5 Reasons to Codify the Concept & Language of Animal Guardianship:

1. Truly Recognizes Companion Animals as Members of the Family:

By changing the language that we use to define our relationship with our animal companions, we are shifting people’s current
view of thinking about animals as mere commodities and things, to viewing and treating them as members of our families.
Altering the language in local municipal codes will help to elevate a community’s consciousness and way of thinking about
non-human animals. By viewing, treating, and speaking of animals from the perspective of a guardian, we are respecting and
recognizing that they are individuals with needs and interests of their own.

“As we refer to other living beings as property, as things and as ‘it’, we give ourselves permission as humans to disregard their
needs and wants and quality of life. This campaign is a wonderful step toward respecting and caring for all life.”
-Rae Sikora, Executive Director, Center for Compassionate Living

2. It Will Help to Shift Our Social Paradigm Toward One of Respect and Compassion:

Our attitudes regarding animals will evolve as the language that we use to write and speak about them continues to change.
The paradigm shift being signaled by this change in language suggests that, in the future, fewer animals will be neglected or
abandoned because they will no longer be recognized as mere things. Hopefully more animals will be rescued and adopted,
and the penalties for abuse will reflect our new awareness. And, for the first time, children will have the opportunity to grow
up in a community that recognizes companion animals as being something other than mere commodities. Using the term
guardian is just another tool in educating people that animals are not mere things that can be abused, exploited or abandoned
at an “owner’s” whim.

“This campaign is a vital systemic approach to elevate the legal standing and compassionate care of animals. Changing our
present oppressive language is a crucial first step in altering attitudes and expanding the concept of family. By working at the
roots of injustice instead of the symptoms, we hasten the day when a new ethic is achieved for all beings ¾ human and
non-human alike.”
-Ed Duvin, animalines



3. Reduces Number of Animals Bred on Puppy Mills:

The majority of “pet store” animals come from puppy mills. Every dog or cat purchased from a pet store is taking a home
away from an animal at a shelter or human society. Purchasing an animal not only contributes to companion animal
overpopulation by taking a potential home from a homeless animal and encouraging breeding, it contributes to the problem
of treating and viewing animals as commodities. By objectifying animals, we create an atmosphere that implies that animals
can be easily replaced when they are no longer profitable.

“Animals are not resources or property with whom we can do what we please, their lives matter very much, and they should
be firmly entrenched in our moral community. Accepting the notion of ‘animal guardian’ to replace ‘pet owner’ will go a long
way toward making the lives of our companions much better and richer.”
-Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado



4. Decreases Abuse and Abandonment:

If people think of themselves as guardians they might be less likely to abuse or abandon their companion animals. With
adoption agencies, shelters and rescue organizations reinforcing the language and attitudes of guardianship, people will be
far less likely to view and treat their newly adopted family members as mere things or commodities. What’s more, with
shelters, humane societies and rescue organizations using the guardian language in their adoption contracts and literature,
they are reinforcing the concept that people are adopting a new member into their families, not purchasing a disposable
piece of property.

“It is truly time for all of society to see animals as more than mere commodities or property to be bought or sold, exploited
or killed at an ‘owner’s’ whim. I am proud to be the guardian of my animal companions.”
-Gretchen Wyler, The Ark Trust



5. Benefits Local Communities:

It is a community-based effort to recognize that companion animals as members of our families - as having value beyond
their monetary worth as mere things, commodities or property. A change in terminology for how society refers to companion
animals reflects a more humane representation of the relationship between humans and companion animals. This supports
a symbolic change in language and attitude but does not make changes in the parameters of any animal law – one’s rights,
responsibilities and liabilities will not change or decrease. However, the psychological and sociological impact of this
change in language would advance positive attitudes about companion animals.

“The word ‘owner’ is outdated and doesn’t reflect the humane/animal bond that exists in our culture today. The word ‘guardian’
denotes a higher level of responsibility towards another being. Although it is a simple language change that does not alter
the legal status of animals as property, we hope that the increased awareness of the ‘guardian’ language will elevate the status
of animals in our community. We will use the word ‘guardian’ as another tool to fight animal abuse and exploitation.”
-Jan McHugh, Executive Director, Humane Society of Boulder Valley



Eliot Katz, DVM, President of In Defense of Animals explains the concept well; “This effort is about recognizing people who
see the difference between buying an animal and adopting or rescuing one. It is about respecting the conscious effort of people
who adopt and rescue animals in an attempt to stem the tragic cycle of breeding, buying, and disposing of companion animals.
It is about viewing and treating animals, not as things or property, but as individual beings with needs and interests of their own.”

In Defense of Animals
131 Camino Alto
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 388-9641

http://www.idausa.org

--
I no longer use language that accepts the current concept of animals as property,
commodities and/or things. Rather than refer to myself or others as "owners" of
animals we share our lives with, I now refer to myself and others as "guardians"
of our animal friends and to animals as "he" or "she" rather than "it." Guardians
do not buy or sell animals; instead they rescue and adopt. I urge you to do the same.

To learn about the Guardian Campaign and help encourage others to respect animals
as companions in our world rather than treat them as mere property to be owned,
go to http://idausa.org/campaigns/property/property.html