Is the term Gotcha Day offensive?
Gotcha Day is often associated with annual rituals or celebrations, much like a birthday. The tradition, and especially the word gotcha, is considered offensive by some adoptees.
However, the term gotcha hurts many adoptive parents and children, especially because it doesn't acknowledge the loss involved in many adoptions. They choose to use alternative expressions like Homecoming Day or Adoption Day or don't celebrate Gotcha Day at all.
Many people in the adoption community consider the term “gotcha day” to be offensive. Many adoptive families choose not to recognize the day at all. What is this? Adoption comes from a place of loss and brokenness.
The term “Gotcha Day” has been used for many years by adoptive parents to celebrate the day their adopted child became part of their family. We recognize that not everyone appreciates this term. Some people instead call this special day “Family Day,” “Adoption Day,” or something similar.
exclamation. slang. /ˈɡɒtʃ.ə/ us. /ˈɡɑːtʃ.ə/ said to mean "I have got you" in order to surprise or frighten someone you have caught, or to show that you have an advantage over them.
In 2005, Schwartz helped establish an international “Gotcha Day,” on Sept. 15 to promote adoption awareness. For the Cunningham family of Shawnee, Kan., there are two “Gotcha Days” to celebrate each year, for their adopted son Reed and adopted daughter Cate, both from China.
- Don't react. ...
- Call them out, or put it back on them. ...
- Validate their viewpoint.
Ways of saying that you know, understand or agree. of course. OK. all right. cool.
A “Gotcha Day” is the anniversary of your pet's adoption day. So whether you're celebrating one week, one month, or annually, your pet's “Gotcha Day” is a great opportunity to acknowledge and thank our pets for the love and joy they bring into our lives every day.
According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) the use of the word "pet" is patronizing to animals, and may lead to animal abuse. They are telling us that this offensive word should be struck from our language and replaced with the term "companion animal."
What do dogs find offensive?
Citrus scents top the list of smells your dog probably hates. The scent of lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits is strong and unpleasant for your dog. For this reason, you can use citrus scents as a dog repellant in off-limits parts of the house. Their noses are irritated by the strength of citrus.
Avoid Command Words
You will also want to avoid any names that sound similar or rhyme with the most common dog commands. Names that sound like “sit,” “stay,” “heel,” “no,” and “come” could be easily confused by your pup.

The reasons for its use: In most cultures, the adoption of a child does not change the identities of its mother and father: they continue to be referred to as such. Those who adopted a child were thereafter termed its "guardians", "foster", or "adoptive" parents.
Most adoption professionals refer to biological parents as “birth parents,” but not everyone agrees that it's the best term to use. The term “birth mother” comes from the Positive Adoption Language (PAL) framework developed in 1979.
Adoptee / Adopted Child
Put simply, the child placed for adoption. The term “adoptee” can refer to two different things: 1) an individual who joins a family by adoption or 2) an adult adopted as a child.
It can be used as a rude way to speak to someone, “you got it?” is a blunt way of saying “do you understand me?”. There are different situations where it may not be rude because much is connected with your tone of voice, or the emotion behind your words. For example,”got it” can be used in yet another way.
idiom. US, informal. : skill at playing a particular game or sport, such as basketball. In playing against her older brother, she showed that she's got game.
More formal ways to say “I got it”:
That makes sense. It makes sense now. It's clear now.
In many ways, adoption is bittersweet, and you should take time on this special day to remember your child's birth family or birth culture and reflect on their life pre-adoption. Always be respectful of your child's feelings and their wishes as you decide whether and how you would like to celebrate.
The acknowledgement that adoption is also about loss is missing from Gotcha Day. While adoptive parents may be celebrating a child finally entering their lives, that child in their arms has gone through a lot. The child has experienced abandonment or has been given up for adoption for reasons they may never understand.
How do you celebrate Gotcha Day?
Gotcha Day is a commemoration of the day on which a child was adopted. It's commonly celebrated with presents, cake, an age-appropriate party, or a family trip to a zoo or museum, much as a birthday or anniversary would be celebrated.
- “Just the usual. You?”
- “Same old, same old.”
- “Hey! What's up with you?”
- “All good here! What about you?”
- “I'm doing well. Thanks for asking!”
Just say "Fine" and that is great!
said to mean "I have got you" in order to surprise or frighten someone you have caught, or to show that you have an advantage over them.
