World Animal Welfare Day 2020: To Improve the Welfare Standards of Animals Worldwide is a Must!

World Animal Welfare Day is celebrated on the 4th of October every year. World Animal Welfare Day is celebrated to create awareness about the importance of improving the welfare standards of animals worldwide. World Animal Welfare Day was first started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence, Italy, to highlight the importance of endangered species. It is also known as "Animal Lovers Day." Though it is a beautiful way to unite the animal welfare movement around the world, embracing all animals and the unique concerns of each in every country, many factors lead to this day's origin. Let us have a look at all the factors in detail in this article.

History of World Animal Welfare Day

World Animal Day concurs with the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology, including animals. Heinrich Zimmermann first organized it on the 24th of March 1925. He hosted the first-ever World Animal Day at Sports Palace in Berlin, Germany. More than 5,000 people attended the first event. The event was first scheduled for the 4th of October to align with Saint Francis of Assisi feast day but was moved to March due to the venue's unavailability.

In 2003, Naturewatch Foundation, a UK-based animal welfare charity launched the first World Animal Day website. It is a small charity and financial support for World Animal Day. It has always been minimal, identifying cost-effective ways to progress this powerful movement, which is key to ensuring its full potential.

Significance of World Animal Welfare Day

World Animal Welfare Day aims to improve animal welfare standards worldwide through the support and involvement of individuals, groups, and organizations that love and care for animals. It is also known as “Animal Lovers Day.” Though it is a beautiful way to unite the animal welfare movement around the world, embracing all animals and the unique needs of each in every country, many factors lead to the origin of this day. These factors included the inhuman treatment given to the world’s 60 billion farm animals, negligence to stray dogs and cats, and illegal killing and selling of wild animals. Moreover, the animals are usually kept out of mind during any natural disasters or calamities.

India is one of the better-performing countries in the global Animal Protection Index 2020, created by international animal welfare charity, World Animal Protection.

The Animal Protection Index (API) aims to showcase where countries are doing well, and where they fall short on animal welfare policy and legislation, so they can take steps to improve.

The index ranks countries from A (being the highest score) to G (being the weakest score) according to their policy and legislation.

India has attained a C ranking in the index, along with countries like New Zealand, Mexico, France, and Spain.

However, there is room for improvement in many domains related to animal welfare. For instance, animals used in scientific research are exempt from cruelty considerations in the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act 1960.

Furthermore, there is a lack of regulations regarding the rearing of farm animals, notably with unregulated urban dairy systems developing quickly with very poor welfare standards.

"India has strong laws on the protection of animals; however, the welfare of dairy animals is yet to part of any such law. Cows are considered to be sacred in India but millions of cows and buffaloes continue to suffer in cruel conditions every day in dairies within our cities. This index is a good reminder of the work that still needs to done to protect every animal", said Gajender K Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection, India.

New research reveals poor animal welfare practices, in the trade and farming of wild animals and livestock, which provides the perfect breeding ground for viruses to mutate and spread. If animal welfare laws aren't improved, we face the risk of disease outbreaks becoming more frequent. This is just one of the ways that governments are failing to protect animals and people, says the report.

World Animal Protection assessed the animal welfare policies and legislation of 50 countries and clearly identified a worrying lack of adequate animal welfare laws. It is pushing for urgent improvements.

The index will help countries to put in place good animal welfare practices such as keeping animals clean, healthy and with sufficient space to exhibit natural behaviours.

"Good animal welfare practices for domesticated animals can help prevent disease, by keeping animals clean, healthy, and providing sufficient space for them to exhibit natural behaviour. Ending the commercial trade in wild animals, that have been taken from their natural habitats or intensively bred in captivity, will reduce the serious human health hazards associated with moving stressed, sick and injured wildlife through international trade routes", said Kelly Dent, Global Director of External Engagement at World Animal Protection.

Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Austria are rated with the highest scores, which is encouraging. More countries need to follow their lead and World Animal Protection is calling on all governments to immediately improve their animal welfare standards, not only for the benefit of animals but also to reduce the risk to public health.

World Animal Protection last year launched a 60-second film to highlight the many ways that we are failing to protect animals, asking the question: does the life of an animal mean nothing at all? A question, we need to ask the governments which currently lack the most basic animal welfare policies.

India has some of the finest provisions to safeguard animals in the world. For example, did you know it is illegal to relocate stray dogs that have been spayed? Or that it is illegal to incite or organize animal fights?

Here, Humane Society International/India gives you the lowdown on legislation in relation to animal welfare in India so you can be informed of what protections are available to animals.

1. It is the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to have compassion for all living creatures. Article 51A(g).

2. To kill or maim any animal, including stray animals, is a punishable offence. IPC Sections 428 and 429.

3. Abandoning any animal for any reason can land you in prison for up to three months. Section 11(1)(i) and Section 11(1)(j), PCA Act, 1960.

4. No animal (including chickens) can be slaughtered in any place other than a slaughterhouse. Sick or pregnant animals shall not be slaughtered. Rule 3, of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (Slaughterhouse) Rules, 2001 and Chapter 4, Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011.

5. Stray dogs that have been operated for birth control cannot be captured or relocated by anybody including any authority. ABC Rules, 2001.

6. Neglecting an animal by denying her sufficient food, water, shelter and exercise or by keeping him chained/confined for long hours is punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to 3 months or both. Section 11(1)(h), PCA Act, 1960.

