Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi Robin,

Love your YouTube channel. It is very professionally done with lots of movement to keep kids engaged. Good job! I have a question about the Spanish translation. Do you have help translating it or is it dubbing using technology?  Thanks

Thank you to those of you who took time to watch an episode! We have 7 more episodes coming out this summer.

@Julielani - The Spanish dubbing is something we tried this weekend using a dubbing app  Eleven Labs.   I am the first to admit it is not perfect, and we may end up revamping the Spanish episodes as we get more proficient with the technology.  I decided to put them up now in the spirit of "Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good!"   I welcome feedback/constructive criticism from anyone who uses Spanish and/or serves a Spanish speaking population.  

Thanks again for looking!

Robin

CASA PAWS

Hi Robin,

Love your YouTube channel. It is very professionally done with lots of movement to keep kids engaged. Good job! I have a question about the Spanish translation. Do you have help translating it or is it dubbing using technology?  Thanks

Hi Robin,  Thank you for your reply. I also have a Youtube channel for kids using storytelling format to teach empathy from a trainer perspective by incorporating fear free and body language concept into the story. I too want to translate the narrated stories into Spanish. I use a dubbing app and was not too thrilled with it so I am looking for a translator. It has been pretty hard finding anyone who would be interested in helping. I should look into Eleven Labs. 

Thank you to those of you who took time to watch an episode! We have 7 more episodes coming out this summer.

@Julielani - The Spanish dubbing is something we tried this weekend using a dubbing app  Eleven Labs.   I am the first to admit it is not perfect, and we may end up revamping the Spanish episodes as we get more proficient with the technology.  I decided to put them up now in the spirit of "Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good!"   I welcome feedback/constructive criticism from anyone who uses Spanish and/or serves a Spanish speaking population.  

Thanks again for looking!

Robin

CASA PAWS

Hi Robin,

Love your YouTube channel. It is very professionally done with lots of movement to keep kids engaged. Good job! I have a question about the Spanish translation. Do you have help translating it or is it dubbing using technology?  Thanks

@Julielani - 

I'd love to have a look at your channel if it is available for public viewing!

I think there is a lot of capability within Eleven Labs that i just have to spend time with and figure out.

While I would love to enlist an actual Spanish interpreter, the combination of finding someone willing to do all the translation work and then sit for a recording and get everything properly synched up with the story is fairly daunting. 

Hi Robin,  Thank you for your reply. I also have a Youtube channel for kids using storytelling format to teach empathy from a trainer perspective by incorporating fear free and body language concept into the story. I too want to translate the narrated stories into Spanish. I use a dubbing app and was not too thrilled with it so I am looking for a translator. It has been pretty hard finding anyone who would be interested in helping. I should look into Eleven Labs. 

Thank you to those of you who took time to watch an episode! We have 7 more episodes coming out this summer.

@Julielani - The Spanish dubbing is something we tried this weekend using a dubbing app  Eleven Labs.   I am the first to admit it is not perfect, and we may end up revamping the Spanish episodes as we get more proficient with the technology.  I decided to put them up now in the spirit of "Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good!"   I welcome feedback/constructive criticism from anyone who uses Spanish and/or serves a Spanish speaking population.  

Thanks again for looking!

Robin

CASA PAWS

Hi Robin,

Love your YouTube channel. It is very professionally done with lots of movement to keep kids engaged. Good job! I have a question about the Spanish translation. Do you have help translating it or is it dubbing using technology?  Thanks

Hi Robin,

Here is the link to the channel https://www.youtube.com/@KaisKindnessStories. I am also a Red Rover reader so the channel has some of the curated titles from other authors as well as our own series of BK stories based on a community cat that we rescued. I love to hear what you think. 

@Julielani - 

I'd love to have a look at your channel if it is available for public viewing!

I think there is a lot of capability within Eleven Labs that i just have to spend time with and figure out.

While I would love to enlist an actual Spanish interpreter, the combination of finding someone willing to do all the translation work and then sit for a recording and get everything properly synched up with the story is fairly daunting. 

Hi Robin,  Thank you for your reply. I also have a Youtube channel for kids using storytelling format to teach empathy from a trainer perspective by incorporating fear free and body language concept into the story. I too want to translate the narrated stories into Spanish. I use a dubbing app and was not too thrilled with it so I am looking for a translator. It has been pretty hard finding anyone who would be interested in helping. I should look into Eleven Labs. 

Thank you to those of you who took time to watch an episode! We have 7 more episodes coming out this summer.

@Julielani - The Spanish dubbing is something we tried this weekend using a dubbing app  Eleven Labs.   I am the first to admit it is not perfect, and we may end up revamping the Spanish episodes as we get more proficient with the technology.  I decided to put them up now in the spirit of "Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good!"   I welcome feedback/constructive criticism from anyone who uses Spanish and/or serves a Spanish speaking population.  

Thanks again for looking!

