So many countries around the world are establishing animal care societies that have a role in boosting public awareness about protecting animals and compassionately treating them, since we all share the Earth and since animals have significant roles in maintaining the ecological balance and serving mankind in many ways.

Respecting and protecting these weak creatures who cannot speak for themselves would surely help tame so many cruel souls. It also provides protection and security to those living in solitary, who have been waiting so long for their own ‘godot’ who never arrives. They find more compassion and love by keeping a pet, be it cats, dogs, birds or any other animal, that might be more compassionate, protecting and caring, even with their simple looks or humming in joy or distress, than are human beings.

Therefore, there have been many calls to ensure decent lives for animals by keeping them free from harm or torture that might break kind human hearts if they see a hungry or thirsty poor animal being chased with a weapon in the soaring summer temperatures.

The love of so many pet lovers for a cat, bird, dog, fish or even a tortoise, creates a sort of relationship between man and those animals in which both sides exchange passion, such as the case when a cat comes meowing to its owner in the early morning requesting food or water or even to awaken him.

We have to establish a public authority to take care of animals, and it should provide and supervise both public and private veterinarian medical services and prepare special awareness programs to fight negative phenomena, such as the unorganized and brutal sale of such animals at the Friday market and mass sea transport of cattle, during which they might become sick, hungry, thirsty, exhausted or even die during the summer.

In addition, all forms of fighting between dogs or cocks, which are Asian traditions involving the spilling of blood, are another kind of brutality that satisfies people with sick souls who are only interested in betting and making money.

Having legally bought such animals by contracts and paying the price does not mean we can ignore our duty towards them, coming from compassion, by providing food, shelter and medical care when needed.

We surely lack proper media and cultural awareness on this issue, especially with younger generations. Our legislation should also match international laws in this field. Animal markets should be equipped with surveillance cameras to spot any violations. Also, there should be more cooperation should between the municipality, PAAFRA and EPA. And the media should be utilized to expose all cases of violations and brutality against animals, such as using poison or shooting to kill them. We must have penal laws against such violations. — Al-Qabas

By Labeed Abdal