John Burns Blog - 8th February 2010 - Carbon footprint of pets; Darling Buds of May

John Burns' Blog

Carbon footprint of pets; Darling Buds of May

I wrote recently about the Guardian article by Leo Hickman on the environmental cost of keeping pets which have a high carbon footprint. The issue came up again on Saturday Live on BBC Radio 4. This time it was a university scientist whose name I missed. He attributed the heavy carbon burden of pets primarily to the amount of meat they consume. One more argument against the BARF diet and in favour of giving pets a low protein diet. You would expect the Green Party to support the environmental case but Tony Juniper of the Greens strongly supported the social and emotional benefits of pets.

On the same programme there was an interview with a man whose family provided the inspiration for the Larkin family in H G Bates’ Darling Buds of May. (I’m currently enjoying the re-runs on ITV.)

Sometime in the 30’s, Bates was sitting in his car outside a country café when a large family decanted from a gaudy blue lorry, and shortly emerged from the shop eating crisps and ice cream, all the while laughing and joking. They were on their way to Margate and Pa had put a mattress in the back for the children. We did the same thing with an old Sherpa van in the 80’s.

I had my own Larkin moment on my veterinary visits to the Roberts family at Talfan Farm in Pontardulais in the late 70’s. Every time I called the whole family would turn out everyone was smiling and oozing goodwill to all men. I felt inspired to have a large family of my own but we only had five.

8th February - Carbon footprint of pets; Darling Buds of May

John Burns' Blog

Carbon footprint of pets; Darling Buds of May

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