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8:15:00 AM EDT
The "Reality" of Perception (Reply)
CDonian Writes: Unfortunately, changing the terms we use for animals won't change their legal status. Saying "my dog is family" won't overcome some bad or underprotective law: We have to change the laws/rules first. (Real life isn't like those "TV courts," where you can talk judges into making new rules.) To do this, we have to show how a change will benefit _everyone_.
Sad example: In rescue/recovery efforts, the first rule is "Human life comes first." But disaster planning now includes companion animals, for practical reasons: FEMA learned (via "Katrina") that if you force people to abandon their animals, they'll refuse rescue, dodge rules, regard all "authority" as suspect, and-or suffer deep and lasting trauma. And all of this impedes human rescue and recovery.
It's hard to come up with a workable legal status for companion animals. One idea is to tag them as "enhanced property." This acknowledges that they aren't just things, and have huge emotional/relational importance to people. (The concept is still human-centric ... but then, so is the whole companion-animal thing.)
Reply: You've answered this question better and in more detail than I was able to.
"Enhanced property?" I've not heard that before, but its an interesting concept. Better than what we have now where animals are legally considered property, like a chair or sofa.
It's odd to think that in a language containing seemingly millions of words, that there is not one that can accurately and respectfully describes man's human and legal obligations to animals who are kept in the home or on the property.
"Ownership" usually refers to inannimate objects as well it should.
That it legally refers to living animals as well, seems to be a problem.
A cat is not a chair. A cow is not a car.
Even the term, "Animal Rights" doesn't seem to properly depict what most of us struggle for with animals.
People ask, "What rights are you talking about? The right to vote? The right to have a lawyer if arrested? The right to protest?"
Of course one could ask the same of those fighting for Children's Rights. Babies can't vote, they don't commit crimes and they can't march on picket lines.
Personally, I believe most of these are justice issues.
You don't need to be able to talk to deserve and warrent justice.
I do agree with Jmuhjacat that the language and words we use to describe human's relationship and obligations towards animals IS important.
That's why this topic is critical.
For as long as our society deems animals as "things," "property" or objects to be "owned" or "gotten rid of" like a desk, computer or garbage, it is very hard to raise animals' status in terms of human perception and ultimate justice.
"Perception" (as they say) IS reality."
We may win a few battles, in terms of animals rescued and saved, but we are ultimately and forever, losing the war. -- PCA
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I also have another unrelated question. I unfortunately do not know many people with a lot of experience with dog behaviour- especially pits. Because I can't have a dog of my own at the moment I have been walking my bfs mother's dogs. One in particular has shown that he is extremely well behaved. The others will freak out at the site of a squirl but this dog is almost a dream. He dutifully ignores barking dogs behind fences and even excited dogs on a leash walking nearby. Because of this I decided to take him further then his little neighborhood route. I took him on a long long walk to the little park in town. Through an area with people and restaraunts (he did very well). Once there he seemed almost confused and the tinest bit scared. He sat closely by me and let out a tiny whine every now and again. Is this bad? Should I not take him to places he has never been? Is it better to keep him in his own area? I want to give him the joys of long walks and exploration but not if it makes him afraid. What do you think?
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It warms my heart that people even in the most trying times think of their pets as they would their children. Refusing to be rescued unless their companion comes along and even making sure their animal is rescued before they are. (refering to a few katrina stories I have read).
"FEMA learned (via "Katrina") that if you force people to abandon their animals, they'll refuse rescue, dodge rules, regard all "authority" as suspect, and-or suffer deep and lasting trauma. And all of this impedes human rescue and recovery."
I know we are losing the war and the amount of suffering and callous disregard for animal rights is overwhelming. I just wanted to hold up those people who are an example of unconditional love. My boyfriends mother for example. She has 4 pitbulls in her home (she has a soft heart she was not collecting). It is like a ball and chain. She cannot go on vacation or be away from the house for any length of time because of their needs. She has spent thousands on vet bills and lives with all of the lovely less then wonderful aspects of having that many dogs in a relatively small space. I never hear her complain and she often says that she would rather live in a tent then get rid of her dogs.
*on an unrelated note. Ill be honest, when I first started seeing political posts I was a little shocked and vaguely annoyed. I come here to read about animals not politics (lol). Of course that feeling is unfair and I realize that you are more then just here for my entertainment. Not to mention the fact that you are certainly entitled to have more to your personality then just animal rescue. Anyways, I really have come to look foward to and enjoy reading your commentary. So I am requesting that you write a post about the current state of affairs with Hillary. Am I the only one who sees the fact that she is willing to put millions of her own money into this as a sign of passion? Is is really over as the media would have us believe?
5/11/08 4:37 PM
My grandmother wisely said, "THOUGHTS ARE THINGS" and indeed, they are. How we refer to something (or someONE) does influence not only how we, but how others, view that object or being. The WORDS need to change. And then, slowly, over time, the MINDSET will change as well.