Animals: Handle with care!

Neha Sood

World Animal Day is not linked to any one individual, organisation or campaign, but belongs to everyone. World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. Since then it has grown to encompass all kinds of animal life and is widely celebrated in countries throughout the world. October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. World Animal Day consists of:

To celebrate animal life in all its forms

To celebrate humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom

To acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our life from being our companions, supporting and helping us, to bringing a sense of wonder into our lives

To acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives World Animal Day is a time to celebrate and appreciate our relationship with the animals that share our planet and the ways in which they enrich our lives. It is also an important opportunity to speak out to ensure the humane treatment towards animals and to advocate for protection of the habitats that are home to wild animals. It is not only humans who are complaining of inhuman and discriminate behaviour, animals are facing the same. You want to know how? While, our pets are precious to us, the same is not true for stray animals. We never stop a person if we see somebody mistreating animals just because the animals don’t belong to us? Nothing will change if everyone thinks of what he can do alone. Groups or organizations cannot do anything unless the support of individuals is not there. Why can’t we start by adopting these animals as pets? Or may be just feed one animal on the street. Deforestation: Humans continue to over-harvest the planets flora, cutting down more trees faster than new ones can grow. At the current rate of deforestation, this planet will be void of any bio-diversive, self-sustainable natural forests and natural habitats in less than 20 years. Environmental issues affect every life on this planet from the smallest parasite to the human race. The reason for this is simple. A single disruption in the Earth’s delicate balance can mean certain destruction of the very place that cradles the lives of many species. What is not so simple is finding alternatives to the now dangerous and confronting acts of planet degradation that have been afflicted on the planet over recent years. Hunting: It is an unfair game. Neanderthals stalked and killed animals for food during the Ice Age and they still do it today for personal satisfaction. Just about every wild animal that was not endangered or threatened is hunted or trapped. Now even endangered animals are being haunted despites bans. People are not hunting for entertainment alone. They are doing so for eating and earning livelihood. Everyday around 500,000 hens lose their lives in India just to fill the pocket and stomach of the people. In Japan, whale is a prominent part of cuisine. While the killing of the threatened species is internationally banned, it is being openly flouted by this island nation in pursuit of a meal. Global Warming: Habitat, in simple words refers to the environment in which the organisms live. Global warming is affecting the habitat of the animals. Problems begin when the layer of greenhouse gases gets too thick and traps too much heat. A government report says global warming could lead to many animals and birds becoming extinct. Animals and birds are good at adapting to gradual changes in their habitat, but in some cases the change is happening too fast for them to cope with. Melting ice, bigger deserts and warmer seas mean that some creatures are finding that their usual homes are no longer comfortable places to live. As Arctic sea ice melts, polar bears and seals are finding that their habitats are disappearing. For sea turtles, this means that some of their precious beach nesting sites will disappear. Scientists think that nearly a third of beaches used by turtles in The Caribbean could be lost during this century. The report says that global warming has already changed the migration routes of some birds and other animals. And if there`s nothing to eat, fish have to either starve or move to where there is food. There are ten things we can do to help the animals: 1) Companion animals: If you decide to share your life with a companion animal, make sure his or her physical and emotional needs are fully met. Adopt from an animal shelter or rescue group rather than purchasing an animal from a breeder or pet store that may be stocking animals from puppy mills. 2) Buy cruelty-free products: Choose cosmetics, personal care items, household cleaners and other consumer products that have not been tested on laboratory animals. 3) Choose cruelty-free entertainment: Make humane choices when it comes to entertainment for you and your family. Avoid entertainment venues that exploit animals, such as circuses with animal acts, rodeos, zoos and aquariums, greyhound racing, horse racing and other events. Seek humane alternatives, such as movies that have been certified humane and non-animal circuses like Circus du Soleil. 4) Minimise animal habitat ruin: Appreciate wildlife and nature while creating minimal disturbance for our wild neighbours. Use humane and non-lethal pest control methods to control bugs and rodents. Shoot animals with digital cameras, not weapons. Oppose pollution, development and other uses that ruin habitat for wildlife. 5) Report animal cruelty: The first step in stopping animal abuse is reporting it to the proper authorities charged with investigating and prosecuting existing laws. Find out what agencies in your community handle animal enforcement, and keep contact numbers handy. 6) Practice vegetarianism: Incorporating vegetarian meals into your diet is easier than you might think, and there are many resources available to help, from cookbooks and natural foods grocery stores to local vegetarian societies and support groups. 7) Get politically active: Educate yourself about which candidates are animal-friendly and which are not. Contact your elected officials about animal issues that are important to you, and always vote when election time rolls around. 8) Write letters to the editor: When you read about animal-related issues in the media, take a moment to write a letter to the editor. Whether the story is positive or negative for animals, letters to the editor are a great way to inform others about the animal rights’ perspective. 9) Volunteer your time: Helping animals takes people-power. Many animal-related groups do not have the resources to hire paid staff, so voluntary labour is essential for their operations. Find an organisation that you like and contribute time doing what you love whether its cuddling cats, walking dogs, helping plan special events or leading guided nature walks so people can appreciate wildlife. 10) Donate to charitable organisations: Animal-related charities generally receive less financial support than health and human services organizations. Consider making a donation to your favourite animal related non-profit organisation so it has the resources to implement programmes that are important to you. Avoid donating to charities that fund animal experimentation. At the end of the day what we can do is to make a promise to ourselves that we will treat animals with due respect and care and give them the dignity that is due to any form of life.