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In the last few days, I have received numerous requests for petitions and “join causes” against animal cruelty on facebook. This is an issue very close to my heart. I sincerely hate people that is cruel to animals and would in an instant of madness, easily kill someone if they are cruel to animals where I am present.
Many people aren’t religious but I try to be a good Christian and in the Bible God instruct the human to look after nature and its animals.
This is also a qualification of civilization for me – the way animals are treated in and by our communities. Being cruel to an animal, classifies you as an animal and warrants the same kind of behaviour towards you as you have shown the poor animal.
Human Rights have been the saddest thing ever, to be recognised in society. It has given criminals more rights than victims, including animal and environmental victims. The law abiding citizen has to spend big bucks in court to get their rights recognised.
I feel, that this should be our starting point – ABANDEN HUMAN RIGHTS! Replace it with HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY!
As Human you are responsible to treat other humans and animals and our environment with:
- Respect,
- Consideration,
- and utmost care.
If you do, you qualify to receive the same.
If not, you have no right.
Unfortunately the government need to play its role and be effective in enforcing our rule of living. Bringing those who transgress to justice, punishing them appropriately and effectively.
I do not believe that facebook petitions and cause solve any of our modern day issues or let me re-phrase: I have never heard of any facebook petition or cause bring around change for the better in any public issues.
I believe the solutions is more in the Afri-Forum type of action and their success is evident to my opinion.
To root out animal cruelty is impossible but to minimize cruel deeds against animals is possible.
I would start campaigning for municipal regulation and law, enforced by national law:
- Domestic Animal licenses:
- Dog – R20 per month.
- Cat – R20 per month
- Reptile – R10 per month
- Other – R10 per month
(pets should be on an updated list as authorized by the national SPCA.)
- This monies must be collected through municipal accounts with fines for not complying and paid over monthly to the local SPCA as operational funding. If not paid, electricity to your premises may be cut-off. Continued offense and outstanding amounts may be collected through normal debt collecting procedures.
- SPCA officials should have the authority to issue fines in case of not complying.
- All dogs and cats (and other mammals weighing more than 1.5kg) must be spaded if older than 6 months.
- Special permits and allowances (for example chickens) can be given by the local SPCA.
- An animal can only be spaded by an accredited veterinarian that must issue a controlled certificate.
- All animals must be electronically chipped with owner’s detail by an accredited veterinarian.
- If not spaded, owner must be a registered breeder at R250 per animal per month.
- Once off Breeder registration fee of R5,000 and breeder must comply with living regulations set by authorities.
- Breeders must have regular inspections to ensure the humane treatment of the animals.
- All dogs must be kept inside a yard fit for such an animal, specified by the SPCA authorities.
- Fines if you do not comply must be heavy:
- Un-spaded animals – R1,000 per animal per day not complying,
- Illegal breeding – R10,000 per day not complying,
- Dog running the streets including people walking dogs without a leash – R500 per animal,
- Cruelty to animals – 3 month to 10 years jail sentence depending on the crime.
- Un-chipped animals to be impounded.
- It is not a right to own a pet but a privilege. If you cannot afford to comply to the regulation, you won’t be able to afford to care for the animal.
This is a rough outline of my thoughts and opinion. To make it into a law, the clever people need to sit down.
If you beg and plead with people not to be cruel to animals, you are wasting your time. In a civilized society there must be rules and regulations to keep the creep in line, with good order and acceptable human behaviour, enforced strictly.
If you are the freedom-campaigner, don’t cry about animal cruelty or child abuse. Because freedom is just another word for nothing left to loose, like Kris Kristofferson said in his song.
