The challenging lives of 3 categories of animals: pets, strays and working animals

ANIMALS are a valuable part of our lives, societies and civilizations. The earliest recorded historical texts we have access to shed light on the fascinating relationship between humans and animals, who were used for protection, hunting, agriculture, clothing, transport and of course companionship. Even though the Industrial Revolution has minimized our use of animals for transport, this complex relationship continues today. In India, animals form a crucial part of our diverse cultures and are also protected by law. There are different types of animals that we come across in our day to day lives and the 3 main categories include pets such as dogs, strays such as cats, and working animals such as horses. 

Each of these categories of animal are crucial to our lives and ecosystem. While pets provide comfort and companionship, which is crucial to human health, street animals play an important role in the population control of other animals. The most famous example of this includes the rodent population which is controlled by cats, who are their natural predators. Our fragile ecosystem would be out of balance should any species reduce or grow beyond controllable numbers. Humans also depend on working animals such as horses, mules and camels for transport across rough terrain such as hills and deserts, for which equines and camels are naturally suited.

Even though they are crucial to human existence, all 3 of these animals – pet animals, stray animals and working animals – suffer from abuse, abandonment and exploitation. 

Pet animals

One of the ways that pet animals suffer is abandonment. People often purchase pets such as cats, dogs, hamsters or birds who form deep bonds with humans and make a home for themselves under the same roof. But when there are sudden changes in a person’s life, these pets are often abandoned by their owners. It could be due to having to move to a different home, the shortage of time or money to care for a pet or also the sudden disinterest or boredom with their pet animal. Despite the reason, the clueless animal is often left on the streets and forced to fend for themselves. Most abandoned pets suffer from hunger because they lack the knowledge or experience to find food for themselves, having been a pet all of their lives. Others experience a deterioration in their health due to a lack of veterinary care, which they would have been regularly receiving until then. But what most abandoned pets struggle with is the trauma of being separated from their human families. This trauma, combined with the lack of care, often shortens the lifespan of an abandoned pet animal who is too wounded to find the will to live. 

Stray animals

Street animals such as stray dogs and cats face a different challenge. While most of them are used to searching for shelter and food for themselves, what they are often unable to escape is abuse and torture at the hands of humans. Strays do not belong to anyone and as such, people regard it permissible to hurt them without any thought to the devastating effect it will have on their minds and bodies. Street dogs and cats are frequently beaten, kicked, crushed under vehicles and have stones, boiling water or acid thrown at them. In the case of many abused strays, the abuse and torture occurred to chase the strays away but for others, it was for the mere entertainment or pleasure of hurting an animal. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 aims to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals and there are various laws in place to prevent animal abuse in addition to mechanisms to bring perpetrators to justice. But this is often difficult and costs time and finances, so abused and tortured strays live out the rest of their lives in fear of humans and often living with the scars and deformities caused by abuse.

Working animals

It is thought that working animals such as horses, mules, donkeys or camels are cared for by their owners since their well-being is essential to perform tasks such as transporting cargo or people. But unfortunately, this is not always the case. In hill stations for instance, equine animals such as horses are overworked to the point of exhaustion, disabilities or death. Loads that are too heavy for them to carry are placed onto their backs and their legs often break or they are dragged down the slopes to their deaths with the heavy loads still attached to their backs. Despite being protected by The Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animal Rules 1965, these animals are also overworked sometimes for the entire day without time to rest or eat. If the animals do stop, they are beaten, whipped or cut with sharp objects to make them continue. Beaches and fairs often use horses and camels for entertainment purposes where they are forced to go on rides or perform tricks without water, food or rest. Larger working animals such as camels are also attacked with knives and axes when they stray into areas inhabited by people in search of food or shelter.

Mission: End Animal Cruelty

Give.do’s has a nationwide campaign called Mission: End Animal Cruelty which rescues and cares for abused and abandoned strays and working equines or camels. In partnership with NGOs across India such as India Animal Fund, People For Animals Uttarakhand, Peedu’s People, Aloha Ahimsa, Animal Law & Policy Network and Humane Society International, Mission: End Animal Cruelty has three main aims:

• rescue and rehabilitation
• awareness
• legal changes 

Our partner NGOs rescue abused and tortured animals and give them safe and spacious shelter, regular and nutritious meals, medical attention and treatment and of course love and affection. With the support of compassionate individuals like you, Mission: End Animal Cruelty can rescue more abandoned and abused strays and working animals and give them the care they deserve. This World Animal Day, you can make the decision to pledge your support each month to rescue abused animals across India and care for them with compassion. To support Mission: End Animal Cruelty:

Support Mission: End Animal Cruelty

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Shirley Bobby

Shirley has been in the development sector for over 10 years and is passionate about making a change in the world around her, including adopting dogs and writing to make a difference.