  Guardianship - Changing Consciousness |
Animal Guardians Increasingly RecognizedMost people reading this page probably already consider their animal companion as a member of their family instead of as property (like your computer or your car). Reflecting this, there is a growing push to use the word 'guardian' instead of 'owner' when referring to our relationship with our pets, both in everyday language and in legal terms.Leading the push is an American organization, In Defense of Animals (IDA). IDA is running a campaign called The Guardian Campaign. IDA believes that a simple wording change from "animal owner" to "animal guardian" will help to elevate the status of animals beyond that of mere property to that of living, breathing, sentient individuals with needs and rights of their own. Steps Taken in the U.S.:The cities of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Amherst, Massachusetts and Sherwood, Arkansas as well as the state of Rhode Island have enacted laws that recognize the legal status of the word "guardian." Additionally, several cities have passed measures that characterize residents as "animal guardians," rather than mere property owners. In San Francisco, for example, the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance in January that amended city and county laws so that they speak of the "owner or guardian" of animals, as opposed to simply the "owner." (For good measure, the ordinance also eliminated the adjective "dumb" from its definition of animal, which previously referred to "any bird, mammal, reptile, or other dumb creature.") In passing the ordinance, San Francisco became the seventh city in the country to codify animal guardian language. Ever since 2000, when Boulder, Colorado became the first city to pass such a measure, Boulder citizens have witnessed changes everywhere --- the Boulder newspaper is routinely using the word guardian (not "owner") in articles and editorials; the Humane Society of Boulder Valley is using guardian in their daily language and in all printed material; and signs erected by City Staff in dog parks now use the new terminology. In February of 2001, West Hollywood and Berkeley, California made similar changes to their ordinances to reflect the fact that their citizens are indeed guardians of their dogs, cats and other companions.There is no doubt that some people think that their companion animal is a possession, which contributes to the abuse perpetrated every day on animals. The Guardian Campaign envisions the changes we could see if we educate our children to the fact that they are guardians of living beings rather than "owners of property". IDA, ARK II, and numerous other animal advocacy organizations believe that when people come to view animals as fellow travelers on this earth and not simply commodities to be bought and sold, the treatment they receive from humans will improve either voluntarily or via legislation passed as a result of the new ethic. Do you want to help animals?You can begin by using the word "guardian" in place of "owner" when referring to companion animals. If "owner" must be used, put the word in quotation marks to indicate a negative connotation. Let's follow the example set by IDA and start the momentum in all of our communities!If you would like to learn more about the campaign being run by In Defense of Animals, check out their web site www.guardiancampaign.org. Or email jennifer@idausa.org |
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