Is Your Dog A Pet Or A Companion Animal.

A new publication is asking animal lovers everywhere to update their vocabulary. The "Journal of Animal Ethics" has released its first issue, which asks animal owners to stop using the word "pet." The publication suggests that people use the term "companion animals," noting that the word "pet" is insulting to the animal. The "Journal of Animal Ethics" says the terms "critters," "beasts," and "wildlife" are also outdated, explaining that they can result in animals being treated poorly. The "Journal's" editor, professor Andrew Linzey, says he's hoping to get people to avoid an "obvious prejudgment," and plans to one day eliminate phrases such as "sly as a fox" and "drunk as a skunk."