Let them have dogs

"Forty-eight percent of Australian households own dogs; to those of us on the outlay for food, treats, toys, grooming, kennels, vets and puppy school, $500 seems like a rare bargain."

"Australians have always been pet people, but we are now living in the wake of a post-pandemic pet proliferation that between 2019 and 2021 raised the proportion of Australian households with pets from 61% to a goggling 69%, marking the largest increase in decades."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/02/our-obsession-with-spoiling-pets-has-gone-too-far-your-dog-doesnt-care-if-its-collar-is-from-burberry
#pets #dogs #PetOwners #WesternCountries #consumption #PetIndustry #accessories #petfluencer #puppycation #DogAttacks #cars #meat #fossilfuels #biodiversity #wildlife #BiodiversityCrisis

It’s way past time to ban pit bulls

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/its-way-past-time-to-ban-pit-bulls

Dog 'believed to be XL Bully' dies after being Tasered by police following reports of 'men with machetes' at park

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/dog-believed-xl-bully-dies-31515523

Raison de vivre
Companion animals - a reason for living

For many dog owners the companionship of dogs is often
“literally the only reason to survive,
to get up, to still keep going.
It gives them a reason to get up,
a reason to get out,
a reason to move around and
be in contact a little bit with the world outside."
>>
Pet dogs have ‘extensive and multifarious’ impact on environment, new research finds
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/10/pet-dogs-have-extensive-and-multifarious-impact-on-environment-new-research-finds

"Approximately 69% of households in Australia own pets, with dogs being the most common."
>>
https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/how-many-pets-are-there-in-australia/
#dogs #pets #wildlife #birds #penguins #beach #DogOwners #ProstheticDevices #harm #pollution #GHG #meat #pesticides #faeces #climate #DogAttacks #Australia #community #ReasonForLiving #CompanionAnimals #zeitgeist

Pet dogs pose significant threat to wildlife and ecosystems

"Many owners simply don't realize the environmental damage dogs can cause, from disturbing wildlife to polluting ecosystems...Others may feel their individual actions won't make a difference, leading to a 'tragedy of the commons' where shared spaces like beaches and woodlands suffer cumulative degradation."
>>
https://phys.org/news/2025-04-pet-dogs-pose-significant-threat.html
#dogs #pets #wildlife #birds #penguins #beach #DogOwners #DogAttacks #cars #harm #pollution #GHG #meat #pesticides #faeces #climate #degradation

The environmental impacts of man’s best friend
We give a free pass to dogs and their owners

Study "highlighted the impacts of the world’s “commonest large carnivore” in killing and disturbing native wildlife, particularly shore birds."

A "study of animals taken to the Australia Zoo wildlife hospital found that mortality was highest after dog attacks, which was the second most common reason for admission after car strikes."

"The researchers attributed the extent of the environmental impacts to the sheer number of dogs globally, as well as “the lax or uninformed behaviour of dog owners. A lot of what we’re talking about can be ameliorated by owners’ behaviour... pointing out that low compliance with leash laws was a problem."

“If nothing else, pick up your own dog shit."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/10/pet-dogs-have-extensive-and-multifarious-impact-on-environment-new-research-finds
#dogs #pets #wildlife #birds #penguins #beach #DogOwners #DogAttacks #cars #harm #pollution #GHG #meat #pesticides #faeces #climate

Koala interactions, affection between young male koalas

"Three males engaging in unexpected “affiliative” behaviours. They were grooming each other, sniffing each other’s genitals and vocalising to each other in soft, high-pitched calls, similar to the sounds baby koalas make... High density means the home ranges of koalas are more likely to overlap and their interactions will be more frequent. It also means competition for food, space and mates can be especially high. " >>
https://theconversation.com/i-was-shocked-a-scientist-tracking-koalas-films-startling-behaviour-between-young-males-247339

"The species was almost hunted to extinction...They used to skin them alive and put them back up the tree with no fur." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-30/killing-koalas-90-years-since-qld-month-long-open-season/8839720
#koalas #marsupials #mammals #behaviour #SoundEcology #HabitatGrab #destruction #NSWLogging #roadkill #dogattacks #roads