Robin

CASA PAWS

Hi Robin,

Love your YouTube channel. It is very professionally done with lots of movement to keep kids engaged. Good job! I have a question about the Spanish translation. Do you have help translating it or is it dubbing using technology?  Thanks

I've actually seen these before! They are very well done!  Even though my presentations are not RedRover style presentations, I am RedRover certified. Your videos do a great job with that style of education. 

Hi Robin,

Here is the link to the channel https://www.youtube.com/@KaisKindnessStories. I am also a Red Rover reader so the channel has some of the curated titles from other authors as well as our own series of BK stories based on a community cat that we rescued. I love to hear what you think. 

@Julielani - 

I'd love to have a look at your channel if it is available for public viewing!

I think there is a lot of capability within Eleven Labs that i just have to spend time with and figure out.

While I would love to enlist an actual Spanish interpreter, the combination of finding someone willing to do all the translation work and then sit for a recording and get everything properly synched up with the story is fairly daunting. 

Hi Robin,  Thank you for your reply. I also have a Youtube channel for kids using storytelling format to teach empathy from a trainer perspective by incorporating fear free and body language concept into the story. I too want to translate the narrated stories into Spanish. I use a dubbing app and was not too thrilled with it so I am looking for a translator. It has been pretty hard finding anyone who would be interested in helping. I should look into Eleven Labs. 

Thank you to those of you who took time to watch an episode! We have 7 more episodes coming out this summer.

@Julielani - The Spanish dubbing is something we tried this weekend using a dubbing app  Eleven Labs.   I am the first to admit it is not perfect, and we may end up revamping the Spanish episodes as we get more proficient with the technology.  I decided to put them up now in the spirit of "Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good!"   I welcome feedback/constructive criticism from anyone who uses Spanish and/or serves a Spanish speaking population.  

Thanks again for looking!

Robin

CASA PAWS

Hi Robin,

Love your YouTube channel. It is very professionally done with lots of movement to keep kids engaged. Good job! I have a question about the Spanish translation. Do you have help translating it or is it dubbing using technology?  Thanks

Robin, Thank you for the vote of confidence. Your video is dynamic and I really like that style.   Red Rover style tends to be more static. This is why I try to keep it under 5 min, the happy spot is less than 4 min.  We have one title in Spanish since the author actually translated her book into Spanish and we just take it from there. It is Nobody's Cats story.  https://youtu.be/0kzAt0HnP4U?si=4drKHOBTV7fm37pg.  In this video, we use technology for narration and a real translator for the rest. I am hoping to be able to do this - mixing so the translator does not have to start from scratch. 

I've actually seen these before! They are very well done!  Even though my presentations are not RedRover style presentations, I am RedRover certified. Your videos do a great job with that style of education. 

Hi Robin,

Here is the link to the channel https://www.youtube.com/@KaisKindnessStories. I am also a Red Rover reader so the channel has some of the curated titles from other authors as well as our own series of BK stories based on a community cat that we rescued. I love to hear what you think. 

@Julielani - 

I'd love to have a look at your channel if it is available for public viewing!

I think there is a lot of capability within Eleven Labs that i just have to spend time with and figure out.

While I would love to enlist an actual Spanish interpreter, the combination of finding someone willing to do all the translation work and then sit for a recording and get everything properly synched up with the story is fairly daunting. 

Hi Robin,  Thank you for your reply. I also have a Youtube channel for kids using storytelling format to teach empathy from a trainer perspective by incorporating fear free and body language concept into the story. I too want to translate the narrated stories into Spanish. I use a dubbing app and was not too thrilled with it so I am looking for a translator. It has been pretty hard finding anyone who would be interested in helping. I should look into Eleven Labs. 

Thank you to those of you who took time to watch an episode! We have 7 more episodes coming out this summer.

@Julielani - The Spanish dubbing is something we tried this weekend using a dubbing app  Eleven Labs.   I am the first to admit it is not perfect, and we may end up revamping the Spanish episodes as we get more proficient with the technology.  I decided to put them up now in the spirit of "Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good!"   I welcome feedback/constructive criticism from anyone who uses Spanish and/or serves a Spanish speaking population.  

Thanks again for looking!

Robin

CASA PAWS

Hi Robin,

Love your YouTube channel. It is very professionally done with lots of movement to keep kids engaged. Good job! I have a question about the Spanish translation. Do you have help translating it or is it dubbing using technology?  Thanks

Hi! I haven't had an opportunity to check out the You Tube channel but it sounds like a great program.

I just wanted to put in a little plug for always remembering to be thoughtful and precise with language. Teaching concepts of what it means to be responsible as a pet owner to children is wonderful but we must always be mindful that applying "responsible pet owner" (RPO) as a label to individual pet owners can be very harmful. This subjective label has been, and continues to be, used in veterinary medicine and animal welfare to marginalize and discriminate against socioeconomically disadvantaged communities for decades. There is an increasing body of peer-reviewed research demonstrating both the bias language like this can create, as well as the negative outcomes for pets and owners. What one may view as "responsible" behavior may be viewed very differently in other contexts and cultures. Additionally, owners should not be deemed "irresponsible" if their circumstances preclude them from accessing the support and care they need. We are not talking about excusing behavior that rises to the level of willful harm or malicious intent so don't come for me with that argument!

