For instance, the 163 million dogs and cats kept in the United States consume about 20% of the amount of dietary energy that humans do and an estimated 33% of the animal-derived energy. Dog and cat animal product consumption is responsible for the release of up to 64 ± 16 million tons CO2-equivalent methane and nitrous oxide, two powerful greenhouse gasses. Americans are the largest pet owners in the world, but pet ownership in the US has considerable environmental costs.
- A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person’s company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal.
- “Cost-of-living pressures are a large factor. But people are also having second thoughts about pets they adopted during the pandemic.”
- The keeping of animals as pets can cause concerns with regard to animal rights and welfare.
- July 2022 saw an epic $310,456 worth