Kick the Habit, Not the Dog
by Michael Schaffer

The New York Times’ “Well” blog has a post about a new argument for quitting smoking: Secondhand smoke may harm smokers’ pets. According to the story, few owners realize that pets can be harmed by indoor smoke, though science seems to show that’s the case. (It’s something of a byproduct of better pet nutrition and medicine, as they’re now living long enough to get smoke-related cancers). From the post:

Nearly one in three smokers said the health of a pet would motivate them to try to kick the habit, the researchers reported in the medical journal Tobacco Control. Among non-smoking pet owners, 16 percent said pet health would spur them to ask a smoking family member to quit, while 24 percent said they would at least ask the smoker to take it outside.

The findings, said the researchers, suggest that public health campaigns focused on pets and smoking may be an effective way to convince some smokers to quit, or at least to help make the home smoke-free for non-smoking family members and pets.    

Most of the discussion here seems to be about using this apparently legitimate pet-health issue to motivate humans to improve their own health behavior. In fact, concern for pets has motivated public-health efforts even where the animals’ own physical welfare is not a question. In my book, I report that a few years ago, San Francisco launched dogsaretalking.com a new website aimed at getting gay men to have themselves tested for syphillis. What do dogs have to do with STDs? Nothing. But, the logic goes, incapacitated owners can’t care for their beloved pets. Playing up that fear, it seems, might motivate people to hustle to the doctor’s office:

The Dogs Are Talking Campaign is meant as a loving reminder that it’s equally important for humans to take care of their own well-being. Dogs need their people to go in for regular checkups too—and if those people should happen to be gay men with multiple sexual partners, their checkups should include getting tested for syphilis every 3 to 6 months.

No one knows a guy’s daily habits better than man’s best friend. If your dog could talk, what would he say about your healthcare routine? 

Love yourself as much as you love your dog.