October 31, 2009

Time to Eat the Dog: PETA Won't Like This

By Judy Gruen
My dog Ken has been looking as sad as a basset hound recently, and I think I know why. Somehow, Ken must have taken a look-see -- instead of just a raised leg -- to a recent issue of New Scientist, which reports on a new book called Time to Eat the Dog: the real guide to sustainable living. Authors Robert and Brenda Vale claim that medium-sized dogs like Ken are trotting around with oversized ecological paw-prints, even worse than what a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV produces. Now, dogs are not only taking the heat for their real canine sins (such as stealing chicken legs off the plates of unsuspecting diners), but polluting our rivers and even contributing to the decimation of certain species of birds (such as European nightjars). As soon as I read about this threat, I sat bolt upright and immediately asked, What in the world is a European nightjar?  Cats are not off the hook, either. Feckless felines who leave excrement in inconvenient locations are presumed to spread the disease...(Read Full Article)