

AUKLAND, New Zealand, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- A pair of New Zealand researchers claim a medium-sized dog has about the same carbon footprint as a sport-utility vehicle due to its diet.
Robert and Brenda Vale said in their new book, "Time To Eat The Dog: The Real Guide To Sustainable Living," that a medium-sized dog eats about 362 pounds of meat and 209 pounds of cereal each year, with 43 square miles of land needed to create just 2.2 pounds of dog food cereal, Sky News reported Friday.
The Vales calculate the carbon footprint of a medium-sized dog as 2.08 acres, more than twice the 1.01 acres needed to create enough energy to build a Toyota Land Cruiser. However, the pair said the average driver travels about 12,000 miles a year, making the carbon footprint of the Toyota and the dog roughly equivalent.
However, some experts cast doubt on the book's claims.
"Everything has an impact on the environment but I'm surprised by the size of these numbers. Without analyzing them further I find it difficult to believe," said John Buckey, managing director of carbonfootprint.com.
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LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8 (UPI) --
Pop star Katy Perry and comedian Russell Brand informed Los Angeles Superior Court they have reached a settlement in their divorce, documents show.
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GIGLIO, Italy, Feb. 8 (UPI) --
The crippled cruise ship Costa Concordia has shifted 2 feet since it capsized Jan. 13 in Italy, moving closer to plunging off a rocky shelf, officials said.
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MIAMI, Feb. 8 (UPI) --
Police called to a report of a fight between neighbors in Miami said they found cocaine, marijuana, 10 grenades and a pig in one of the homes.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) --
Thousands of tiny unmanned aircraft or drones flying into civilian airspace over the United States can pose a security threat as they may be difficult to monitor in the long run and some craft may fall into enemy hands, security analysts say.
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