Started by In Defense of Animals, February is Responsible Animal Guardian Month. During the month of February, we remind people to be a guardian, not an owner.
What makes a responsible animal guardian?
[pullquote width=”290″ float=”left”]A responsible animal guardian looks out for an animal’s physical, social, behavioral, and psychological needs.[/pullquote]
- Grooming to ensure healthy skin and coat
- Training to have a happy, stress-free life without behavioral issues
- Regular vet visits to keep tabs on health
- Healthy, nutritious food
- Daily, breed appropriate exercise
- Microchipping
- Adopting only through responsible rescues/shelters and ethical breeders
- Tending to emotional needs
- Always treating with compassion
- Reporting suspected abuse
Some fun facts about animal guardians:
- 97% believe their pets understand them
- 78% imagine what their pets would say and speak for them
- 53% have taken off work at least once to take care of a sick pet
- 70% of people sign their pet’s name on a greeting card
- 58% include their pets in family/holiday portraits
- 78% think of their pets as children
- 84% display photographs of them
The use of the term “guardian” will ultimately end so much cruelty and abuse, and save so very many lives. – Dr. Elliot Katz, Founder of IDA
For more information about why you should be an animal guardian rather than an owner, watch the brief video below.
Food for thought. I think until legal definitions are changed, there are issues with using some words as opposed to others, although in our hearts we know what we mean!
I completely agree. Legal definitions are going to be a game-changer for all animals.
I like the term guardian, I also like pet parent. I feel my pets are part of the family, which is not to say that I treat them exactly like I would treat a human child. But I care for their physical, emotional and mental well-being, and also am bonded to them by love.
I use pet parent as well. My husband and I even refer to each other as ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ in relation to the fluffies.
I agree with Peggy, I like the term “guardian”. I don’t like the word “owner” because, clearly, our pets are family so we don’t OWN them. I always say “I live with 2 dogs”, not “I OWN 2 dogs”. Being a guardian is so much more than being an owner, and I feel so very sorry for those pets who are OWNED and not treated as part of the family.
I completely agree. There’s such a huge difference when you simply change the terminology.
Such a great topic – ever since France defined out pets as sentient beings a few years back I’ve been hoping we’d be quick to follow. It’s so apparent to many of us the complexities that go into our relationships with our pets – it really does beg for a term better than “owner.”
I was really hoping we would follow shortly after as well. I still have hope that it will change.
This is a great topic – I lub dis discussion! Consciousness, awareness, feelings, emotions – these are things we value in one another, and should also value in every living creature!
Mattiedog, A Little Dog Making a Big Difference in This World
You said it ‘pyrfectly’ 🙂
This is a great discussion! I try to not get too caught up in PC terms, but rather focus on how people treat and care for their dogs.
That is a very good point. Ultimately, kindness and compassion toward animals is what matters, but a language change can definitely push things in the right direction.
I love this! Saying that we own our pets really doesn’t seem…accurate. They are more like adopted children. 🙂
Completely agree! My husband and I don’t have human kids, but we have two furry ones 🙂
This is such a great topic to bring to light! I much prefer the term “animal guardian” to the term owner. Pets are our fur-babies, and we are their parents/guardians. Never their owners. I own a car, a phone, and many other inanimate objects but never another living, breathing, species.
Nice touch with the fun facts and the video. I enjoyed both! Thanks for sharing.
You said it 🙂 I really liked that facts because it showed we’re not the minority in the treatment of animals. Many others act the same way.
I don’t care much for the term “owner” either, though I sometimes use it just out of habit. I am fine with pet parent or Mom for myself, but I guess not everyone likes that. I think guardian is a good term as well.
I’ve taken off plenty of work to care for the pets, I’ve left work early and gone in late when taking them to appointments. I’ve also taken vacation from work when bringing home a new puppy, to have extra time to settle them in!
We use parent, mom, and dad as well, but you’re right, not everyone likes that. The term ‘guardian’ is something I think everyone that cares about animals can get behind.
I think it is our responsibility to be our pets guardian and like you point out its multi-faceted. We all have to do our best and always try to be better!
There are SO many facets to being an animal guardian and it is incredibly worth it <3
I never use the word “owner” to describe my relationship with my pets. I no more own them than I own my human children. I like the idea of “guardian.”
–Wags (and purrs) from Life with Dogs and Cats.
Guardian definitely describes our relationship with our pets in a much better way.
I love this! I do the same thing and we also refer to each other as mom and dad. I have a friend who makes fun of people like me and all the other “furmoms” out there and it always hurts my feelings. I definitely consider them family and I much prefer the term guardian over owner.
I love the idea of using the term “guardian.” It is kind of weird to say that you own your pets. It is technically correct to say that, but it doesn’t really encompass the relationship that exists between people and their pets. I think of my cats as being my kids and myself as being a pet parent. I must admit that I’m very protective too.
I really love the facts about guardians! Most of those apply to me. This is a great post!
Interesting discussion – although actions and behaviours and how people ultimately treat their pets are more important to me than a legal definition.
Fantastic post!!!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Part of it is cultural. I saw a post where a Russian had supposedly had his Sphynx cat decoratively tattooed, not I.D. tattooed. I showed it to a co-worker, I was appalled, she shrugged it off as the cat was his property. Dog and cock fighting still happen. Until those attitudes change, that humans work with animals, not have dominion over them, you won’t get anywhere. Look how long it took men to decide that women had enough brains to run a home, vote, and work.