[Phantom]

priya, on Aug 28 2006, 05:12 PM, said:

Phantom........Whilst I 'almost' agree with what you say, viz a viz  there is no necessity for cruelty. If you are going to use an animal to help you earn your keep, surely it's in your best interest to treat it properly?

I think this is what that happens in most of the cases. If you go to the villages, you will find out that the domesticated animals over there are treated just like family. They are taken care of and well looked after.

priya, on Aug 28 2006, 05:12 PM, said:

The animals that roam the streets in India didn't ask for that lifestyle.  Man has been responsible for this, and, if you'll excuse the expression, it's a dog eat dog situation out there. Humans behave in the same manner if it's survival but, man can speak up, animals unfortunately don't get to have their voices heard, irrespective of their treatment at the hands of man.  Children too suffer and are unable to speak for themselves - so where does that leave us,  the supposed 'superior' of all species?

I agree that it's a difficult situation, but compassion for our fellow creatures has to start somewhere.....initially with the parents educating their children that it's morally WRONG to hurt another living being.

I think, for all these reasons, India is still called a developing country.
Who will take care of the stray animal ??
Govt, would rather spend that money on primary education.
People, would rather spend that money and time on NGO's for orphans and beggars.

I guess, still some people are working for making the lives of these animals better. But I really think that we need those resources to improve the lives of the people living on the streets. Once that is taken care of, then we can start looking for improving our surroundings and the lives of "fellow animals" !!

And as you said, parents do play a big role in sensitizing their children about these things. Hopefully things will improve in near future

[H.Nick]

There are lots of domesticated animals here in the city: cats, dogs, cows etc.

There are also organisations and individuals who care for and treat sick animals.

It is not a situation that no-one cares.

London has a huge population of feral cats. Street dogs are not really seen at all for one reason: they have all been rounded up by police dog catchers.

[crvlvr]

H.Nick, on Aug 28 2006, 06:47 AM, said:

London has a huge population of feral cats. Street dogs are not really seen at all for one reason: they have all been rounded up by police dog catchers.

My point exactly: out of sight - out of mind.  IMHO, not enough people look in their own backyards to see how animals are treated.  Human have co-exited wiht animals for thousands of years in exaclty the same manner as one sees in India. The "clean streets" concept is relatively new and resource intensive. Something a poor country like India cannot afford financially.  

Is killing these stray animals humane? Is neutering them humane? Are these "treatments" of animals better letting them live on the streets? Those are the options (killiing/neutering) adopted wby more developed countries those clean streets that we would love to see in India.

[Lawrence of Suburbia]

Are there many rabbits about in India?

I donate money and time here to rabbit rescue charities; no special reason, other than I love the little creatures. They seem to me to be proof that God has a gentle aspect.

I remember seeing the small black bears (Himalayan bears?) on the road to Agra; that was a heartbreak. I actually rode the elephants up to Amber fort a long time ago, I shan't do that again. BTW I think that people in India are no crueller to animals that people anywhere else; one is just thrust into situations in the cities where animals in dire conditions are noticed. Here in the U.S., that Michael Vick dog-fighting scandal suggests we put our own house in order.

Cheers,
Bruce

Edited by Lawrence of Suburbia, 31 August 2007 - 09:26 AM.

[priya]

Quote

I think that people in India are no crueller to animals that people anywhere else; one is just thrust into situations in the cities where animals in dire conditions are noticed.

Yes, that's true - it's just not hidden and visible to everyone

However, as mentioned in your post, the Michael Vik dog-fighting scandal is something totally abhorrent to any person with an ounce of humanity(?) - sorry, that should read compassion.  I certainly hope he gets his just desserts.

[WonderWomanUSA]

Phantom, on Aug 27 2006, 10:15 PM, said:

I guess the responsibility is wholly with the government. They should provide the shelter to these stray animals. and more importantly pick them up off the streets.. same goes with cows and pigs.

I think you'll find the successful rescue organizations in the West are NOT run by the government, but were bankrolled by wealthy people who found a "cause" they could support. The San Francisco SPCA, for example, was begun by people who noticed horses that pulled supply wagons were being mistreated. That was 100-or-so years ago, and it's now an immensely wealthy organization that is a no-kill shelter, and a model for many other cities.

http://www.sfspca.org/home.shtml

Edited by WonderWomanUSA, 01 September 2007 - 06:04 AM.

[Bumblebee]

I don`t know very well. As a great animal lover and strict vegetarian, I have already felt lots of sympathy for the animals in India since the last weeks during my trip here. The cows on the streets that eat garbage and stay so calm under all the traffic stress and chaos... but on the other hand are tolerated by men on the streets. The many stray dogs - I have been trekking with some of them for  days (see my blog) - they were amazing these dogs; didn`t beg for food, just for some strokes..  
These days I sjust aw women in Manali going around with huge anghora rabbits asking if I wanted to have a pic. I was shocked.. Of course I couldn`t. The rabbits were so calm, I guess they must be sedated. I also saw a men with snakes on the streets here in Vashist-Manali; again these snakes were so calm and almost as dead; I guess sedated again.

But, I think we in the west don`t treat our animals better; only it happens behind closed doors... think about our bio industry.. Mass production in small cages..

So, I still don`t know exactly what to think about it. The situation here is different from the west, but is it better? Maybe I have a clearer view of this after some more months of travelling in India...


Helga`s India blog

[WonderWomanUSA]

Bumblebee, on Sep 3 2007, 07:30 AM, said:

These days I sjust aw women in Manali going around with huge anghora rabbits asking if I wanted to have a pic. I was shocked.. Of course I couldn`t. The rabbits were so calm, I guess they must be sedated.

Somewhere there's a photo of me with an Angora rabbit, taken in Manali in 1971 -- thanks for the reminder.

Charas grew wild on the roadsides in those days; I suspect they fed a little of that to the bunnies, who did not appear to be mistreated.

[Lawrence of Suburbia]

Angora rabbits...in the Indian heat? (shudder)

One of my pet peeves (no pun intended) is breeders who select these aberrant types of features; long, angora fur is heat exhaustion for the poor creature. Also lop ears - rabbit ears are the primary heat exchange system for body cooling, so these breeders who caused the flop-over lop feature are also abusive IMHO.

'Course, on this subject I'm not exactly impartial. If I see a bunny nearby, I turn into a 5-year-old girl.

Edited by Lawrence of Suburbia, 06 September 2007 - 12:16 PM.