Help my friends settle this dispute before they end their friendship

[ESLTrainer]

Hello to all. Please help my two colleagues settle a running argument about the use of it. One colleague told her students it becomes she as seen in the following example: My dog Cindy loves boxes. She loves them. Our group has told her my dog Cindy becomes it, but she doesn't accept that answer. Help two friends settle this dispute before they end their friendship.

Thanks!

[Yankee]

Hi ESLTrainer, and welcome to the site.

I agree whole-heartedly with your colleague. My cat's name is Calamity Jane, and she is 15 years old.

It is quite typical for pet owners to refer to their pets as 'he' or 'she'. Pet owners generally know the gender of their own pet or pets, and especially with cats and dogs, they use 'he' or 'she' accordingly. Personally, I would find it odd if someone referred to their own family dog or cat as 'it'.

Basically, if there is some kind of very close connection/relationship between an animal and a person, it is quite normal to use 'he' or 'she' rather than 'it' when referring to the animal.

On the other hand, if I saw a stray dog running down the street, for example, I would probably refer to that dog as 'it'.
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