Dear Editor:
In response to the front-page article titled Rottweiler Attack Sends 91-Year-Old To Hospital by Jane Seyd, I have a few things to say.
Foremost, I’m very sorry for the trauma and physical pain this senior experienced. It’s a sad and unfortunate occurrence for all parties concerned. I’m writing to comment on the language used in the article.
Near the end of the article reads “district staff did not apply to have the dog destroyed.” The words we chose matter, and here, the word “destroyed” is inappropriate to the situation, sensationalizing, and insensitive.
The word is “euthanized.” Webster’s Dictionary defines “destroy’ as “to put out of existence: kill, ruin the structure of, neutralize, annihilate, vanquish.” Synonyms of destroy include shatter, decimate and devastate.
What we put out across social media channels can have a profound effect on public thinking and behaviour, and we have a responsibility to choose our words mindfully. This is especially true for professional reporters who speak as authorities and purveyors of truth.
I also take issue with the addressing of animals, domestic and wild, as “it.” In B.C., pets such as dogs are considered property. It is imperative that we address animals as s/he or they to acknowledge them as thinking, feeling beings.
“It” implies that they are inconsequential or inanimate. When putting communication forward, it is effective to ask ourselves three things: is it true, is it necessary, and is it kind?
Words can be toxic or inspiring, and representative of the speaker. The beauty is that we get to choose how we wish to represent ourselves. As a news platform, I would hope you would aim to be both impartial and considerate.
Anetta Segato
West Vancouver
Editor’s note: We appreciate the feedback on language choices and agree that words do matter. In regards to pronouns for animals, we follow the Canadian Press Stylebook which states that “Unless the sex has been established, refer to an animal as it.” As for "euthanize" vs. "destroy," there are no set guidlines in the Stylebook, but we will take this advice into consideration for future reference.
