LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - GUARDIAN CAMPAIGNS
Owners or Guardians?
Posted: March 11, 2004

Animal rights activists have lately been working hard to advance the term "guardian" to describe the people who care for dogs and cats. This week, Slate.com ran an article titled Guarding the Guard Dogs, which argued that "owner" is the more sensible term. 

The article rubbed me the wrong way, so I wrote the following letter to its author, Jon Katz. The next day, I received a response. While we remain in disagreement, I think these letters deserve a wider audience, so with his permission I'm posting them here. 

Note that I use the term "pets" rather than "companion animals," in my letter. Although I object to the use of "pets," it's the term used by Katz, and to me the much more significant issue relates to guardianship vs. ownership. I think that arguing about the "pets" term before resolving the "ownership" issue is likely to cause unnecessary resistance. 

My letter to Jon Katz, and his response, follows. 

Dear Jon, 

I was disappointed by your latest Slate.com article, "Guarding the Guard Dogs?" 

I agree with you that it's stupid and offensive to assert that both animals and former slaves are entitled to the same rights. Clearly, pets are animals and slaves are people. They have different mental capacities, and therefore different levels of ability to appreciate and enjoy various rights. 

However, the concept of animal ownership is as morally backward as the concept of slave ownership. Ownership carries with it a, "this is my property and I can do whatever I want," mentality. Guardianship, by contrast, connotes a measure of responsibility. And I think we'd both agree that, for the most part, there are far too many pet "owners" who treat their animals wretchedly. The guardian concept would help to shift attitudes in a way that might inspire people to take more responsibility. And what would be the harm? 

You closed your article saying that you are a proud "dog owner," and I'm sure you treat your dog better than most. But I'm also sure that, 150 years ago, there were better-than-average slave owners, who no doubt took a measure of pride over how they treated the people they "owned." 

I submit that the concept of ownership of sentient beings -- both people and animals -- creates an attitude that is incredibly harmful. Basically, the more responsibility that people take for the animals they currently "own," the better it will be all the way around. And one of the best ways to foster this sense of responsibility is to promote the concept of guardianship rather than ownership. 

I believe that your opposition to guardianship stems from faulty reasoning, specifically your assertion that guardianship means "turning animals into a kind of human." That's just plain silly. The whole point of guardianship is to give people the motivation to take more responsibility for the animals they currently care for--in no way does it put dogs and cats on the same playing field as apes and humans. 

Just as you can imagine the abuses that would occur if people "owned" their children, you can see all around you the abuses that occur as a result of people "owning" their dogs and cats. The concept of guardianship would certainly not halt all abuses, but it would be an important first step. 

Sure, there are any number of animal rights people making the case for guardianship in a ham-fisted, confrontational, and counterproductive manner. But I can't see why anyone who truly loves animals, and cares for their interests, would prefer the ownership concept to the guardian concept. 

All the best,
Erik Marcus 

Dear Erik, 

Thanks for writing. Since my dogs can't choose to be with me or leave me the relationship is hardly equal. It diminishes the very idea of equality to suggest creatures that are totally dependent on us for all of their needs are equal. I think it's important to start framing laws that will do something about puppy mills and abuse and not to waste our collective civic time with semantic wars. Legislators would much rather pass guardian laws than real legislation. The guardian campaign has enormous legal and other implications and I do not believe is ultimately helpful to animals. I'd much rather see all of us who loves animals pass real laws to ease their suffering, not metaphoric laws that make us feel morally superior. When dogs can use credit cards and pick their owners and come and go freely then they will be equal. Until then, they need us to take care of them. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to replay and I appreciate the intelligence and thoughtfulness in your letter. 

Jon Katz
"Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An adventure with three dogs, 15 ewes, two donkeys and me." Villard, October, 2004

 

Pet Peeved

Bad Unreal: Shame on you! As a volunteer of Stray Rescue of St. Louis and as an animal lover in general, I feel sorry that you have misinterpreted such a good deed on the behalf of Randy Grim and all others involved [Unreal, "Doggie Style," August 25]. When is the last time you searched the city streets with the hopes of saving a dog that would otherwise have no chance of survival if left alone? When is the last time you placed yourself in a volunteer situation with the goal being to help someone other than yourself?

