Killer cats and XL bullies: we need to rethink pet ownership

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○Sometimes I look at my cat Bertie and wonder how it is possible that he is a small predator. He is a big black cat, a former stray cat who lost sight in one eye from picking up too much trash on the street. Now, as an indoor cat, he lives a completely leisure life, meowing all day long for pets and food, snoring in his many beds, and occasionally bumping headfirst into furniture.

Still, he teeth predator. If I let Bertie out, he and his brethren would kill thousands of species of birds, rodents, and other small animals. It's hard to believe, considering the pleading look he gave me when I dug my nails into the couch, but a recent paper was published in a magazine. nature communications The magazine classified domestic cats as “the most problematic invasive species in history.” This is because cats are willing to kill anything smaller than themselves that moves and do not consider whether they are endangered or not.

The fact that cats kill things shouldn't surprise anyone. However, as pet owners, we have long ignored this part of a cat's nature. As a result, there are now millions of cats in the UK, both domestic and feral, and wherever they roam, they are killing thousands of endangered species of wildlife. Whether we want to face it or not, the fact remains that our cute little predators pose a threat to the environment. People who don't neuter their outdoor cats make the situation even worse. Unneutered Mochis meet and mate with unneutered Whiskers, resulting in the birth of kittens, increasing the cat population and, in turn, increasing the risk to small wildlife.

Meanwhile, the biggest pet issue in recent months has been within the canine community. Of the approximately 38 million pets kept in UK households, more than a third are of the canine persuasion. They are our cute, trustworthy and loyal companions. But when I think about man's best friend, there's been a shift in the mood lately, and I can't help but wonder if we might need to temporarily ban pets while we sort things out.

Pets are a sensitive issue in the UK and I'm not seriously actually suggesting such a ban. Besides, I'd be a hypocrite – what would my own killer cat be like? But recent headlines about dog attacks, animal misbehaving, and pet abandonment have me scratching my head as to what we can do to make the world a better place for both pets and pet owners. Masu.

The past two years have seen an explosion in dog deaths in the UK. In 2023, there will be 16 deaths from dog bites, double the number from the previous year. Two years ago, five people died; in 2020, three people died. Just two years earlier, in 2018, there were zero deaths caused by dogs. Meanwhile, NHS data shows the number of people hospitalized with dog bites will rise by nearly 20% to 8,655 in 2022, with around 600 of those being children under the age of four.

This spike in dog attacks may be related to the rapid increase in pet ownership. Statistics show that pet ownership remained relatively stable from 2012 to 2018, with about half of households owning an animal, but jumped to a high of 62% in 2022.

This was mainly caused by the novel coronavirus. The 2020 lockdown made people think twice about owning a pet. The 2021 lockdown led them to see ads, contact breeders and consider adoption. And in 2022, an explosion of puppies was witnessed. Even if he didn't get a dog that year, he might know three other people who did.

But it wasn't all wagging tails and cuddling on the couch. Instead, the majority of these dogs are left untrained. RSPCA dog welfare experts said many of these dogs were missing out on socialization. Socialization is an important time when puppies learn how to interact with humans and other dogs, and develop the skills they need to be good dogs. However, due to lockdowns and social distancing, many of these dogs have not been able to interact in a healthy manner, leading to aggression and other behavioral issues.

One breed in particular has been in the spotlight after a series of attacks: the American XL Bully. Frankly, this breed looks a bit like a pit bull on steroids. It has a broad, stocky stance, huge muscular shoulders, a large head, and powerful jaws. Nine people have been killed by these dogs since 2021, including, in a high-profile incident, 28-year-old dog walker Natasha Johnson, who was killed by an XL-sized bully. This includes being attacked and dying.

All of this shows that Britain has a huge pet problem. We're obsessed with them because they often become cherished family members. But the way things are going, we don't feel like we're doing the right thing for both our pets and ourselves. Animal shelters across the country are at a tipping point as the cost of living crisis forces many owners to surrender their animals because they can no longer afford to keep them. Experts warn that soon these shelters will no longer be able to take in any more animals and they will be left on the streets.

Companion animal behaviorist Jade Nicholas said the problem was largely due to a lack of regulation within the pet industry. Despite the government's implementation of Lucy's Law in 2020, cowboy breeding remains rampant. The legislation, touted by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as “the beginning of the end of puppy farming”, means potential pet owners will have to buy their animals directly. Consider adopting from a breeder or from a rescue center. Licensed dog breeders are also required to show puppies socializing with their mothers in their birthplaces to crack down on puppy farms.

But Nicholas says little has changed since the law went into effect. “Even though fewer people are selling puppies on Facebook and other platforms, you can still get an incredible number of hits when you search for 'French bulldog puppies for sale' on Google,” she says. . “This is really difficult because even if people are in very tough economic conditions and can't get a job, they can absolutely make tens of thousands of dollars by breeding. Why is it so attractive? You will find out.”

The problem with cowboy breeders, aside from illegal breeding, is that many of them lack knowledge about genetics and what puppies need in their first days and weeks of life. Some of these dogs end up in the hands of people who don't know how to properly care for them. “And when that person realizes that they are not in a position to properly care for the dog, they end up turning to the UK's leading charities, which are working desperately hard to help, as they can't help everyone. Nichols said. “That's very problematic.”

So what can you do? The government could step in to tighten regulations on breeders, adding amendments to ensure they are properly licensed and trained in dog safety and care. It could also require all potential pet owners to undergo basic training with the assistance of a licensed breeder who can provide a list of certified trainers and puppy classes. However, Nicholas laments that such a thing is not possible in the current political climate. Adding the XL Bully to the list of banned breeds is much easier than actually making the change.

Perhaps it should come down to how we view pet ownership. Bringing an animal into your home and caring for it is a great responsibility and a privilege, not a right. But somehow we view animals with an exaggerated sense of entitlement. We expect instant gratification from them. And when something goes wrong, we expect someone to solve the problem with a single command or with a spare kennel. Nicholas says that's not the case.

“There is a huge lack of understanding about the resources, time and real financial constraints that come with owning a pet,” she says. “I'm not saying people shouldn't get pets. But right now, there are people who get pets just because they look cute or because they think they'll make them happy, but they're not prepared. It is very important that people choose to keep animals according to their position, whether it is a dog, a cat or any other living thing.

“Veterinary care is expensive, so I'm really passionate about helping people get insurance. I want to tell everyone, even if you wait another six months to save a little more money Wait until you're really, really ready before making that big decision.”

As someone who desperately wants a dog myself, I daydream about getting the puppy I want. In this fantasy, I have a stable job. I live in a house with a garden, so my dream dog has plenty of space to run around and sniff around. I can buy nutritious and delicious food for them, as well as toys, dog beds, and silly costumes for pictures.

But as much as I want to give in to my desires, I also know that I'm not in the right place yet. My hypothetical dog's health is my top priority. I don't have the training or the time it requires, and I can't afford to pay for food or vet bills. But it's okay to wait a little longer so that you can give this dog the absolute world once you adopt him. And more people need to consider this. Our pets don't live that long, so they deserve our best. Until then, I'll take Bertie with me. And he remains firmly indoors, where the violence is reserved for toy rats and the occasional housefly.