It’s probably nothing. But Santa Clara County in California recently voted to change all references to a pet owner in county documents to “pet owner/guardian.”

One county supervisor, Jim Beall, said that the county “wanted to send a message to people about how to care for animals.”

The issue here may sound like a matter of semantics and not something to get wound up about. But detractors are concerned that opening the door to pets being under guardianship means that pet owners would not have absolute authority over their animals. In other words, someone who didn’t like the way you cared for your pet could sue for guardianship and remove your pet from your care.

Changing the terminology is the first step toward changing the legal status of pets from being owned property like a car to being cared for like children and, therefore, being easier to remove if that care is not appropriate.

Since 1999, 15 local governments have adopted “guardian” language in their pet-related laws and statutes. According to the California-based group In Defense of Animals, one of the foremost groups regarding this issue, using the term “guardian” is a way to include those with pets who have adopted or rescued their animals.

“In current animal ordinances, people who have companion animals are referred to uniformly as ‘owners,’” the IDA Web site, www.ida.org, explains. “This term does not recognize people who have adopted or rescued an animal and who consider themselves the guardian of that animal. This classification is a way to recognize individuals who are proud to consider themselves as guardians and who do not see themselves as owners and their animals as mere property.”

The IDA hopes that using more caring and respectful language will lead to better behavior toward animals and other people.

For me, this makes sense. I buy into the goals that the organization has set forth: recognizing animals as individuals and not objects; changing public attitudes toward animals; reducing abuse and abandonment; reducing the number of animals bred in “puppy mills” or other unsavory conditions; and positively impacting our community.

The problem is, I’m not convinced that these guidelines are going to come about because of a word change.

Let’s say you are kicking your dog, and I refer to you as your dog’s guardian. How is that going to convince you to stop kicking the dog?

Now let’s say I call an animal control officer to come talk to you about how kicking your dog violates the law and how you can interact with your dog to have a better relationship. This officer will make plans to return as needed to help you work with your dog and to ensure the dog’s welfare, and, if all else fails, he or she will remove the dog and take appropriate legal steps.

Laws are not as tight as we might like them to be to reduce incidents of abuse and neglect, but the involvement of a trained animal control officer seems to have a stronger impact and a greater educational component than changing the language used to talk about a relationship with the dog. Let’s focus our energies on increasing funds for more animal control officers and improving existing animal laws instead of worrying about language.

I’m a writer — I know language carries weight. But in Santa Clara’s case, the vote to use the “pet owner/guardian” language resulted in a divided government and people on both sides of the issue upset about words instead of about actual animal welfare.

Whether you own your pet or guard it, I want to know you’re taking good care of it — and I want to work toward that goal with concrete steps like good education, more animal control resources and more attention for pet abusers, who often turn to humans after hurting animals.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Don’t miss Pet Day 2006, planned for May 6 at Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The day includes a 5K fun run for people and their dogs through the OSU campus, a cat photo contest, hospital tours, activities and demos, as well as plenty of vendor and food booths. Visit www.vet.oregonstate.edu for updates and times.

The next day, May 7, begins Be Kind to Animals Week, and marks Heartland Humane Society’s Adopt-a-Thon. Come to the shelter at 398 S.W. Twin Oaks Circle from noon to 5 p.m. Every animal in the shelter will have a special going-home treat or toy and discounted adoption price. Every animal, including dogs, will be altered and get a free microchip. Looking for a cat? How about two? Adopt one, get one free. Visit www.heartlandhumane.org or call 757-9000 for details.

Jennifer Gardner can be reached at jennifer@visualpeople.com.