#Roommates, by now it’s expected to find PETA saying or doing some outlandish and outrageous things in their quest for the treatment of animals—however, their latest stance is sure to have you scratching your heads. In a recent interview, a PETA rep revealed that the organization believes you should no longer call your pet a “pet” and that the term companion is more appropriate.
To say that PETA operates on the actions of extreme practices is an understatement—and the latest comments on behalf of the animal rights organization is no exception. @Complex reports, that during a recent appearance on “Good Morning Britain,” Jennifer White (PETA’s Senior Media Officer) stated that the term “pet” is derogatory and harmful to animals and that they should instead be referred to as companions.
White went on to explain her opinion in detail, saying:
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“A lot of people at home who have dogs or cats will call them ‘pets’ and refer to themselves as ‘owners,’ and this implies that the animals are a possession, like a car for example. When you refer to animals, not as the living beings they are, but as an inanimate object, it can reflect our treatment on these animals.”
She expanded on her defense of PETA’s feelings about the word “pet” by adding:
“Animals are not pets—they are not your cheap burglar alarm or something which allows you to go out for a walk. They are not ours as decorations or toys, they are living beings. How we say things governs how we think about them, so a tweak in our language when we talk about the animals in our homes is needed.”
Oh, but she wasn’t done and finished with more comments on her stance:
“We’re encouraging people to use a better word, like ‘companion.’ “[The word ‘pet’] is not offensive, we’re not telling anyone it’s offensive. Animals aren’t offended by it, but we’re suggesting that people could use the word companion. A domestic animal is a whole individual, with emotions and interests.”
We honestly don’t even know where to begin with this one, as PETA has a very long track record of outlandish ideas, comments and behaviors—so we’ll leave them to it.
Roommates, what are your thoughts on this?
