Attitudes Towards Companion AnimalsHeaven is by favor; if it were by merit your dog would go in and you would stay out.

-Mark Twain

Companion aimals can range from the normal *dogs and cats* to the exotic *snakes, lizards and the like* Studies show that companion animals help to ease human's lonelisness, relax us and even help us live longer. With this fact in mind it makes you wonder how anyone could ever do anything to mistreat their companions, much less than abuse them. In light of this we have to consider whether it is fair to the animals to continue raising them to be our companions. I feel that it is all in the attitudes of the care takers.Animal rights does not mean that animals and people can not live in a symbiotic relationship.It does however mean that these animals should be treated with the utmost respect. They are indeed a huge part of our lives and families.

Language as a Reinforcement

Our attitudes toward campanion animals are evident in the way we refer to them and to ourselves in relation to them. when we think of ourselves as "Owners" or of animal friends as "pets"; we reinforce a superior/inferior, master/slave attitude. the language we use not only conveys our attitudes but reinforces them. Consider these examples.

"Pet" implies plaything, toy a better term is companion, friend
"Master" implies superiority, control a better tem is caretaker, friend, human, guardian
"Owner" implies an animal is property, an object we possess a better term is caretaker, friend, human, guardian
"It" Implies an animal is an object a better term to use is he or she.

Changing our language is one step in changing our attitudes. use words that acknowledge animals as beings, not words that simply imply that they are things.

List above is taken from the book "Animal Rights a Begineers Guide"

Unfortunately the laws protecting companion animals are inadequate, nonexistent or are rarely enforced. Many times in a court the animals are treated merely as possesions of the human. This is really unfortunate considering companion animals are very commonly victims of severe abuse. They are shot, thrown out of moving cars, beaten to death, kicked, burned among other things. They are often found in dumpsters, thrown into plastic bags and discarded on the side of the road. People find nothing wrong with discarding their animals whether it be dropping them at a shelter, sell them, turning them loose, or simply giving them away to just anyone. Animal Friends of Connecticut, Inc., reports that callers often say they're just going to kill or abandon their dogs or cats if the shelter wont take them. An estimated 25 million animals become homeless every year. As many as 27% of the purebred dogs are among the homeless. Of the 25 million homeless animals, on average 9 million die on the streets from disease, starvation, exposure, injury, or some other hazard of street life. The remaining 16 million die in shelters, that have no room for them and kill them.

Controlling the Population Problem

The best way to control the over population problem is to have your animals spayed/neutered. Besides controlling the animal population having your animals fixed is of great benefit to them.

Spaying/Neuturing Benefits Companions Animals

In addition to preventing unneeded pregnancies, spaying or nauturing a companion animal has positive effects for your friend and you:

Spaying a female dog or cat

Eliminates the risk of uterine and overaian cancer
Reduces the chance of breast cancer
Prevents males dogs from habging around
Can increase her life span an avarage of two years

Neuturing a male dog or cat

Reduces the risk of prostate cancer
Reduces the urge to mark territroy
Reduces the urge to roam
Can increase his life span an average of two years

Things you can do to help the animals