Is there a particular term or a set of words used to describe someone who loves animals but is against humans owning them as pets? I am looking for a neutral or positive term.
I was having serious dilemma about whether I should post this in the Pets sub-forum, but since the answer is an English term I chose to ask here.
Best Answer
animal protectionists
Animal protectionists will give homes to animals, but not regard them as pets. For example, I have had cats for nearly 30 years, and support several organizations that find homes for homeless animals. I am not the owner of my cats, but the guardian of my cats. (Sometimes I think of myself as the unpaid employee of my cats.)
I found this term by starting with the suggestion of @Dan Bron: animal rights advocate. From Wikipedia.
Within this group, there is a spectrum ranging from those who avoid being the cause of death of any living thing (vegans aren't even at the extreme end) to those who are what the Wikipedia article calls animal protectionists:
In summary, I doubt that you will find a single word, or even a simpler phrase than the one I have suggested.
This is not the place to define the spectrum of animal rights advocates further, although PETA and ALF must be mentioned. I suggest you formulate a question that would be on topic on the Philosophy site https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/ or the Pet site.