From Simon Grove
Whatever the actual or perceived health benefits of pet ownership (6 November, p 30), a more comprehensive evaluation would consider the many costs borne by the rest of society, particularly as a result of dog and cat ownership.
Taxes are diverted from other worthwhile causes to pay for the infrastructure of pet ownership: dog-walking areas, dog-poo receptacles, stray-animal pounds – the list goes on. There are health costs to society incurred when treating bites and allergies.
Dogs and cats can also take a huge toll on nature. They spread diseases such as toxoplasmosis, attack vulnerable wildlife, and make habitats uninhabitable by their presence. Dogs can also threaten livestock.
Finally, carnivorous pets compete with humanity for food by requiring a diet rich in animal protein, further straining our agricultural production systems. It doesn’t sound like a very healthy trade-off to me.
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Taroona, Tasmania, Australia
