Writings by Jackie

A Changing Paradigm

Thomas Kuhn, author of “The Structure of Scientific Revolution” first coined the term “paradigm shift” to describe a major shift in a world view, where one view is replaced by another through an “intellectually violent revolution” due to the occurrence of significant events. In the case of animals, the catalyst for the most recent shift has come from events such as Hurricane Katrina and the animal rights movement. The “shift” impacts how we perceive animals and their place in our world. This paradigm shift is most noticeable in how animals are becoming regarded by our society. 

Concerns for basic animal welfare has evolved into the animal rights movement; the validation that animals are worthy of both legal and physical protection. “It’s just an animal," which conveys that the human-animal bond is of limited depth, has been replaced with the view that the human-animal bond has immense potential for great, yet to be defined, depth. Animals have stopped being objectified with names such as Fluffy or Spot, and have been since elevated to more human-like names, as our identification with them has become greater. This is further acknowledgement that animals are seen as beings on the same level as humans, even if housed in an animal body. 

Hurricane Katrina was the catalyst for national legislation insuring pet owners the right to provide protection for their pets in the case of a declared disaster. This has led to similar legislation on the State level. Shelters will be established for companion pets during disasters. Owners will never be challenged with the heart wrenching decision to evacuate without their beloved pets, putting their own lives in peril, or evacuate, leaving their pets behind.

Humans were once simply the owners of their pets. Today, pets are often regarded as family members. The human-animal bond has raised our regard for animals to the place where they are viewed as mutual companions. Our goal, as humans, is no longer to dominate another species, but rather to co-exist. Animals were once valued for their economic value, as working or service animals. “Maintaining” animals meant providing a bowl of food; water, and shelter. Today, animals possess social value. More people are providing for pets physically, medically, and psychologically, much as they do for themselves. Animals have evolved from a position of limited value, to that of being greatly valued, as shown by the time, money and effort that humans will invest in their pets. 

Animals, once they had passed, were once seen as easy to replace with another, “substitute” puppy or kitten. Now, people are realizing that animals can not be replaced, though other animals, unique in their own personalities, can be acquired. Animals are not all alike; a dog is not just like another dog, a cat is not just like another cat. Each is unique in their being. Thankfully, more and more humans are coming to this realization. All of this points to a validation of the Great Spirit that animal possess and as beings, of their own value and worth.