When it comes to pollution, animals usually bear the brunt of the effects. Like kids and the elderly, their lungs are less equipped to filter out pollutants from the air, and so air pollution can cause upper respiratory infections and diseases like asthma. Air pollution may also put pets at risk of developing a weaker immune system, liver conditions, skin irritations, and even infertility. Furthermore, while larger animals may have more robust organs, air pollution can disrupt the food chain and cause sources of food to die.
Air pollution, once emitted, sinks into the rest of the environment through processes like acid rain. As the soil becomes acidic, it can mobilize heavy metals which then are added to waters, leading to subsequent water pollution. Polluted soil can also reduce crop yields and may even cause plants to be contaminated themselves. This has the added effect of less stable roots from these unhealthy plants, which then can lead to more sedimentation and dust in the air that further harms lungs and internal systems.
However, one of the biggest sources of danger to animals is water pollution. Many strays or otherwise homeless animals are forced to find water wherever they can. Unfortunately, that also includes dirty puddles and contaminated streams, which wreaks havoc on their systems and leads to early deaths. Not only is there a possibility they are ingesting waters polluted with pharmaceuticals and plastics, but by approaching these water sources, they encounter breeding grounds for disease-carrying organismslike mosquitos. And of course, if animals eat fish or other aquatic animals, they can absorb water pollution that way, too.
Feral cats obviously are unable to pick up after themselves; after hunting, the remains of their prey to go into waters, adding bacteria and other pollutants. Waterfowl carcasses specifically can contribute to the spread of bird flu, which then can be transmitted to people who interact with contaminated areas and waters.
Many neighborhoods may have cat colonies around the area and stray dogs running around, as shelters do not have enough space to take them in. If you can, try to provide fresh water sources for them. Otherwise, focus on limiting the amount of trash, oil, and sediment around your property/apartment complexes– some helpful strategies are to only wash your car at designated car washes, to sweep up parking lots to limit the amount of dust present in the air, and to not idle your car. You can also try to call local organizations that specialize in spaying and neutering strays to prevent them from breeding and further straining limited resources.
As for the pets in your own home, you can protect them from poor air quality by limiting their time outdoors and avoiding intense exercise until the air quality improves– be sure to interact with them and play indoors to alleviate their boredom. You can also improve your indoor air quality by opting for sustainably sourced pet toysmade with natural fibers, as artificial ones can shed microplastics in your home and end up in their stomachs.
Another important way to prevent pollution from your pets is to pick up after them! While every creature out there must “do their business,” sometimes owners forget to pick up after them; every time it rains, stormwater runoff collects this raw sewage as it funnels towards our surface waters. Even more terrifying, microorganisms like roundworms, E. coli, and Giardia can remain in your yard for up to four years if not picked up!
All in all, the best way to help your pets and other animals is to prevent pollution. Improving air quality can reduce the number of vet visits for our furry friends, while improving water quality can help prolong the lives of animals and plants, to say the least. And remember: do your duty when they do their doody– always pick up after your pet and dispose of their waste properly! For further reading, refer to the hyperlinked articles.
