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.
Owen came into my life when he was 10 weeks old, and barely 2lbs. He was a precious tiny little life, with a personality far bigger than he was. He had a mind of his own from day one and has been my best friend for 12 years. Despite a typical Brussels Griffon stubborn streak he was a fast learner and loved going to puppy class and daycare. He knew which other dogs he liked, and which he didn’t. He chose his friends the same way a kid in kindergarten would, and I was a proud mom.
Five years later Owen’s Dad came into our lives, and Owen fell in love fast. We would go visit him at his 3rd floor walk up and Owen would get excited when we were a block away. His tiny little legs couldn’t do those stairs fast enough, he knew that his new person was waiting at the top! Owen and his Dad share a special bond which is very evident on Owen’s Instagram page #owensnacks.
But Owen’s favorite person isn’t me or his Dad. It’s my Mom. His Gran. What child doesn’t love a visit to Gran’s house? There’s more hugs, more food, less rules, more squirrels!! The excitement that Owen has the minute her name is mentioned makes me so happy. He is so full of love for her he can barely contain himself, and to call him anything but family would be a crime. But sadly, in the eyes of the law, Owen isn’t family; he is replaceable. These antiquated laws need to change. Our pets are not simply property with a replacement value, they are beings that feel love and pain the same way we do.
Please join us in pushing for much needed change.
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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