Pet Health and Shale Gas Development

The bond we share with our pets is sacred. They are our best friends, our babies, and for some, preferred above other people. Caring for a beloved animal companion is a rewarding experience that some caregivers prioritize over their personal wellbeing.

A Smell Pgh app user reports the impact of pollution on their pet’s health. Image source: gasppgh on Instagram.

But our pets are exposed to the same pollution that can harm human health. In some cases, certain exposures are more intense for our animal friends. Many of the same strategies used to protect human health will also improve the quality of a companion animal’s life. Still, pets may encounter some additional contaminants due to how they interact with the world around them. Read on for an overview of the environmental risks to pet health caused by shale gas development (SGD) and to learn how to keep enjoying your best friend's unconditional love for years to come.

Air Pollution

Any pet can develop a cough or lung problems from chronic exposure to air pollution, including short- and long-term respiratory problems, just like humans. Puppies and kittens, senior pets, and pets with flat faces and short snouts, such as Persian cats and pugs, are more likely to have an adverse reaction to poor air quality.

Strategies to protect yourself on days when air quality is poor can also help to protect the pets in your home.

• Check the air quality readings and forecast using airnow.org to determine if it’s a good day for a long walk or outdoor play.

• Keep windows closed or be mindful of limiting exposure on days with high air pollution.

• Learn about your indoor air quality with resources such as the Low Cost Monitoring Program provided by the nonprofit group Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces (ROCIS) to improve the health of pets that spend most of their time inside.

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Noise Pollution

Spending time with your pet during a thunderstorm or the Fourth of July is probably less relaxing than your usual hang out time. Companion animals are often startled by loud sounds and may be bothered by high frequency sounds humans can’t even hear. Exposure to noise can lead to anxiety, which some pets express by hiding, shaking, or other changes in behavior. A dog who is sensitive to noise might be affected by passing traffic, particularly heavy trucks rumbling by your home, such as the heavy equipment used during construction and fracking of well pads.

Your pet may benefit from some of the same strategies that help the humans in your home cope with noise from well pad traffic or the constant hum from facilities such as compressor stations and data centers.

• White noise can be calming and partially block other sounds.

• Keeping the windows closed and covered with soundproof curtains will help to dull bothersome noise.

• Four-legged friends might also benefit from a plethora of calming products such as scent diffusers, clothing, and treats to manage feelings brought on by noise.

Soil Contamination

Pets come into closer contact with the ground, and that means increased risk of exposure to soil contamination, whether they’re walking the neighborhood, playing at the park, or rolling around in a scent they’ve detected.

The hydraulic fracturing processes used in shale gas extraction, more commonly known as "fracking," require frack fluid and flowback water, which contain toxic substances, such as radium, selenium, lead, and other contaminants that can seep into soil. Plus, oil and gas extraction may cause airborne particles that settle to the ground. A 2020 study found increased airborne radiation within 12 miles of shale gas extraction sites in the United States, a distance that encompasses all homes in heavily fracked areas of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Pets can track mud and dirt indoors, contaminating their beds, feeding areas, and play spaces. Dogs and cats groom themselves, which may lead to the ingestion of contaminants. Then, as we interact with our pets, the contaminants spread to others in the home, increasing the risk for humans, including children, who may come into contact with dangerous, radioactive substances.

To manage the health risks, focus on capturing as much debris as you can when your pet first comes back inside.

• Wipe paws after trips outside.

• Bathe pets regularly.

• Trim hair around the paw pads of long-haired pets to prevent gathering dust and contaminated soil on paws.

• Vacuum regularly to contain any dust tracked into the house.

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Water Contamination

Your pet may be lapping up more from their water dish than you think.

Shale gas development poses multiple threats to drinking water. Private water wells and municipal water supplies (city water) can be contaminated by surface water discharges, insufficient treatment of contaminated wastewater, illegal dumping of wastewater, and leachate from landfills accepting shale gas waste.

Municipal water supplies are required to report on water quality regularly. If you pay a water bill, a water quality report should be available from the utility either on the company’s website (e.g. Pittsburgh Water's Annual Drinking Water Quality Reports) or by requesting one from customer service. For additional peace of mind, test kits are available online and in hardware stores to analyze what’s coming out of the tap in your home. Most tests recommend filtration strategies to remove sediment and contamination if it is found. Private water wells are the responsibility of the homeowner. There is no government agency tasked with checking the quality of water from private wells. EHP recommends testing private water wells every six months if the well is within three miles of SGD. Learn more on our water monitoring page.

In many cases of widespread water contamination, such as Flint, MI, dogs became ill before people. Owing to their smaller bodies and comparatively shorter lifespans, dogs react more quickly to heavy metal exposure with a host of non-specific symptoms that require veterinary care to diagnose. Cats, due to their finicky eating habits, are less susceptible but still vulnerable to the impacts of heavy metals. Nevertheless, all pets are susceptible to bacterial, viral, and chemical contamination. In addition to routinely testing tap water in your home, you can improve your pet’s health by making sure they’re not sampling dirty water on walks or in your yard. Provide clean drinking water for your pet when they’re out in the yard. Bring a bottle of water and a dish on walks away from home. Offer fresh water frequently on hot days or when your pet is getting a lot of exercise. Avoid streams and ponds that are exposed to runoff from well pads and other industrial sites. Don’t count on your pet to avoid contaminated water; some pets will drink anything—especially dogs!

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Increased Exposure to Ticks and Diseases

Tick prevention may be familiar to most pet caretakers, but the health hazards and frequency of tick encounters are escalating as shale gas developments alter ecosystems and expand health risks.

A warming planet and deforestation have increased both the number of ticks and the prevalence of diseases spread by ticks. For example, forest fragmentation caused by well pads and pipelines has been connected to the spread of Lyme disease. Although we want to take steps to protect our pets and ourselves, many strategies used to kill and repel ticks in residential yards are damaging to the ecosystem and incompatible with rewilding efforts that seek to solve problems created by manicured lawns.

Instead, use the following tips to help minimize exposure to tick bites and to prevent tick-related illnesses in your household.

• Consult with your pet’s veterinarian to identify the best topical or oral medication or treated collar for tick prevention.

• Ask if the Lyme disease vaccine is appropriate for your pet.

• Check for ticks after your pet has been outside, even in cold weather.

• Learn how to properly remove a tick once it’s attached. The safest method may surprise you!

• Stay informed and test ticks using the Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab.

Your Pet’s Health and You

Animal companionship benefits human health by lowering anxiety, reducing blood pressure, and increasing exercise. But SGD and the petrochemical buildout pose multiple risks to pet and human health alike. Learn more about the health impacts of SGD at the Environmental Health Project.

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The pet photos above were provided by the EHP team.