Be a Guardian, not an Owner

[BuelahWitch]

If people refer to themselves as pet guardians instead of pet owners will it help reduce the number of abused and/or abandoned pets? The people who made this video seem to think so. I am not that optimistic about the human race, but I'd like to be proven wrong...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkOT45UOXnA

[MiddleFingerMom]

1. I wish this WERE true...

.
...but the sick fucks who abuse animals are NOT going to have their
behavior changed by the connotations of a word, whether they've
incorporated it into their vocabulary or hear others using it (even
if society as a whole embraces the term).
.
Likewise, the people who see animals as wonderful companions will
not have their behavior changed, either -- they may USE the term
"owner" now, but already see their pets as wonderful companions --
not "possessions".
.
I believe in the importance of connotation in many, many cases --
but I don't agree that it would effectively change behaviors at any
point along the current spectrum of pet owner/guardians.
.

[Pharlo]

2. I keep telling The Damn Mutts they don't own me,

but I don't think they believe me. They have to go outside in the middle of the night, I have to get up to let them out. They want to go for a walk or play ball, I have to walk or play ball. A water bowl is empty? "HEY YOU!!! YES YOU!!! OVER HERE!! WHAT IS THIS? EMPTY?? HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? Water!!! NOW!!!" They want food. I am expected to go to work to pay for their food, lug it home and fill the dog food dishes.

Guardian? Hah!!! Nope, they own me. And, they know it. Damn Mutts.

[bluedigger]

3. I think of myself as a pet servant.

I should probably be going now, my canine overlord is all up in my grill about the last scallop.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

4. It's a nice thought, but no

The drunk idiot beating his dog and leaving it in the woods doesn't give a shit whether he was a "guardian" or an "owner".

[flvegan]

5. I've worked with IDA on their Guardian Campaign.

Thank you for posting this.

[SoxFan]

6. I think "staff" is more appropriate

Speaking as a cat, um, staffer, that is...

[unpossibles]

7. I like to think of them as my minions.... nt

[Taverner]

8. No it won't it will just make people who are already pet guardians feel better about themselves