Animal lovers should stop calling their furry or feathered friends “pets” because the term is insulting, leading academics claim.

UK Telegraph  Quoting the Journal of Animal Ethics, a new academic publication devoted to the issue.


"It argues that “derogatory” language about animals can affect the way that they are treated.

“Despite its prevalence, ‘pets’ is surely a derogatory term both of the animals concerned and their human carers,” the editorial claims.
“Again the word ‘owners’, whilst technically correct in law, harks back to a previous age when animals were regarded as just that: property, machines or things to use without moral constraint.”
It goes on: “We invite authors to use the words ‘free-living’, ‘free-ranging’ or ‘free-roaming’ rather than ‘wild animals’
“For most, ‘wildness’ is synonymous with uncivilised, unrestrained, barbarous existence.
“There is an obvious prejudgment here that should be avoided.”

The preceding spawns this comment from American Thinker:  "I don't know about you, but when was the last time your dog was "insulted" when you called him a flea bitten mutt? Or your cat's feelings were hurt when you called him a "Crazy Critter" for jumping on your head in the middle of the night?"