There is a lot of discussion happening about what to replace "responsible pet ownership" with as a term that is less subjective and potentially pejorative...open to suggestions :)

Hi Dr. Powell,

Thank you so much for the comment and also I really hope you take a look at the channel, as i would love your feedback!

I completely agree with what you are saying. In fact, when I speak at schools, I don't use the words "responsible pet ownership." It's a bit jargony for one, and also feels a bit sterile for elementary students.  Yet it seems to be the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this.

I've spoken to thousands of students throughout Middle Tennessee, and many of the kids live in poverty or near-poverty. Many are in rural areas, and others are in disadvantaged urban areas.  The reality of my audience is that there are always going to be kids whose dogs are on chains, or dogs that are roaming, or don't get adequate veterinary care (if at all) or adequate nutrition.  Many kids have outdoor dogs.  So I go into each talk assuming that's who I am speaking to. 

I never use words like irresponsible.  We try to come up with solutions, even if it only involves "planting seeds" for what we might do in the future.  We also talk about reaching out and asking for help if your pet is not getting enough food, and making sure their shelter is adequate for the weather, or making sure kids know to check on the water frequently, etc.  Kids are inherently fascinated by heartworms!

The goal of all of my presentations is to have a positive experience where kids are comfortable sharing and asking questions, and thus far we are succeeding, in part because I don't use those words that can marginalize.  I want them to learn a few things that they can share with others. I also really appreciate their candor, and I genuinely thank them, because some of their stories  are pretty difficult.

So all that being said - I don't have other words to use for responsible pet ownership or responsible pet care on a forum such as this - but I'm open to hearing new words for it! When I go to schools, I just say I'm there to teach them a few things about pets so they know what to do and how to keep themselves safe, as well. 

Hopefully the YouTube channel reflects that general tone, as well.

Regards,

Robin 

Hi! I haven't had an opportunity to check out the You Tube channel but it sounds like a great program.

I just wanted to put in a little plug for always remembering to be thoughtful and precise with language. Teaching concepts of what it means to be responsible as a pet owner to children is wonderful but we must always be mindful that applying "responsible pet owner" (RPO) as a label to individual pet owners can be very harmful. This subjective label has been, and continues to be, used in veterinary medicine and animal welfare to marginalize and discriminate against socioeconomically disadvantaged communities for decades. There is an increasing body of peer-reviewed research demonstrating both the bias language like this can create, as well as the negative outcomes for pets and owners. What one may view as "responsible" behavior may be viewed very differently in other contexts and cultures. Additionally, owners should not be deemed "irresponsible" if their circumstances preclude them from accessing the support and care they need. We are not talking about excusing behavior that rises to the level of willful harm or malicious intent so don't come for me with that argument!

There is a lot of discussion happening about what to replace "responsible pet ownership" with as a term that is less subjective and potentially pejorative...open to suggestions :)

Hi Robin! First, I want to reaffirm that I think your project is good, important work. We are all on the same team and (in general) have shared goals.

The fact that terms like Responsible Pet Ownership are "the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this" or "useful shorthand" (another explanation I've received) is part of the problem :-) Borrowing this explanation from a DVM colleague with an MPH and expertise in veterinary sociology: "Language matters because words do not simply describe reality, they shape it. Social constructionism, a paradigm in social psychology, teaches us that our understanding of human beings is constructed through thought, language, and interaction. What we call things, and how we describe people, has real consequences."

So, just a gentle reminder (that I give myself regularly!) to be mindful. We need to keep the emphasis on animal health and welfare and supporting animals and their owners.

Hi Dr. Powell,

Thank you so much for the comment and also I really hope you take a look at the channel, as i would love your feedback!

I completely agree with what you are saying. In fact, when I speak at schools, I don't use the words "responsible pet ownership." It's a bit jargony for one, and also feels a bit sterile for elementary students.  Yet it seems to be the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this.

I've spoken to thousands of students throughout Middle Tennessee, and many of the kids live in poverty or near-poverty. Many are in rural areas, and others are in disadvantaged urban areas.  The reality of my audience is that there are always going to be kids whose dogs are on chains, or dogs that are roaming, or don't get adequate veterinary care (if at all) or adequate nutrition.  Many kids have outdoor dogs.  So I go into each talk assuming that's who I am speaking to. 

I never use words like irresponsible.  We try to come up with solutions, even if it only involves "planting seeds" for what we might do in the future.  We also talk about reaching out and asking for help if your pet is not getting enough food, and making sure their shelter is adequate for the weather, or making sure kids know to check on the water frequently, etc.  Kids are inherently fascinated by heartworms!

The goal of all of my presentations is to have a positive experience where kids are comfortable sharing and asking questions, and thus far we are succeeding, in part because I don't use those words that can marginalize.  I want them to learn a few things that they can share with others. I also really appreciate their candor, and I genuinely thank them, because some of their stories  are pretty difficult.

