The Convenience of Cruelty: Exposing Hypocrisy in Our Treatment of Animals

 

I came across, protect the wild on my insta and read about their campaigns for badgers, hunting etc. which made me sign their petition and write the below article. 

The Convenience of Cruelty: Exposing Hypocrisy in Our Treatment of Animals 

For generations, we've relied on cows, often confining and manipulating them for milk production. However, this dependence comes at a cost, not just for the cows, but for badgers.

The Flawed Narrative:

Badgers are blamed for transmitting bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to cattle herds. The "solution"? Culling badgers across Europe, particularly in the UK and the government has provided license to cull. Till now 2.5lakhs badgers are culled and counting. 

The hypocrisy lies in our treatment of cows themselves. We exploit them for milk, disregarding their welfare. When cows contract bTB, they are slaughtered, not treated. Cheap way out for "businesses".

Do We Need Dairy?

But wait, don't we need milk for strong bones? Not quite. Calcium might be the go-to answer during childhood, but our bodies require a symphony of nutrients for bone health – magnesium, zinc, vitamin D, and even potassium. These are readily available in plant-based sources like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and fortified dairy alternatives.

The separation of calves from their mothers for milk production adds another layer of cruelty. These intelligent, social creatures experience immense emotional distress at this forced separation. Cows are not mere machines; they are sentient beings capable of feeling pain and forming bonds.

A Flawed Solution and the Need for Alternatives:

Instead of exploring alternatives like stronger fences or badger vaccination programs, culling is seen as a quick fix. However, science shows culling disrupts badger social structures, potentially worsening the spread of bTB. 

Leaders who endorse badger culling often lack a fundamental understanding of the delicate balance of the natural world. Shouldn't our leaders be surrounded by and actively seek out scientific expertise before making decisions with such far-reaching ecological consequences?

Now if the government of Europe finds a convenient way out rather than being creative and compassionate, shouldn't people think who are they electing as their leaders. Often, powerful agricultural lobbying groups have a significant influence on policy decisions. These groups prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term solutions. 

Should leaders making crucial decisions about wildlife management be so heavily influenced by narrow special interests, especially when more sustainable alternatives exist? 

Quote: 

Several scientific studies have found culling has had no positive impact. But according to Defra, data suggests that culling has contributed to an overall reduction of approximately 56% in cattle TB incidence rates across the first 52 cull areas after four years of badger culling. 

Unquote 

By thegaurdian.com

A Double Standard?

We condemn the culling of humans during pandemics, but remain comfortable with badger extermination. Why?, because we consider ourselves superior to other species and the ecological affect. Both scenarios highlight the "necessary evil" argument, sacrificing individuals for the perceived greater good, rather "richer and powerful groups".

The Need for Change:

Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate our dependence on a system that prioritizes profit over animal welfare. Can we find alternatives that don't rely on animal suffering? Vaccination programs for badgers and cattle, alongside improved farm biosecurity measures, offer a more ethical path forward.

The Ecological Impact:

Badger culling ignores their vital role in the ecosystem. As apex predators, they control rodent populations and aerate the soil, promoting plant growth. Leaders who endorse badger culling often lack a fundamental understanding of the delicate balance of the natural world. Shouldn't our leaders be surrounded by and actively seek out scientific and sustainable expertise before making decisions with such far-reaching ecological consequences?

The Takeaway:

The badger cull exposes our flawed relationship with animals. We exploit them and discard them when inconvenient. It's time to choose compassion and scientific solutions over convenience and violence. The future of wildlife, and our own humanity, depends on it.

Dennis, the lucky dog

So here is a story about Dennis, the lucky dog.

Lets talk about bad parenting and when I say that it is always a case of bad parenting and the energy the dog picks up from pet parents. The owners did not let him socialize with people since he was over protective he had trust issues with people coming home. So when anyone use to come home he was locked up either in the balcony or in the bedroom. Till 6 years they kept him locked out in the balcony and he was not given exercise as per his breed requires, the German shepherd. The nails were never clipped so his paws spread and the joint was turned outwards, fur was not in a good condition and there were many skin problems. Due to all this he had an aggressive behavior and he use to snap on anyone coming near him. 

After trying to find places for him to find a loving family, we fostered him and tried our best to read his behavior and understand what we can do but due to the snappy behavior he was not getting adopted. As a personality he was protective for me and during the walks he never let anyone pass by or there was some trouble with the bikes passing by as well. 

We decided to adopt him. He wanted alone time and separate space where he can chill and roam around so our house was open for him. If anyone was scared of him we didn't let that person visit our house. He was made familiar with the people who use to come and work for us slowly by training them to be around him. Then we started working on his walks since he used to pull a lot. Then Sunny Luthra came in to help him out and socialize. He was able to walk properly and he did all sorts of positive reinforcement. We were very happy to see the changes in Dennis and in ourselves. I was able to see how more confident I can be with myself and how sorted I have to be to make him feel calm and composed. Although once in a while he does jump and scare the hell out of people and we keep a distance from people who are scared of him. But he is more calm more better and still needs to learn to be calm. He loves to meet our friends and let people in the house. There is more mental and emotional work we need to do on ourselves and on him. He has a fixed routine of walk and food, he looks happier and healthier. 

