PROTECTING ANIMALS

Jun 28, 2018 Editorial

In Guyana, only a few people respect and treat animals kindly. These few acknowledge that animals like human, have the right to live free from human exploitation and abuse. Those who are concerned with animal rights believe very strongly that animals should not be exploited or harmed.
The rights of animals based on ethical grounds state that animals should not be abused and should not be made to suffer. The United States, Canada, Britain and several other countries have legislation against the cruelty of animals, but prosecution is rare, because in most cases, the abuse of animals is done secretly.
Animal rights can be traced back to the ancient world when animals such as the dolphins were considered divine. Studies show that there is a psychological continuity between dolphins and humans. They are second in intelligence to human beings and should be regarded as nonhuman persons.
Based on the Biblical Sabbath, the Ten Commandments required that animals be given a day of rest along with humans. The Bible also forbids plowing with an ox and an ass together. This prohibition stems from the hardship that an ass would suffer by being compelled to keep up with an ox, which of course is far stronger.
These ancient regulations are virtually forgotten today, but they bespeak of an eloquent awareness of the status of animals as ends in themselves.
Indeed, animal rights are based on religion and some religions have banned the mistreatment and killing of the animal species. One such religion is the Buddhist faith which from its beginning refrained from the destruction of life. Animal rights were recognized by the Sharia (Islamic law) and are based on both the Qur’an and the Hadith.
The Prophet Mohammad forbade his followers to harm any animal. Christian theology upholds the belief that animals have immortal souls and that there are considerable similarities between human and non-human animals.
Greek philosopher/mathematician, Pythagoras believed that human and nonhuman souls were reincarnated from human to animal and vice versa and therefore he urged people to respect animals.
However, in Guyana, animal cruelty is a tremendous problem. It is so common that it is overlooked by many who do not care about animals. Dogs which have been acclaimed man’s best friend are the most common victims of animal cruelty.
Animals are innocent and deserve to be treated better. Many have been hit on the road by drivers who refused to stop. Others are brutally stabbed, kicked and killed in horrific ways. Even pet animals are neglected, abused and killed.
Studies done by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) have shown that there is a correlation between the cruelty to animals and domestic violence. According to the ASPCA, people tend to build courage to abuse their fellow human by first abusing animals.
The studies revealed that 88 percent of families who reported domestic violence have abused animals and 85 percent of male and female perpetrators of domestic violence are involved in animal cruelty in the home.
Cruelty to animals in Guyana is a deep-rooted problem that dates back hundreds of years. Yet in the 21st century, animals continue to endure cruelty from the very people who ought to have protected and cared for them. We continue to starve, beat, kick, overwork and kill animals. Those that are killed for food usually go through a very painful exercise. Many are cut up alive or get their necks broken or are beaten with steel rods or wood until they die. They are supposed to be slaughtered with stun guns but this has not been the case in Guyana.

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