(TH) END TOXIC TREATMENT

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END TOXIC TREATMENT

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/leisure/leisurescoop/12108/end-toxic-treatment

Published: 22/02/2009 at 12:00 AMNewspaper section:

Outlook<http://www.bangkokpost.com/advance-search/?papers_sec_id=6>

 

Staking a claim on the universal right to live By Chompoo Trakullertsathien

 

Though born on different streets in Bangkok, Good, Grace, Kwan and Bobo

shared the same miserable plight.

 

They experienced a tough life from the very first day they came into this

world. Malnourished and infected with several types of internal and external

parasites, they frequently suffered from diarrhoea as their main diet was

nothing but rotten food easily found in garbage piles.

 

Although the four Bangkok dwellers all survived hit-and-run drivers in the

early weeks of their lives, eventually they could not escape the cruel hands

of some people _ in particular a group of dog haters.

 

When their last days arrived, they all died in great pain. The sight of such

agony is sure to bring tears to the eyes of all those who hold that all

lives, whether they be animal or human, are of inestimable value.

 

Some people in the localities where the four puppies lived used a merciless

and unacceptable means to eliminate them, and they did so within the blink

of an eye, with no regrets. Pretending to be kind-hearted persons before

approaching the ill-fated animals, they fed them with poisoned food.

Predictably, the naive puppies fell victim to the deceivers.

 

''I just can't believe that happened. Was there no place in this wide world

for those poor animals?'' asked a dog lover who had been able to make

friends with Good and Grace in the last few weeks of their lives and planned

to find them a new home.

 

''Human cruelty and selfishness are too terrible to be tolerated. Why

couldn't those poor animals be allowed to live in their original places? How

many lives have to be destroyed simply to satisfy some humans' limitless

selfishness?'' asked the two dogs' would-be saviour.

 

In the wake of a veritable ocean of stray dogs, the use of poison to get rid

of the underprivileged and innocent animals is tragically prevalent in many

communities in and around Bangkok. No state or local agency has stepped

forward to address this situation.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which is directly responsible, has

no apparent strategy to do anything to save the lives of the strays, which

may be considered trivial and valueless by some complacent and/or heartless

people. At present there are few laws to safeguard these street residents.

 

A piece of encouraging news is that the Thai Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) has recently joined forces with dog lovers from

all walks of life to submit a draft Development of Animal Rights and

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, designed to punish those who violate

animal rights.

 

According to Sawan Saengbunlang, the secretary-general of the TSPCA,

information obtained from the Born Free Foundation shows that Thailand ranks

fifth in a list of countries based on the amount of cruelty animals are

subjected to, with number one being the most cruel.

 

''Such cruelty covers all kinds of animals, regardless of whether they are

wild, domesticated, experimental or economic animals. Numerous household

pets like dogs and cats are mistreated, tortured, dumped on the streets or

temple grounds or even killed,'' said Mr Sawan.

 

It is estimated that there are at present approximately 300,000 homeless

animals in Bangkok, with an average of 3,000 stray dogs and cats in each of

the city's 100 districts. The number has grown steadily over the decades.

 

At present the Criminal Code stipulates that those who violate animal rights

are liable to a one-month jail term, a 1,000 baht fine, or both. The

penalties are extremely light compared with those in other countries.

 

''Presently many of our neighbouring countries, including Japan, India,

Korea, Singapore, the Philippines and Hong Kong, have laws that impose

penalties for cruelty to animals that are more severe than ours. Wrongdoers

may be put behind bars for six to 10 years and/or fined the equivalent of

5,000 to 100,000 baht,'' said Mr Sawan.

 

But while we're waiting for progressive animal-protection legislation to be

enacted, we may have to rely on the laws of karma instead.

 

''Human and animal lives are equally precious. But most people tend to think

that animal lives are less precious than theirs. That's totally wrong,''

said Phra Paisal Visalo, the abbot of Wat Pa Sukhato in Chaiyaphum province.

 

 

The monk said that many people don't realise that the laws of karma are real

and absolute. These people don't seem to care about the consequences of

their sinful actions.

 

''What we do to animals will return to us, our beloved ones and members of

our family sooner or later. What comes around goes around. That is a law of

karma, and we have to be fully aware of it.''

 

The sad fact is that the inhumane practice of poisoning animals takes place

even in temples, which should really be among the safest places for any

living being in need.

 

''A temple is a religious sanctuary for all lives that come to seek refuge.

It's a deadly sin to poison dogs or cats living in a temple. Abbots should

find ways to protect or take care of them against wicked outsiders.

 

''More importantly, people should be taught to stop dumping their dogs and

cats on temple grounds and not pass on their responsibility to temples,''

suggested Phra Paisal.

 

According to the monk, too many people now commit serious crimes, violate

the Five Precepts, and are not afraid of sin. And this suggests that all

lives in society, whether human or animal, are in great jeopardy.

 

''Too many people don't believe in the dichotomy of good and bad. Morality

has been corrupted. They think only of themselves and act for their own

sakes.

 

''Besides, some members of society don't provide any opportunity to animals

to make their own choices and live their own lives undisturbed. If this

continues, the problem of strays will never be solved satisfactorily and

humanely, and there will be people who try to solve the problem by poisoning

animals,'' said the monk.

 

Phra Paisal pointed out that human beings are the real cause of the stray

problem because they are happy to keep the animals when they are young and

cute, but dump them on the streets or on temple grounds when they grow up

and become troublesome.

 

''Human beings can be judged from their loving compassion toward animals or

people who are lower than they, not from a fat account in the bank, luxury

cars or expensive houses. Showing your loving compassion toward someone who

is higher or richer than you doesn't mean that you are an authentic human

being,'' emphasised the monk.

 

This article is dedicated to Good, Grace, Kwan, Bobo and numerous unknown

strays whose lives have been terminated by humans who call themselves

virtuous and noble.

 

 

--

" Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man

will not himself find peace. " -Albert Schweitzer