I just recently read an article in which Brandon Yanak, a High School Senior at Holy Name, petitioned the Parma City Council’s Public Safety Committee to change every city code ordinance relating to dogs to read “guardian” instead of “owner”. He believes that a single word can curb animal abuse. He believes that the extra word would inspire residents to think differently about their pets. He said:
Encouraging others to think and act as guardians rather than owners will help them view and treat animals not as property to be exploited, abandoned or killed but as individuals who deserve consideration for their needs and their interests.
Brandon said that 17 other cities, 2 counties and Rhode Island have already made this change. Boulder, Colorado also made this change and you can see evidence of it on a sign at the dog park that states “guardians’ must have leashes for their pets.
Over time, the speech of all general citizens and media in Boulder has changed from referring to people as being the ‘owners’ of animals to being the ‘guardians’ of animal companions, Brandon said.
Sean Brennan, Parma Council President and teacher, says semantics are important.
In the classroom, students respond differently when you call them boys and girls as opposed to ladies and gentlemen, Brennan said.
I like Brandon’s train of thought, and I do think semantics are important. What I would be curious to know is if Boulder, Colorado, or any other community that has made the change, has seen a reduction in the amount of abuse and abandonment cases since implementing this philosophy. The article didn’t go into those details.
Being in animal rescue, I get aggravated far too often with the human race for their mentality of pets being disposable. Shelter animals are dying every day because of this mentality. Every dog I rescue belonged to somebody at sometime. Why isn’t this dog still with them? Why did they not keep their commitment to love and protect this dog for his lifetime? I will never understand that. If switching semantics to the phrase “guardian” helps to change that mentality then I’m all for it!
