[Chefelf]

Brazilian seeks ban on human pet names
The Associated Press

Last Updated: October 28, 2004, 03:26:00 PM PDT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) - A Brazilian legislator wants to make it illegal to give pets names that are common among people. Federal congressman Reinaldo Santos e Silva proposed the law after psychologists suggested that some children may get depressed when they learn they share their first name with someone's pet, said Damarias Alves, a spokeswoman for Silva.

"Names have importance," said Alves. The congressman "wants to challenge people's assumptions that it's acceptable to give animals human names," she said.

If the law is passed, pet stores and veterinary clinics would be required to display a sign noting the prohibition of human first names for pets.

Brazilians who break the law would be subject to fines or community service.

Alves admitted the law's chances of passage were slim but said Silva hoped the bill would call attention to his other efforts to protect animals.

"He's proposed many laws to protect wildlife in Brazil, but this is the only one that has ever gotten any attention," Alves said.

http://www.modbee.co...p-9631680c.html

THANK YOU, Brazil! It's about time that some country decided to start making useful laws! This is what I've been talking about for years.

My cousin named her cat "Todd". Todd? A can is not named Todd! Mr. Whiskers... okay. Mittens... fine. Kevin? NOT OKAY!

The only thing human that should be allowed in pet names should be Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.

Mr. Prissy Boots, PhD is fine.

Thanks to Amber-Nicole for this one!

[Ninja Duck]

The bill doesn't mention people named after pets? How unfair.

[barend]

it is good.

[Yahtzee]

But surely pretty much anything can be a human name. What if Indiana Jones lived in Brazil? Would he have to change his name, or his dog?

And are Brazilians not allowed to call their dogs Prince anymore, 'cos there's a bloke called that?

[barend]

people are still aloud to have stupid names i think...

[Creaux]

hey, I'm Todd...*sniff*

[SimeSublime]

If we passed that law here, then my cat could no longer be called Boris, and I would be unable to laugh at that anymore. It would be sad.

[Amber-Nicole]

I have so many cats with human names. Sherlock, Milie, Julia, Sebastian, Misty, and several others. Not to mention the dogs with human names, Sadie, Paco, Luke, and Maggie. I think Paco counts, anyway.

[Chyld]

My cats called Amy, and as far as I can tell, it hasn't annoyed any of my Amy-friends...

[electricprune]

My cousin named one of her kitties Atari. I thought that was pretty rad. It's odd, I've met a couple of folks over the years who have had cats, dogs, and one time a horse, named Amber (my name).

Have you ever run into this, AN?

[Amber-Nicole]

Several of my friends have had cats named Amber. My grandma has a cute little brown tabby named Amber, in fact.

[SimeSublime]

Before coming here I had never heard Amber used as a name, except for for a horse. If I were to get another cat at some point, I woud name it Schrodinger.

[Chefelf]

hey, I'm Todd...*sniff*

Perfectly okay... unless you're a cat.

[Jordan]

I too hate human names on ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!

My video store allows dogs to come in with the customers. I usually ask what the pets name is, and most of the time there's a 50/50 chance that it will be either human/non-human.

A chinese girl came in with the worlds smallest, most pathetic, sickest, most pathetic, smallest, most sick Chiuawa (sp?) - you know those tiny rat dogs. Whatever, she named it Bob. BOB!

This post has been edited by Jordan: 03 November 2004 - 02:20 AM

[Chefelf]

That's weak. If you own one of those stupid chihuahuas you have the perfect opportunity to name it something awesome like Señor Zapatos. That may be the one advantage of having a dumb rat-dog like that.