I was glad to read the news that Mr Olcott Gunasekera, President, Dharmavijaya Foundation, has urged the government to enact the Animal Welfare Bill, prepared by the Law Commission in 2006 (The Island, Sept 20. 2010). Mr Gunasekera has my appreciation and support.
The rate of animal abuse sky rockets every day when a homeless animal is born and put on this earth. It’s happening all over the world, and people don’t seem to pay any attention to it. I would love to put an end to it and stop this horrible trend and behaviour, but I’m too young and who would want to pay attention to a fifteen year old? I decided to address it anyway, hoping people my age would see the article and take action. It doesn’t have to be anything drastic. A small step forward wouldn’t hurt anyone.
Have you ever put yourself in an animal’s shoes? That they aren’t human doesn’t mean they can’t feel, that they don’t have feelings. How many of you have dogs at home as pets? Everyone says a dog is man’s best friend. No one ever wondered why we call them that. They are the most loyal beings you could ever have in your house. Even more loyal than your own sibling at times. How many times have you gotten mad at your dog and hit him/her? How many times have you put them outside in the cold? But the next morning when you open your doors and let them inside, do they hold a grudge against you? No. They don’t, they come at you in the most lovable manner, shaking their tail in joy, happy you still love and care for them.
Not just dogs. Every animal deserves our undivided attention and respect. How would you like to get a rock thrown at you? How would you like to get yelled at for doing absolutely nothing wrong? And chased off with a broom or whatever harsh object the attacker decides to use on you? People say they got bitten by a dog. Yes, but keep in mind, every animal has its own personality, its own way of thinking. Just like humans do. If one person is a murderer, that doesn’t mean the whole world is filled with serial killers. That’s an immature way to look at things.
Maybe the reason why you got bitten is your own mistake. If you threw a rock at the poor thing, or maybe hit it, if you were violent or abusive towards the animal, of course they are going to fight back. It’s called self defence. The animal is not going to stand there and let you hurt it.
Animals don’t have a voice to speak and protest, but if you pay close enough attention, you will catch the hints thrown your way. They whimper, they growl and they might hiss if it’s a cat. The fact that you have the power doesn’t mean you have the right to go around harrassing the animals that live around you. This earth that we live in does not only belong to us humans. It belongs to the animals just as much as it belongs to us. If not, we’d be the only things living on this planet.
Written by: Asvini Serasundera (Age: 15 years)
Courtesy: The Island Online
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