So all that being said - I don't have other words to use for responsible pet ownership or responsible pet care on a forum such as this - but I'm open to hearing new words for it! When I go to schools, I just say I'm there to teach them a few things about pets so they know what to do and how to keep themselves safe, as well. 

Hopefully the YouTube channel reflects that general tone, as well.

Regards,

Robin 

Hi! I haven't had an opportunity to check out the You Tube channel but it sounds like a great program.

I just wanted to put in a little plug for always remembering to be thoughtful and precise with language. Teaching concepts of what it means to be responsible as a pet owner to children is wonderful but we must always be mindful that applying "responsible pet owner" (RPO) as a label to individual pet owners can be very harmful. This subjective label has been, and continues to be, used in veterinary medicine and animal welfare to marginalize and discriminate against socioeconomically disadvantaged communities for decades. There is an increasing body of peer-reviewed research demonstrating both the bias language like this can create, as well as the negative outcomes for pets and owners. What one may view as "responsible" behavior may be viewed very differently in other contexts and cultures. Additionally, owners should not be deemed "irresponsible" if their circumstances preclude them from accessing the support and care they need. We are not talking about excusing behavior that rises to the level of willful harm or malicious intent so don't come for me with that argument!

There is a lot of discussion happening about what to replace "responsible pet ownership" with as a term that is less subjective and potentially pejorative...open to suggestions :)

I think that is a great reminder! 
What ideas do you or others have for alternative language for responsible pet ownership? I tend to use pet care rather than ownership, as I know some people like to view the humans as guardians or pet parents rather than owners. 
This discussion motivated me to think of other wording such as proactive pet parenting- which is really what it is 😂 but that would fly over the heads of early elementary students. 

I'd love to hear favorite phrases from you and others. 

Hi Robin! First, I want to reaffirm that I think your project is good, important work. We are all on the same team and (in general) have shared goals.

The fact that terms like Responsible Pet Ownership are "the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this" or "useful shorthand" (another explanation I've received) is part of the problem :-) Borrowing this explanation from a DVM colleague with an MPH and expertise in veterinary sociology: "Language matters because words do not simply describe reality, they shape it. Social constructionism, a paradigm in social psychology, teaches us that our understanding of human beings is constructed through thought, language, and interaction. What we call things, and how we describe people, has real consequences."

So, just a gentle reminder (that I give myself regularly!) to be mindful. We need to keep the emphasis on animal health and welfare and supporting animals and their owners.

Hi Dr. Powell,

Thank you so much for the comment and also I really hope you take a look at the channel, as i would love your feedback!

I completely agree with what you are saying. In fact, when I speak at schools, I don't use the words "responsible pet ownership." It's a bit jargony for one, and also feels a bit sterile for elementary students.  Yet it seems to be the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this.

I've spoken to thousands of students throughout Middle Tennessee, and many of the kids live in poverty or near-poverty. Many are in rural areas, and others are in disadvantaged urban areas.  The reality of my audience is that there are always going to be kids whose dogs are on chains, or dogs that are roaming, or don't get adequate veterinary care (if at all) or adequate nutrition.  Many kids have outdoor dogs.  So I go into each talk assuming that's who I am speaking to. 

I never use words like irresponsible.  We try to come up with solutions, even if it only involves "planting seeds" for what we might do in the future.  We also talk about reaching out and asking for help if your pet is not getting enough food, and making sure their shelter is adequate for the weather, or making sure kids know to check on the water frequently, etc.  Kids are inherently fascinated by heartworms!

The goal of all of my presentations is to have a positive experience where kids are comfortable sharing and asking questions, and thus far we are succeeding, in part because I don't use those words that can marginalize.  I want them to learn a few things that they can share with others. I also really appreciate their candor, and I genuinely thank them, because some of their stories  are pretty difficult.

So all that being said - I don't have other words to use for responsible pet ownership or responsible pet care on a forum such as this - but I'm open to hearing new words for it! When I go to schools, I just say I'm there to teach them a few things about pets so they know what to do and how to keep themselves safe, as well. 

Hopefully the YouTube channel reflects that general tone, as well.

Regards,

Robin 

Hi! I haven't had an opportunity to check out the You Tube channel but it sounds like a great program.

I just wanted to put in a little plug for always remembering to be thoughtful and precise with language. Teaching concepts of what it means to be responsible as a pet owner to children is wonderful but we must always be mindful that applying "responsible pet owner" (RPO) as a label to individual pet owners can be very harmful. This subjective label has been, and continues to be, used in veterinary medicine and animal welfare to marginalize and discriminate against socioeconomically disadvantaged communities for decades. There is an increasing body of peer-reviewed research demonstrating both the bias language like this can create, as well as the negative outcomes for pets and owners. What one may view as "responsible" behavior may be viewed very differently in other contexts and cultures. Additionally, owners should not be deemed "irresponsible" if their circumstances preclude them from accessing the support and care they need. We are not talking about excusing behavior that rises to the level of willful harm or malicious intent so don't come for me with that argument!

