Victory! San Jose Becomes Newest "Guardian City"
Learn how to start a Guardian campaign in your community
On Tuesday, June 19th, San Jose joined Santa Clara County, Marin County, the state of Rhode Island, and fifteen other American cities in passing an ordinance replacing the term "owner" with the term "owner/guardian" of animal companions. The new ordinance was passed by a nine to two vote because the City Council recognized that the term "guardian" reflects the feeling of caring, respect, compassion, and responsibility toward the animals with whom people share their lives. The language change seeks to elicit responsible treatment of companion animals and reduce the number of abused, neglected, and abandoned animals.
San Jose is the latest example of a growing trend towards modernizing the terms society uses to describe the relationship people have with the animals who become such an important part of their lives. The term "guardian" acknowledges a deep level of respect, compassion, and responsibility toward the animals who bring so much joy and enrichment to our lives and more accurately reflects the close relationship that often develops between humans and animals.
"In adopting guardian language, the City Council has demonstrated that San Jose is a progressive and compassionate community where all members of our families are valued and cherished," said Judy Jones, a San Jose resident and member of the San Jose Animal Advisory Committee. "I'm grateful to be part of this caring community, where animal welfare is considered a priority."
Elliot M. Katz, DVM, President of IDA, praised the ordinance change. "I am delighted that the citizens of San Jose and the San Jose City Council have recognized the value and benefits of the term 'guardian,'" he said. "This is an important step in the respectful and responsible care of animals."
"We believe that the more common use of the word "guardian" can influence people's attitudes towards animals," continued Dr. Katz. "It is a small change that, over time, will have a large impact on the welfare and well being of our animal companions."
What You Can Do
Make your community the next guardian city! If your community is not yet on the list of official guardian cities, please contact Valerie Sicignano at (917) 400-2131 or valerie@idausa.org or Dr. Elliot Katz at (415) 388-9641, ext. 225 or emk@idausa.org to learn how you can make your community the next Guardian City. We would love to have an additional 10 cities sign on by the end of the year. It truly will make a difference to our animal friends.
For more information on IDA's Guardian Campaign, please visit www.guardiancampaign.com.