The paper argues that transitioning companion dogs and cats to plant-based diets is:
Important – a full global transition would apparently spare around 7 billion land animals each year (and reduce environmental harm, and improve food security).
Tractable – 13 to 19% of guardians are open to plant-based diets for their dogs/cats if their concerns are addressed, according to two recent surveys.
Neglected – annual global funding for tranisitioning companion animals to plant-based diets is well below $1m.
If the numbers hold up, the case seems strong! But I’m curious about the counterfactual impact of transitioning companion cats and dogs to plant-based diets, especially given that humans wouldn’t eat or use some of the animal-derived food that companion animals are fed. What do people think about that, and how do the numbers and arguments look in general?
Is EA sleeping on making dogs and cats vegan?
New paper on plant-based diets for companion dogs and cats: Sustainable Pet Diets: A Leading Effective Altruism Issue.
The paper argues that transitioning companion dogs and cats to plant-based diets is:
Important – a full global transition would apparently spare around 7 billion land animals each year (and reduce environmental harm, and improve food security).
Tractable – 13 to 19% of guardians are open to plant-based diets for their dogs/cats if their concerns are addressed, according to two recent surveys.
Neglected – annual global funding for tranisitioning companion animals to plant-based diets is well below $1m.
If the numbers hold up, the case seems strong! But I’m curious about the counterfactual impact of transitioning companion cats and dogs to plant-based diets, especially given that humans wouldn’t eat or use some of the animal-derived food that companion animals are fed. What do people think about that, and how do the numbers and arguments look in general?