There is a lot of discussion happening about what to replace "responsible pet ownership" with as a term that is less subjective and potentially pejorative...open to suggestions :)

I think the nuance that is important here (but really challenging) is that "responsibility" is not inherently a bad word. So, teaching context-and culturally-aware concepts related to responsible pet ownership is a good thing, highlighting promotion of health, welfare, and mental wellbeing. The problem, or pitfall, is when an individual or organization or culture attempts to define "responsible pet ownership" through their experience and worldview and then impose it on others as a subjective "label". This allows the creation of a straw man...the "irresponsible pet owner" and justifies telling them they don't deserve to have pets, taking their pets away from them in order to re-home them to "responsible pet owners", and imposing legal, financial and other punitive measures on them to punish them for their irresponsibility. In the case of criminal neglect or abuse with malicious intent, those might be the right thing to do, but for most situations, it just creates real harm for people and animals, especially at a time when too many people are labeled "irresponsible" and there are more pets in shelters then there are homes for them.

One of the most insidious ways I have seen this happen is in discussion of spectrum of care or contextualized care. Some veterinarians will say that if an owner can't afford the "best" proposed treatment plan (as decided by the veterinarian and not necessarily evidence-based), they should relinquish the pet to a shelter or someone who can and/or they don't deserve to have the pet. I even heard one vet describe contextual care as potentially creating or normalizing abuse or neglect. Unfortunately, views like this are leading to many pets receiving no care at all. To be clear, contextualized care means presenting options that meet or exceed the minimum acceptable standard of care (a legal term), not offering "snake oil" or substandard care.

The animal welfare and sheltering world also has a really dark history with this...where "rescuers" swoop in to marginalized communities and round up their pets to re-home them to responsible people (generally white, suburban families)...that continues today. Despite good intentions, this approach doesn't get to the root of the problem or address the systemic deficiencies creating the need for rescue in the first place.

Which brings us back around to your work...which does attempt to do those things through education :) We just have to avoid the subjective labels. Like, the children watching your videos shouldn't be aspiring to become "responsible pet owners", they should come away feeling like they have the tools and knowledge to assess and ensure their pets have the best health and welfare possible within the limitations of real life.  

I think that is a great reminder! 
What ideas do you or others have for alternative language for responsible pet ownership? I tend to use pet care rather than ownership, as I know some people like to view the humans as guardians or pet parents rather than owners. 
This discussion motivated me to think of other wording such as proactive pet parenting- which is really what it is 😂 but that would fly over the heads of early elementary students. 

I'd love to hear favorite phrases from you and others. 

Hi Robin! First, I want to reaffirm that I think your project is good, important work. We are all on the same team and (in general) have shared goals.

The fact that terms like Responsible Pet Ownership are "the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this" or "useful shorthand" (another explanation I've received) is part of the problem :-) Borrowing this explanation from a DVM colleague with an MPH and expertise in veterinary sociology: "Language matters because words do not simply describe reality, they shape it. Social constructionism, a paradigm in social psychology, teaches us that our understanding of human beings is constructed through thought, language, and interaction. What we call things, and how we describe people, has real consequences."

So, just a gentle reminder (that I give myself regularly!) to be mindful. We need to keep the emphasis on animal health and welfare and supporting animals and their owners.

Hi Dr. Powell,

Thank you so much for the comment and also I really hope you take a look at the channel, as i would love your feedback!

I completely agree with what you are saying. In fact, when I speak at schools, I don't use the words "responsible pet ownership." It's a bit jargony for one, and also feels a bit sterile for elementary students.  Yet it seems to be the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this.

I've spoken to thousands of students throughout Middle Tennessee, and many of the kids live in poverty or near-poverty. Many are in rural areas, and others are in disadvantaged urban areas.  The reality of my audience is that there are always going to be kids whose dogs are on chains, or dogs that are roaming, or don't get adequate veterinary care (if at all) or adequate nutrition.  Many kids have outdoor dogs.  So I go into each talk assuming that's who I am speaking to. 

I never use words like irresponsible.  We try to come up with solutions, even if it only involves "planting seeds" for what we might do in the future.  We also talk about reaching out and asking for help if your pet is not getting enough food, and making sure their shelter is adequate for the weather, or making sure kids know to check on the water frequently, etc.  Kids are inherently fascinated by heartworms!

The goal of all of my presentations is to have a positive experience where kids are comfortable sharing and asking questions, and thus far we are succeeding, in part because I don't use those words that can marginalize.  I want them to learn a few things that they can share with others. I also really appreciate their candor, and I genuinely thank them, because some of their stories  are pretty difficult.

So all that being said - I don't have other words to use for responsible pet ownership or responsible pet care on a forum such as this - but I'm open to hearing new words for it! When I go to schools, I just say I'm there to teach them a few things about pets so they know what to do and how to keep themselves safe, as well. 

Hopefully the YouTube channel reflects that general tone, as well.

Regards,

Robin 

Hi! I haven't had an opportunity to check out the You Tube channel but it sounds like a great program.

