General question to those actually in the zoo lifestyle

[Mosteel]

Lol, consider this a crossover from vegan stuff and the whole animal sentience and advanced rights argument, but i just go with companions, in lew of sounding crazy and just using straight people terms (If it wouldn't cause such stares, id call my current animal friends room mates!).
I try not to use the term pet. It seems so... devaluing.

I refer to my companions by their names outside of zoo circles. In zoo circles... id rather keep everyone around me anonymous.

 

[JazzyPaws]

I try not to use the term pet. It seems so... devaluing.

I hate it when people call my mates "Pets". I get it, to most others, thats what they are, but it sure doesn't stop my gut from turning.

 

[Chiara2003]

I would never refer to they as “pets”?‍…. Better jus call they “dogs”… or horses etc ?‍

 

[K_9River_rat]

In private, he's "lover"..

Public, "my boy"

EDIT: When we're having a moment, sometimes "baby"

And he answers to all of them

 

[jessvetmed]

For us in private it's, "my love" "babe" "baby" "lover" "handsome" etc.

 

[DogSong]

I have tended to use "My Girl" or "Partner" depending on the conversation and context. I find that the first never poses a problem (though sometimes I had to clarify I wasn't referring to a human), while the second is usually understood as whimsical (since I didn't do a job with her). Interestingly, I've had other people refer to her as my "girlfriend"- without a whiff of suspicion for them.

It's funny how the terms we use can change meaning depending on who the audience is...

 

[dane-dad-neb]

He is My lover to make me happy.

Rosa, you are perfect !

 

[LouLou78]

I selected other as I refer to my dog as my boyfrend

 

[Sumpup]

Drool face
Mut face
Silly boy or sb

 

[NL Bull]

Depends on the person, I would say companion/lover to fellow zoos but pet for anyone outside the community.

 

[sopnilitod]

Honey

 

[24/7gaypup]

For me- kennel mate. They would be my handlers dogs who he allows to mount me

 

[ILoveFemaleGSD's]

Partner. Don't have her yet but that's how I see her already and that's how I want it to be. Partner is the word I prefer. It describes what kind of relationship I want too, a partnership. A two way relationship, where neither of us is in control of the other (though she will have her way with me 90% of the time).

 

[oranges6585]

mate

 

[MypupandI69]

They are either my companion if we aren't sexualy involved or my mate if we are.

 

[wolf_wonders]

I just call him my dog or my boy, I've never really been into the whole equating my animals to a spouse thing.

I just call him by his name. Which is a human name and it confuses people at first. Kinda funny to be honest.

 

[LoverOfHorses]

To me my horsies are genuine lovers

 

[Two Dogs Deep]

There should be a lover and pet option because they're both.

 

[ferritlove]

Depends quite a bit... but I've some regular mates, one I call my Marefriend and another is my Sowfriend. Sort of a play on girlfriend.

 

[TheEquineMystique]

My animal companion is my wife. Complete with a ring for me and a "ring' (necklace she wears when I ride her) for her.

 

[pompomcu]

"my lovers" "my sons"

 

[PattyDoggy]

My dog is my lover and husband, and it would be nice to know that he sees me as his lover and wife.

 

[gingerbreard626]

companion pet feels too demeaning

 

[Canilaris]

I don't care that much how outsiders refer to. I'd stay with companion, since that sounds least strange and does not give others things to think about.
Internally, its my mate/partner. When you are with people who know, its different. Then you get things like "hey, would you plaese stop your wife trying to eat the curtain?"