I also say we each have a personal responsibility to drive down the amount of carbon that we use and people will choose different ways of doing that but the reality is there is not really a pick and mix here because we have to do it across the board.

"There is a big issue in terms of size of pets. You don't have to have an enormous dog, you can have a smaller dog. A cat is more efficient in some respects but cats cause enormous biodiversity problems.

"The reality is that a lot of people use these animals for emotional support rather than looking to their communities and people for emotional support.

"It is something that won't be popular but it is something we need to address."

Cllr Stephen Bartlett

Cllr Bartlett, an independent, said: "I am going to move on from that because I think you are into some pretty dangerous territory there.

"Being prescriptive on how big ones pets should or should not be and you are right it is the elephant in the room and if there were a few of them we would have a bigger problem I think is what you are saying."

Following the meeting and a reaction on social media, Cllr Howell released a video on Facebook explaining his position.