I just wanted to put in a little plug for always remembering to be thoughtful and precise with language. Teaching concepts of what it means to be responsible as a pet owner to children is wonderful but we must always be mindful that applying "responsible pet owner" (RPO) as a label to individual pet owners can be very harmful. This subjective label has been, and continues to be, used in veterinary medicine and animal welfare to marginalize and discriminate against socioeconomically disadvantaged communities for decades. There is an increasing body of peer-reviewed research demonstrating both the bias language like this can create, as well as the negative outcomes for pets and owners. What one may view as "responsible" behavior may be viewed very differently in other contexts and cultures. Additionally, owners should not be deemed "irresponsible" if their circumstances preclude them from accessing the support and care they need. We are not talking about excusing behavior that rises to the level of willful harm or malicious intent so don't come for me with that argument!

There is a lot of discussion happening about what to replace "responsible pet ownership" with as a term that is less subjective and potentially pejorative...open to suggestions :)

Hi Dr. Powell,

Thanks for the great discussion! I hope you take a moment to watch one or two of our videos because what you describe is what we are striving to do. Basically, we want to impart knowledge so kids are better equipped to be good pet parents.  We try to make it accessible but not preachy or judgy.

The hardest discussion TBH in my experience is the topic of humane containment of dogs.  As much as I would love every dog to have a fenced in yard, when I drive throughout Tennessee, the reality is that most yards are not fenced. So we have to talk about that, and that brings on the issue of chains - and that's actually the most delicate topic, at least for me. I've softened my stance because I'd rather have a dog that's tethered for 2 hours a day than a dog that's tethered 24 hours a day or running loose all over town, so I've gotten comfortable with the conversation about ways people keep dogs on their property.  That's a way harder convo than spay/neuter!

At any rate - we hand out surveys to every teacher after each presentation and our feedback has been very positive. One of my goals is to make sure that we create a positive experience because we want those return visit opportunities and we want a reputation of being a great experience so that other schools welcome us as well.  Our 9th video is coming out on Monday and that's our "vet visit" video.  I hope you have a look at that one or perhaps the spay/neuter, and would love your feedback.

Best,

Robin

I think the nuance that is important here (but really challenging) is that "responsibility" is not inherently a bad word. So, teaching context-and culturally-aware concepts related to responsible pet ownership is a good thing, highlighting promotion of health, welfare, and mental wellbeing. The problem, or pitfall, is when an individual or organization or culture attempts to define "responsible pet ownership" through their experience and worldview and then impose it on others as a subjective "label". This allows the creation of a straw man...the "irresponsible pet owner" and justifies telling them they don't deserve to have pets, taking their pets away from them in order to re-home them to "responsible pet owners", and imposing legal, financial and other punitive measures on them to punish them for their irresponsibility. In the case of criminal neglect or abuse with malicious intent, those might be the right thing to do, but for most situations, it just creates real harm for people and animals, especially at a time when too many people are labeled "irresponsible" and there are more pets in shelters then there are homes for them.

One of the most insidious ways I have seen this happen is in discussion of spectrum of care or contextualized care. Some veterinarians will say that if an owner can't afford the "best" proposed treatment plan (as decided by the veterinarian and not necessarily evidence-based), they should relinquish the pet to a shelter or someone who can and/or they don't deserve to have the pet. I even heard one vet describe contextual care as potentially creating or normalizing abuse or neglect. Unfortunately, views like this are leading to many pets receiving no care at all. To be clear, contextualized care means presenting options that meet or exceed the minimum acceptable standard of care (a legal term), not offering "snake oil" or substandard care.

The animal welfare and sheltering world also has a really dark history with this...where "rescuers" swoop in to marginalized communities and round up their pets to re-home them to responsible people (generally white, suburban families)...that continues today. Despite good intentions, this approach doesn't get to the root of the problem or address the systemic deficiencies creating the need for rescue in the first place.

Which brings us back around to your work...which does attempt to do those things through education :) We just have to avoid the subjective labels. Like, the children watching your videos shouldn't be aspiring to become "responsible pet owners", they should come away feeling like they have the tools and knowledge to assess and ensure their pets have the best health and welfare possible within the limitations of real life.  

I think that is a great reminder! 
What ideas do you or others have for alternative language for responsible pet ownership? I tend to use pet care rather than ownership, as I know some people like to view the humans as guardians or pet parents rather than owners. 
This discussion motivated me to think of other wording such as proactive pet parenting- which is really what it is 😂 but that would fly over the heads of early elementary students. 

I'd love to hear favorite phrases from you and others. 

Hi Robin! First, I want to reaffirm that I think your project is good, important work. We are all on the same team and (in general) have shared goals.

The fact that terms like Responsible Pet Ownership are "the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this" or "useful shorthand" (another explanation I've received) is part of the problem :-) Borrowing this explanation from a DVM colleague with an MPH and expertise in veterinary sociology: "Language matters because words do not simply describe reality, they shape it. Social constructionism, a paradigm in social psychology, teaches us that our understanding of human beings is constructed through thought, language, and interaction. What we call things, and how we describe people, has real consequences."

So, just a gentle reminder (that I give myself regularly!) to be mindful. We need to keep the emphasis on animal health and welfare and supporting animals and their owners.

