The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the iceberg—most cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state or federal agencies, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are. However, we can use the information that is available to try to understand and prevent cases of abuse. Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people.
Hoarding behaviour often victimizes animals. Sufferers of a hoarding disorder may impose severe neglect on animals by housing far more than they are able to adequately take care of. Serious animal neglect, such as hoarding is often an indicator of people in need of social or mental health services. Surveys suggest that those who intentionally abuse animals are predominantly men under 30, while those involved in animal hoarding are more likely to be women over 60. No animal should go through life with a target on their back. You can save wildlife from being killed just for a trophy by supporting our work to ban trophy hunting. Animals are still suffering and dying to test shampoo, mascara and other cosmetic products. Terrified rabbits, rats, guinea pigs and mice have substances forced down their throats, dripped into their eyes or smeared onto their skin before they are killed.
The below episode of photograph draws light on the world that not only turns a blind eye to animal cruelty but condones it, whether through indifference or legislation. The problem is that there aren’t enough people fighting for animal rights. If everyone started to look at animals and not just dogs and cats as fellow animals who share our planet, we would see far fewer cases of cruelty toward animals. The tale of Monkeys and Dog lives matter questions the unconscious human acts of animal abuse and the need for treating them as fellow beings.
“Animals think, feel and know in much the same way as we do - and that their lives are, to them, as precious as ours are to us.”
1. TALE OF THE MONKEYS
“The monkey is an organized sarcasm upon the human race.”
Monkeys live all over the world and come in various shapes, sizes and colours. As one of our closest relatives, these mammals are very intelligent and have opposable thumbs, allowing them to use tools and play games. There are more than 260 different types of monkeys. They are separated into two major categories: New World and Old World.
The photograph was shot at Hampi, known as the “Monkey Kingdom,” it is recognized as the birthplace of Hanuman, the Hindu Monkey God. Hampi, an ancient village on the south bank of the Tungabhadra river, is a place that propels travellers like me onward. Because, when we find places like Hampi, we’re reborn, alive with a keener curiosity than ever before. In Hampi, we find monkeys in and around Hampi Bazaar to be more aggressive and was quite wary of those. There was quite a bit of snarling and charging by the larger male monkeys.
Unlike the majority of busy parents today, wild monkey mothers have the luxury of being able to feed on demand, carry their babies all the time, sleep with their babies and be responsive rather than doting. All of this lays a foundation of attachment and trust that lasts a lifetime. Quite paradoxically this is a trait the advanced human race is faltering with, ‘the task of parenting’. This image indicates the bond of a family. We say that monkeys are ancestors of humans and we possess certain characteristics of them. But today, we could see a sense of love and care among them as compared to us humans. This image can be related to the social culture of this generation. The increasing number of old age homes is a major concern and children forget about their parents and tend to leave them for making their life better. But monkeys here are closely bonded with their family and are always together. They show us a model of how a family is meant to be maintained.
The black and white photo is able to express the unnoticed love of monkeys and our emotions and action have become more diverse than them. The parents have closely held their children which indicates their love and concern towards their children. We, humans, are cutting down trees and destroying their homes them and the look on their faces shows the fear of life. We live in pretty big and luxurious homes but might be lacking love but the monkeys are living a happy life even within their small branches. This image also shows that the monkeys are looking ashamedly at the human race due to their shameful lives.
The above photograph awakes a sense of togetherness and unity in us. It gives one that ‘family feeling’. One can easily associate the subjects in the picture with most of one’s family itself. The caring parents along with their siblings close to them. The picture shot from the camera is able to bring our focus towards the family of monkeys while blurring the background. Our eyes are instantly drawn towards it and the background acts as a mere canvas for the picture as it does not add on anything. The composition of the image is also centred around the main subjects so they are easily distinguishable in the monochrome image. Shadows help to highlight the tree on which they are supported and contributes to the beauty of it.
2. DOG LIVES MATTER
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”
Dogs make a wonderful, loyal companion. They are highly adaptable, quick learners and are also protective of their guardians. Indian dogs also tend to be free of many of the health and behavioural problems that plague their purebred cousins who are bred for certain unnatural physical traits such as squashed-in noses or long ears. The best of all is that when you make an Indian dog a part of your family, you not only save a life but also make a best friend for life.
The picture shot in Bangalore portrays the serious issue of Stray dogs in the Bangalore city. From March 2020 onwards, after lockdown, the visible number of hungry, sick and new street dogs in Bangalore has increased. Packs of dogs unable to find food because normal life has halted and regular feeders are missing. A census to estimate the city’s stray dog conducted after 13 years, has found that the stray numbers have swelled by 50% and touched 3.1 lakh. There are four dogs for every 100 people in the city. On the streets of India, millions of stray dogs live. Unfortunately, many Indian people and officials have been guided by fear and prejudice to see street dogs as nothing but a pest and to attempt eradication using inhumane tactics including poisoning and beating. For any dog killed, though, another usually moves in to take over the territories of that dog. The lives of dogs are also valuable and they need to be protected and taken care of. During times of natural calamities, people are always concerned about their lives and forget about dogs and other animals. This shows the dry emotions of humans and how cruel we are towards them. Many cases are being reported against stray dog abuse. People beat and harass them for their fun and they need to realize that they also have the right to live. They also have feelings and emotions. The innocent look of the dogs will hit human hearts and make them feel guilty about their actions.
While strays certainly don’t have the luxury of a cushy life that house pets, fortunately, have been blessed with, the former is still adaptable to humans and they too respond to human empathy. Instead of going for fancy & costly breed of dogs, try adopting a stray. They are low maintenance and are as good and dedicated to their family members who adopt them. The best place to adopt a stray is from either a shelter home or just a roadside. They deserve that chance. It would be a noble deed as well. However, after adopting them, do not give up or abandon them ever that would be emotionally traumatic for them, leaving them forlorn and disheartened for the rest of their lives.
Surely a little empathy and respect for another species can reduce a lot of conflicts and make the world a happier place. It is our moral responsibility as citizens of this country to help end the dog homelessness crisis by signing a pledge and to always adopt and never buy dogs and to always spay or neuter animal companions. We should make a promise to do our little part to end the tragic cycle of animal homelessness by never buying a dog from a breeder or pet shop. It is our duty to save a life by opting to adopt a homeless dog from the streets or an animal.
“Let us not create bad karma for ourselves by being cruel to these voiceless, helpless animals.”
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