Fido and Fluffy: 'Pets' or 'companion animals?'

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Are you the “owner” of a dog or cat? Maybe you should consider yourself a “human caregiver” instead.

A new academic journal says such vocabulary changes can help humans elevate the discourse about other species. That, in turn, can help improve our treatment of them.

Editors of the Journal of Animal Ethics suggest pets be called “companion animals.” They’d also like to banish phrases such as “eat like a pig.”

Some animal-welfare experts say it’s a worthy discussion but that language is not the only hindrance to better treatment.

They say the legal system must perceive pets as more than property.