Winter brings a certain magic—blankets of snow, cozy evenings by the fireplace and the joy of seasonal festivities. Although I love winter, my thoughts are filled with an ever-present worry over animals who have very little (if anything) to protect them from the bitter cold.

Using language that portrays animals as inanimate objects—such as referring to them as “it”—desensitizes the public and paves the way for the complacent acceptance of cruelty to animals. Respect matters!