Understanding Animal Rights and Welfare in 2021

WHAT ARE ANIMAL RIGHTS AND WELFARE?

If you are like me, you must be wondering what animal rights and welfare is! I recently got to understand the difference between the same ~ Richa, Young Changemaker.             

Here’s what it is

ANIMAL RIGHTS are…

• It involves looking after the laws and rights animals have in different countries.
• May include animal welfare.
• Recognizes that animals are sentient beings and have different levels of rights in countries.

ANIMAL WELFARE (This is common one!)

• Providing care for animals.
• Providing physical relief to animals who are sick, diseased, or injured.
• May include animal rights.

Let’s look into the problems CONCERNING ANIMAL RIGHTS AND WELFARE?

When it comes to animal welfare and rights, many problems arise – adoption, false presumptions and myths about animals and much more. The recent pandemic has also struck the situation for the worse. Animals have been considered a resource from eating, fashion to entertainment. There are a few laws made to reduce suffering and to keep wildlife intact. There had also been a judgement on “Jalikattu” to restore the dignity of the animals.On animal welfare, there are problems concerning sterilizing, adoption, population, feeding drives and more. The stray animal population has been increasing a lot in the past years. Though many have been sterilized there is a long way to go.

Awareness programmes have been organized on animal welfare and rites. FIAPO,  India’s apex animal rights organisation has supported smaller areas with not much income in feeding drives during the pandemic. Thane SPCA , a Mumbai based organisation has helped those who wanted to reach out to animals dependent on them for resources like food and medical purposes, which keep increasing by the day. Animals live in such terrible conditions and hence fall sick and start spreading diseases such as swine flu. These conditions need to be improved.

It’s necessary to look through an animal’s view before making drastic decisions. We as individuals can make a difference on our own to remedy this situation. We can stop wearing and eating animals to prevent unnecessary slaughter just for human pleasure and start looking for alternatives. It is not okay to exploit animals.

Though there are many rules and laws, threats still exist for animals. Through awareness programmes, saying no to myths and animal products, we can make a gradual difference and influence many more people to protect animals and not portray them as a resource. Animals have the right to live and SHARE the Earth’s resources as much as humans do. 

“You just cannot dabble with any wildlife!”

– Shakuntala Majumdar 

The article has summaried the discussion between TribesforGOOD, Thane SPCA and FIAPO.Shakuntala Majumdar is the president of THANE SPCA, an Animal Hospital, working for the welfare of animals. Their team that looks into aspects and reinforces rights for those animals deprived of them. Varda Mehrotra is the Executive Director at FIAPO (Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations)- is India’s apex animal rights organisation. They join hands with the government in showing investigations and conditions of animals and restore the rights of animals and improve their conditions around the country.

Meet Richa Iyer, an animal rights Young Changemaker.

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