Pets peeved - The next smoking ban

FIRST it was no smoking in the workplace, genuinely thanks to ex-minister Micheál Martin. Then it was no smoking in a vehicle carrying a child passenger , thanks to minister James Reilly. And next, believe it or not, it could be no smoking at home in the presence of pets like cats and dogs.

This follows a finding that pets exposed to second-hand smoke at home are more likely to develop health problems than those in non-smoking households.

Scientists at the University of Glasgow have found a direct link between family pets living in a smoking environment and animal illnesses, including cancer, cell damage, and weight gain. Apparently, cats are particularly at risk, possibly due to their habit of self-grooming, while castrated dogs tend to put on more weight than those in a smoke-free home.

Given the high cost of bringing one’s cat or dog to the vet, perhaps a self-imposed ban on smoking in their presence is worthy of consideration. Above all, however, this study underlines the pernicious nature of secondary smoking and the health hazard that smoking represents.