BARKING MAD
Furious Susanna Reid clashes with GMB guest who claims cats and dogs are harming the planet and ‘should be banned’
SUSANNA Reid argued with an expert on Good Morning Britain today after he claimed cats and dogs are harming the environment.
The presenter was left reeling by the guest's suggestion that humans shouldn't have pets because of their significant carbon footprint - saying they equate to owning a car.
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argued that people think of their pets as one of the family, but the man insisted they needed to be banned to "save the planet".
Her co-host Adil Ray kicked off the debate and asked: "You can't seriously be saying pets are comparable to SUVs, is that absolutely true and we should give them up?"
Speaking from his home in South London, Environmental artist Donnachadgh McCarthy said: "Well there was a study in the journal of biosciences last year that said the state of the carbon emissions of a dog is the same as running two households for a year.
"So we do have an issue. Pets are nice to have but we have to think of the consequences behind them."
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Horrified, Susanna replied: "But what are the consequences of what you're saying? We (people) are a drain on resources as well.
"My point is you could be talking about human beings as well."
But Donnachadgh pushed back: "Well if we love our members of our family like we love our kids do you not accept that we have to look after our future?"
And angry Susanna snapped: "Firstly I want to look after my kids and my pets."
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Standing firm, the artist called her comments "quite shocking" and pointed out the government has accepted there is "a climate crisis".
He added: "Our kids at 30 years old will be facing destruction, floods. We are in an emergency we have to face up to it."
People at home sided with Susanna with viewers rushing to share their opinion on Twitter.
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Still fuming from the conversation, Susanna made her feelings clear again later when she spoke to Lorraine Kelly.
She said: "The point is they are like members of our family and you wouldn't give up a member of your family, that's the bottom line.
"There are lots of other ways we can care about the planet."
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