Going vegetarian

EVERY year in the United States, 180 million dogs and cats eat about 25% of all animal-derived calories consumed. Since the livestock industry is a top contributor to climate-warming gas and water waste, the environmental toll from pet food is enormous. It’s also largely unnecessary.

The Los Angeles Animal Services Board heard a proposal recently to switch city shelter dogs to plantbased food. Commenters on social media immediately proclaimed that “dogs need meat”, but science is not on their side. Dr George Fahey, head of animal science at the University of Illinois, said that a daily ration of corn and soybeans provides all the vitamins, minerals, protein, fat and carbohydrates a dog needs.

Two high-end plant-based dog foods under consideration, V-Dog and Halo, don’t include corn or soy but are certified by the Association of American Feed and Control Officials as nutritionally complete for dogs. Dr Armaiti May, one of three veterinarians who testified in favour of the proposal, said dogs have nutritional requirements, not ingredient requirements.

The Canidae line has “chicken meal” as its first ingredient. Animal meal is made from rendered body parts that are unfit for human consumption. It’s a good protein source for cats, though. Being obligate carnivores, cats need taurine, an amino acid unavailable in plants. But dogs do not need rendered animal meal or “grain-free” food to replace it. – Karen Dawn/ Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service