Making cities more dog-friendly

Changing just a few things could make city dogs happier. Photo: AFP

People who own dogs are more likely to own and use cars more, according to a British study. And that association is observed even more so in cities. However, some urban planning could be enough to change the situation, reducing the number of times the car is used to take the dog for a walk, a change that would have two benefits, that of reducing CO2 emissions in the air and making one’s furry companion happier.

This study, conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds in England and the Technical University of Dortmund in Germany, published in Transport Findings, shows that there is a strong correlation between the number of kilometres travelled by car per person per year and the number of dogs per household. According to the research, the more dogs a person has, the more they tend to drive.