PETA President Says Calling Your Dog or Cat A Pet Is Derogatory

Merriam-Webster defines the word pet as: a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.

Pretty straight forward, right?

Well, not according to the lunatic president of PETA.

Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA, said this is derogatory and suggests they are merely a ‘commodity’ or ‘decoration’.

The group – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – has long called for owners to be renamed ‘human carers’ or guardians.

Miss 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.

‘A dog is a feeling, whole individual, with emotions and interests, not something you ‘have’.’

She wants people to describe the animals they look after as ‘companions’, adding: ‘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.

She is right.  An animal is not a burglar alarm or a decoration.    My dog, Homer, is a PET.  I keep him and he gives me joy.  My dog is also not utilitarian.  He requires food, vet visits, and exercise.  When my husband and I leave town, we have to make arrangements for his care.  So, we keep Homer for pleasure rather than utility.

Homer

If we are to take PETA seriously, Petsmart will need to be renamed Companionmart.

Pets really don’t care what you call them.  They also don’t care if you refer to yourself as an owner or caregiver.  Their minds and emotions aren’t that advanced, PETA. They’re basic.

Miss Newkirk is hurting her cause more than she is helping it by equating animals to humans.  The vast majority of people agree that animals should be treated humanely.   You lose people with this nonsense. Most pet owners love their pets and treat them as one of the family.  Why attack them?

What ridiculous thing will PETA find to be upset about next?