Animal Cruelty

  India is a land of rich and varied biodiversity. It is home to some of the endangered and rare species, like the Royal Bengal Tigers or the Great Indian Rhinoceros. Just like humans, animals also have the right to live freely. And it is our duty should ensure that their rights are protected. There are various animal laws in India that help do so. In India, traditionally, we believe animals are sacred. Ahimsa or non-violence towards animals were the norms in those days. As a result, a majority of Indians were vegetarian. Even today, a considerably large section of the Indian population is still vegetarian. Consequently, India has some strong animal protection laws. Any violation of these laws can lead to fines, or imprisonment, or both. In this article, we are going to look over some of these animal protection laws. To start with we have the Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, which forms the basis of all animal protection laws in India. Then we have the IPC sections 428 and 4

  I. Introduction India, the seventh largest country in the world, is one of the most bio-diverse regions of the world containing four of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots. It is home to animals ranging from the Bengal Tigers to the Great Indian Rhinoceros and animal protection and welfare in in the country has taken a prominent position over the recent years. Protection of animals is enshrined as a fundamental duty in the Indian Constitution and there exist several animal welfare legislations in India such as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 at the Central level and cattle protection and cow slaughter prohibition legislations at the State levels. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860 is the official criminal code of India which covers all substantive aspects of criminal law. Section 428 and 429 of the IPC provides for punishment of all acts of cruelty such as killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless of animals. The aforementioned

   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. Who abuses animals? Cruelty and neglect cross all social and economic boundaries and media reports suggest that animal abuse is common in both rural and urban areas. Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people. Hoarding behavior 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 wh

  Pet shops   use the natural appeal of puppies, kittens, and other animals to sell these animals at an inflated price—often several hundred dollars or more for “purebred” animals. Common problems in the pet-shop industry include selling sick and injured animals, failing to provide proper veterinary care, keeping animals in unsanitary conditions, and using inhumane methods to dispose of sick or unwanted animals. You can help bring about changes in local pet stores if you know what conditions to look for and what steps to take. Where the Animals Come From The vast majority of dogs sold in pet shops are raised in “puppy mills,” breeding kennels located mostly in the Midwest that are notorious for their cramped, crude, and filthy conditions and for their continuous breeding of unhealthy and hard-to-socialize animals ( see PETA’s factsheet on puppy mills for more information ). Birds, rabbits, mice, and other rodents are often mistakenly thought of as “starter pets” and sell very well, so