Bundles of joy

Let them not be treated as bundles of waste:

by Samangie Wettimuny

When Wathsala noticed her pet cat behave in a strange manner she took her to the veterinary surgeon who diagnosed cancer. She immediately started giving it necessary treatment. But her action was viewed with scorn by her relatives who thought it was a waste of money. "She does not know that millions of people are starving to death.

That is why she wants to spend so much money on that useless animal." They used to criticise her behind her back. But why should Wathsala's relatives worry about how she spends her money? On top of that they are the kind who won't give even a penny to a beggar, but think that the entire starving masses should be fed by Wathsala!

They want Wathsala to let her poor cat die without any treatment just like their old dog who was chased out of the house when it fell sick.

Though the death of a pet would undoubtedly be a devastating emotional loss to its owners who genuinely love it, for others it would just be nothing worth bothering. Just because they are insensitive to the suffering of animals, they think that everyone should be the same.

Fifty five year old Chandrani never lets their cat come inside the house and it is never given food on time. So the poor cat always waits at the door step of Nalini's neighbour's yearning for some food. But when she meets her neighbour she would talk so high of her 'pet' cat and its 'mischievous' behaviour.

She would make her words more ironical by adding : " You know, ours is a strange cat. It would refuse to eat unless we give it rice with Tuna-fish.!". Her neighbour then wonders.

"What a cunning cat? It must be taking each meal twice." But the neighbour is well aware of Nalini's past. Even her mother-in-law died in despair without getting proper medical treatment and on top of that the poor cat's 'tummy' is flat as ever like a thin board every time it appears on his doorstep!

Can we expect a person who was so unkind to her mother-in-law,a human being, to be kind to a small 'useless' creature like a cat? Any one may ask. If a person can bestow love on any living being whether human or animal, he/she surely loves mankind, the writer believes.

The world Animal Day fell on October 4th and the necessity to bestow loving kindness on them was observed. In Sri Lanka , the Animal Welfare Act is to be activated from next year with the intention of minimising the acts of violence against animals.

Starting from the brutal killing of animals upto ill-treating small domestic pets, violence against animals covers a vast area. Anyway the silent suffering of domestic animals is not normally discussed as a big issue.

It is not rarely that we see dogs 'imprisoned' in small kennels where they get hardly any space to move.

" Dogs are used to it. You need not worry about our dog" Once Ruwanthi's neighbour blasted her when she kindly requested him to let his dog move freely rather than keeping it in that small cage through out the day. The dog goes on barking in pain without enough food and space to move around while its masters enjoy their meals inside the house.

I was a fool to narrate this story to one of my 'friends' who suggested to me some 'important' things to ponder on than brooding over the pains of Ruwanthi's neighbour's dog! " I think you do not have enough problems.

That is why you have time to ponder on such unnecessary matters" She further went on. Her words reflect the voice of the majority of people and such thoughts are largely responsible in making such matters remain unimportant throughout.

Dogs are being kept for their safety and it is only a few who are grateful to the poor animal for its service. Some people keep birds like parrots as their pets with a selfish motive. It is with great difficulty that these birds live in those cages, and their eyes bespeak their pain.

But the cage door will never be open, and the poor bird will never get a chance to fly and move freely to its heart's content as its presence gives pleasure to its unkind owner. Often kittens and puppies are abandoned near temples or by the road sides as its owners do not see any value in these innocent lives.

They normally meet with accidents and fall prey to other animals. Normally people do not want to see the true beauty of these animals, so rarely does anyone give them a chance to live by taking them home.

Temples and churches have become ideal places for such purposes as they can put their dual performance in to practice in a perfect manner. While a devout person is engaged in religious rites 'his bundle of 'waste'' can slowly get out from the sack.

The person may look even more religious then, thanking god for releasing him from a great burden. Any way this bundle of waste can surely be a bundle of joy if a kind person rose to the occasion.

We never think such innocent creatures can be so loving until we give them a chance. Sometime ago an old, shabby dog used to roam around our neighbourhood and everyone used to chase it out. We, particularly my father, being animal friendly let it come in, giving it some food. Gradually it grew out to be an amazingly beautiful dog though old and the ones who chased it away initially regretted what they did.

We had it with us for nearly five years until its recent death. It enjoyed a happy life and extensive medical care. If we did not rise to the occasion he would have definitely died during the very first days of being abanded.

Just because they can't put their pain into words, no one has a right to ill-treat these poor animals in the guise of keeping them as pets. May they never be seen as "bundles of waste".

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