Animal Writes

(Fox News) - PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) wants the Associated Press to change the way its journalists write about animals. PETA's communications director has written to the AP asking that its stylebook be updated to recommend animals be referred to as "he" or "she," instead of "it."

The letter refers to animals as "feeling, intelligent individuals — not objects." But an AP spokesman tells editorandpublisher.com that the stylebook already directs writers to use "he" and "she" for animals whose gender is known.

The stylebook reads: "Do not apply a personal pronoun to an animal unless its sex has been established or the animal has a name."