Animal rights activists have called on people to stop referring to cats and dogs or any animal as ‘pets’ as it is derogatory term.
The plea comes from the founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Ingrid Newkirk, who says the term is condescending.
Newkirk, who says the term reduces animals to a commodity rather than who they are as they are companions.
The PETA founder has compared the term to that of derogatory comments which make women feel like less of a persona.
Newkirk says the term is similar to that when people use terms such as ‘sweetie’ or ‘honey’ whist talking to women.
The 70-year-old activist added that the term is condescending to animals who are not pets but living beings.
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