Animal names can be considered proper nouns when they refer to a specific individual or a unique species. For example, the name ‘Lassie’ is a proper noun because it refers to a specific fictional dog, while ‘dog’ in general is not a proper noun.
Proper nouns are always capitalized and signify unique identifiers. When we talk about a particular animal by name, such as ‘Milo the Cat’ or ‘Bucephalus the Horse’, these names are proper nouns. However, when we use common names to refer to animals collectively, like ‘cats’ or ‘dogs’, those are not proper nouns but rather common nouns.
In summary, animal names are proper nouns when they denote specific individuals or distinct entities, but common terms for groups or species are not. Understanding the distinction helps in proper writing and grammar usage.