A councillor who claimed 'large dogs have the same carbon pawprint as an SUV' has ignited a row with the Kennel Club.
Mark Howell has come under fire after he called for people to 'share or scale down the size of their pets' during a town hall meeting on climate change.
He claimed the carbon paw print left by dogs like Labradors and German Shepherds is the same as an SUV car and said methane emissions from such animals were causing serious harm to the planet.
Mr Howell, an independent member for Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, also claimed that pets consume 20 per cent of the world's meat and fish and this demand adds to pollution as it has to be transported.
While not calling for an outright ban of larger dogs, he said pet owners should consider 'scaling down' and getting smaller dogs in the future.
Mark Howell has come under fire after he claimed the carbon paw print left by dogs like Labradors and German Shepherds is the same as an SUV car
Mr Howell (pictured), an independent member for Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, also claimed that pets consume 20 per cent of the world's meat and fish and this demand adds to pollution as it has to be transported
He also said animal lovers should consider sharing dogs as pets with friends and relatives in the future to reduce dog umbers.
Mr Howell aired his controversial views in an online video in the wake of a town hall discussion on climate change.
Councillors debated ways the local authority can achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
He said: 'Pets are an elephant in the room. It is a really serious issue that politicians don't appear to be prepared to raise, understandably they are afraid of the backlash but it is important.
'It is estimated that globally pets consume 20 per cent of the world's meat and fish. A medium sized dog has the same emissions effect as a Toyota Landcruiser, in fact some estimates say it is twice as much.
'I have had a lot of criticism about this, but I think it is important to say that we all bear personal responsibility for reducing our carbon emissions.
'I am not saying we should to ban or exterminate dogs but what I am saying is
