Could it be?  Could it be that the more diverse our animal populations are, the more healthy we humans are?  I’ve long suspected this same thing, but my idea is very rudamentary.  I’m not a scientist, but in my life, it seems that every dog we had that was a mutt or mixed breed, never went to the vet.

I think I was 12 or so when I became a “Jr. Veterinarian” and started administering all the vaccinations.  Anyway, those dogs were the healthiest and the least pampered.  Years later, as an adult, I raised a purebred Rottweiler, Rasta, whom I had for 12 years and who cost me a great deal of money (no matter, I loved him).  Rastafarian had hip dysplasia, pancreatic problems and thyroid issues.  And, it seems, about every other purebred I know of, has just as many issues, if not more.  In my mind, it seems that the more diverse and mixed the dog, the healthier it is.  So why not for humans too?

Well, this article I read about Animal Biodiversity and the effects on Human health, is a bit different, but I’m sure you can relate it back to what I mentioned above.  Basically, as animal populations decrease and diversity decreases in a specific area, disease grows.  What got me were the numbers.  I’m definitely a stats person and could see, in very “real” terms, that as we kill off the natural pattern of disease in animal populations, the disease doesn’t disappear, it actually looks for new hosts.  So, who do you think that new host is?  You got it!  Us, humans, our kids, our pets, our world becomes more likely to be impacted by animal hopping diseases like Lyme disease, Hantavirus, and even Swine Flu.

Although I usually like to bring attention to diversity in human populations, I thought this article and info would get us all thinking about our “true” impact on the world and how karma may come back to get us.  And we will be to blame.  Funny how that is.  Apparently, Man truly is his own worst enemy.