How often have you heard the complaint that people dealing with this or that institution were “treated like dogs”? It always means that they were badly treated. Somehow, it also conveys the idea that dogs do not deserve to be treated well; that it is perfectly acceptable to ill treat any passing pothound. IT IS NOT.

What about the expression “kill two birds with one stone”. It suggests accomplishing two results with one set of actions. Yet, it conjours up an unpleasant image of casual cruelty.

Another popular phrase is, “They behaved like animals”. Very often the behaviour it is used to describe is pointless savagery that animals would rarely indulge in. Remember, when animals behave violently it is usually in defence of their territory, their young or their food. Unlike humans, they are not often violent just for “fun”.

When you hear someone say, “He (or she) is a real dog”, you know it is not meant as a compliment. The speaker is not referring to those well-known qualities of the dog: loyalty and affection.

It is time to stop using all these negative expressions about animals to describe attributes that are mostly those of humans.

Instead of saying “they behaved like animals”, say’ they behaved like savages”.

Animals can have a positive effect on our lives. They deserve better than these negative similes and metaphors.