My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

[Twilight Johnny Atom]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...ly-greedy.html

it takes 0.84 hectares of land to keep a medium-sized dog fed. In contrast, running a 4.6-litre Toyota Land Cruiser, including the energy required to construct the thing and drive it 10,000 kilometres a year, requires 0.41 hectares.

[evilC]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

Christ! Has he really got an English Mastiff, TJA? They're not 'medium-sized', by any stretch. Also - and I say this as a ridiculously soft and 'apologist' dog-lover - they're one of the few breeds I would never go to stroke unless I was 100% sure they were a soppy bastard that loved me. Most of the time I'd actively try to avoid them.

If it's still a puppy, try to make sure the dog gets accustomed to you right now, if you can. If it's not... just be careful, that's all.

[Twilight Johnny Atom]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

err... actually he hasn't. It was an attempt at picture based humour to go with the thread title.

Thanks, you've been a wonderful audience!

[Max Payne]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

I wonder what the 'Carbon Footprint' of the authors of that load of old bollocks is. Maybe we should just eat them and call it quits.

[DCI Harry Batt]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

There's a point, though, isn't there? Particularly if an of the rather appalling anti-population types are keeping animals.

[Bruno]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

What's the point, exactly?

[DCI Harry Batt]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

Stop wasting resources on breeding pets.

[Bruno]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

What do we do with the dogs?

[DCI Harry Batt]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

We stop breeding them.

[Bruno]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

So everyone who has a dog should prevent it from mating, until they all sort of die out?

[DCI Harry Batt]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

That would work for me, yeah.

[Bruno]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

Since the problem with these big dogs is the resources used in keeping them, maybe for a more immediate environmental impact we should have them all put down? Or turn them loose and let nature sort it out?

[MsD]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

Oh, for a Ministry of Cats and Dogs, that would require people to apply for ownership, and to have their animals neutered, until every little (or big) cat and dog had a happy home. And strict controls on breeding.

I love cats and dogs, but there are far too many of them, especially in London, for their own good. Dog shelters currently are all full of Staffies, lovely little dogs given the right training, but acquired on a whim it seems.

[DCI Harry Batt]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

That would pretty much work for me too, Bruno.

Or we could use them to feed people.

[linus]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

It's a fair point Bruno, people need to be aware of the ecological impact of their lifestyle. You can say the hell with global warming if you'd like, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Cats have a somewhat smaller though definitley not negligible impact. There are as well at least three other environmental problems associated with their ownership. They contribute to the depletion of ocean life with seafood going to feed them, their litter is very polluting to the natural water systems near urban areas and they are relentless killing machines with regards to the wild bird population.

[Wyatt Earp]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

And the wild mouse population. Which has to be a huge plus.

[Brandenburger Toro]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

A canine genocide?

Hmm. OTF vegetarians to thread.

[MsD]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

linus wrote:

they are relentless killing machines with regards to the wild bird population.

.. in my cat's dreams, maybe, but in actuality he's more of a relentless sleeping machine.

He does catch mice though, and in my building (11 flats converted from 2 Victorian mansions) my flat and my neighbour's (which my cat uses as a cut-through) were the only two not riddled with mice last year.

On the other points yes, although I think it's exaggerated (their food is mostly made from byproducts of meat consumption). There are far too many cats for their own good, let alone the environment. I wish neutering was compulsory.

[DCI Harry Batt]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

Ok, Wyatt, just the dogs for now?

[MsD]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

Can't we eat the Americans and keep the dogs?

[DCI Harry Batt]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

I tend to prefer our cousins from over the pond, as it goes.

[Bruno]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

You can eat me any time.

[Bruno]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

Er, that was for MsD, but what the heck, you too Tonton.

[DCI Harry Batt]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

Awww, shucks.

[linus]

My neighbour's huge, planet killing new Rover

The Canadians too, for brunch with some maple syrup.