Why Are Incidents of Animal Cruelty on the Rise?

What can we as citizens do to fight animal cruelty?

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@lilianacostas)

Reports of animal cruelty have been flooding the media. Horrendous videos have been circulated on social networking platforms, raising concerns of why such torturous acts towards animals are on the rise.

But what these incidents also show is the twisted psyche of the criminals who attack defenceless animals.

The Quint spoke with Gauri Maulekhi, animal rights activist and advisor to Maneka Gandhi, and Bhuveneshwari Gupta, Associate Manager for PETA’s outreach campaign, on the necessity to change archaic laws against animal cruelty, and the need for psychiatric revaluation of such criminals.

Animals rights are largely neglected since they don’t affect the vote bank.

However, with a little bit of effort, the problem can be addressed.

Gauri and Bhuvaneshwari advise that when witnessing any incident of animal cruelty, these are the things that one can do:

• Immediately report it to the police.
  
• In case of mutilation, Use Indian Penal 428, 429 and NOT the toothless Animal Cruetly Act.
  
• Do not leave without following up on the case. Do it yourself, or contact an organisation that can fight the case.
  
• Get immediate medical attention.
• Call PETA for assistance, if needed. The 24-hour emergency number is
  9820122602.