You see some people in your neighbourhood treat stray animals with cruelty:you find it disturbing . With your partner discuss: how you ccouldn't discourage them from doing so? Ways you could spread awareness about kindness towards animals
Answers
You can either use the following conversation or develop similar one using ideas from it:
Student A: Apathy to animals is another problem amongst many other in our society.
Student B: I agree with you. The other day there was news concerning this in TV. A leopard by mistake entered a human settlement bordering a bio-reserve; this caused so much panic among the people there that they killed it.
Student A: How horrible! Could they not wait for the animal rescue squad?
Student B: No, they could not! I felt really bad. The earth belongs equally to animals. Man behaves like an authoritarian boss over other animals.
Student A: True! The condition of domestic animals is equally deplorable. Every other day we can see the mangled bodies of dogs, cats, buffalos, mules, etc. on the roads.
Student B: I have seen these horrible sights too. These poor animals don’t have any habitats left unto them because of man’s urbanization. They are forced to live among men; but they are not being treated respectfully by man.
Student A: The other day I was reading an article on internet. I came to know that cruelty against animals is illegal in our country! Why do people still ill-treat animals then?
Student B: Really? What did you read? Please tell me also! I did not know it!
Student A: Sure! I have noted down some of the animal-protection laws. According to the Constitution of India: “It is the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to have compassion for all living creatures. Article 51A (g).”
Student B: Really!
Student A: There is another law that says, “To kill or maim any animal, including stray animals, is a punishable offence. IPC Sections 428 and 429.”
Student B: That’s really wonderful. These laws can be taken support of to protect animal rights. People who treat animals cruelly can be complained against!
Student A: Not only these two, there many other animal specific laws that protect animals.
Student B: It means we need to make people aware of these animal protection laws. And this will help check cruelty against animals.
Student A: Yes, besides there are many animal welfare societies that can be contacted to seek their help for animals in need. Some of the famous Organizations are: Plants and Animals Welfare Society, Animal Welfare Board of India, The Blue Cross of Hyderabad, Blue Cross of India, Society for Prevention of Cruelty against Animals, etc.
Student B: Wow! That’s really wonderful. Now, I can do something against people who treat animals cruelly.
Student A: Sure, I am with you!
Follow up questions and answers:
How easy/difficult do you think it would be...? Why?
It will be not an easy task prohibiting people from treating animals cruelly. Since they have become used to maltreating them, and lack of awareness they might get offended and ask me to mind my own business.
Would you involve the authorities...? Why?
I think I will have to involve authorities. I will have to take the animal welfare department’s help. First of I will try to make people aware of animals’ right in a situation where animals might be getting treated cruelly. However, if the offenders will not listen to me, I will make a video of their maltreatment and show it to the animal welfare department.
Could a celebrity help..?
Yes a celebrity can surely have a tremendous impact on people. More people might be involved in this campaign.