Causes of mortality to the endangered Southern Cassowary Casuarius casuarius johnsonii in Queensland, Australia
"The primary cause of the species' decline is habitat loss and fragmentation, with motor vehicle strikes and dog attacks considered major threats for local populations. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to quantify the causes of mortality to Southern Cassowaries, including motor vehicle strikes and dog attacks, which have not previously been quantified...Together, motor vehicles and dogs caused 74% of the cassowary mortalities for which the causes of death could be determined."
>>
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290345749_Causes_of_mortality_to_the_endangered_Southern_Cassowary_Casuarius_casuarius_johnsonii_in_Queensland_Australia
#birds #SouthernCassowary #wildlife #extinction #MissionBeach #sprawl #cars #pets #dogs #DogAttacks #Biodiversity

""Investigators are requesting the public's assistance identifying the dogs and their owner as there is a concern for public safety," the news release reads." #publicsafetyalert #dogattacks #toronto
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/dog-attacks-1.7110501

‘It’s cruel’: Tensions high after dog ordered euthanized for biting child
A three-year-old husky has been sentenced to death in Charlemagne, Que. for biting a 5-year-old in the cheek. His owner has been fighting for a year and a half to keep him alive.
#globalnews #Canada #childbittenbydog #dogattacks #montrealdogs
https://globalnews.ca/news/10264570/dog-attack-montreal-charlemagne-husky/

‘It’s cruel’: Tensions high after dog ordered euthanized for biting child
A three-year-old husky has been sentenced to death in Charlemagne, Que. for biting a 5-year-old in the cheek. His owner has been fighting for a year and a half to keep him alive.
#globalnews #Canada #childbittenbydog #dogattacks #montrealdogs
https://globalnews.ca/news/10264570/dog-attack-montreal-charlemagne-husky/

‘It’s cruel’: Tensions high after dog ordered euthanized for biting child
A three-year-old husky has been sentenced to death in Charlemagne, Que. for biting a 5-year-old in the cheek. His owner has been fighting for a year and a half to keep him alive.
#globalnews #Canada #childbittenbydog #dogattacks #montrealdogs
https://globalnews.ca/news/10264570/dog-attack-montreal-charlemagne-husky/

‘It’s cruel’: Tensions high after dog ordered euthanized for biting child
A three-year-old husky has been sentenced to death in Charlemagne, Que. for biting a 5-year-old in the cheek. His owner has been fighting for a year and a half to keep him alive.
#globalnews #Canada #childbittenbydog #dogattacks #montrealdogs
https://globalnews.ca/news/10264570/dog-attack-montreal-charlemagne-husky/

Domestic dogs and Australian wildlife. How dogs impact ecosystems

"There are five main ways domestic dogs can negatively impact the natural environments they visit. These are:

direct physical harm through predatory behaviour
disturbance through chasing and harassment
increased exposure to diseases
interbreeding, which can alter the gene pool of wild canid populations
increased competition for resources.

We know dogs are capable of injuring and killing wildlife, but it’s difficult to determine how common this is, because many events go unreported. While smaller animals such as lizards, gliders and possums are at higher risk, larger species such as koalas can also fall prey to dogs.

One study that looked at wildlife coming into care at Queensland rehabilitation centres reported dog attacks as the cause in about 9% of cases. These cases often resulted in severe injury or death.

Wildlife harassment

You might think it’s harmless for your dog to chase wildlife if it never manages to catch the animals it chases, but that isn’t true. Wild animals optimise their behaviours to meet their needs for foraging, breeding and resting, and being chased by a dog can disrupt this.

For example, certain threatened bird species will nest on the beach and find foraging opportunities based on the tides. One dog forcing one bird to abandon this important activity may have a small impact. But if it happens repeatedly throughout the day, it can become a much bigger problem. It may even drive animals out of the area.

Research conducted in Sydney has shown the mere presence of a leashed dog is enough to temporarily, yet dramatically, reduce the number of bird species detected."

