Diversity of designations in the human-animal bond in Brazil: a social and political debate

Abstract

In Brazil, the designation of the human-animal bond carries significant meanings and implications depending on its application. This topic deserves attention for the better construction of public policies that encompass rights and duties in this relationship and for its cohesive use in technical activities. Objective: To investigate and discuss, in an interdisciplinary manner, the concepts of the designations of people who raise animals, as applied in everyday social communications and official Brazilian technical documents. Method: To understand the conceptual designations of the human-animal bond, a survey of 480 journalistic articles, 697 legislative proposals, including a draft reform of the Civil Code and thirteen technical laws in veterinary medicine at the federal level was conducted between 2010 and 2025. To discuss the content, a theoretical framework from the areas of Philosophy, Law, and Veterinary Medicine was delimited, with the justification of contributing to a better social understanding and cohesive application of the concepts at the technical, legislative, and social levels. The results reveal that in Brazil, there is conceptual diversity in the designation of the human-animal bond, such as "owner," "proprietor," "guardian," "responsible party," "guardian," "pet parent," and "pet mother," used in isolation or in combination. Conclusion: It is understood, in light of the discussion between Philosophy, Law, and Veterinary Medicine, that the designation of "responsible party" best contributes to a cohesive application in the legal, technical, and social context when referring to the person in relation to their animal, and in the political context, to the policy of responsible pet ownership.