Is the tragic fate of Geronimo the Alpaca going to turn into the Little Brown Dog Affair of the 21st Century? On Wednesday 8th September, I attended a lively, noisy, but peaceful, protest in front of the Defra building in Smith Square, London. The protest was both decrying the brutal handling, stressful removal, and subsequent …
Author archives: Paula Owen
Why I believe we must wean ourselves off using the term ‘pet’ For many years, the use of the word pet has troubled me. I know, I know, the alternative ‘animal companion’ is clunky, and ‘fur baby’ makes me feel a little cringey, but there must be a better term we can use for the …
The Extraordinary Power of Statues Have recent news stories given you cause to contemplate the improbable power of statues to incite violence? To ponder how previously unnoticed, ignored even, blocks of metal and stone suddenly become so visible, so divisive? How long-forgotten memorials to long-dead (typically) men can suddenly evoke extreme emotions, rouse such violence, …