In 2023, a courtroom in Brooklyn, New York quietly reflected a profound shift in how society now sees Dogs: Supreme Court Justice Aaron Maslow ruled that Dogs are legally considered “immediate family” rather than mere possessions.
FROM ROAD ACCIDENT TO RULING
The decision arose from a case filed by Trevor Deblase, whose Dachshund, Duke, was run over by a car. Beneath the legal language was something deeply human: The recognition that grief over a beloved Dog can feel no different from grief over family.
Increasingly, the law is beginning to acknowledge what many people have long felt in their hearts.
Journalist David Grimm, quoted by Treehugger, said, “The last couple of decades, there have been a lot of laws that target Cats and Dogs specifically and give them what a lot of lawyers would consider rights, whether it’s the right to be free of cruelty, the right to be rescued from a natural disaster, or the right to have their interests be considered in a courtroom.”
His observation reveals a changing moral landscape, one in which animals are no longer viewed simply as property, but as living beings capable of suffering, attachment, and emotional connection.
That shift in thinking did not begin in Brooklyn, nor has it remained confined there.
SHARED SENTIMENT
Long before the New York ruling, countries around the world had already begun redefining humanity’s legal relationship with animals.
In 2014, the French parliament reclassified animals as “living beings” rather than mere property. That same year, New Zealand passed the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, legally recognizing the sentience of animals, like humans. Quebec, Canada also passed legislation recognizing animal sentience and biological needs, granting them protections similar to those given to children under its laws.
Across nations and cultures, a powerful idea was taking root: Compassion toward animals is not sentimentality, but a reflection of civilization itself. And nowhere does that emotional reality become clearer than when loss enters the picture.
Compassion toward animals is not sentimentality, but a reflection of civilization itself.
VALUED AS FAMILY
The new law in Brooklyn, New York makes it more viable to sue someone who kills or injures someone’s Dog.
Under older laws, a Dog’s value was determined largely by purchase price and burial costs, amounting to roughly USD 2,000. If the Dog was a rescue, the assigned value could be even lower. But with this change in legal status, the loss of a Dog is increasingly being recognized as closer to the loss of a family member.
For many people, that legal recognition simply mirrors the emotional truth they already live with every day.
Considering Dogs as children isn’t unusual. A couple I knew treated their Pekingese, Bootsie, like a child, surrounding him with clothes, affection, and constant attention. But Bootsie was more than pampered; he became a source of comfort and emotional healing as his humans navigated infertility.
In homes like Bootsie’s, Dogs often become woven into the emotional fabric of daily life, quietly filling spaces of loneliness, grief, or longing with companionship and unconditional devotion. Despite how common these bonds are, not everyone understands them in the same way.
REAL FAMILY, REAL FEELINGS
The first time I realized not all people treated their Dogs as children was while I was sitting in a restaurant, speaking to my Dog in a soft, caressing voice and calling her “baby.” A woman at the next table smiled and said, “I have no judgment.” She meant it kindly, but her remark hinted at something else, that others might not be as tolerant.
In that brief moment, I became aware of how differently people interpret affection toward animals. Some see tenderness. Others see excess.
Yet perhaps the deeper question is not whether we love Dogs too much, but whether we fully understand the nature of that love.
Loving your Dog as family may blur the lines between a Dog and a human child. Dogs have different needs and expectations, and while a child will eventually grow into an independent adult, canine companions will always remain dependent on their humans. Yet their affection is real, their emotions are real, and even their barks carry different meanings.
To truly love a Dog is not to pretend they are human, but to recognize and respect who they uniquely are.
THE UNIQUE PERSONHOOD OF ANIMALS
Dogs differ not only by breed, but also by personality and individuality. To truly love a Dog is not to pretend they are human, but to recognize and respect who they uniquely are. And no two Dogs express that uniqueness in exactly the same way. No Dog from my past compared to Mocha Barney. She would navigate every obstacle just to sleep in my arms at night.
Dogs express love differently.
From experience I’ve learned that Corgis are not naturally affectionate and often feel smothered by hugs; when they rest their heads on your knee, that is already their version of a full embrace.
West Highland Terriers enjoy being petted all over their bodies and will gladly share your bed, though they may not sleep in your arms. A Poodle may crawl into your bed but settle quietly at your feet beneath the bedsheets.
Each Dog carries their own language of affection, their own temperament, and their own way of bonding. And perhaps that individuality is part of what makes loving them so meaningful.
I favor animal rights and laws that grant animals protection and status. After all, some Dogs become service Dogs. Others help children cope with mental stress. Still others become loyal home companions whose quiet presence enriches everyday life. Even wild animals deserve protection because they contribute to the environmental balance that sustains humanity itself.
All animals deserve respect, whether or not they play a role in benefiting humanity. If it takes laws to make us realize that, then perhaps those laws are doing more than protecting animals; they are reminding us of our own capacity for empathy, stewardship, and grace.
In learning to value the lives entrusted to our care, we may also rediscover what it truly means to be humane.
WHY ARE SOME OFFENDED BY THOSE WHO TREAT DOGS AS THEIR CHILDREN?
A survey by Animal Medicines Australia found that the number of people who viewed Dogs as family rose to 64 percent, up from 59 percent in 2013.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, many households no longer see Dogs merely as companions. Despite this growing affection, some people still cringe at the idea of treating Dogs like children. Why?
According to PureWow, Dogs benefit from being included in family life, but critics argue that this should not be an excuse to treat them as substitute children. Dogs, they say, should not be treated as though they were human toddlers, fed in a high chair or expected to behave like humans.
Some animal behavior experts also warn that excessive “humanizing” can overlook a Dog’s natural instincts and lead to frustration or anxiety. Dogs still need to sniff, run, explore, and behave like Dogs.
Others object for more personal reasons. Parents, according to Dog Matters, sometimes feel that equating Dogs with children diminishes the profound and demanding experience of raising a human being. Caring for children involves responsibilities, sacrifices, and emotional complexities that many believe are unique to parenthood.
Dog Matters also points out that overhumanizing Dogs can unintentionally neglect their actual needs. Treating Dogs like children may lead owners to rely too heavily on toys or indoor pampering while overlooking essentials such as exercise, outdoor play, swimming, walking, and social interaction.
Dogs need fresh air, movement, stimulation, and structure to thrive. I have friends who become annoyed or defensive when they see me treating my Dogs like children or grandchildren. They insist that Dogs are “just animals” and fundamentally different from children. In one sense, I agree. Dogs and children are indeed different. But what bothers me is the dismissive or superior tone that sometimes accompanies that opinion.
For me, there is nothing wrong with considering Dogs part of the family. The important thing is to remain realistic: Dogs are Dogs, and children are children. Both deserve love, care, and understanding suited to their nature. In either case, responsible love means learning how to care for them properly, not simply projecting our emotions onto them.
Knowing that, I will continue calling the two Dogs in our home my grandchildren, regardless of what others may think.
