All Talk and No Action

Very few people I come across can live in harmony with animals.

Some are afraid of animals, while, an overwhelming majority, hate them.

For whatever reason.

Some incidents in the last two months have proven that even employees and volunteers of some well-known animal care NGOs, lack sensitivity and love.

This post was meant to be a rant against them.

Thankfully, I realised my folly.

Few people like animals, fewer still actively involve themselves in animal welfare.

I would rather talk about the good work that is going on and hope people make use of the resources available to help these kindred souls.

Charu Shah is an animal rights activist and someone, I go to, apart from my regular vet, in case of any queries/suggestions.

An architect by profession, Charu is a living encyclopedia on animal rights and laws, pertaining to India.

She has an egroup by the name of animal-welfare India. The digest has any every information you could think of, with regards to animal care, adoption drives, pet news and happenings around the globe.

She, alongwith her dedicated network of friends, holds group meetings that bounce off ideas in the field of animal care.

If you wish to become a part of the e-group or want to direct pet queries to Charu, please leave your mail IDs in the comments and I will revert.

Obviously, no crank mails/fraanship requests will be entertained.

Also, some NGOs that are doing their bit towards animal care are :

• SPCA
• IDA (In Defense of Animals)
• Ahimsa

I request you to get in touch with any of the above, if you ever find any ill-treatment being meted out to our furry friends.

*****

Today is my Chotu's birthday.

When we look back at the last four years, we feel blessed.

The below words from Jabberwock nail it better than I ever can  -

If I had to mention One thing that can tick me off, to the point of making me violent -

It is cruelty against animals.

No, not because I have Chotu at home.

Not because he is my son, brother, friend.

Not because he is intuitive and is filled with an ocean of love for me.

Not because he doesn't tire of licking and kissing me.

Not because he is funny and full of energy and is always ready to fool around.

Not because he is not judgmental but rather very giving in a relationship.

Not because he is a child at heart and is mostly successful at pulling my heart strings.

Only because, ones who can't protect themselves, need love and protection the most.

Ones who can't stand up and talk about their pain, need to be spoken on behalf of.

Ones who can't fight for their rights, need us to make sure that their rights aren't trampled upon.

I hate it when we go to the vet for quarterly check-ups for Chotu and find people who couldn't care less about their pets.

The only reason why these people keep pets is for enjoyment and self indulgence.

What is necessary for them is that the pet should lick, wag it's tail, pooh pooh at all funny sounds, respond to throw ball, be enthusiastic at the snap of a finger, shake hands with guests at home.

Try its best to be an ideal pet !

Whether the pet is hungry, clean, bathed, fed, happy, satisfied, sad or plain dead - is not their concern !

Ya, why don't you get a puppet instead??

I have often come across cases where pets have been brought to the vet at the very last moment when some irreparable damage has already been done to the pet.

Owners have shown indifference and lack of knowledge about the last meal their pet has had.

Would we be so lax about our own blood? Our families?

A case that boiled my blood was when a lady with her two sons, got their Goat to our Vet.

The goat was about four months old and had such innocence that could melt hearts.

Just one problem with the dearie - she had broken her limbs and probably would be crippled for life. And why so?

Well just because the sons felt that the kid should "earn" its meal while they had some fun at her expense.

On being admonished by the doctor, the lady finally let out that they didn't feed the kid properly.

Her sons derived some devilish pleasure in throwing food up in the air and making the kid jump and jump a little higher for every morsel.

The game wasn't going to last long. One day, the poor, hungry kid jumped high enough and fell with a thud hard enough to break her bones.

The family decided to suspend their "fun" activity for a few days and waited for the kid to return back to normalcy.

Only when they realised that maybe, things had changed forever, did they grudgingly bring the baby to the doctor.

I can't imagine the pain that the kid might have to live with throughout it's life. Why??

I have no problems with people who don't like pets. They have their reasons.

But I definitely have tons of problems with people who can't shower love and affection and need a pet only to complete their family albums !

Animals aren't a mode of entertainment. They have feelings, are made of flesh and blood and can feel the very same emotions that you and I do.

The only difference between us and them is - Voice.

We air our opinions, express pain and curse when it hurts.

They can only feel. Not voice their feelings. So why be cruel to them?

Your family, relatives, friends might leave you when the chips are down.

But a pet who you might have ignored, shooed away, thrashed, beaten, cursed would still cuddle you.

Such unconditional is its love.

Whether you are worth its love, is another issue.