Fido’s a “he,” not an “it.”¹

The organization, known worldwide for championing animal rights, is now taking its campaign to the written word, calling on Norm Goldstein, editor of The Associated Press Stylebook, to revise its guidelines, which currently characterize animals as inanimate objects.

In a letter written to Goldstein, the animal activists ask the AP to “take a progressive step and give animals the respect that they deserve by revising AP style guidelines to reflect the usage of personal pronouns for all animals.”

So, here’s my question: Which dogs and cats read the newspaper and can tell the difference if they’re being called he, she, or it?

© 2007 – 2008, J. M. Erickson. All rights reserved.

1. UPDATE: According to the current Associated Press Stylebook, if an animal’s sex is known or the animal has a name, “it” is to be referred to as “he” or “she” as appropriate.