(October 16, 2023) Center for Practice Innovations, NYC TCTTAC

Most people have heard of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is smoke that is exhaled or comes off burning tobacco, which is then inhaled by others – including nearby nonsmokers. But secondhand smoke is a threat to everyone in the environment, including pets.

People love their pets, many of whom have become trusted support animals. Tobacco users may not know that these companions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of second-hand and third-hand smoke¹.

“Thirdhand smoke is the residue that remains on skin, fur, furniture, etc., even after the air has cleared. Our furry friends usually groom by licking their fur. If that fur is coated with smoke residue, they ingest carcinogens and toxins on top of the ones their lungs take in.” (American Lung Association).

Most pets stay mostly at home which means they are exposed to second-hand and third-hand smoke all the time. This is worst if people smoke indoors. This exposure has been found to cause cancer, respiratory illness, and heart disease in pets.

Reducing or quitting smoking is hard, and working with people who smoke means helping them understand some of the benefits of addressing their tobacco use. Protecting pets can be a strong motivator for people to make a change.

Talk to the people you work with who smoke. Share information about the impact of smoking on pets (https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/smoke/secondhand-smoke-and-pets.pdf ). Use these (or similar) images to create informational sheets or posters for your programs.

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