From Paul Bennett.
‘LIES, damned lies, and statistics’. I refer to Michael de Petrovsky’s letter (JEP, 20 November) in which he seeks to compare my virtually carbon neutral Labrador Betty to an SUV.

Mr de Petrovsky asserts that some 0.84 hectares of land (apparently being the amount of land required to produce one year’s Betty fuel) is double that required to manufacture and run (10,000 miles per annum) a Toyota Land Cruiser.

What isn’t mentioned is that to manufacture and run the machine, materials that have kept carbon nicely locked up under the ground/sea for millions of years are being mined, refined and burned, such as trees and plant life that absorbed carbon from our atmosphere millions of years ago (apparently cooling the atmosphere), storing it in the form of coal, oil or gas, which when burned today release that same carbon back into the atmosphere (apparently warming the atmosphere).

Betty fuel extracts nasties from the air as it grows, subsequently releasing those same nasties in the same proportions, as she then lives breathes, defecates, etc – zero impact, unless of course I go and collect her food in a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Mr de Petrovsky then further asserts that cats kill 188 million wild animals per annum in the UK. While I can neither confirm nor deny the number, which animals, grey squirrels, rats, mice, voles? All considered by most to be vermin.

Sadly, of course, also songbirds, and here in Jersey our beautiful red squirrel, but nature has a spectacular capability to balance, adjust and maintain an equilibrium, something which Mr de Petrovsksy’s letter did not itself enjoy.

To suggest that our Education Minister should advise schools to discourage pupils from keeping cats and dogs is patently absurd. Taking responsibility for an animal’s needs is as great a lesson as any child could have. To suggest that the only direct contact with animals should be either at Durrell or, presumably, either on TV or a plate is ludicrous.

To suggest that we could or should divert the resources put into generating pet food to the poor of the world is almost offensive. The two are not mutually exclusive. All that is lacking is the will to act on Third World poverty.

Regarding faeces left on the paths, beaches, etc, there are responsible dog owners and irresponsible dog owners, just as there are responsible drivers and irresponsible drivers, ditto every other section of society.

So, written entirely from the perspective of a motor car driving, aeroplane travelling, dog, cat (and parrot) loving, imperfect and overweight omnivore, I say again: ‘Lies, damned lies, and statistics’.