"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ― Mahatma Gandhi

The Horrors & Absurdities of Religion

Animal cruelty is real and pervasive. It happens to all different types of animals and in every corner of the world. It’s also preven. 

Every 60 seconds, an animal gets abused. That’s unconscionable, especially in our advanced culture, but animal cruelty continues to occur all over the world. Animal cruelty can take many different forms, but the impact is always the same. A sentient animal capable of love and creating social relationships experience pain, fear, and desperation. And it needs to stop.

We live in a world that not only turns a blind eye to animal cruelty but condones it — whether through indifference or legislation. It’s legal to raise chickens in deplorable conditions for the sole purpose of slaughtering them later. If that isn’t animal cruelty, then what is?

The problem is that there aren’t enough people fighting for animal rights. If everyone started to look at animals — and not just dogs and cats — as fellow animals who share our planet, we would see far fewer cases of cruelty toward animals.

First, though, we have to spread awareness. What is animal cruelty? What does it look like? And how can we stop contributing to it?

   What is ANIMAL CRUELTY?

Animal cruelty is the abuse toward or neglect of an animal. It’s that simple. Some aspects of animal cruelty involve purposefully putting animals in situations that harm, scare, and terrorize them, while others simply result from people looking the other way.

Most animal cruelty investigations involve large-scale operations that victimize hundreds or thousands of animals at a time. 

However, animal cruelty takes place every day in all places, not just in the world of industrial animal agriculture. It might be happening inside our neighbour’s house, at an entertainment venue in our city, or at a lab near where we work. We have likely encountered stray animals throughout our life — companion animals who have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves.

    CASE OF ANIMAL ABUSE :

Most cases of animal abuse involve the willful harming of a nonhuman animal. When a man kicks a dog for having an accident in the house or when a woman whips her horse for failing to respond to a command, those are instances of animal abuse.

One of the problems facing animal rights activists is that animal abuse rarely occurs in plain view. It happens behind closed doors and in factory farms that aren’t open to the public. When we don’t see it occur, we can pretend it doesn’t exist.

Unfortunately for the affected animals, it does exist. Animal cruelty and abuse is a systemic problem that often gets handed down from parent to child, boss to worker, and culture to culture.There’s a reason most jurisdictions have animal control officers. These members of law enforcement bravely investigate cases of animal abuse, prosecute the offenders, and rescue the animals. However, they’re only effective when someone reports the abuse.

           ANIMAL NEGLECT

In some cases, animal neglect stems from ignorance. A person keeps an animal on his or her property and doesn’t know how to properly care for that animal. This isn’t a justification for the neglect, but a recognition that we need to educate people about the animals in their care.Neglect can also stem from disinterest. If a dog owner notices that the animal has sustained an injury, he or she is morally and legally obligated to obtain veterinary care. Unfortunately, some people are unwilling to spend the time and money necessary to heal their sick or injured pets.

Similarly, a companion animal might go days or weeks without food because the owner “just forgets.” That’s not an excuse. Every day, emaciated, diseased, flea-ridden animals enter shelters. Some get adopted by loving families. Others aren’t so lucky.Worse, some animals spend their entire lives in neglectful circumstances. They eventually die of dehydration, malnutrition, untreated diseases, or other conditions.

      ANIMAL EXPLOITATION

For some people, there’s a sense of entitlement toward animals. These people believe that we have the right to use animals in any way we wish, usually for monetary gain. Exploiting animals is a form of animal cruelty, however, especially when the exploitation goes against the animal’s instincts or forces the animal into scary or unsafe situations.

Circuses, zoos, aquatic theme parks, and other venues often exploit animals in the name of entertainment. The crowds don’t see how the animals are forced into submission, kept in tiny cages, and denied socialization with others of their own species.

Did you know that 96 percent of a circus animal’s life is spent in a cage? They’re transported from city to city in trailers that lack climate control, and they often use barbaric devices to force performances, from bullwhips and chains to cattle prods.

Even zoos, which are often viewed as positive contributions to a community, have been rife with animal cruelty. Zoo animal abuse can take many forms, from starving animals to sending them to livestock options. This doesn’t even take into account the many accidents that have occurred due to poorly constructed exhibits.

