Animals
Animal Rights Activists Want to Ban the Term ‘Pet’ Because Cats and Dogs Are ‘Equals’
According to some, the term “pets” for animals is just as offensive as calling a woman “sweetie” or “honey.”
(TMU) — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) co-founder Ingrid Newkirk has said that the term “pets” for animals is just as offensive as calling a woman “sweetie” or “honey.”
Speaking to Metro Newkirk said:
“Animals are not pets—they are not your cheap burglar alarm, or something which allows you to go out for a walk. They are not ours as decorations or toys, they are living beings.”
Having previously called for animals to be recognized as equal to humans, PETA also suggested that the term “pet owner” be changed to “human carer” or “guardian” instead.
Newkirk continued:
A dog is a feeling, whole individual, with emotions and interests, not something you ‘have’.
How we say things governs how we think about them, so a tweak in our language when we talk about the animals in our homes is needed.
A pet is a commodity but animals should not be things on shelves or in boxes, where people say, ‘I like the look of that one, it matches my curtains or my sense of myself.’ Hopefully the time is passing for that kind of attitude.”
David MacNeil, CEO of Weathertech, is one human who seems to believe his dog is his equal. MacNeil paid $6 million (£4.6m) for a Super Bowl advertisement about veterinarians saving his cherished companion, Scout.
Scout was given a one percent chance of survival after an aggressive cancer was found during a scan last year. The cancer was attacking the walls inside Scout’s heart and recovery appeared extremely unlikely.
But McNeil was not about to give up on Scout. Regardless of the odds appearing stacked against Scout, McNeil asked the vets to take out all the stops and to treat his companion.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine took up Scout’s cause where he was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Scout’s tumor shrunk by an incredible 90 percent after the treatment and seems to have vanished since.
McNeil decided to show his gratitude with a Super Bowl advert lauding the hard work and treatment the staff gave Scout that ultimately saved the dog’s life.
Mark Markel, Dean at the School of Veterinary Medicine appreciates the gesture in promoting the work they do, saying:
“This is an amazing opportunity not only for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the School of Veterinary Medicine, but for veterinary medicine worldwide.
So much of what’s known globally today about how best to diagnose and treat devastating diseases such as cancer originated in veterinary medicine. We’re thrilled to share with Super Bowl viewers how our profession benefits beloved animals like Scout and helps people, too.”
As humans, we should recognize that the animals we bring into our lives and homes accept us as family as we should accept them as family as well by providing them with the love and the care they deserve.
By Jade Small | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com
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