Should pets be given "people" names?

Yes

4 of 6

by Eileen Schmidt

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Mandy, she keeps me company late at night when I can't sleep. When I am tearful, for whatever reason, she sits with me and puts herself in a position where I have no other choice but to lay my head on her. Sometimes she gets excited and we play until we are out of breath. She loves the "conversations" we have and she gives just as much affection as we give her, maybe more. Mandy likes to be included in everything, although she often times can't be, but she still enjoys it and she is so happy when we get home. Mandy is not a fan of being home by herself for too long.

Mandy is just as much a part of this family as the rest of us are. She knows happy and sad and is quite capable of showing those emotions in her own little way. Pets are family. I did not name Mandy, she was given to us with that name and I thought that it was odd at first, but she has earned that name. She has been loyal and loving and an amazing watchdog. She is what most of us look for in a great friend, and she isn't human. She has human characteristics and feelings. Although she cannot speak English, she understands when spoken to.

Why should it be wrong for people to give their pets "people" names? People can name their children after cities and countries and even food, so why shouldn't we be able to name our pets Mandy, Bob, Chester, Sarah or whatever names one can think of? Maybe I don't want to call out Poopsi or Muffin when getting my pets attention. Maybe I have enough respect for my pet to not give her such a humiliating and degrading name. Remember the movie "Stuart Little"? I am referring to the cat who had an incredibly feminine name overused for pets. Here's the kicker, she was a he. But this cat went on and on about the ridiculous name he was given and how it embarrassed him. I know that animals can't speak like that, but what if they could? Think outside of the box for a moment and put yourself in Poopsies shoes and how she might feel while chatting with her friend Frank.

I am not against cute names at all, so don't get the wrong idea. We have a Cosmo and a Galaxy and A Lucy (who turned out to be a boy whose balls did not drop until he was four months old) so we added a "fur" to the end...he was a little devil anyway until we had him fixed, so the the name suited him.

My point is, cute "animal" names are great for some while others prefer to give "people" names and there is nothing wrong with this at all. It is that freedom of naming your family member whatever you wish to name him or her. You have to call the name, not me, not the neighbor, and rarely the veterinarian. So here is to all of the Franks and Bobs, the FiFis and the Muffins, the Joeys and the Sarahs, the Cheweys and the Poopsies. I am sure they all love their names, for they love their owners and hopefully their owners love them. My Mandy could probably care less of what her name is other than the fact that she knows I am talking to her when I say it. What she cares about is that she has fresh food and water daily, a good belly rub here and there, someone to walk her, and all of the companionship in the world. Her name is the last thing on her mind.

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