Are Pets Family or Mere Property?

Pets hold a special place in our hearts and homes. They provide companionship, emotional support, and unconditional love. They have become an inseparable part of our families.

The pet industry knows this well. Pet hospitals, insurance companies, and pet product brands market their services and products with the message that pets are family. They encourage us to invest in high-quality food, advanced medical care, and insurance plans to ensure our pets get the best.

But when something goes wrong, the narrative changes instantly.

Are pets family or property?

When a pet suffers from a botched surgery, misdiagnosis, or neglect, the same institutions that promote the "pets are family" message quickly revert to legal definitions, insisting that pets are merely property.

Don’t be shocked. They are not wrong. Unfortunately, it is how the system works. Legally, pets are still considered as personal property in most places, no different from a couch or television. This means that if a pet is harmed due to negligence, malpractice, or wrongdoing, legal recourse is usually limited to the pet's “market value”. The years of companionship, emotional distress, and the pet’s role in the family are rarely considered. Most pet parents will find themselves powerless, with no meaningful way to seek justice.

There is frustrating. Obviously, the legal system fails to reflect how modern society views and values pets. Worse, it does not hold veterinary professionals accountable in the way they should. Bad actors exploit this legal loophole to avoid accountability.

This needs to change!

The classification of pets as property is outdated and does not reflect their true value in our homes. The contradiction between how we treat pets in daily life and how the law sees them must be addressed.

Reforming pet laws is long overdue. Veterinary professionals and businesses must be held accountable when negligence or malpractice occurs. Pet owners deserve to seek real justice when their pets are harmed, not just token compensation. As society continues to evolve, so should our legal system.

Some places have started to recognize this by allowing pet owners to seek more meaningful justice when their fur babies are harmed. Some courts have recognized emotional distress claims in pet-related cases. But there is still a long way to go.

We can help push for change. Learning about current laws is a good first step. Talking about these issues and raising awareness can make a difference. Pet hospitals and veterinary clinics should not be allowed to profit from the idea that pets are family while hiding behind outdated laws when mistakes happen.

It’s time for the law to reflect reality. Pets are not just property. Because they are family, and they should be protected as such.

"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of the whole human being" - Abraham Lincoln

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” - Mahatma Gandhi