Hi Dr. Powell,

Thank you so much for the comment and also I really hope you take a look at the channel, as i would love your feedback!

I completely agree with what you are saying. In fact, when I speak at schools, I don't use the words "responsible pet ownership." It's a bit jargony for one, and also feels a bit sterile for elementary students.  Yet it seems to be the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this.

I've spoken to thousands of students throughout Middle Tennessee, and many of the kids live in poverty or near-poverty. Many are in rural areas, and others are in disadvantaged urban areas.  The reality of my audience is that there are always going to be kids whose dogs are on chains, or dogs that are roaming, or don't get adequate veterinary care (if at all) or adequate nutrition.  Many kids have outdoor dogs.  So I go into each talk assuming that's who I am speaking to. 

I never use words like irresponsible.  We try to come up with solutions, even if it only involves "planting seeds" for what we might do in the future.  We also talk about reaching out and asking for help if your pet is not getting enough food, and making sure their shelter is adequate for the weather, or making sure kids know to check on the water frequently, etc.  Kids are inherently fascinated by heartworms!

The goal of all of my presentations is to have a positive experience where kids are comfortable sharing and asking questions, and thus far we are succeeding, in part because I don't use those words that can marginalize.  I want them to learn a few things that they can share with others. I also really appreciate their candor, and I genuinely thank them, because some of their stories  are pretty difficult.

So all that being said - I don't have other words to use for responsible pet ownership or responsible pet care on a forum such as this - but I'm open to hearing new words for it! When I go to schools, I just say I'm there to teach them a few things about pets so they know what to do and how to keep themselves safe, as well. 

Hopefully the YouTube channel reflects that general tone, as well.

Regards,

Robin 

Hi! I haven't had an opportunity to check out the You Tube channel but it sounds like a great program.

I just wanted to put in a little plug for always remembering to be thoughtful and precise with language. Teaching concepts of what it means to be responsible as a pet owner to children is wonderful but we must always be mindful that applying "responsible pet owner" (RPO) as a label to individual pet owners can be very harmful. This subjective label has been, and continues to be, used in veterinary medicine and animal welfare to marginalize and discriminate against socioeconomically disadvantaged communities for decades. There is an increasing body of peer-reviewed research demonstrating both the bias language like this can create, as well as the negative outcomes for pets and owners. What one may view as "responsible" behavior may be viewed very differently in other contexts and cultures. Additionally, owners should not be deemed "irresponsible" if their circumstances preclude them from accessing the support and care they need. We are not talking about excusing behavior that rises to the level of willful harm or malicious intent so don't come for me with that argument!

There is a lot of discussion happening about what to replace "responsible pet ownership" with as a term that is less subjective and potentially pejorative...open to suggestions :)

Robin,

I watched a few of your videos this weekend and they are excellent :-) Two thumbs up...totally age-appropriate, fun and accessible. Great messaging. I love the "interviews" with experts.

I agree with some of these being delicate topics and balancing "ideal" with "acceptable" is a constant struggle. 

Keep up the good work!  

Hi Dr. Powell,

Thanks for the great discussion! I hope you take a moment to watch one or two of our videos because what you describe is what we are striving to do. Basically, we want to impart knowledge so kids are better equipped to be good pet parents.  We try to make it accessible but not preachy or judgy.

The hardest discussion TBH in my experience is the topic of humane containment of dogs.  As much as I would love every dog to have a fenced in yard, when I drive throughout Tennessee, the reality is that most yards are not fenced. So we have to talk about that, and that brings on the issue of chains - and that's actually the most delicate topic, at least for me. I've softened my stance because I'd rather have a dog that's tethered for 2 hours a day than a dog that's tethered 24 hours a day or running loose all over town, so I've gotten comfortable with the conversation about ways people keep dogs on their property.  That's a way harder convo than spay/neuter!

At any rate - we hand out surveys to every teacher after each presentation and our feedback has been very positive. One of my goals is to make sure that we create a positive experience because we want those return visit opportunities and we want a reputation of being a great experience so that other schools welcome us as well.  Our 9th video is coming out on Monday and that's our "vet visit" video.  I hope you have a look at that one or perhaps the spay/neuter, and would love your feedback.

Best,

Robin

I think the nuance that is important here (but really challenging) is that "responsibility" is not inherently a bad word. So, teaching context-and culturally-aware concepts related to responsible pet ownership is a good thing, highlighting promotion of health, welfare, and mental wellbeing. The problem, or pitfall, is when an individual or organization or culture attempts to define "responsible pet ownership" through their experience and worldview and then impose it on others as a subjective "label". This allows the creation of a straw man...the "irresponsible pet owner" and justifies telling them they don't deserve to have pets, taking their pets away from them in order to re-home them to "responsible pet owners", and imposing legal, financial and other punitive measures on them to punish them for their irresponsibility. In the case of criminal neglect or abuse with malicious intent, those might be the right thing to do, but for most situations, it just creates real harm for people and animals, especially at a time when too many people are labeled "irresponsible" and there are more pets in shelters then there are homes for them.

