Why do Animals Matter?
Across the globe, World Animal Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 4th. This marks the 92nd year in which global day of action for all animals is raising awareness of the plight of animals across the world. It isn’t centered on one species but all. This is a day of recognition to show animals are sentient beings and are able to feel a variety of emotions much like humans.
The mission of World Animal Day is to raise the status of animals to improve welfare standards globally. Its goals are to make the world a better place for animals. With 93 World Animal Day Ambassadors from 73 countries spreading the word about animals, this is clearly a global effort on the part of animal advocates.
World Animal Day in India
I have the honor of being the Ambassador for World Animal Day for the United States. Each Ambassador and the events that are held in their countries are as diverse as the Ambassadors themselves. But, the one thing we have in common is honoring our love for animals, irrespective of nationality, religion, faith, or political ideology. We unite for the animals.
Each of us is trying to make the world a better place for all animals. While it’s great to celebrate this wonderful cause on this day, every day should be World Animal Day!
I feel there has been an increased awareness of dogs and cats being sentient beings in my country. However, millions still die in shelters every year because someone didn’t want or was unable to make that lifetime commitment to them. In the United States, pet owners spend billions on their pets. Puppy mills where mother and father dogs are caged 24/7 to breed puppies for pet stores are still prolific in the United States. Adopting from a shelter instead of purchasing a puppy is one step in the right direction.
Billions of animals suffer in my country and throughout the world on a daily basis. I want to see this change. We want to see this change. This must change. We can’t stand idly by while sentient beings are suffering. One small act of kindness on your part can make a huge impact for animals.
The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare recognizes (see below) animals can suffer and feel as did the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness in 2012.
[1] AFFIRMING that animals are sentient beings and that their welfare is an issue worthy of consideration and respect by Member States;
[2] CONSCIOUS that humans share this planet with other species and other forms of life and that all forms of life co-exist within an interdependent ecosystem;
[3] EMPHASIZING that animal welfare should be guided by the best available science & ethical values;
[4] RECALLING that the “five freedoms (freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition; freedom from fear and distress; freedom from physical and thermal discomfort; freedom from pain, injury and disease; and freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour)” provide valuable general guidance for animal welfare;
[5] CONVINCED that good practices in animal welfare can have major benefits for humans and the environment, and that inclusion of animal welfare in policy discussions can strengthen efforts by governments and the United Nations on a range of issues including human and animal health, food security, poverty & hunger reduction, disaster risk reduction & relief, environmental sustainability and social development;
[6] WELCOMINGthe FAO’s integration of animal welfare into its poverty alleviation, disaster relief and livestock development programmes, as outlined in the FAO Expert Meeting Report “Capacity building to implement good animal welfare practices” (2008);
[7] RECOGNIZING that many Member States already have a system of legal protection for animals, both domestic and wild, and that it is important to ensure the continued effectiveness of these systems and the development of better and more comprehensive animal welfare provisions;
[8] CONSIDERING that the promotion of animal welfare requires collective action and that all stakeholders and affected parties must be involved;
[9] ACKNOWLEDGINGthat the provisions contained in this declaration do not affect the rights of any Member State;
[10] NOTINGResolution XIV adopted on 24 May 2007 by the International Committee of the OIE (recognized as an international animal welfare standard-setting body) expressing support in principle for the development of a UDAW.
For anyone involved in the animal welfare/rights world, a declaration stating animals have the capacity to feel happiness, sadness, grief, anxiety, jealousy, resentment, depression, fear, and pain wasn’t needed but it helps for others to understand and accept this truth; although, there will always be those who don’t or won’t accept it. If you have a dog or cat, you know when your pet is not feeling well. They don’t have the ability to speak using words but they can certainly verbalize their feelings via their actions, reactions, body language, vocalizations, and behavior.
If your pet would get hurt, they most likely would scream out in pain! When your dog greets you at the door when you arrive home, you see a tail wagging rigorously and a body wiggling in glee to see you! Pure happiness for them! My tripawd, Brody, has a range of emotions from pure exhilaration to being irritated if he doesn’t get his way. Brody is on the small side weighing a solid 16 pounds but is strong like a bull despite losing a front leg to severe cruelty. Despite losing a front leg to severe abuse, the “Bro-man” enjoys intensely activity!
