A councilor has effectively called for the phasing out of medium and large canines because he claims they damage the environment.
Mark Howell claims the carbon paw print of dogs such as German Shepards and Labradors is the same as an SUV car.
Cllr Howell said the methane emissions from such animals was causing serious harm to the planet, the Daily Star reports.
He also claimed that pets consume 20 per cent of the world’s meat and fish and this demand adds to pollution as it has to be transported.
While not calling for an outright ban of larger dogs, he said pet owners should consider ‘scaling down’ and getting smaller dogs in the future.
He also said animal lovers should consider sharing dogs as pets with friends and relatives in the future to reduce dog numbers.
Mr Howell, an independent member for Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, aired his controversial views in an online video in the wake of a town hall discussion on climate change.
Councillors debated ways the local authority can achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
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