The Guardian Campaign

Here is a very good article about animal guardians and what it could mean legally.
 
[linkhttp://www.naiaonline.org/articles/archives/guardian.htm]http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/archives/guardian.htm[/link]
 
 

California, I believe, is the only state in the US that recognizes the term "guardian" -- and for the most part laws that affect dog ownership and animal legal rights are VERY LOCAL.  Meaning it's mostly not even state laws but your local city and county laws that prevail.
 
In the other 49 states animals are merely seen as property.  This is why the punishment is always so low for animal cruelty.  That's why it's so difficult to sue regarding dog issues -- because they are merely seen as property (hence "owner" being a difficult term) rather than the idea that we need to be responsible for them as a sentient being.
 
Essentially there's a world of difference between one swing of the pendulum and the other.  But we all have to be very concerned with being manipulated by any laws -- anything can come back around and bite you if you aren't careful.
 
In Florida "dog parks" have recently become all the rage.  EXCEPT -- these wonderful city legislators who speak out so glibly about making sure you have a dog park to take Fido to -- what they really want to do is make sure you can't take Fido anywhere else!!  Fido can't sit with you at an outdoor cafe because "we have dog parks for them to go to".
 
We have to be very very wary of trying to legislate morality -- it should be conscience that makes us treat our friends well -- not because there is a law forcing it.

I'm sorry, but this whole "guardian" thing with animals is pure BS! And yes, I do mean that. No one should have the right to tell you that you can't do this or have to do that with your pet.

I believe it was San Francisco(correct me if I'm wrong) that has the law that you can't declaw your cat. Well that's all fine and dandy except, if me and my mom lived there my cat would have had to go to the pound. She was using her claws on my mom's leather furniture. My mom told me "you're either getting her declawed or she's going". She got declawed needless to say. This is the kind of thing people who want these laws don't understand.

The law stepping in when a pet is abused is fine, but interferring with how people who actually love and take care of their pets do just that, take care of their pets is asking for a load of trouble.

Just my opinion on this matter.

Shiva  

I don't think changing the terminology would make any difference.