Are we “pet parents” or “pet guardians”?

[atravis]

You know, most of the time I just call Mulder "buddy".

As in, "good buddy", or "com'er buddy".

I consider all of my animals my family, but that's because I consider PETS part of the family. To me, no family is truly complete without pets.

And Mulder is indeed my buddy. Not my son or furbaby, but my much-loved friend.

[selzer]

I like the term friend, and my dogs are my friends, but there also in a legal sense, we are not responsible for our friends' actions and well-being.

I would never be able to take the liberties I do with my dogs with friends. I mean, I can pull up their tail and check if they are in heat, I can clip their toenails, I can feel their ribs and adjust their diets. I can let them lick my plate off. I would probably not do this with children, friends, servants, slaves. They are simply not human beings. They do not have to be treated humanely if being treated humanely has to do with being treated as we would treat humans. Because to treat something as a human that is not a human is in some ways in-humane.

They are pets, they are animals living with us, sharing our lives, our homes, even our beds. But we can and should train them to do our bidding, to sit, to down, to stay, to come. We need to socialize, manage, and protect them. As owners we can do all of these things.

I think we should cling to our status as owners even if it means our dogs are considered property.

[Jessiewessie99]

When people see me and my dogs, they tell me I act like a mom.lol. My friends and family say I act like a mom to the dogs. Especially with the dogs at the shelter I act that way. But they are dogs, and they know it and I know it. I know where the boundaries are.

[doggiedad]

we're pet parents and pet guardians.

[doggiedad]

wow, i'm glad you know how to treat a slave.

Originally Posted by selzer

I would never be able to take the liberties I do with my dogs with friends. I mean, I can pull up their tail and check if they are in heat, I can clip their toenails, I can feel their ribs and adjust their diets. I can let them lick my plate off. I would probably not do this with children, friends, servants, slaves.

[chocolat]

Originally Posted by doggiedad

we're pet parents and pet guardians.

so you are willing to never have a pet again?

as catering to these phrases is what this means

just like you cant own a human--ie do just as selzer said, feed, water, check under its tail, train it and have it , dictate to it, work for you for free etc.. you wont be able to do that with an animal IF the pet guardian/pet parent political movement has its way


being an owner doesnt mean you careless, indeed if anything it means you care more, because you accept responsibility 100% for another being. a pet guardian means your pet has his own responsbility for his fate and you are just a tool for him.
If he is your "friend" the way pet guardians mean, then at anytime, he would be welcome to leave you, as lets face it no one forces their friend to live with them, he would be entitled to a lawyer and sue maybe for half of what he worked for(lets say he was working dog for you..doesnt he have the right to half the paycheck?) your friend would be entitled to his share of whatever you earn together. Then as guardians it is possible the state could dictate what you must feed the dog or which medical care is required..like shots..many people believe shots should be given yearly and as a pet guardian you may be required to do so.

Pet ownership is an act of love and kindness, responsibility and quite frankly common sense

[cagirl]

I have not read the posts yet because I am on my phone and I am going to keep it simple. We are owners and dogs are property which I like so that there is no rights for humane societies to come into our homes and remove our dogs because we don't care for the way they think is right I once had spca get on me about crating. If they were not property they could have removed them and I would have had to go to court. I love pets bit we need to be careful how we label them.

[Josiebear]

I prefer dog owner. I cringe when someone tells me i have beautiful "furbabies". They are not my fur babies, nor are they my children. They animals and are just a dog. yes they get treated better than most dogs in my neighborhood. They are put on the best foods out there, they are invited up on the furniture for a little snuggle, they are indoor dogs and are companions, they are properly trained and do get their special treats. In the end they are animals.

I am sure i am not taken seriously around here since my nick name on this forum is Josiebear. That just happens to be her nick name but at the same time she is treated like a dog .

[Hunther's Dad]

I own my dogs, and they are spoiled rotten. *Edit: Actually, they are not spoiled rotten. They deserve everything I give them, and then some, just by being the dogs they are.

Originally Posted by atravis
..............................
Am I going to do everything in my power as a good owner and someone who truly LOVES their dog to avoid situations where he might be put in danger? OF COURSE I am. Am I going to STOP him from fighting back someone who is attacking me, or prevent him from defending me if the situation calls for it? No. That's what he was bred to do, and what I would argue any correct shepherd SHOULD do.
Dogs who will not or cannot defend their owners are not bad dogs. But they are not what I consider to be true-to-form GSDs.

Yup. "TSB Pronounced" is noted on the breed survey and in Schutzhund trials for a reason.

[mehpenn]

It depends...I own my dogs.... BUT/AND I am their pet parent... but I've had dogs that I consider myself as their guardian, nothing more with no desire to be anything more. For me it depends on the bond and the relationship with the dog.