ANSC 250 1st Edition Lecture 4 Outline of Last Lecture I Identifying exotic pets II How exotic pets are delivered to the US and brought into US families III Diseases associated with exotic pets IV Regulations concerning the presence of exotic pets Outline of Current Lecture I Reasons why the environmental health is important for you and your pets II Comprehending the connections between the animal liberation movement and the environmental movement and what you can do to help minimize it III Examples of how dogs are used in conservation Current Lecture I Why do you care about the environment A Resource overexploitation i e I don t want to go extinct B Peace C NIMBY D Smog kills E Extreme weather strange weather patterns F Future generations G Going green saves money H Water and air I Health concerns J Your sporting activities K Wildlife is awesome L Nice vacation spots I Balance in Nature M When one tugs at a single thing in Nature he finds it attached to the rest of the world John Muir i Ex With sea otters kelps forest food web II Environmental Conservation Ethics A Extends ethics to include non humans i Intrinsic worth ii Utilitarian value B Focus i Maintain health ii Conserving energy and materials B Land ethic inanimate entities such as oceans and lakes mountains forests and wetlands are assigned a greater value than individual animals These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute II Questions addressed by environmental ethics A Should we continue to clear cut forests for human consumptions II Animal liberation and environmental ethics complementary A Ethics and rights go beyond humans B Peter Singer i Animal liberation 1 Animals can suffer 2 Popularized term speciesm a Speciesm i Coined in 1970 s by Richard Ryder ii Assigned of values or rights to beings based on their species 1 Prejudice against non humans 2 Rights assigned based on perceived lack of rationality 3 Cat people vs bird people B World Heritage i Environment is not sentient ii What is its value to life II Animal liberation and environmental ethics contradictory A Individualism vs Holism i Reduction of suffering and death vs acting for overall health ii Suffering of individual vs concern for population status ecosystemwide status II So what impact does my pet have on the environment A Carbon footprint i Amount of carbon dioxide CO2 or other carbon compound emitted into the atmosphere by the activities of an individual company country etc B Carbon paw print i Includes food bowls bedding collars toys waste bags grooming etc ii Medium size dog annual footprint of 2 07 acres about 2x the size required to drive an SUV 10 000km per year iii Cat annual footprint of 0 37 acres just less than driving a Volkswagen Golf for a year B Food i Dogs and cats are carnivores ii Average medium size dog eats 360 pounds of meat per year and generates 596 pounds of CO2 emissions iii Feeding a cat generates 517 pounds of CO2 emissions iv GHG Emissions of various foods chart Beef produces the most carbon dioxide carrot emit very little v In order to reduce green house gas emissions 1 Look for foods alternative proteins 2 Read the ingredient list 3 Natural organic foods if concerned about pesticides B Waste i Pick it up to prevent contamination of water sources ii 1 2 3 4 ii 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 Bacteria from dogs Fecal coliform E coli Specific protozoan Studies have shown that pets produce more bacteria in water sources than humans there s an increase in pets fecal bacteria in the air during the winter Two part problem with cat waste Waste water contamination Litter a Clay based litter i Requires mining ii Shipped to dry facility iii Does not biodegrade b Silica based i Requires mining ii Needs changed less often b Plant based i Walnut shell corn litters etc Carries toxoplasmosis a Is not killed in sewage processing plants b 70 of dead Cali sea otters were infected c Found in dolphins raptors seabirds beluga whales etc Solutions to the litter problem a Use non mined litters b Recycled newspaper c Wheat litter d Pine wood chips or shavings Never flush cat waste Keep your cats bathroom inside Solutions to poop problems a Use biogradable bags b Dog waste i Flush ii Compost don t use in food garden iii Septic system b Cat waste i Should go in garbage ii Don t allow to get in water II Outdoor cats A About 73 mil owned cats B 47 mil owned cats spend time outside C 40 60 mil free roaming or feral D Over 100 000 000 cats outside E Predation i Small mammals birds amphibians reptiles ii 1 cat may kill more than 100 preys per yr iii Including threatened and endangered species B Competition i Owls hawks foxes ii Aided by human intervention B Outdoor cats and disease transmission i FeLV Feline Leukemia Virus to Florida panthers ii Bobcats pumas free roaming iii FIV iv Parasites B Benefits of Keeping Kitties Inside i HSUS says outdoor cats are more often 1 Hit by cats 2 Contract diseases 3 Starve 4 Get poisoned 5 Attacked by other animals 6 Mistreated by humans 7 It s better for wildlife too ii Alternative to keeping kitties inside 1 Build outdoor enclosures cat proof fencing II Dogs and natural areas A May stress harass wildlife B Endanger ground dwellers C Dropping may contaminant water or soil D Dogs and birds study i Dog walking caused a 41 reduction in the numbers of bird individuals detected and caused a 35 reduction in number of species compared with untreated controls B Dogs and Disease Transmission i Rabies 99 of human rabies fatalities worldwide ii 60 zoonoses associated with dogs II Keep Clean A Grooming suggestions i Try natural phosphate free shampoos 1 Results in oxygen depletion in water systems 2 Phosphate comes from mines ii For fleas and ticks 1 Vacuum or steam clean carpets and upholstery 2 Wash all bedding and blankets 3 Mow lawn regularly 4 Groom with flea comb 5 Repel with herbal sprays 6 Check with vets ii Cleaning products 1 Bleach Mostly break down quickly Forms organochlorines Harm debated 2 Ammonia a Used in fertilizers b Toxic to aquatic fish and amphibians 2 Alternative cleaning products a Baking soda 2 Misc Products a Shop smart thrift stores b Use ceramic or metal bowls i Plastic is very energy intensive to make ii Alternatives last longer II How does the environment impact your pets A Exotic diseases increase with climate changes i Warming seasons ii Wetter summers B Spread by fleas ticks mosquitoes i Heartworm ii