Homeowners of lizards, tortoises and snakes might imagine they’ve an unique pet.
However the higher time period is ‘non-traditional companion animal’, in keeping with vets.
The British Small Animal Veterinary Affiliation says the phrase pet ‘fails to offer an satisfactory description of the vary of relationships that exist between people and animals’.
Homeowners of lizards, tortoises and snakes might imagine they’ve an unique pet. However the higher time period is ‘non-traditional companion animal’, in keeping with vets (inventory picture)
The organisation provides that calling an animal unique is ‘problematic’ because it implies the animal is just not native to an space.
The change of language, described as ‘odd’ and ‘patronising’ by the Plain English Marketing campaign, comes after Ingrid Newkirk, president of animal rights group PETA, final 12 months attacked the phrase pet for suggesting animals are merely a ‘commodity’ or ‘ornament’.
In its assertion, the BSAVA mentioned: ‘We desire the time period “non-traditional companion animal” because it considers that this higher describes each the species and relationships concerned.’
Lee Monks, of the Plain English Marketing campaign, mentioned: ‘Unique pet appears to us completely nice. The concept that pet is in any means derogatory is simply patronising.’
The British Small Animal Veterinary Affiliation says the phrase pet ‘fails to offer an satisfactory description of the vary of relationships that exist between people and animals’ (inventory picture)