We love him to the core.

Sadhu - The warrior

Mixed feelings is what I can say I feel right now. Happy and hopeful that there are few people who are ready to help Sadhu in his surgery and recovery and sad that I could not find him earlier or someone did not see him earlier or may be seen him and said what can we do. Not blaming anyone but I think the animals deserve this earth and space more than humans do. All we have done to the animals and earth is harm and destroy. But still I want to feel hopeful and have faith since, "This too shall pass".

Scared and anxious - that's what I saw in his eyes, scared that I might hurt him since every other human did this to him and anxious since he could not trust us what pain he has to go through again. When people say that I am very sensitive then may be I am and proud about it but I wish I had the power to make anyone who says that, feel the pain this poor soul is feeling right now and has been since the day he met with an accident. I felt it, the moment I saw him and he looked at me.

The first day was exhausting emotionally for me and my friend Meenakshi since we got him on the table and he was given pain relief injections and then he ate. Next day when I had to pick him up for x-ray he was running away but I had to feed him so he stays at that place till I waited for Meenakshi to come with the car. One lady came to me shouting something in the local language and I was so disturbed that I told her that I cant hear you. She thought I am deaf and left from there but she was clearly asking me to not feed the dog. How insensitive some humans really are? This amazes me a lot when I cant understand those people world and their inhuman behavior and that I feel disgusted that I am one of their kind. Yet again I feel happy and hopeful when only a handful come forward to help somehow.

Only today, after 3 days he has started wagging his little tail while looking at me and sleeping in my lap while I was trying to make him comfortable in lying down. Although he cried and shouted but I guess he knows now that help has come and now he is in good hands. I want to thank all who have helped, Meenakshi, Seemee, Avijit, Abhijit, Mona, Monaz, and lot many who have contributed (please forgive me if I have forgotten any other name). Will make a list of name who contributed and display in the blog later. today he leaves for the care he needs till the surgery and after the surgery too.

Request everyone and anyone who sees an accident of an animal please click a picture of the vehicle and the animal and try to search for the nearest vet on google call them and ask them about the nearby shelter or any shelter they know who can help. Don't try to chase the dog, save the location and send it all to the shelter you come across or any volunteer that you know. Tell the people nearby that you are sending help for the animal and that they should help the animal by at least letting him/her sit in a corner somewhere and not beating or shooing them away. I know that it all will be a little mentally exhausting and time consuming, but it might help the poor animal out, cos people come forward to help humans but not animals. Follow up with the person you reported the case to, it will be helpful too.

Speciesism is what we face all the time from different people, we do not want it to increase more and understand that we need to co-exist and not have a superiority complex. Speciesism' is the idea that being human is a good enough reason for human animals to have greater moral rights than non-human animals. ...a prejudice or bias in favor of the interests of members of one's own species and against those of members of other species.

Live to Express

When people say that you need experience to understand things around you and what would happen and how would people perceive you when you behave in a particular way, I always thought that why should we behave in a way we are expected to, by others. Although we all do not like to be judged but we do and then we think about our choices that we have made. We introspect and do lots of things to understand how things could be better in order to pretend to be someone else's expectation. In this constant fight we forget who we truly are, what we are made of, what are the things that we have in us that makes us.

In the society people say that if we think about ourselves only, then we are selfish and that we have to think about others first. We are suppose to feel guilty about thinking for ourselves. Of course there is a fine line between being too selfish and harming anyone for our self

. But there are few things that are cliche about thinking in a particular way. Its like animal kingdom, there are certain rules and way of doing things and they cannot be changed. Now we say that we are different from animals and that we have the capability of using our brains and develop ourselves and grow intellectually, so then why do we become like animals by categorizing few practices as wrong and few right. Who defines what's "Wrong" and what's "Right"? I believe there is nothing wrong or right but there are different ways to think about a particular thing. It is about your perspective and your way to think about situations and deal with them. 

There are so many topics like life after marriage, same sex marriage, child after marriage, travel, solo travel, leading life alone, Job or business, earn good since your friend is earning better, compete and keep running after money, food or shelter or luxury, it seems we are slaves to our wishes. When one wish is finished we grab hold to another one. Its a loop and life seems to get caught in that loop and we forget what we truly are from within. I would be using somebody else's line here but its really apt to use it here that we live to impress and not express. These are 2 different words but sometimes to understand the exact meaning we have to go through lots of situations in life which makes us believe in expressing ourselves, without worrying about pleasing someone else. 

On the contrary, we should be open to critics as well and be open minded to accept others perspective and see the things the way they do and then we have a choice again to buy that thought or not. We should not be pressurized and feel guilty for taking a decision which may seem a little selfish but in the end it makes our SOUL happy. We should live free and to express ourselves. Yes, there will be opinions and judgments that will affect our behavior. Nobody can make you feel, the way you are feeling until unless you let it make you feel that way.

I am lucky to have people around me who appreciate for who I am and not what I should be. Hope we all find people who bring out the best in us and make us connect to our Soul and not just put a mask on our faces just to please others.