Fureedom Wall
A note from the editor
On pets and pests
Words matter and, in this case, one letter is all it takes to set two words apart: We call some animals pets, while we refer to others as pests.
I used to have a garden in my balcony. My “pets” – three cats and one dog – loved it even more than I did. There, they would enjoy sunning in the morning and hanging out at night.
For some time, I grew my own food on that balcony: lettuce, basil, tomatoes, radishes, edible flowers – you name it. As expected, my garden was a source of food not only for me, but also for insects and critters whom I used to think of as “pests”.
It took a short year or so for me to realize that those small creatures were just living their lives and looking for food. It was us who built structures that encroached on their natural habitats, forcing them to compete with us for resources. I was so shortsighted back then that I thought of those innocent creatures as pests. I didn’t realize that in their eyes, we were the trespassers.
We were the pests in their lives.
Words matter. I take issue with how we regard some animals as pests, even though they don’t mean to bother or intrude. I also take issue with how we refer to other beloved animals as pets, as if they’re just mere objects: We mean well and we love them, but I prefer to call them animal companions instead of pets. It’s a pet peeve of mine, pun intended.
We often use the pronoun “it” to refer to an animal as if other sentient creatures are just objects. We sometimes treat them like property instead of family. While I want to believe that we inherently want the best for them, I think it’s also time we give some thought about the words we use when referring to them.
I know it will take time before language evolves and catches up, which is why we still use these labels. But here at Animal Scene, we advocate for all animals, which is why we share information about these so-called pests and pets.
Lately, sea lions are being unfairly treated as pests to keep salmon populations from dwindling. Nate Martinez tells us all about this issue and explains why they don’t deserve the death penalty.
Many other creatures, such as snakes and cockroaches, also get a bad rap. Megan Cabalcar explains in her piece why these pests aren’t really pests.
As for the fortunate species we refer to as pets, many of them still don’t get the love they deserve. Senior dogs, for instance, are often overlooked during adoption. Aurus Feal Sy makes her case about why we should open our hearts to older canines.
In case you already have an aging animal under your roof, you’ll enjoy the care tips for senior animals shared by Roxanne Libatique. Bomber, a seemingly fierce dog, was merely misunderstood. Maxine Louise Lagman writes about how he found his forever-home against all odds.
Of course, dogs and cats aren’t the only animals we have as companions! In case you have a bunny in the house, check out Yvette Tan’s cheat sheet for rabbit care.
Leaving your companion animals for some time? You might want to consider hiring a pet sitter – Cacai Buenviaje tells us how to get started.
We cater to humans who love animals of all shapes and sizes, may they be “pets” or “pests”. Meanwhile, we hope that the words we use may one day elevate them to a status they deserve. After all, we do not own this planet; we are here to share it with them.