Note: The views expressed in this article represent the author, not The Echo as a whole.

“They’re eating the cats; they’re eating the dogs!” 

On September 10, 2024, 67.1 million people heard then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump shout this line on live TV. The reactions, at least from my impression, were mixed. Some were supportive, while others were shocked and saddened. We can only presume that Trump, referring to Haitian immigrants, made a blatantly racist attempt to dehumanize them. The statement, however, shows a trend in the classic conservative American movement. 

Almost every president has owned a pet, Trump being a rare exception. Nevertheless, according to the Public Broadcasting Station, election data shows that the majority of dog owners voted for him in the 2024 presidential election. This could, obviously, be a coincidence—the margins were slim. The pattern, however, is clear; Americans, especially conservatives, love their pets. Over 94 million households have at least one. I own four. This is understandable, as pets provide comfort, reliability, and companionship. I am a staunch believer in the theory that an animal can make almost every bad situation better. The loss of a loved one, troubles in school or work, all are made less painful with an animal. Pet ownership is not the problem—I would prefer more people have them. The issue is that we have consistently ignored our responsibility to these animals and the planet they rely on. 

Since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has engaged in slash-and-burn consumption, permanently degrading our planet. Climate change, extinction, and animal abuse have been a very prevalent part of the modern era. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average temperature has increased by two degrees Fahrenheit since 1850. Additionally, the National Museum of Natural History states that “Today’s extinction rate is hundreds, or even thousands of times higher than the natural baseline.” Our World In Data says that over 100 billion animals are killed each year in factory farming. This is clearly not a good time to be anything but human. In addition, we have two parties, both very ideologically different, fighting over problems that many view as more pressing. In the 21st century specifically, the debate has shifted from “How do we solve these issues?”—a very important question—to “Do these issues exist?” Lack of knowledge and a simple refusal to engage in topics such as climate change has desensitized us to the very real possibility of a sixth mass extinction event. Why do we feel comforted by the very creatures we are betraying through inaction and complacency?

A common attack in modern conservatism is the denial of climate change, leading everyone to ignoring the need for strong environmental and animal welfare policies. Even an acknowledgement of climate change and animal welfare conditions would not solve the issue, though. We need solid action to prevent further damage to endangered species and habitats. We will almost certainly not get this when Republicans, the self-professed animal lovers, are in charge. Safari Club International, one of the biggest hunting organizations in the world, has both endorsed and donated to Trump’s 2024 campaign, and attacked laws that would protect endangered species. Major fracking and oil companies have lobbied for decades in the United States. We are, by far, the biggest producer of oil in the world, at 22,844,371 barrels in 2024, more than double that of the next highest producer, Saudi Arabia. As conservatives profess their love for pets, we all actively destroy our shared environment.

Neither main party, in the recent past, has campaigned on protecting the environment. Kamala Harris, in the 2024 race, has said that she wouldn’t ban or even impose stricter regulations on fracking or oil, instead even suggesting rolling back restrictions, and Donald Trump has significantly weakened animal welfare laws and proposed for corporations to “Drill, baby, drill!” Neither of the major parties, nor any major American politician ever, has condemned factory farming. In this current administration specifically, real efforts have been made to prioritize short-term human gain at the expense of others. If candidates are allowed to express “American values” such as dog ownership, even engaging in blatant xenophobia to provide themselves a flimsy moral high ground, we must hold them accountable to protect all animals. In order to enact actual change, we cannot allow empty virtue signaling to muddy the waters. And if we think ourselves to be worthy of man’s best friend, we must first restrain ourselves from mutual destruction.

In New York City specifically, we have to make our voices heard. Candidates like Curtis Sliwa, while obviously not perfect, have had some good ideas about reforming animal welfare. I would encourage politicians like Zohran Mamdani and Kathy Hochul to learn from his example.