Is it actually possible to own animals?
The issue of pet ownership comes up when people try to find the right words for buying and selling animals. In our opinion referring to animals as property seems contradictory to viewing them as family members.
We have steered away from using ownership terms. This worked well when we wrote about dogs, cats, and other domesticated pets. They could be adopted or rescued without having to say they are bought and sold.
However, when we wrote our first book about horses, trying to delete the ownership terminology became cumbersome. People buy, sell, and trade horses. Unlike with dogs and cats, there's no mention of adopting them. Some people rescue horses but often they must buy them to save their lives.
The other terminology that some of our readers find offensive is referring to animals as it or that instead of he or she. To us it seems counterintuitive to talk about animals as objects. We believe they are sentient beings with intelligence, emotions, and spiritual awareness.
Some people also object to calling animals pets. We think of the word pet as a term of endearment rather than a way of diminishing the animal's individuality.
Do the words "animal companion" work as a replacement for "pet"? Are we the animals' humans? Lots of folks now prefer using those terms.
What are your ways of talking about animals? Do you think use of language and terminology affects or reflects humans' views toward animals?
Well, Abby is definitely not an "it" or a "that".
Someone commented once that I never say things like, "I HAVE to go feed the dog." or "While I was walking the dog".
Instead, it's always something like, "I need to go feed my girl." or "When Abby and I went on our walk."
I suppose this subtlety has something to do about the difference between a responsibility and a chore/inconvenience.
I have always felt lucky to have this wonderful, furry being that depends on me for love and care. I've never thought about her existence as a chore, and I guess this comes through in the way I talk about her.
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Not only the words we use, but the tone of voice and inflection carry messages about the animals we talk to or about. I find that using a soft tone of voice at moderately high pitch is more likely to get the kind of response from my animal friends that I enjoy. Therefore the interaction begins on a positive note. If I'm in a bad mood and allow that to be reflected in my voice, the animals sense it and are less cooperative and stay away from me.
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I think how we refer to animals is highly indicative of our view of them. If you think of them as objects then it's very easy to use/abuse them. The more we understand them as sentient beings, the less abuse there will be. Those who dislike feeling are those most uncomfortable in the shift. But it's inevitable. Like the shift had to come for equal rights in colour, sex and religion. Now it's the animals turn.
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