My tripawd, Brody!
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein
In the 2 1/2 years since I’ve adopted him, it appeared he wasn’t afraid of anything. As time has gone by, his fears are coming through. We know someone had a motorcycle where he used to live. Don’t know if it was his former abuser or a neighbor. Whenever he heard one, he always jumped to attention to check it out. However, his reaction has slowly changed. He checks out the motorcycle but now he’s angry and barks incessantly as it cruises by our car. He is so irate that we need to calm him. Is he upset with the bike or the person on it? We will never know.
Brody is now fearful (feeling) whenever we drive past a street grate near our home. While driving quite slowly near our home, our three-legged best friend is allowed to stick his head out of the window. He knows where the grates are and retreats into the car when driving over them. It’s a new behavior that is unexplainable to my husband and me. We’ve purposely never walked Brody near a grate because he only has three legs. Did something happen in his past that has triggered this emotion? We won’t ever know.
Animals have feelings and emotions. One only has to check out any animal to see and know it. Being abused can scar pets for life and can take years to help him/her overcome the cruelty inflicted upon them. If our pets didn’t feel emotions, they wouldn’t be affected emotionally by abuse.
There are animals who endure a lifetime of abuse while on this earth for such a short time. There is no healing for them. Even in death, they experience horrific pain. They’re unable to escape it. From the day they’re born, they were never meant to be treated fairly or with compassion and yet they endure so much agony and torture.
Factory farmed animals are some of the most abused animals on the planet and yet the majority of us will never know what they encounter before they end up on someone’s plate. Over 70 billion farmed animals are killed annually throughout the world. This doesn’t include fish or other sea creatures. Factory farmed animals are confined, bred and drugged, all in the name of making a profit when sold in stores or restaurants. Those who work on these “farms” don’t care about the welfare or the feelings of these forgotten souls. They suffer immeasurable pain until the day they die. Factory farmed animals include cows, chicken, ducks, turkeys, dairy cows, veal calves, and dairy calves. Some are forced fed to gain weight in an unnatural way. It’s beyond cruel.
On this World Animal Day, what will you do to make the world a better place for animals? It can be as simple as spending more time with your pet which I plan to do! You can donate to your local shelter. Help your neighbor with their pets. Donate to an animal group you feel is worthy of it. Always be careful to whom you spend your hard earned money. Adopt a pet!
Doing one thing for animals can be a simple gesture which can have a lasting impact on animal’s life. All you have to do is use your imagination. The ideas are limitless.
And remember, World Animal Day isn’t reduced to one day out of the year. You can make a difference in animals’ lives on any day of the year!
So, why do animals matter?
Is it because they’re sentient beings who feel a variety of emotions? Is it because they suffer or endure abuse? Is it because millions die each year? The answer is uncomplicated and straightforward.
Animals matter because they simply exist!
India is very abusive toward some animals while they put others on a pedestal. It’s confusing.
Before I answer you, I want to get facts first. Thank you!
There are many in India who care deeply about animals. India has laws/ provisions to safeguard animals in the world. How much they are enforced is not known to me.
India has a rabies problem and its stray dogs are mostly blamed. India has taken drastic measures in the past by electrocuting them and throwing their bodies into the ocean.
With still too many cases of rabies occurring, the gov’t wanted to cull the stray dogs. Many will tell tourists to stay away from them because they are no good. Most dogs only want food and some affection.
Stray dogs is an ongoing and serious issue that plagues India. There are those who care about their welfare but those who also want to see them dead because thousands of people die each year from rabies.
It’s a horrible situation. It’s not the dogs’ fault. Most of people living in India live in poverty so it will affect how animals are treated. There are shelters who care for the animals there with little to nothing to helping them.
I’m sorry I don’t have more information for you at this time. I will see if I can find out more. Thank you again.
India thinks dogs r filthy and nasty ?. They poisoned them at one time . Don’t know if they still do.
Congrat on being an ambassador. I didn’t know. Cool. Thumbs up!
I meant Congrats! 🙂