Did you know that under the law pets are seen as replaceable property? That’s right, the law essentially treats losing a pet the same way as losing a table. In honor of Chloe the Mini Frenchie, Loni Edwards’ beloved dog who passed away due to medical error, PetInsider will be featuring a story every Wednesday about pets being family, not property. Please join us by reading the stories and signing the pledge we created with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) to push for change.
I’ll never forget the first night I brought my childhood dog, Nikki, home in 2002. I was only eight years old and Nikki was only a few pounds. I remember checking on her in her crate several times that night to make sure she was breathing. I was amazed that something so small could bring so much joy to my family.
Nikki was there throughout my transition into adulthood. My memories prior to her joining our family are far and few between. She was almost 16 when she passed away in February of 2018. Although it was painful to say goodbye, I took comfort in knowing that she lived a long, full life and was loved deeply.
On my 25th birthday, a few months after Nikki passed, I saw a photo of a little ball of fur with the exact same markings as Nikki. Beliefs aside, I knew that somehow, this little guy was a birthday present from Nikki.
Leo spent the first year and a half of his life as a Pomsky stud. The breeder decided to find Leo a new home as he “didn’t like to perform.” This hilarious fact was just one of many I learned in the next few weeks before Leo moved from Oklahoma to NYC. Leo adjusted shockingly fast to city life. Within a month he became unfazed by the loud trucks and crowds of people.
Leo is unlike any small dog I’ve ever met; he’s goofy and daring, he’s timid and loving, he’s crazy and independent all wrapped up into one pint-sized package of fluff. I could go on about my love for Leo, but I know that it is the same love most people reading this have experienced with their own dog. I don’t need to convince a reader that Leo (and Nikki before him) is my family and not my property. What I do need to do, is utilize this small platform that I have been given based upon this wonderful job that I feel so blessed to have, to give a voice to the voiceless.
Please take action to help us pass this legislation that will improve the way our laws treat our pets.
Please join us in pushing for much needed change by signing and sharing the pledge (https://aldf.org/animalsnotproperty). Follow along every Wednesday for a new story, and sign up for our newsletter to receive it in your inbox.
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