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San Francisco's Pet Peeves

In San Francisco, it appears as though political correctness might be going to the dogs--and cats.

In San Francisco, it appears as though political correctness might be going to the dogs--and cats. The Commission of Animal Control and Welfare recommended to the board of supervisors that it enact a language change in law that would refer to the human caretakers of domesticated animals as "pet guardians," rather than "pet owners."

Elliot Katz, a veterinarian and president of In Defense of Animals who is advocating the change, told the commission that his cause is similar to abolishing slavery and giving women the right to vote. Opponents, however, were up in arms. "It was fairly controversial," says Richard Schulke, who chairs the commission. "Dog breeders and cat fanciers don't like the idea of weakening ownership rights."

The commission voted in December to recommend the change to the board of supervisors and spoke before the board during a meeting at the end of January. So far, however, the board has not chosen to take up the matter.

The "pet guardian" campaign is not the first time that San Francisco residents have acted to ensure that names or wording reflect local sensitivities. What is traditionally referred to as the Gay Pride Parade in other cities is known as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade there. Still, it's not as though city leaders routinely adopt every politically correct phrase that comes along. Unlike nearby Berkeley, for example, San Francisco doesn't officially refer to manholes as "sewer openings."

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