>I have also heard testimony by HSUS in NH hearings that companion animals
>do not need owners-- they need guardianship-- which will be overseen by
>local shelters-- this is getting pretty scary Pam!-- THE FOCUS seems to be
>that of an agenda to relieve folks of pet ownership.  This combined with
>an exotics ruling for ferrets may be scarier than a humane shelter walking
>into your residence w/o a search warrant -- and that is the current HSUS
>trend!  More work needs to be done NOW in the humane arena-- we have lost
>some serious footing for our pets.
 
I am personally uncomfortable with the concept of pet ownerships as well.
 
I own my car - that means I am perfectly entitled to graunch the gears,
starve it of oil, and kick it if I get mad.
 
I don't own my pets any more than I own my kids - they are an obligation
and a responsibility that I have willingly taken on - but that does not
confer on me any unalienable rights to do with them what I want.  In this
respect the term guardianship (or something similar such as custody) is
probably a more appropriate term than ownership.
 
John Chessum
[Posted in FML issue 3491]