One of the most insidious ways I have seen this happen is in discussion of spectrum of care or contextualized care. Some veterinarians will say that if an owner can't afford the "best" proposed treatment plan (as decided by the veterinarian and not necessarily evidence-based), they should relinquish the pet to a shelter or someone who can and/or they don't deserve to have the pet. I even heard one vet describe contextual care as potentially creating or normalizing abuse or neglect. Unfortunately, views like this are leading to many pets receiving no care at all. To be clear, contextualized care means presenting options that meet or exceed the minimum acceptable standard of care (a legal term), not offering "snake oil" or substandard care.

The animal welfare and sheltering world also has a really dark history with this...where "rescuers" swoop in to marginalized communities and round up their pets to re-home them to responsible people (generally white, suburban families)...that continues today. Despite good intentions, this approach doesn't get to the root of the problem or address the systemic deficiencies creating the need for rescue in the first place.

Which brings us back around to your work...which does attempt to do those things through education :) We just have to avoid the subjective labels. Like, the children watching your videos shouldn't be aspiring to become "responsible pet owners", they should come away feeling like they have the tools and knowledge to assess and ensure their pets have the best health and welfare possible within the limitations of real life.  

I think that is a great reminder! 
What ideas do you or others have for alternative language for responsible pet ownership? I tend to use pet care rather than ownership, as I know some people like to view the humans as guardians or pet parents rather than owners. 
This discussion motivated me to think of other wording such as proactive pet parenting- which is really what it is 😂 but that would fly over the heads of early elementary students. 

I'd love to hear favorite phrases from you and others. 

Hi Robin! First, I want to reaffirm that I think your project is good, important work. We are all on the same team and (in general) have shared goals.

The fact that terms like Responsible Pet Ownership are "the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this" or "useful shorthand" (another explanation I've received) is part of the problem :-) Borrowing this explanation from a DVM colleague with an MPH and expertise in veterinary sociology: "Language matters because words do not simply describe reality, they shape it. Social constructionism, a paradigm in social psychology, teaches us that our understanding of human beings is constructed through thought, language, and interaction. What we call things, and how we describe people, has real consequences."

So, just a gentle reminder (that I give myself regularly!) to be mindful. We need to keep the emphasis on animal health and welfare and supporting animals and their owners.

Hi Dr. Powell,

Thank you so much for the comment and also I really hope you take a look at the channel, as i would love your feedback!

I completely agree with what you are saying. In fact, when I speak at schools, I don't use the words "responsible pet ownership." It's a bit jargony for one, and also feels a bit sterile for elementary students.  Yet it seems to be the easiest term to convey our focus when on a website or forum such as this.

I've spoken to thousands of students throughout Middle Tennessee, and many of the kids live in poverty or near-poverty. Many are in rural areas, and others are in disadvantaged urban areas.  The reality of my audience is that there are always going to be kids whose dogs are on chains, or dogs that are roaming, or don't get adequate veterinary care (if at all) or adequate nutrition.  Many kids have outdoor dogs.  So I go into each talk assuming that's who I am speaking to. 

I never use words like irresponsible.  We try to come up with solutions, even if it only involves "planting seeds" for what we might do in the future.  We also talk about reaching out and asking for help if your pet is not getting enough food, and making sure their shelter is adequate for the weather, or making sure kids know to check on the water frequently, etc.  Kids are inherently fascinated by heartworms!

The goal of all of my presentations is to have a positive experience where kids are comfortable sharing and asking questions, and thus far we are succeeding, in part because I don't use those words that can marginalize.  I want them to learn a few things that they can share with others. I also really appreciate their candor, and I genuinely thank them, because some of their stories  are pretty difficult.

So all that being said - I don't have other words to use for responsible pet ownership or responsible pet care on a forum such as this - but I'm open to hearing new words for it! When I go to schools, I just say I'm there to teach them a few things about pets so they know what to do and how to keep themselves safe, as well. 

Hopefully the YouTube channel reflects that general tone, as well.

Regards,

Robin 

Hi! I haven't had an opportunity to check out the You Tube channel but it sounds like a great program.

I just wanted to put in a little plug for always remembering to be thoughtful and precise with language. Teaching concepts of what it means to be responsible as a pet owner to children is wonderful but we must always be mindful that applying "responsible pet owner" (RPO) as a label to individual pet owners can be very harmful. This subjective label has been, and continues to be, used in veterinary medicine and animal welfare to marginalize and discriminate against socioeconomically disadvantaged communities for decades. There is an increasing body of peer-reviewed research demonstrating both the bias language like this can create, as well as the negative outcomes for pets and owners. What one may view as "responsible" behavior may be viewed very differently in other contexts and cultures. Additionally, owners should not be deemed "irresponsible" if their circumstances preclude them from accessing the support and care they need. We are not talking about excusing behavior that rises to the level of willful harm or malicious intent so don't come for me with that argument!

There is a lot of discussion happening about what to replace "responsible pet ownership" with as a term that is less subjective and potentially pejorative...open to suggestions :)