By Neha Panchamiya, President, RESQ
RESQ was born over three years ago and since then there have been several instances where I have witnessed the recent and current generation regress to barbaric times whereas animals are concerned.
Animal cruelty can range from neglect to intentional torture/abuse or malicious killing of an animal. The roots of animal cruelty according to me stem from thoughtless, inherited habit and lack of awareness. From stoning, throwing and tying up little puppies to sexually and physically abusing dogs; from ‘animal lovers’ hoarding animals in inhumane conditions to puppy-struck individuals buying puppies from pet shops and unethical breeders; from pet owners who take pride in owning fancy breeds but tie them all day, confine them to small spaces with minimal human interaction to irresponsible pet owners who abandon their pets when they get old, sick or move out of town. Each one of these instances account for cruelty to animals.
When an individual witnesses a crime but does not help to stop it, he becomes a party to the crime by the law. In my opinion, similarly, individuals that watchcruelty to animals on a daily basis and do nothing about it are as much party to the cruelty as the one committing it.
I do not expect people to start going out of their way and taking care of every animal they see but to contribute in reducing the human-animal conflict that exists around us. It is possible to co-exist peacefully in a world that God created for humans and animals, it is only a matter of awareness, education and being able to listen to our conscience.
Animals feel and endure the same pain as us, the only difference is that we can voice our pain and they cannot.
Mahatma Gandhi says, ‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated’.
A profound thought. Think people.
