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PETA Insists Term "Pet" Is Derogatory, Suggests Using "Companion" Instead

A representative for PETA explained why the organization wants people to change their language.

Jennifer White, senior media officer at PETA, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, to speak to hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid about the use of the term "pet" to refer to one's domestic animals. According to Jennifer, the animal rights organization, which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, feels that the word "pet" is derogatory and suggests that people should stop using it.

"A lot of people at home who have dogs or cats will call them 'pets' and refer to themselves as 'owners,' and this implies that the animals are a possession, like a car for example,” Jennifer explained to the hosts, who were not buying it. "When you refer to animals, not as the living beings they are, but as an inanimate object, it can reflect our treatment on these animals." A debate over the various phrases that PETA wants to change to be less animal-centric, such as "take the bull by the horns," then erupts, but ultimately the discussion leads back to PETA's feelings about the word "pet."

"We don't hate the word 'pet,'" Jennifer clarifies. "We're encouraging people to use a better word, like 'companion.'" Piers then insists that PETA would have the change the name of the organization since the title contains the word "pet," but Jennifer says the point doesn't apply to the company's name since PETA is an acronym. "[The word 'pet'] is not offensive, we're not telling anyone it's offensive," she explains. "Animals aren't offended by it, we're not offended by it. We're suggesting that people could use the word 'companion.'" The president of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, has also suggested that our language be adjusted when describing these animals, indicating that a domestic animal is a "whole individual, with emotions and interests."

PETA Insists Term "Pet" Is Derogatory, Suggests Using "Companion" InsteadNeilson Barnard/Getty Images

"Animals are not pets—they are not your cheap burglar alarm or something which allows you to go out for a walk. They are not ours as decorations or toys, they are living beings," the activist said. "How we say things governs how we think about them, so a tweak in our language when we talk about the animals in our homes is needed."

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PETA Angers Internet With #TakeAKnee, Colin Kaepernick-Inspired Super Bowl Ad

"End Speciesism."

If there's one organization that knows how to stir the pot, it's PETA. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals group has been known to throw paint or flour on fur-wearers, stage unorthodox protests in the streets, and call out celebrities on social media. As much as they'd like the world to believe they have good intentions, their methods often rub people the wrong way. 

PETA Angers Internet With #TakeAKnee, Colin Kaepernick-Inspired Super Bowl Ad
Scott Gries / Staff / Getty Images

According to PETA, they were all set to debut an advertisement during Super Bowl LIV, but they were rejected. Yahoo Sports reports that the organization's animated ad's message was to "End Speciesism" as it shows various animals somberly taking a knee al la Colin Kaepernick. PETA shared the one-minute ad online, and to say that the reactions were confuddled is an understatement.

“The National Football League apparently found our new Colin Kaepernick-inspired ad — with its message of inclusion and respect — too daring and pressured FOX to snub our commercial,” the organization wrote on their website. “PETA worked with a talented group of advertisers and artists who came up with the idea for our beautiful ad. Positively acknowledged by Kaepernick himself, this project pays homage to all movements that remind us to open our hearts and minds and reject all forms of injustice, including sexism, ableism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and speciesism. … The NFL may be unconcerned with inequality, but we at PETA are activists who will continue to work to dismantle all forms oppression.”

PETA president Ingrid Newkirk also released a statement: “PETA is challenging speciesism, which is a supremacist worldview that allows humans to disrespect other living, feeling beings and to treat their interests as unimportant. Our patriotic Super Bowl spot envisions an America in which no sentient being is oppressed because of how they look, where they were born, who they love, or what species they are. It sends a message of kindness — one that the NFL should embrace, not silence.”

Watch the ad and read through a few reactions below.

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PETA’s Colin Kaepernick-Inspired Ad Gets Shut Down For Super Bowl: Report


PETA claims the NFL is pressuring FOX in not airing their Kaepernick-themed ad.

So PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has a commercial they’re wanting to air on Super Bowl Sunday that portrays some animated animals taking a knee during the National Anthem to protest injustice, but apparently the Colin Kaepernick-vibes are too controversial to get the network’s approval.

According to TMZ, PETA wanted to make a commercial calling for an end to speciesism. To “challenge people to expand their concept of injustice to include humans’ injustice against other species.” In other words, they want people to stop killing other living species, regardless of who they are.

PETA says everything was on track to be aired after they submitted the Colin Kaepernick-themed ad back in December, even hearing at the time that it was being looked over, but apparently they haven’t heard a word since then. They were reportedly told by their agents that the NFL was pressuring Fox to not air the ad.

PETA also says their claims to run the commercial in local markets, either before or after the Super Bowl, have also gone completely unanswered. A source close to the league says it’s ultimately up to the network carrying the game, not the NFL, to approve or reject all ads. However, PETA believes otherwise and knows the power & influence of the NFL.

Check out the controversial commercial (below) and let us know what you think. Too bad for FOX or should it be aired?