From the very beginning, I have always treated dogs as people. My dog Gretchen was rescued from the Whispering Pines Mini Park in Cutler Bay in 1974. She was skinny and hungry but with the help and love of my family, we nurtured Gretchen back to life and she became a family member.
Although we are just beginning to answer basic questions about the canine brain, we cannot ignore the science out there – a striking similarity between dogs and humans in both the structure and brain function.
The ability to experience positive emotions, like love and attachment, would mean that dogs have a level of sentience comparable to that of a human child.
And this ability suggests a rethinking of how we treat dogs.
Dogs have long been considered property. Though the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 and state laws raised the bar for the treatment of animals, they solidified the view that animals are things — objects that can be disposed of as long as reasonable care is taken to minimize their suffering.
Dogs, and many other animals seem to have emotions just like us. And this means we must reconsider their treatment as property.
Many rescue groups already use the label of “guardian” to describe human caregivers, binding the human to his ward with an implicit responsibility to care for her. Failure to act as a good guardian runs the risk of having the dog placed elsewhere.
If we went a step further and granted dogs rights of personhood, they would be afforded additional protection against exploitation. Puppy mills, laboratory dogs and dog racing would be banned for violating the basic right of self-determination of a person.
For decades, I am humbled to say that I have been serving as a voice for animals who cannot defend themselves. I implore you to do the same. After all, they are just like us.
Christine Stiphany has a passion for real estate but there is a special place in her heart for animals of all shapes and sizes. She can’t pass a stray or lost animal without offering nourishment and shelter. This compassion is one of the many traits that have helped Christine in business, which translates to most of her clients becoming lifelong friends.
