NP: My pledge to animals

[Guest guest]

*This article was written by Pramada Shah, Volunteer director of Animal

Nepal and Chair of the Animal Welfare Network Nepal*

 

*My pledge to animals

*

PRAMADA SHAH

http://ekantipur.com/kolnews.php? & nid=189018

 

There seems to be no limit to the everyday crimes committed against animals

in Nepal. The level of cruelty against every kind of species is so high and

so commonplace that most of us simply close our eyes and ears and get on

with our lives. Stray dogs are regarded as pests, and left to die in the

streets. Household pets are tied on short chains or locked up in tiny, dirty

cages, 24 hours a day. Exercise, grooming, balanced diets and most of all

love is something these poor creatures never see in their lives. Exotic

breeds find their way to the market through unscrupulous breeders and dog

dealers. They are mostly bought to show off by clueless owners who don’t

know the ABCs of pet care.

 

Whether kept as a guard or status symbol, virtually all pets suffer abuse,

malnutrition, dehydration and an absence of human attention. No one seems

to hear the yelping of tied up, hungry and thirsty pets. No one bothers to

request the neighbour to untie the poor animal. We are all so afraid of not

being taken seriously when talking about animal rights and welfare that we

fail to speak up.

 

In the past I fought with the guys who kick dogs or abuse cows, I cajoled

and shouted at neighbours who treated their pets cruelly. But I wasn’t

pro-active in the true sense. I have let years go by ranting and raving

about how badly our animals are treated. All this because I am one of those

unfortunate people who love animals with all their heart and soul and want

to end their suffering (unfortunate because loving animals in a place like

Nepal means enduring constant mental torture). I cannot forgive myself for

being silent for so long, watching the years go by instead of organizing,

mobilizing, fundraising, rescuing and doing everything in my capacity to end

the pain and suffering of domestic, wild and pet animals.

 

I have finally seen the light and have stopped bothering about comments

like: “Who cares about animals when there are so many humans suffering?”

 

Of course I care about humans and will continue to fight to end human

suffering. But I also care about animals equally and will be pro-active for

them from this moment onwards. I will speak out for and work with animals.

That is my pledge to them.

 

We have rituals that are so bloody in nature that one hesitates to describe

them. Live goats are thrown into ponds and bitten and torn to death by

cheering young men. Drunk men chase after thousands of sacrificial animals,

armed with khukuris and machetes, creating untold suffering and a sea of

blood. Thousands of animals are sacrificed in the goriest of manners like

slitting of throats and hacking of necks, all in the name of god, the

creator and the protector of living beings. But don’t all religions say the

same thing? Isn’t it man who created the rituals?

 

Buffaloes, goats, chicken, etc. are transported in the most inhumane

conditions. The animals are starved of water and food. They are piled on top

of each other, tethered by their sensitive noses, their necks twisted, bones

broken, eyes gorged. They arrive half or fully dead, their adrenaline so

high that their meat is a breeding ground of toxins which are extremely

hazardous to human health. But no one speaks out. The suffering doesn’t end

with their long painful journey to the drop-off point. They are dragged out

of the vehicles by yanking their tails or simply hurled out of the trucks,

or from atop buses before being herded off for the meat market. They are

tethered on short ropes in all kinds of weather with no place to rest or

move in front of meat shops on the roadside. They are barely fed or watered.

They are hacked to death in front of each other and the passers by. No one

says a word. Chicken and other feathered birds are stuffed into small cages

in the most unhygienic conditions. People queue up outside these shops for

the meat they want to cook and relish. Silent about the conditions, silent

about the suffering and unaware about the hazards to their own health.

 

The plight of working animals makes me want to cry. Donkeys, horses, mules,

bullock, buffaloes, sheep are suffering physical torture beyond anyone’s

imagination. They are made to carry burdens way beyond their capacity, pull

carts and buggies overloaded with humans and goods on backs with festering

wounds. They are flogged mercilessly if their battered and bruised bodies,

weary from their heavy burdens stumble or fall. They work till they drop

dead, relieved to leave this uncaring, cruel world behind. How inhuman can

we be? How long are we going to allow this to happen? When are we going to

raise a voice to change things for the better?

 

We breed monkeys for export for bio-medical research. This is absolutely

unnecessary and completely inhumane; condemned by concerned people all over

the world. There are enough alternate means for testing. Research has proved

the futility of using monkeys for medical research. Over 300 monkeys are

caged and tested upon, right under our noses. The government considers

issuing export licenses. But this time people speak out. A group of animal

rights campaigners try to stop the monkey business through legal means. A

writ has been filed in the Supreme Court against all those involved in this

heinous crime of breeding and using primates for bio-medical research and

those who are allowing it to happen. We want to save our monkeys from a fate

worse than death. The torture and pain they have to go through is

intolerable.

 

Mahatma Gandhi was right in saying that the greatness of a nation and its

moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. If we don’t

get moving fast we will be judged as one of the most uncivilized societies

in the world. A society that treats its animals as inanimate objects,

oblivious to their pain and suffering. Not everyone can be an animal rights

activist. But at least one can support movements and individuals who are

fighting for the rights and welfare of animals. Support the campaign to get

animal welfare legislation in place. Support initiatives that give animals

the care they deserve. It’s the least we can do. Stop abusing animals.

Become aware of the impact of your food, clothes and entertainment on the

lives of animals. Educate yourself, educate others and make a difference.

 

Humans can be known for their kindness and empathy. I invite anyone who

wants to end animal abuse to join us. Help us clean up this awful, bloody

mess and ensure the rights of Nepali animals. Help us to rescue and

rehabilitate sick and injured animals. Help us to introduce humane working

conditions, transportation and slaughter. Help us to bring abusers to book.

Help us to fight for a clause in the Constitution that guarantees humane

treatment of Nepali animals.

 

In New Nepal let’s make sure our animals are no longer left out.

 

Shah is Chair of Animal Welfare Network Nepal and volunteer director of

Animal Nepal.

 

pramada00

 

 

 

--

Lucia de Vries

Freelance Journalist

Bagdol, Patan, Nepal

Wijk 4-47, 8321 GE Urk, Holland

 

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