Adored for their loyalty, happy-go-lucky nature, and unwavering companionship, dogs occupy a central place in the homes and hearts of many. However, while most humans may regard these creatures with affection, there’s also a darker side to their presence in our world: their environmental impact.
A recent Australian study, published in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology, sounds the alarm and invites us to rethink our relationship with these animals many of us dote on. Bill Bateman, associate professor at Curtin University and co-author of the study, explained in a press release that dogs can directly and indirectly disturb and harm wildlife, even when on a leash.
Beyond the frantic races in the park after a bird or even a predatory accident, dogs leave behind them an invisible but tenacious footprint. The urine, excrement, and odors they leave in nature disrupt the behaviour of many species in the long term.
“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,” Bateman pointed out. This involuntary territorial marking causes a form of silent exclusion, pushing wildlife away from natural habitats.
Alas, the pollution caused by dogs is not only of an olfactory nature: dog waste adds nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil, damaging the native flora. Worse still, the chemical parasite treatments applied to their coats sometimes end up in bathing water.
“Wash-off from chemical treatments used to clean and guard dogs from parasites can add toxic compounds to aquatic environments,” Bateman warned. A simple swim in a river could, therefore, turn into a poisoning for aquatic invertebrates.
And the problem does not end there: the dog-food industry leads to a massive consumption of natural resources. “Driven by a vast global dog population, the pet-food industry has a substantial carbon, land and water footprint,” Bateman noted. Yet only 12-16% of owners would be willing to pay more for environmentally friendly dog food.
So, how can we preserve biodiversity without giving up our canine companions? For Bateman, it is imperative to adopt a nuanced approach that takes into account both the deep bond that unites humans with dogs, and the real ecological impacts they generate.
“Dogs are incredibly important to people’s lives, and their roles range from providing companionship to contributing to conservation efforts as detection dogs,” he reminds us.
Like cats, whose role as apex predators is now well documented in several regions of the world, dogs must now be fully integrated into discussions on the impact of domestic animals on the environment.
Should dogs be banned from certain sensitive areas? It’s a necessary but insufficient measure, according to the authors of the study.
“We are calling for a collaborative effort between dog owners, conservation groups, and policymakers to develop strategies that balance pet ownership with environmental care,” Bateman concluded.
Because behind every wet nose and wagging tail, there is a major issue at stake: that of the harmonious cohabitation between humans, their favourite four-legged companions, and the rest of the living world.