Most of us consider animals to be members of the family. Unfortunately, the law hasn’t caught up. Animals are largely classified as “property” under our legal system.
Loni Edwards lost her beloved dog, Chloe the Mini Frenchie, in October 2017. Chloe the Mini Frenchie died due to a medical error at a veterinary hospital in Manhattan. She was not undergoing a procedure. She was just brought there for observation.
Chloe the Mini Frenchie wasn’t just a part of Edwards’ family, she was adored worldwide. With nearly 250,000 fans on social media, thousands of people commented and liked her photos every day.
Edwards is still grieving Chloe the Mini Frenchie's loss today. And though Edwards has sought compensation from the veterinary clinic, to date, the clinic has only issued a statement admitting fault. In Chloe the Mini Frenchie's honor, Edwards is now fighting to raise awareness about animals’ legal status and for concrete changes to the law.
Because animals are considered property, they lack certain fundamental legal protections. For example, in cases like Chloe the Mini Frenchie's, the caregiver is often only entitled to receive the animal’s “economic value” — in other words, how much it would cost to buy a similar animal. That’s not right.