7. Monkeys are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and cannot be displayed or owned.

8. Bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, lions and bulls are prohibited from being trained and used for entertainment purposes, either in circuses or streets. Section 22(ii), PCA Act, 1960.

9. Animal sacrifice is illegal in every part of the country. Rule 3, Slaughterhouse Rules, 2001.

10. Organizing of or participating in or inciting any animal fight is a cognizable offence. Section 11(1)(m)(ii) and Section 11(1)(n), PCA Act, 1960.

11. Cosmetics tested on animals and the import of cosmetics tested on animals is banned. Rules 148-C and 135-B of Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

12. Teasing, feeding or disturbing the animals in a zoo and littering the zoo premises is an offence punishable by a fine of Rs. 25000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both. Section 38J, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

13. Capturing, trapping, poisoning or baiting of any wild animal or even attempting to do so is punishable by law, with a fine of up to Rs. 25000 or imprisonment of up to seven years or both. Section 9, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

14. Disturbing or destroying eggs or nests of birds and reptiles or chopping a tree having nests of such birds and reptiles or even attempting to do so constitutes to hunting and attracts a punishment of a fine of up to Rs. 25000, or imprisonment of up to seven years or both. Section 9, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

15. Conveying or carrying animals whether in or upon any vehicle, in any manner or position which causes discomfort, pain or suffering is a punishable offence under two Central Acts. Section 11(1)(d) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (Transport of Animal) Rules, 2001 and Motor Vehicles Act 1978.

It is certainly the duty of the govt. to make effective laws, update them timely and at the same time ensure that they are widely publicised and abided by the people. The govt. should keep a check on the way people respond to any legislation and what can be done to create a balance between animal and human rights.

Various projects have been carried out and the results though not remarkably great but are showing some improvement in conservation of wildlife in the country. In rural areas where the majority of these conflicts happen, the government reach and visibility are often limited. Moreover, the land-owners whose crops or cattle are often attacked by these animals take very minimum efforts to report such incidents to the authorities and seek to deal with the animals by their own brawn.

Numerous videos surface on social media where mobs of villagers have been seen thrashing tigers and leopards while forest authorities stand by them as mere spectators. It could have been better if the govt. had worked vigorously in the past and fostered a sense of respect in the people towards these authorities as well as rights of the animals.

Take Action!

Let us look at how we can use the laws and make a formal complaint against violation of animal rights, and where:

Sending a Legal Notice: You can either send a legal notice to the individual/group of animal abusers yourself through a lawyer, or report the matter to an NGO which would do that for you. In case no action is being taken by the abuser even after sending the notice, you can file an official complaint.

Getting a Wildlife Case Registered: An offence report is known by different names in different states, such as Preliminary Offence Report (POR), Offence Report, First Information Report (FIR), Seizure Intimation, etc. However, to make the reports uniform, it is advised that the report be called Wildlife Offence Report (WLOR). It is prepared under Section 50(4) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. This can be filed by anyone generally.

Though, to file a ‘complaint’, one needs to approach a magistrate and make an allegation orally or in writing. One can approach a forest officer, who can further file a complaint to the magistrate.

Arrest by an individual: Offences under the Wildlife Protection Act are non-bailable and cognizable offences. Under Section 43 of the CrPC, an individual can arrest an offender who has committed a non-bailable and cognizable offence or is a habitual offender, and hand him/her over to the police.

It is very possible that a person may be very passionate about reporting a certain incident or just generally about animal welfare, and may want to take action, but the concerned authorities may not cooperate with them.

This gets very demotivating, which is why a lot of people think of exercising animal welfare as a very futile job. To get the authorities to actually take action, make sure you do the following:

Make friends with lawyers and journalists: both of them, sometimes in exchange of money and sometimes pro bono, will help you get your case through.

Meet people in NGOs and try to help the aggrieved animal or get an abuser reprimanded with the help of established NGOs. Previously, NGOs have fought and won many cases in courts, and are a powerful force altogether.

If the authorities are not taking action when it is urgent, try to call or write to higher authorities, politicians, etc.

Gather people: Organize a peaceful protest or demonstration.

Being a problem of massive impact, no formula would fulfil the voids in all dimensions. Therefore, we shall discuss the solutions in light of what can be done at earliest and what can be evolved over time to develop a more sustainable approach.

Increasing the fines and punishments may seem a formidable option. However, these would not fulfil the goal in the long run and the enforceability of these rules would still remain a matter of efficiency. The solution to this problem requires a mix of short-term and long-term solutions in equal proportion so that the future can be secured without compromising with the present. These measures include:

The mode of compensation to the people harmed or wronged by animals shall receive Crop Compensation rather than Cash Compensation as the primary need of such communities is that of their grains because of them being primitive or carrying primitive trade.

Another thing which can be helpful is to demarcate clearly the areas for humans and that of animals around the forests and all this should be strictly regulated.

Conclusion

Although a lot of very elaborate and specific animal protection laws have been passed in India, they are often not properly implemented.

It is so because concerned citizens and NGOs do not often emphasize on taking the legal pathway to accomplish results.

At the same time, it is imperative to realize that the legislation that we currently have in India is not sufficiently strong and reasonable so as to make great change. The general anti-cruelty parts in Section 11 of the PCAA can be made a lot more effective by increasing the punishment and fine to some extent.

The laws can be made more stringent and all-encompassing so that animals of all kinds, be it street animals, wild animals and animals residing in all types of habitat are protected and preserved.