Two New Zealand researchers claim a medium-sized dog has about the same carbon footprint — pawprint? — as a sport-utility vehicle.
The news agency Sky News reports that Robert and Brenda Vale, in their new book, “Time To Eat The Dog: The Real Guide To Sustainable Living,” calculate the carbon footprint of a medium-sized dog (based on the land needed to produce the dog’s diet) as 2.08 acres — more than twice the 1.01 acres needed to create enough energy to build a Toyota Land Cruiser.
“However, the pair said the average driver travels about 12,000 miles a year, making the carbon footprint of the Toyota and the dog roughly equivalent,” the story said.
Some experts dispute the book’s claims.
