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Currently we are seeing many kinds of stray animals around us and the number is increasing day by day. Here are a few figures and facts which will help us in understanding the depth of the topic. With an estimated 79.9 million homeless cats and dogs in the country living in shelters or streets, India has the highest relinquishment level compared to countries like the US, China, and Germany, a report by Mars Petcare India [1].
Introduction : Initially we provided shelter to many animals but as our needs were fulfilled we abandoned the animals. It is constantly observed from the rural to urban sector in India we are often surrounded by pet animals. It has been observed that in rural areas we have cows, buffalos, goats, mules etc. Similarly in the urban sector we have dogs that are very common to see in almost every 4rth house. But once our needs are being fulfilled we open our doors for our pets. Like in rural areas we abandon the cows and buffaloes once they are not able to produce enough milk. As humans we often forget that we are responsible for everything which is in nature. We are required to take care of animals apart from our personnel needs.
Real Story :
Story 1 – A few days ago, animal welfare activists found two Great Danes tied up in a thicket in the forests surrounding Theetukkal in Udhagamandalam. These are just the latest ‘breed dogs’ that have been abandoned by their owners, typically breeders, who bought the dogs to make money by selling puppies during the COVID-19 pandemic, when livelihoods were affected [3].
Story 2 – A 4 year old Labrador dog who was betrayed by my human. Like many other breeds of dogs, I was born to my mother who was in custody of a greedy breeder who made use of my mother as a mere puppy producing machine. Her whole life was inside a small kennel, often impregnated forcefully to get pure breed puppies. She never knew love and freedom. Without knowing anything about the outside world, my siblings and myself were enjoying mother’s warmth and milk. Suddenly, one day, when we were hardly one month old, we were taken away from our mother and separated to a very small cage in a shop. We had no idea what was happening when people came and rated us. Some days passed and a family came to the shop. Paying ‘my price’ they bought me like a commodity from the shop and took me to their home [4].
Conclusion: If we are not able to take care of pet animals then we don’t have any right to take them to their home. As human beings can survive anywhere on the earth but pets have their own territory and have some limits. Abandoning pets means leaving them for death. Let’s have sympathy for them.
References:
[3]. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dog-abandonment-has-risen-after-the-pandemic-say-animal-activists/article66270358.ece
[4]. https://barkindia.org/blog/story-of-an-abandoned-dog-a-labrador-says/