Wild Cry: Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty has long been recognized and pervasive. In this day and age, animal neglect or intentional acts of violence against animals continues to exist all across the globe. Due to the cruelty inflicted the animals experience agony, torture & distress.

Animal cruelty is the abuse towards or neglect of an animal. It is not just limited to industrial or domesticated animals alone, it happens every day & everywhere, even to domestic pets. It is not uncommon to come across news reports of some pet owners mistreating. Their pets, kicking, beating, abandoning the helpless animals. Some of the pets spend their entire lives in a negligent state of affairs. They eventually die of dehydration, malnutrition, untreated diseases, or other conditions.

The cruelty and mistreatment towards silent, voiceless animals extend beyond the boundaries of cities, towns, and villages and into the laboratories. It is estimated that each year, more than 100 million animals. Mice, rats, frogs, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, monkeys, fish, and birds. They are kill in U.S. laboratories for biology lessons, medical training, curiosity-driven experimentation, and chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics testing. Before their deaths, some are force to inhale toxic fumes, others are immobilize in restraint devices for hours. Some have holes drilled into their skulls, and others have their skins burned off or their spinal cords crushed.

In addition to the torment of the actual experiments, animals in laboratories are deprive of everything natural and important to them. They are confine to barren cages, socially isolated, and psychologically traumatized. The thinking, feeling animals who are used in experiments are treated like nothing more than disposable laboratory equipment[1].

The exploitation of animals for entertainment seems to be a thriving business. Animals are use as props in circuses, treat as objects in the zoos & aquatic theme parks etc. Animals are deprive of their natural habitat but are force to stay in confined spaces. They’re transport from city to city in the tiny cages. Cruel, barbaric methods are use to train them for dangerous performances. This more often than not results in chronic pain, lost body parts, and other shocking & abysmal consequences.

Many a time animals are victimize for monetary gain such as selling of furs, pelts & stealing body parts from animals to sell as jewelry.

Another aspect of animal cruelty that has come to the fore during this pandemic is meat markets. The unscrupulous conditions prevailing therein. Chickens, cattle, and other livestock are confin in small places with unhygienic and unhealthy conditions. Often inject with growth hormones, impregnated forcefully. They are cover in their excreta. They are force to stay standing on a hard concrete floor in poorly ventilated and dark enclosures. The illegal world of bullfighting, cockfighting, dogfighting, though not unknown to all (even the authorities). Its amongst the most appalling & gruesome facets of animal cruelty, to pit the animals against each other.

However, there has been a shift in the paradigm and people. Globally are standing against the cruelty inflicted on the animals. The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness of 2012, saw a prominent group of scientists gather together at Cambridge University. They declared that animals are conscious like us. As more people become aware of animal cruelty, we’ll have more power to stop it. It’s critically important to advocate for better animal protection laws with lawmakers in all government bodies.

Below is the lowdown on legislation concerning Animal Welfare globally. There are only a handful of  animal protection laws:

1. New Zealand: Animal Welfare Legislation Recognizes Animals as Sentient, Bans Cosmetic Testing

On May 5, 2015, the New Zealand Parliament unanimously passed the Animal Welfare Amendment Act (No. 2) 2015, which includes an amendment to the long title of the principal legislation, the Animal Welfare Act 1999, to specifically recognize animals as sentient.

2. Switzerland: Recognition of animal sentience and prohibition of animal suffering

According to international standards, Switzerland has higher levels of animal welfare and protection in comparison with other countries. The Animal Welfare Act of 2005 protects the welfare and dignity of animals. Activities that are deem degrading to the dignity of animals are forbidden and include suffering, infliction of pain, harm, or exposure to humiliation or anxiety. The country was award a Grade A from World Animal Protection in 2014.

3. India

• Article 51A(G) of The Constitution of India places a duty on every citizen. It is to “protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.”
• The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA) was passed in 1960. In 2001, rules pertaining to performing animals in circuses and movies, slaughterhouses, animal birth control. The setting up of societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCA) were pass. In 2017 and 2018, rules on the regulation of shops that sell animals as pets, dog breeders, and livestock markets pass.
• IPC Sections 428 and 429: To kill or maim any animal, including stray animals, is a punishable offense.
• ABC Rules, 2001: Stray dogs that have been operate for birth control cannot be captur or relocate by anybody including any authority.
• Rule 3, Slaughterhouse Rules, 2001: Animal sacrifice is illegal in every part of the country.
• Section 11(1)(m)(ii) and Section 11(1)(n), PCA Act, 1960: Organizing of or participating in or inciting any animal fight is a cognizable offense.

Several states have passed and are enforcing animal rights dictum and prevention of animal cruelty regulations. Nevertheless, we further need to set up Animal Welfare boards in every district and Zonal Animal Protection Centres. It is to take all such steps as the Centres may think fit to ensure to help prevent such acts of cruelty against animals.

Although several laws have been fram for the protection and welfare of animals. The protection and safety of animals depend much more on the outlook and approach of the human race towards them. The safety and welfare of voiceless and silent animals have to be protect as this planet, is as much theirs as ours. 

THE AUTHOR IS THE FOUNDER OF ARCANE LAW FIRM AND IS A DELHI BASED LAWYER.

Reference:

[1] PETA: Experiments on Animals: Overview