“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the
way its animal is treated”. Animals should not require our permission to
live on earth. Animals were given the right to be here long before we
arrived. Animal cruelty is one of the most unfortunate and barbaric
demonstrations of human beings manipulating ill-conceived notions of
“power” over other species.
Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse or animal neglect, is the
intentional infliction by humans of suffering or harm upon any non-
human animal, regardless of whether the act is against the law. More
narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suffering for specific gain,
such as killing animals for food or for their fur; opinions differ about the
extent of cruelty associated with a given methods of slaughter. Cruelty
to animals sometimes encompasses inflicting harm or suffering for
personal amusement, as in zoosadism. (zoosadism is pleasure derived
from cruelty to animals, the term was coined by ernest borneman).
When god created this planet he had a specific purpose for all living
things and he did so to strike a balance in his creation. He wanted a
world where harmony and peace prevailed and so he made the ‘food
chain’ to maintain the ecological balance in nature but man in his greed
had recklessly been plundering the natural abode of animals, killing the
indiscriminately for pleasure, for food, and training some to serve his
needs.
Laws concerning animal cruelty are designed to prevent needless
cruelty. Divergent approaches to such law occur in different jurisdictions
throughout the world. For example, some laws govern methods of
killing animals for food, clothing or other products, and other laws
concern the keeping of animals for entertainment, education, research or
pets. Cruelty to animals is not the same thing as disrespect towards
animals.
Taking about the provisions in different countries like United states of
America, in the US, since 2010, it has been a federal offense to create or
distribute “obscene” depictions of “living non-human mammals, birds,
reptiles, or amphibians, subjected to serious bodily injury”. The statute
replaced an overly broad 1999 statute which was found unconstitutional
in United states v. Stevens. The primary federal law relating to animal
care and conditions in the US is the Animal Welfare Act of 1966,
amended in 1970, 1976, 1985, 1990, 2002, 2007. It is the only federal
law in united states that regulates the treatment of animals in research,
exhibition, transport, and by dealers. Other laws, policies, and guidelines
may include additional species coverage or specifications for animal
care and use, but all refer to the Animal Welfare Act as the minimum
acceptable standard.
Countries like Argentina, national law 14346 sanctions with from
15days to one year in prison those who mistreat or inflict acts of cruelty
on animals. In Egypt, Egyptian law states that anyone who inhumanely
beats or intentionally kills any domesticated animal may be jailed or
fined. The Egyptian society for the prevention of cruelty to animals was
established by the British over a hundred years ago, and is currently
administered by the Egyptians. The SPCA was instrumental in
promoting a 1997 ban on bullfighting in Egypt. In ancient Egyptian law,
the killers of cats and dogs were executed.
The Taiwanese animal protection act was passed in1998, imposing fines
up to NT$250,000 for cruelty. Criminal penalties for animal cruelty
were enacted in 2007, including a max of 1year imprisonment. Thailand
introduces its first animal welfare law in 2014. The cruelty prevention
and welfare of animal act, B.E. 2557 (2014) came into being on
27december,2014. In France, cruelty to animals is punishable by
imprisonment of two years and a financial penalty (30,000 euro). In
Italy, acts of a cruelty against animals can be punished with
imprisonment, for a minimum of three months up to a maximum of three
years, and with a fine ranging from a minimum of 3000 euros to a
maximum of 160,000 euros, as for the law n189/2004.
In India, the prevention of cruelty to animals’ act,1960 was amended in
the year 1982. According to the newly amended Indian Animal Welfare
Act,2011 cruelty to animals is an offence and is punishable with a fine
which shall not be less than thousand rupees, which may extend to
twenty-five thousand rupees or with imprisonment up to two years or
both in the case of a first offence. In the case of second or subsequent
offence, with a fine, with a fine which shall not be less than fifty
thousand rupees, but may extend to one lakh rupees and with
imprisonment with a term which shall not be less than one year but may
extend to three years. The amendment is currently awaiting ratification
from government of India. The 1962 act in the meanwhile is the one that
is the practiced as of now. The maximum penalty under the 1962 act is
Rs50. many organizations, including ones such as the local SPCA, PFA,
and fosterdopt are actively involved in assisting the general population
in reporting cruelty cases to the police and help bringing the perpetrator
to justice.
There are different laws in India regarding this, it is the fundamental
duty of every citizen of India to have compassion for all living creatures
(article51(g)), to kill or maim any animal, including stray animals, is a
punishable offence (IPC sections 428 and 429), abandoning any animal
for any reason can land you in prison for up to three months
(section11(1) (i) and section 11(i)(j) PCA act1960, no animal (including
chickens) can be slaughtered in any place other than a slaughter house
rule 3 of prevention of cruelty to animals (slaughter house) rules 2001 ,
strayed dog that have been operated for birth control cannot be captured
or relocated by anybody including authority (ABC rules,2001), monkeys
are protected under the wildlife protection act 1972 and cannot be
displayed or owned, animal sacrifice is illegal in every part of the
country, rule 3 (slaughter house rules,2001) and many more.
Landmark cases regarding this issues, People for ethical treatment of
animals vs. union of India in it a film wishing to use an animal need to
obtain a no objection certificate from the Animal welfare board of India
as pre-requisite for certification from the central board for film
certification in Bombay high court, shri. Ajay madhusudan marathe vs.
new sarvodaya CHS ltd in it as a consumer, a society cannot prohibit a
resident from having pets and utilizing his/her facilities for pets in
consumer forum Delhi, State of U.P. vs. mustakeem and ors in it
custody of animals in case of cruelty shall not be given the accuses but
to the nearest gaushala or pinjrapole, until the conclusion of the trial in
supreme court, Gauri maulekhi vs. union of India and ors in it strict
implementation of prohibition of cattle smuggling across the border for
gadhimai animal sacrifice in Nepal, additional several welfare
recommendations shall be adopted in supreme court , Nair, N.R. and
ors. Vs. union of India and ors in it bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers
and lions shall not be trained or exhibited as performing animals in
Kerala high court and the last is Animal welfare board of India vs. A
Nagaraja and others in it bulls cannot be performing animals, jallikattu
and other animal races and fights are prohibited by supreme court.
In many religions, animals were worshipped in the past and any cruelty
towards them was condemned by the society and so their rights were
protected, but, today we are becoming insensitive towards animal. Each
and every animal on earth has as much right to be here as you and me.
All living things have a right to live on this earth but we, very often
become, totally, insensitive to their pain, only because animals can’t
speak the language of humans, they don’t have a voice. An animal, used
roaming around the freely in its natural habitat cannot be happy living in
cage or small enclosures. There is no doubt that a great deal of cruelty to
animals is due to our mindset that animals are happy as long as they are
ell fed, which is not correct; imagine yourself being kept captives and
then us would understand what it means. Everything on this earth has a
well-defined purpose, thus, there is need to have strong laws for
protecting the rights for animas, only then can they be saved from man’s
greed and selfishness and balance of nature can be maintained. Be kind
to every kind, not just mankind and remember within the prison walls of
every zoo sit tortured souls with empty eyes and broken spirits. Animals
are not here for us to do as we please with, we are not their superiors, we
are their equals. We are the family, be kind to them.
“If animals could speak mankind would weep” lets speak for those who
has no voice.
Be an animal right activist, A rebel with good cause.