Full article>>
https://theconversation.com/our-dogs-can-terrify-and-even-kill-wildlife-heres-how-to-be-a-responsible-owner-this-summer-214722

Four-legged friend or foe? Dog walking displaces native birds from natural areas
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2391219/

#dogs #predators #DogAttacks #pets #PetOwners #harm #wildlife #conservation #beach #shorebirds #birds #koalas #Biodiversity

3 dogs involved in attacks this summer in Leduc have been euthanized
Three dogs that were involved in several attacks over the summer in Leduc have been put down, the city said Thursday.
#globalnews #Crime #dogattacks #DogsEuthanized #GermanShepherds
https://globalnews.ca/news/10067785/dog-attacks-leduc-euthanized/

@damonism
My beautiful boy ŵas attacked by 2 Rottweilers 2yrs ago when we were out walking. They'd escaped through a broken garden fence. Thankfully ran to their owner when she called them. But it was enough to terrify him (and my husband & me) forever. He is terrified of every dog now. So we can only take him walking where we can't see other dogs.

Ppl who allow their poorly trained and/or disobedient dogs to walk off-lead beside them OR allow their dogs to roam their front gardens with gates open have no idea of the damage they are doing to other dogs and owners, who don't want strangers' dogs bounding over to them.
#dogs #dogattacks #dogownerproblems

Another one. 🙁

There is no reason for these powerful, aggressive and reactive breeds to exist.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-67004053

#DogAttacks #BullyXL

And then the koalas just vanished...
Speeding cars, road designs, roaming dogs and disease are the biggest koala killers.
Logging and sprawl should also be added to the list of extinction makers

"A database tracking hospital admissions and deaths reveals the devastating impact cars, disease and dogs are having on the South East Queensland koala population"
.
"In the five years between 2009 and 2014, 52% of reported wild koala deaths were caused by car strike, 34% were from a chlamydia-related disease and 14% were because of a dog attack.

"This equates to 1,431 koala deaths from a car strike, 943 chlamydia-related deaths, and 395 dog attack deaths in just five years."

"Remember that these deaths were just the reported cases, so the real numbers would be significantly higher."
https://phys.org/news/2023-09-cars-chlamydia-canines-biggest-koala.html

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40827-w
Ravi Bandara Dissanayake et al, Anthropogenic and environmental factors associated with koala deaths due to dog attacks and vehicle collisions in South-East Queensland, Australia, 2009–2013, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40827-w
#dogs #pets #dogAttacks #Mauling #cars #speeding #roads #RoadDesign #HabitatFragmentation #koalas #wildlife #IndustrialLogging #Bellingen #ThreatenedSpecies #IntroducedSpecies #sprawl #biodiversity #conservation #extinction makers

Cars, dogs and disease are the biggest killers of koalas

More and wider logging roads through Bellingen's koala hub will not help the survival of the endangered species.

"A database tracking hospital admissions and deaths reveals the devastating impact cars, disease and dogs are having on the South East Queensland koala population."

“In the five years between 2009 and 2014, 52 per cent of reported wild koala deaths were caused by car strike, 34 per cent were from a chlamydia-related disease and 14 per cent were because of a dog attack.

“This equates to 1,431 koala deaths from a car strike, 943 chlamydia-related deaths, and 395 dog attack deaths in just five years."
https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/cars-chlamydia-and-canines-are-biggest-koala-killers

Anthropogenic and environmental factors associated with koala deaths due to dog attacks and vehicle collisions in South-East Queensland, Australia, 2009–2013
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40827-w
#BellingenLogging #sprawl #roads #roadkill #GlenifferRoad #RosesRoad #cars #dogs #pets #vehicle #crashes #logging #NSWlogging #DogAttacks #SaveTuckersNob #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #koalas #habitat #biodiversity #extinction makers

As a kid, the dogs that wandered freely round our area bit no-one. The only time a kid did get bitten it was by an old lady's little dog never off its lead.

I've long thought that lack of autonomy increases the risk of aggression in dogs. The fashion for fighting breeds may have too.

Since the pandemic the problem has got worse though. Maybe partly due to lack of socialisation? Both dogs and owners?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-66495780

#dogs #dogattacks #covid #uk