Beyond the Emotional realms of Canine conundrum

Pet owners bristle when their furry companions are simply called ‘dogs’. The mere utterance of the word seemed to strip away the enchantment Pooja had woven around Coco when I casually called her dog ‘a dog’.

Coco (image shared by Pooja)

I encountered a peculiar paradox in a recent interaction with one of my best friends, Pooja, whom, I otherwise always find to be a sensible and a scientific person. Her reaction about her pet being called an animal highlighted the clash between emotions and facts. It, at first seemed to me like an overreaction, however, upon critical analysis, I realized that our emotions often paint the world in shades of feeling rather than objective facts. She argued that one can see divinity in a pebble and a pebble in the divine, to which I totally agree. It's all about perspective.

However, here is how easily I can separate the concept of symbolic power (the pebble) from the idea of a literal god (the divinity): as an agnostic with a leaning towards atheism, I possess a surprising depth of knowledge about religious texts. Despite this, I engage in daily rituals with genuine devotion. In doing so, I recognize the virtues symbolized by the deities as my personal aspirations. Simultaneously, I understand that these rituals are not pleas for divine intervention.

Similarly, pet owners need to separate their feelings from the facts. Feelings and facts are two sides of the same coin, yet they often clash. Our emotions can color our perception of the world, making it difficult to separate objective truth from subjective experience. While feelings are valuable for navigating relationships and decision-making, relying solely on them can lead to biases. 

Is it offensive to call a dog,  ‘a dog’? It is simply a statement of biological truth. It's no more offensive than calling a cat, a cat, or, a tree, a tree. Here's the twist: perhaps it's the implication of ‘just a dog’ that rankles. Pet owners often see their furry friends as individuals with unique personalities, quirks, and a capacity for love that rivals, or even surpasses some humans. In that sense, calling them ‘a dog’ feels dismissive, ignoring the richness of their being.

However, in our odyssey to connect with our pets, do we blur the line between recognition and romanticization? The fact is that they are Canis lupus familiaris—descendants of wolves domesticated over millennia. Their wagging tails, floppy ears, and soulful eyes are the result of selective breeding. They bark, fetch, and chase their tails—undeniably dog-like behaviors. We romantically name them Max, Bella, Luna, or Coco as in Pooja’s case, infusing their existence with poetry. They become our confidantes, protectors, and cuddle buddies. Their unwavering loyalty transcends mere biology. Yet, acknowledging that our emotions are but only a reaction to a fact, allows for informed choices and stronger connections with the world around us.

Here's another thought experiment: Is naming a dog and calling it ‘basically human’ any more accurate? While it might seem like a compliment, I feel that the dog should rather take it as an insult given that, humans, despite their capacity for love and loyalty, unlike dogs, can be riddled with selfishness, greed, and a destructive streak. Perhaps the four-legged companions, with their unwavering devotion and unconditional love, deserve a separate category altogether.

Not that I regard Article 51 A (g) i.e., to have compassion for living creatures, any lesser. But where scientific temperament is called for to be cultivated and the spirit of inquiry is asked for to be developed as a Fundamental Duty under Article 51 A (h), we can’t ignore to acknowledge the biological reality while appreciating the emotional connection. In a scientific world where facts are revered, we need to recognize the delicate dance between facts and feelings. Celebrate the unique bond between humans and animals while recognizing that dogs are, well, dogs – magnificent creatures deserving of respect in their own right. Perhaps we can even learn a thing or two from their unwavering loyalty and capacity for joy in the simplest things. After all, isn't that what truly makes life worth living?

Kindly visit Dog's Dignity Beyond the Label to get the essence of this article in a poetic version.