Climate Change and Companion Animals: Identifying Links and Opportunities for Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

Abstract

Recent natural disasters and weather extremes are a stark reminder that we live in a climate crisis. Climate scientists and policymakers have asked each discipline to anticipate and create mitigation and adaptation plans in preparation for a worsening future. Companion animals both impact and are impacted by the changing climate through their intrinsically linked relationships to human society. In this theoretical paper, we argue that companion animal scientists are well-suited to address climate change issues. We identify several anticipated climate change outcomes, such as an increase in extreme weather events, human migration, disasters, and an increase in human inequity, and connect these outcomes to identified or hypothesized impacts on companion animals and the human-animal bond. We suggest opportunities to reduce climate change impacts on companion animals that include alterations to owner caretaking behaviours and breeding practices, and education of owners and governments on zoonosis and disaster preparedness. Furthermore, building climate resilience through decreasing inequity in companion animal fields is paramount; and we propose that a starting place can be in animal sheltering and other support services. We also summarize how companion animals and owners’ caretaking behaviours are impacting climate change through the use of finite natural resources as well as pollution and carbon emissions. We propose that replacement, reduction, and refinement, that guide laboratory animal research, can also be useful to mitigate the effects of companion animals on the environment. We suggest criteria for successful mitigation and adaptation plans to include equitability, sustainability, respect for animals, and measurability. Finally, we end on a call to all companion animal professionals to actively consider their role in mitigating the impact of companion animals on the climate and preparing for the fallout of climate change in their communities.

Risk Factors for Severe and Fatal Heat-Related Illness in UK Dogs—A VetCompass Study

“…As global temperatures continue to climb [ 1 ], the urgent development of mitigation strategies to protect both humans [ 2 ] and animals [ 3 ] from the ill-effects of extreme heat is a One Health priority. Vulnerability assessments are needed to identify populations at greatest risk from heat-related illness (HRI), in order to support the creation of improved adaptation plans and health care approaches [ 2 ].…”

“…Domestic dogs play important roles in society, including companionship [ 4 ] and fulfilling service roles ranging from military and policing to medical assistance. Climate change mitigation strategies must therefore include consideration of canine-specific risk factors to reduce HRI risk and severity in dogs and maintain the unique positions of dogs in human society [ 3 , 5 ].…”

Inequitable Flow of Animals in and Out of Shelters: Comparison of Community-Level Vulnerability for Owner-Surrendered and Subsequently Adopted Animals

“…Moreover, it is possible that adoption decisions may be impacted by implicit bias, wherein most people have an unconscious bias against individuals of traditionally marginalized groups ( 46 ). Implicit bias has been studied in many settings such as health care services ( 47 ), law enforcement [including animal control; ( 21 , 48 )], and educational institutions ( 49 , 50 ). As such, it is likely that animal shelters may unconsciously perpetuate societal bias in their intake and adoption procedures.…”

“…In a recent questionnaire, 30.5% of shelter organizations reported using pre-adoption home visits to screen adopters ( 20 ). The subjectivity of adoption application practices may allow for bias and discrimination against adopters ( 21 ), albeit confirmatory research is needed. Similarly, the current system of animal control/animal protection in some countries has disproportionate negative impacts on low-income communities and communities of color, including higher confiscation of animals and lower proportion of animals returned to their owner ( 22 ).…”

Exploring Owner Perceptions of the Impacts of Seasonal Weather Variations on Canine Activity and Potential Consequences for Human–Canine Relationships

“…Therefore, rising global temperatures have the potential to severely alter dogs’ roles in human society, posing a serious risk to both canine health and the human–canine bond, and thus canine welfare. Improving our understanding of this phenomenon has the potential to mitigate against harm, especially in an increasingly unpredictable environment [ 4 ].…”