The Food Professor- Fewer Kids, More Pets — and a Food System That Isn’t Ready
Today, roughly six in ten Canadian households live with at least one cat or dog. There are more than 16 million cats and dogs in the country. And a growing share of those animals are not owned by young families with rising incomes, but by seniors, people living alone, and households that explicitly view pets as family members and primary sources of companionship.
My Collie is my walking buddy. I want the exercise, but sometimes feel lazy, the dawg comes up to me and literally puts that snout up my nose as if saying “c’mon, up your a**, we have a walk to do”. 6 clicks a day. I recommend Border Collies, but you need to be ready to commit to a lifetime of work. She’s past her puppy years, the energy is way down, but she’s still a powerhouse on our daily trail. Also very gentle, very people friendly as long you are not riding a fast bike. She’ll go for the ankles. And I have two kids…
We inherited our son’s husky after he moved to Toronto. He usually gets walked 8-12 km/day. He’s raw fed, which can be expensive in the winter when there’s less vermin around, but it keeps him active and the gardens safe. I’ve watched the price of treats skyrocket over the last few years. I can believe people are getting stretched trying to care for their pets.
I’m afraid I don’t have any pets. Unless dust mites count?