Why Your Dog and Cat Need Copenhagen to Succeed

NBC recently reported on the rise of dengue fever due to global warming. Some of the factors have to do with the virus itself, but others have to do with its carrier: mosquitos. Those pesky little bloodsuckers thrive in the warmer temperatures and unpredictable rainy seasons brought on by climate change: not only do they hang around more, mosquitos bite more in rising temperatures. What does this mean for dogs and cats? They're at increased risk for mosquito-borne disease, too, such as heartworm.

And a survey earlier this year showed that heartworm is on the rise in the U.S.

A number of Change.org bloggers have been writing about issues related to the climate summit happening right now in Copenhagen, including refugees of rising sea levels, human rights, and food security. Now it's our turn to speak out for the animals. It's no secret that wildlife is endangered by rising temperatures. In honor of the International Day of Climate Action, the Center for Biological Diversity compiled a list of 350 species that are threatened by climate change. And the list could have been longer (they stopped there because 350 is a significant number in the fight against global warming). It doesn't get as much attention, but the threat a changing climate brings to domestic animals is very real, too.

Heartworm is expensive to treat and fatal if left untreated. It's also preventable, but a number of people aren't aware of monthly heartworm prevention pills or might not be able to afford it in the current economy. The less predictable seasons might also be catching people off-guard who live in colder climates and don't give heartworm preventative year-round (for those of you in warmer states: many vets say it's okay to take winter months off when it's too cold for mosquitos to survive, but the safest bet is to stick with it all year). The American Heartworm Society is stepping up their efforts to work with vets on educational programs.

The fate of domestic animals is tied very closely to the fate of humanity. Human concerns about food safety, water, disease, and other impacts of climate change affect the animals that live with us. You drink from the same tap, depend on the same agricultural system for your dinner, and rely on the same energy sources to keep your electricity and heat on.

We're responsible for domesticated animals, and once again, they can't add their voice to the debate without us. LIke so many other Americans, President Obama considers his dog a member of the family, and now Bo (and the millions of other dogs and cats across the country) need meaningful climate policy as badly as we do. Send the President an email reminding that there's yet another constituency -- one that he shares the White House with -- that's in trouble due to climate change.

Photo credit: OakelyOriginals