A Dog's Best Friend
Law professor Diane Sullivan makes her arguments on Michael Vick, pets as property, and more animal rights.
In what way are you an advocate for animal rights?
Most of my advocacy is in the form of the pen and teaching animal rights at the Massachusetts School of Law, where I've been a professor for 17 years.
What made you decide to teach it?
Animal cruelty is statutory; each state has its own laws. In 48 states, dogfighting is a felony. In two, it's not: Wyoming and Idaho. In Massachusetts, we have the fourth-worst laws for spectators of dogfighting. It's only a misdemeanor or $250 fine.
Are there other ways the Commonwealth is behind the times?
Massachusetts doesn't allow you to provide for pets in your will.
Does that mean in other states you can leave your house to a pet?
Usually you can provide funds for its life, especially if you're the last person in your family. It's not like the pet would be inheriting the house, although that could be an extreme example.
What's the deeper issue behind animal rights?
Animals are considered property, worth nothing more than your desk or iPod. Sometimes less. Because of that, they're valued as property with a market value. A mutt, then - which is what one of my dogs is - is worthless.
Does any state consider pets to be family members rather than property?
Tennessee was the first state to provide a statute that if a dog is killed, the owners can recover $4,000. I think that's now up to $5,000.
Do you see us moving in this direction in Massachusetts?
I thought it would happen last year when dogs were getting electrocuted, but it didn't. They should be valued as members of the family and provided for like dependent family members.
To the point they are considered dependents?
Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say they should become household dependents and people can get tax breaks.
Do you feel strongly about all animals having rights, or just pets?
I've been a vegetarian for 45 years. I'm 52. I care about all animals, but especially about their treatment. I'd like to see animal cruelty cases prosecuted. Very few ever are in Massachusetts.
What are your thoughts about the Michael Vick case?
Most of them you couldn't publish. It's deplorable.
Why are you interested in the subject of animals as property now?
There's a movement in this country - in Rhode Island, Hollywood, and Boulder [Colorado], they've changed the classification so that owners are no longer owners, they're guardians. Change the language and change the idea.
Do you refer to yourself as your pets' owner?
I do call myself my dogs' owner.
Do you dress up your dogs?
No. But sometimes I feel like their chauffeur when we go for a drive with both of them in the back seat.
– Janice O'Leary 