- Yeah, sure. Here you go.
- No problem! I'm always happy to help.
- Yep! I will be right there. (Yep is another informal way to say yes like yeah.)
- Yeah, I'd be happy to!
- Cool. (Yes, cool can really be used to say yes or to show agreement.)
- You got it.
- Okay.
- awesome.
- delicious.
- first-rate.
- great.
- marvelous.
- sensational.
- superb.
- unreal.
- hey.
- ha.
- yahoo.
- gee.
- hah.
- zowie.
- ooh.
- yippee.
Whether you rescue an older dog or a puppy, a lot of dogs tend to follow the 3-3-3 rule when getting acclimated: 3 days of feeling overwhelmed and nervous. 3 weeks of settling in. 3 months of building trust and bonding with you.
U.S. While pets bring unconditional love and joy to our lives, not having opposable thumbs can present some limitations. On March 3, National If Pets Had Thumbs Day, we are given the opportunity to imagine what life would be like if our fuzzy little friends had that extra digit.
If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed, it may get a stay of execution, though not for long.
Can pets be LGBT?
While there's been much speculation, there's no scientific evidence of various animals, especially house pets, being gay or not.
- cherished.
- darling.
- dear.
- dearest.
- endearing.
- favored.
- loved.
- preferred.
To refer to someone as a teacher's pet is not a compliment, in fact it is an insult.
At the top of the list? Citrus. Most dogs can't stand the taste and smell of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Here's why — plus, how to use their dislike of citrus to your advantage.
Much like thunderstorms, fireworks are one of the most common phobias in dogs. In fact, a 2013 study by the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences found them to be the number one trigger for fearful behavior. Not only are fireworks extremely loud, they also cause frightening odors and visual effects.
Cynophobia has extreme symptoms such as a rapid increase in heart rate, trouble breathing, anxiety, tightness in the chest and a feeling of terror, like your life could just end the very minute when you come in close proximity to a dog.
Most Unusual Dog Names | Most Unusual Cat Names |
---|---|
1. Peanut Wigglebutt | 1. Snuggles Butt Le Lee |
2. Sir Hog Knucklehead | 2. Count Flufferton |
3. Sasha Biggiepotamus Fierce | 3. Katy Purry |
4. Otto Von Longdog | 4. Walter Croncat |
Dog names ending in "y" can be very versatile. They can fit any breed, personality, and appearance. Many people select a name for their pup ending in "y" because there are a lot to choose from and they like the ending sound of the last syllable.
It is the opinion of many that “gotcha” is commodifying language. It takes personal autonomy away from the child, representing them as a good that was acquired. People who take this position, generally, have no qualms with celebrating the day of adoption.
In place of that, many pet owners celebrate a Gotcha Day–the day they brought their pet home from the shelter! It's a fun and unique way to celebrate your pet. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to get another fun personalized pet gift or two for your favorite furry friend! Humans have their own Gotcha Day, too!
What is the main idea of Gotcha Day?
Gotcha Day, also known as Homecoming Day, Family Day, or Adoption Day, is a commemoration of the day on which your child was adopted. It's a celebratory day set aside each year to remind your child of how he or she was brought into you and your family member's lives.
Dogs, though, do not have an episodic memory. They have something called an associative memory, which means they remember events based on associations, and not actual memories.
According to a survey conducted by Kelton Research last year, 54 percent of those with dogs in the family opt for “pet parent” over “pet owner,” and that “58 percent of American dog owners are comfortable calling themselves nicknames such as 'Mommy' or 'Daddy' when referencing their dogs.”
In most cases, there is a “honey moon phase” with a new dog in your home. While it isn't a certainty, it is fairly common that dogs take 2-4 weeks to show you their full personality and behavioral range. Many clients, who experience this shift in their new dog's behavior, are really perplexed by the phenomenon.
Studies show that children who are adopted grow up to be as happy and healthy as their peers. In some instances, they even seem to have more advantages and opportunities than children in the general population.
77.7% of families stated that their lives have been happier as a result of the adoption and 91.9% consider its repercussions to be positive. However, 37% consider family life to be more complicated in their situation. The children's opinion of their lives is also linked with that of their parents.
It makes the choice of adoption seem easy and almost flippant, and it creates a negative connotation for the women who have chosen this path. To “give up” implies that an expectant mother made the wrong choice in choosing adoption, although this is very often the best choice for a woman's particular situation.