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opinion
An
owner by any name
What has happened to common sense?
I was amazed to
read an article in the Los Angeles Times a couple of weeks
ago regarding an attempt by so-called “pet activists” to have
people no longer refer to themselves as a pet’s owner, but
rather its ‘guardian.’
Their reasoning?
According to the article, In Defense of Animals, an animal
rights group from Mill Valley, Calif., believes the word “owner”
is demeaning to pets.
Founded in 1983 with the intent of protecting animals from
exploitation and cruelty, IDA has been effective in rescuing
animals from laboratory experimentation and the aftermath
of natural disaster.
But now, as we in the United States live under the imminent
possibility of another catastrophic terrorist attack, IDA
hopes to send this issue before the Los Angeles City Council
and, by doing so, further clog an already inundated government
system over an issue of semantics.
According to information obtained from IDA, they undertake
this campaign believing the “concept of seeing animals as
‘things’ or ‘property’ is an outdated belief.”
The central point to their argument falls on pet owners.
IDA hopes that by changing the terminology, people will take
greater responsibility in regard to the care and safety of
a pet, especially when considering unnecessary euthanasia.
Yet, when the demands of pet ownership become too great for
a busy lifestyle, anyone capable of abandoning or killing
that animal will do so regardless of the label attached.
Why? Issues of personal responsibility are different for everyone.
Ever speed on the freeway? Despite the word “illegal,”
thousands of people continue to do so every day. They
don’t think about the word or stigma attached to the act but
do so out of necessity to suit their personal needs.
The Oxford Dictionary defines guardian as a “defender, protector
or keeper.” This is the job description assumed by pet
owners across the world. I am also a car owner and know
that my responsibilities include much the same, regular maintenance
and the occasional wash. Yet, judging by some of the
wrecks you see driving around southern California freeways,
cars are in far more need of an advocate than pets.
Where is the champion for the downtrodden Volkswagen bus?
Perhaps, if the automotive industry promoted the term “guardian”
in place of “owner,” car owners would feel a higher level
of urgency in regard to car maintenance. Further, we
should then refer to mechanics as “automobile custodians,”
thus elevating their sense of self.
Who are you people? Are your lives really this simple?
With all of the legitimate causes in the world today and the
people and issues that desperately need attention, can’t you
find something more pressing to fill time between golf games
and dinner parties?
In a world of suicide bombers and corrupt corporations, where
an innocent 5-year-old girl isn’t safe playing in her front
yard, how dare you tie up our elected officials with something
so foolish.
You have taken a respectable organization, with an accomplished
20-year history of animal advocacy, and done to it what millions
of animals do to shrubbery, fire hydrants and mailboxes each
day.
Then again, before the front-page article, who had ever heard
of IDA? So, with this new abundance of free publicity
that will no doubt attract financial support from like-minded
individuals, it makes one wonder what the real motivation
of IDA’s campaign really is.
Ryan May is a film and journalism major at Cal State Long
Beach.
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