Animal abuse

Animal abuse, using an animal for testing, and animal cruelty have been a topic of heated debate for decades. Animal cruelty is the intended violence and miserliness towards animals. Animals being treated poorly with nonchalant nature is illegal in many countries and highly inhuman. Animal cruelty is carried out in many countries and organizations under the veil of experimental studies and research. It is also found that animals kept in sanctuaries and zoos are not being taken care of properly. These are certain ways in which animals are subjected to cruelty.

How would you feel if somebody tortured you? 

It is the same feeling for animals who are as much a part of this planet as we are. But here are some cases where people didn't even consider them to be living beings.

1. A pregnant goat was gang-raped by 8 men in Haryana.

2. A female street dog was raped by a man inside his home in Kolkata.

3. 100 stray dogs were culled and dumped in a forest area in Hyderabad.

4. A man had unnatural sex with three cows in Vadodara.

5. Eleven langurs were brutally killed and dumped near a highway in Rajasthan.

6. Several stray dogs were poisoned to death in Nagpur.

All these are real cases, just six out of an approximate 2,400 recorded cases of crimes against animals compiled by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations and All Creatures Great and Small in a report titled In Their Own Right: Calling for Parity in Law for Animal Victims of Crimes.

What are the laws? 

The Indian Constitution guarantees several laws for the protection of the four-legged voiceless creatures. Indian Penal Code (IPC), Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughterhouse) Rules 2001, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act are to name a few.  On March 25, 2021, The Indian Express reported that the Union Government had 'proposed' an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 to raise the penalties of animal cruelty from a mere Rs 50 to Rs 75000, or "three times the cost of the animal" beside 5-year imprisonment. The National Crime Record Bureau prepares an annual report on the number of crimes in the country. Unfortunately, the Bureau is not responsible for maintaining a database on the crimes inflicted on animals.

Witnessing cruelty to animals is an upsetting experience, but knowing how to handle the situation properly can save a life and prevent the abuser from harming other victims. Here are nine things to do if you see someone abuse an animal:

1. Remain calm and get veterinary care. Please don’t assume that someone else will help. An abused animal may need immediate veterinary care, without which, he or she may suffer for a long time or die from his or her injuries. If you must leave the animal momentarily, ask someone you trust to stay with him or her while you’re gone and return as soon as possible with help.

2. Speak up, because if you don’t, who will? If you see a chained dog, befriend his or her guardians and help them make positive changes to care for their animal companion and to allow him or her to live indoors. If children are throwing stones at birds, don’t hesitate to tell them to stop and explain why it’s wrong to hurt animals.

3. Know the law. Familiarise yourself with animal-protection laws by visiting the websites of the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

4. Document the crime. The second you see that something is wrong, take a photo or video with your cell phone to document the details if you can, and be sure to capture important information such as license plate numbers and a visual of the abuser. Collect witnesses if you can, and get statements from experts, such as veterinarians, about the animal’s physical condition or cause of death.

5. File a first information report (FIR) with the police immediately. Report the crime to the police. An FIR sets the process of criminal justice into motion – police will investigate a case only after an FIR has been filed.

6. Notify the appropriate authorities groups or contact animal-protection groups.

India is a country famous for animal worship as a part of its culture. Animals like cows, tigers, lions, mice, and monkeys are believed to have a cultural connotation that combines various religions in India. Despite this, the number of cases of animal abuse and the severity of abuse have been on a higher graph. One of the Supreme Court rulings was that animal abuse caused by "legitimate" reasons is not cruelty.

The harsh reality

There are several Non-Profit Organizations that are registered for the welfare of animals across the country. However, they are not easily accessible. Roushni Nair, an active advocate for animal rights, said, "I have seen a street dog suffer in front of my eyes. I called up several organizations that treat animals for free, but none of them had a vehicle facility to come and pick the dog up. I asked auto wallas, rickshaw- pullers, cab drivers, and every one  I knew; nobody was ready to carry an infected dog in their vehicle due to hygiene issues. Two days later, the dog was no more."

Animal abuse occurs in all forms but should not happen at all. Animals have rights, and just because of their inability to stand up for themselves,  it is inhuman to deprive them of them. Unattended animal abuse cases can eventually lead to more brutal crimes in the future. As a part of humankind, humans must perform the deeds of humanity to prevail.  Animal is also living organisms who deserve good living standards and protection from cruelty. Animals must not be treated badly whether or not they are domestic or not.

Thank you

-Saniya Sharma