Each week I look forward to stopping off at the Stray Rescue shelter to care for the many dogs that I at times consider my own. Until you look into the eyes of a dog that has come close to knocking on death's door and realize the love and potential each and every one of those wonderful animals possess, or until you reach out to comfort a dog who is scared because they have been thrown into an unfamiliar environment or until you feel a dog lean into you because all they really want is some human attention and a little love, don't feel you have the right to bash anyone for doing the "right thing."

There should be more people like Randy Grim, and like all my fellow volunteers with Stray Rescue and other similar organizations. Since when is it a crime to stop thinking we humans are the superior species? And when has it become a crime to care about the rights of other species, especially one so loyal as the domestic dog?

Sally Bobbitt Simpson

St. Louis


Bad, bad Unreal: I just read "Doggie Style." What was the point of this article? What were you trying to accomplish? Your personal attack on Randy Grim was totally uncalled for. Your comments were ridiculous and senseless, much like your magazine. Now I know why it's free. Who would pay to read such crap? I will never stoop so low as to read your rag again. To others that do: "Un-f***ing-real."

Marianne Junger

Overland



How'd you like to get neutered, huh, Unreal? Unreal is the one who is "Un-fucking-real," as he obviously fails to grasp the concept Randy Grim fought so hard for the city of St. Louis to recognize. Changing the terminology of the city's ordinances to include "pet guardians" simply reflects the feelings of any compassionate person. Our pets are members of our families, and as such deserve to be recognized as more than just property.

Does Unreal think it's "Un-fucking-real" that parents do not own their children, or that husbands do not own their wives? Perhaps he should take a look at the connection between those who abuse animals and the crimes they ultimately commit towards humans.

I applaud Mr. Grim and St. Louis for taking a step in the right direction in protecting both animals and people.

Polly Hampton

Belleville


Bad, offensive Unreal: The offensive headline -- "Doggie Style" -- was a way to trivialize an important topic and pull in sex when it is not relevant. Animals in this city are being discarded and abused. Randy Grim's efforts have been phenomenal and successful. The decision to refer to animal "guardians" (not owners) will counteract ignorant beliefs like those of the author, even if the author continues to be inhumane. It's a matter of saving lives and changing attitudes, not being "politically correct."

I'm sure you will receive many letters stating similar opinions. I'll continue to foster and volunteer for Stray Rescue of St. Louis -- their work is crucial to this city.

Lynn Maurer

Webster Groves



Unreal, heel: While I always appreciate a good sarcastic writer, it is apparent that Unreal has never had a pet or at least felt empathy or love for a pet. What Randy Grim of Stray Rescue is attempting by changing the name "pet owner" to "pet guardian" is to keep people from treating their pets like inanimate objects. The law will treat house pets like real creatures with beating hearts and the need for love and TLC. The law will treat animal abusers like the actual criminals that they are.

I think your sarcasm got away from you.

Kristin Stallon

O'Fallon, Illinois


 Bad, coldhearted Unreal: Well, Unreal, I'll tell you what we've become. We've become a society where a Franklin County woman can hoard 256 animals, the vast majority neglected, dehydrated, malnourished and diseased, and not only not have charges filed against her but also not be responsible for any of the cost of treatment for these poor animals at the Humane Society. A society where a Belleville man bludgeons a seven-pound dog to death with his golf club and a Shiloh man injures a neighbor's kitten so severely with a firecracker that it has to be euthanized.

Maybe you've never seen firsthand what people are capable of doing to animals without a thought. As a Stray Rescue volunteer, I've seen dogs pockmarked and broken from being used as bait to teach dogs to fight, dogs with horrific burns from the acid they had thrown in their faces, animals scrawny and mangy from being left behind after their "owners" have moved away.

It strikes me as Unreal, and very coldhearted, that anyone who has ever owned a pet could draw such a snide conclusion about such a good measure that helps make people more responsible for animal welfare. If we live in a society where nothing is done to counteract and punish the cruel and thoughtless violence that occurs each day to animals, it will surely bleed into more of our daily lives. And maybe it seems simple and meaningless to change the wording of a bill to make people a pet's "guardian." But it certainly helps pave the way for greater animal rights and less for those who senselessly abuse them.

Denise Marbach-Norris

St. Louis

 

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