The Journal Of Animal Ethics Says Don't Call Animals "Pets" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Family Ties Forever! · 05-10-2011, 11:50 PM

I don't see what is wrong with calling a cat or dog a pet. I think most people consider the word pet a positive term.

Quote:

link

Journal: Don't Call Your Animals 'Pets'
Article Calls For People To Call 'Pests' 'Free-Roaming' Animals

The Journal of Animal Ethics says calling the family dog a pet is simply derogatory. Instead, editors of the journal said owners should call their dogs and cats "companion animals." According to the article, the term '"pets,' whilst technically correct in law, harks back to a previous age when animals were regarded as just that: property, machines or things to use without moral constraint."

And don't call rats, raccoons or any other woodland fauna "wild animals," or "pests." The journal asks people to call all those untamed animals "free-living" or "free-roaming." "We shall not be able to think clearly unless we discipline ourselves to use less than partial adjectives in our exploration of animals and our moral relations with them," the journal argued.

Veterinarian Jane Corkum said that the politically correct terms might be a little overboard. But she said the idea of identifying an "animal-companion" as more than just a critter is important to most owners. "I don't find it an offense to calling them a pet because I think of my pet as a friend or as a companion, so I think it is just a word," said Corkum. "But I can certainly see why some people do want to get rid of it and just call them a companion or a friend or family member even."

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. CNN contributed to this report. All rights reserved.

Marvo301 · 05-11-2011, 12:13 AM

Maybe we should just call them critters like Elly May Clampett!!

catlover79 · 05-11-2011, 12:32 AM

Good grief - don't these people have anything better to do? Wait, I just answered my own question.

Torgo · 05-11-2011, 08:51 AM

All these animals are going into therapy because we've been calling them the wrong things all these years.

old grouch · 05-11-2011, 08:59 AM

I really don't think that your dog cares what you call him, as long as you feed him and play with him once in a while.

tiredmike59 · 05-11-2011, 09:47 AM

If You Teach Your Dog A Trick,Does That Make Him Teacher's Pet ?

MickeyMac · 05-11-2011, 01:45 PM

The world has gone f**king mad!!!

MrCleveland · 05-11-2011, 03:58 PM

What next...we have to bury our "Companions" in a "Companion Cemetery" rather than just tossing them?

Dr. Thong · 05-11-2011, 04:26 PM

I believe in California, you are not allowed by law to call yourself a "pet owner." The term allowed is "guardian."

This PC crap has got to go!

catlover79 · 05-11-2011, 07:18 PM

Just one more reason why POLITICAL CORRECTNESS SUCKS!!!!!

ABlairican Pie · 05-11-2011, 11:52 PM

My cats don't care what I call them, just as long as I don't call them late for dinner.

Speaking of which, how's the term for fish, "Sea kittens", working out?

It's really strange how all these PC activists make up all these cornball terms that sound really weird when you actually try to use them. It's like legal or medical jargon.

Marvo301 · 05-12-2011, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

My cats don't care what I call them, just as long as I don't call them late for dinner.

Speaking of which, how's the term for fish, "Sea kittens", working out?

It's really strange how all these PC activists make up all these cornball terms that sound really weird when you actually try to use them. It's like legal or medical jargon.

If fish are "sea kittens" does that mean cats are "land fish"?

Janice · 05-12-2011, 02:55 PM

This group is wackier than PETA.

OH Nuts! · 05-12-2011, 03:06 PM

OY - talk about a nutty group. Geez, they wouldn't know what common sense was if it bit them in the a** - if you are kind to your pet (oh oh I said pet - hope I don't find red paint on my apt. door!) and responsible in taking care of its many needs, you are treating it with the reverence it deserves.

PlayOn · 05-12-2011, 03:53 PM

hey, mom? no, i can't talk now. i need to take my companion out for walk now.
rediculous!!

05-11-2011, 12:13 AM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	Maybe we should just call them critters like Elly May Clampett!!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-11-2011, 12:32 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Good grief - don't these people have anything better to do? Wait, I just answered my own question.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-11-2011, 08:51 AM	#4
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,032	All these animals are going into therapy because we've been calling them the wrong things all these years.
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira

05-11-2011, 03:58 PM	#8
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	What next...we have to bury our "Companions" in a "Companion Cemetery" rather than just tossing them?
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

05-11-2011, 04:26 PM	#9
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I believe in California, you are not allowed by law to call yourself a "pet owner." The term allowed is "guardian." This PC crap has got to go!
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

05-11-2011, 08:59 AM	#5
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	I really don't think that your dog cares what you call him, as long as you feed him and play with him once in a while.

05-11-2011, 09:47 AM	#6
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	If You Teach Your Dog A Trick,Does That Make Him Teacher's Pet ?

05-11-2011, 01:45 PM	#7
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	The world has gone f**king mad!!!

05-11-2011, 07:18 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Just one more reason why POLITICAL CORRECTNESS SUCKS!!!!!

05-11-2011, 11:52 PM	#11
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	More PC nuttiness My cats don't care what I call them, just as long as I don't call them late for dinner. Speaking of which, how's the term for fish, "Sea kittens", working out? It's really strange how all these PC activists make up all these cornball terms that sound really weird when you actually try to use them. It's like legal or medical jargon.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

05-12-2011, 02:55 PM	#13
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	This group is wackier than PETA.

05-12-2011, 03:06 PM	#14
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	OY - talk about a nutty group. Geez, they wouldn't know what common sense was if it bit them in the a** - if you are kind to your pet (oh oh I said pet - hope I don't find red paint on my apt. door!) and responsible in taking care of its many needs, you are treating it with the reverence it deserves.

05-12-2011, 03:53 PM	#15
PlayOn ADHD: what I have not who I am Senior Member Join Date: Jun 17, 2006 Location: I'll never tell. :p Posts: 2,745	hey, mom? no, i can't talk now. i need to take my companion out for walk now. rediculous!!
	__________________ Have you heard the ? Jesus saves!!!