         ANIMAL HOARDING

Some forms of animal cruelty come from a place of kindness. People who hoard animals believe in their hearts that they’re saving these animals and treating them kindly. Their mental illnesses prevent them from seeing the acts of cruelty they inflict on the animals.Many cases of animal hoarding involve homes so crammed with animals that the owner doesn’t even realize when one of them has died. The odors of feces and urine cover up the smell of decomposition, leading to horrific circumstances for both the human and the nonhuman animals.

Worse, animal hoarders often take in animals that have not been spayed or neutered. Consequently, new litters of animals are born in the home, sometimes without any veterinary oversight or subsequent care. If the animals are later removed from the home, even more companion pets get placed in shelters.Animal hoarding is highly preventable. In family members, friends, and neighbors report these instances, law enforcement can intervene and the humans can receive care for their mental illnesses.

         HUMAN PREDATION

Human beings are often called “apex predators.” Because of our unique skill set, we can dominate animals easily. The question is whether we should — and the answer is no.

When humans prey on animals, we take away their agency and reduce them to nothing but food on a plate. Sometimes, we even prey on animals without the desire to eat them. The fur farming industry is one solid example.There’s no reason for humans to prey on animals. Endless cases of animal cruelty come from factory farming, hunting, and fishing.Consider, for instance, that anyone can get a hunting license. There’s no test to find out of they can shoot straight. Every year, hunters maim animals with non-lethal shots, which means those animals die slow, excruciating deaths.

           ANIMAL TESTING

 We’ve been testing products on animals for many decades, and even though our scientific developments have rendered animal testing unnecessary — and even less effective than other testing methods — it still occurs all around the world.

Animals in testing facilities are exposed to all manner of chemicals and substances, many of which cause itching, burning, chronic pain, lost body parts, and other terrible consequences. The animal cruelty that pervades laboratories doesn’t need to continue.

Imagine spending our entire life confined to a hospital bed — one that has no mattress or blankets. We are constantly receiving “treatments” that cause discomfort, and we can’t have any visitors.That’s a close analogy to the animal cruelty involved in laboratory testing.

15 ANIMAL RIGHTS IN INDIA FOR ANIMALS :

1. It is the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to have compassion for all living creatures. Article 51A(g)

2. To kill or maim any animal, including stray animals, is a punishable offence. IPC Sections 428 and 429.

3. Abandoning any animal for any reason can land you in prison for up to three months. Section 11(1)(i) and Section 11(1)(j), PCA Act, 1960.

4. No animal (including chickens) can be slaughtered in any place other than a slaughterhouse. Sick or pregnant animals shall not be slaughtered. Rule 3, of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (Slaughterhouse) Rules, 2001 and Chapter 4, Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011.

5. Stray dogs that have been operated for birth control cannot be captured or relocated by anybody i8ncluding any authority. ABC Rules, 2001.

6. Neglecting an animal by denying her sufficient food, water, shelter and exercise or by keeping him chained/confined for long hours is punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to 3 months or both. Section 11(1)(h), PCA Act, 1960.

7. Monkeys are protected under the Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972 and cannot be displayed or owned.

 8. Bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, lions and bulls are prohibited from being trained and used for entertainment purposes, either in circuses or streets. Section 22(ii), PCA Act, 1960.

 9. Animal sacrifice is illegal in every part of the country. Rule 3, Slaughterhouse Rules, 2001.

10. Organizing of or participating in or inciting any animal fight is a cognizable offence. Section 11(1)(m)(ii) and Section 11(1)(n), PCA Act, 1960.

11. Cosmetics tested on animals and the import of cosmetics tested on animals is banned. Rules 148-C and 135-B of Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

12. Teasing, feeding or disturbing the animals in a zoo and littering the zoo premises is an offence punishable by a fine of Rs. 25000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both. Section 38J, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

13. Capturing, trapping, poisoning or baiting of any wild animal or even attempting to do so is punishable by law, with a fine of up to Rs. 25000 or imprisonment of up to seven years or both. Section 9, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

14. Disturbing or destroying eggs or nests of birds and reptiles or chopping a tree having nests of such birds and reptiles or even attempting to do so constitutes to hunting and attracts a punishment of a fine of up to Rs. 25000, or imprisonment of up to seven years or both. Section 9, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

15. Conveying or carrying animals whether in or upon any vehicle, in any manner or position which causes discomfort, pain or suffering is a punishable offence under two Central Acts. Section 11(1)(d) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (Transport of Animal) Rules, 2001 and Motor Vehicles Act 1978.

In the end I would like to conclude my topic with this picture:

    BY - YASHIKA AGARWAL