The Question of Urban Pets

The consideration of pets is generally excluded from any education in the built environment, despite the fact that around 45 pecent of households in the UK host at least one pet.

http://www.dognews.co.uk/uk-pet-owner-statistics/

Health Benefits Questioned

A researcher, and dog owner, has strssed that while there may be health benefits to owning pets, the studies that purport to demonstrate this have been of poor quality, and that the case is unproven.

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/are-pet-owners-healthier-and-happier-maybe-not.html

Rabies

In China, dogs in the city of Jiangmen are to be euthanised in what has been criticised as a misdirected attempt to combat rabies.  Deaths from rabies in the city are running at around 3 in a million per annum.

"Some residents back the move, with one complaining to the newspaper: "[Dog] excrement is everywhere in the courtyard and parks, and their barking always disrupts my sleep."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/03/chinese-city-bans-pet-dogs