Recently, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has been promoting a new campaign called the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW). It is described by the WSPA as “an agreement among people and nations to recognize that animals are sentient beings and can suffer, to respect their welfare needs, and to end animal cruelty – for good”.
The WSPA is seeking 10 million signatures to let the governments of the world know they are serious about achieving a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations. Government representatives from Kenya, India, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, and Republic of the Philippines, United Kingdrom, Australia, New Zealand, Tanzania, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia have indicated support for the UDAW. Now, the WSPA is seeking the help of Canadians and Government representatives from the Canadian Government to support the initiative.
There is an online petition to sign, however the Canadian Government will only accept the petition in paper format.
And the question I am asking myself about this issue?
Why aren’t all of us printing off our own copy and collecting signatures?
I have always had a soft spot for animals. As a child, my brothers and I would gather around the TV on saturday mornings and ball our eyes out over the Toronto Humane Society commercials. No matter how difficult it is to see pain in their eyes, I cannot help but watch.
I have never been able to process in my mind how someone can want to hurt an animal. They are as defenseless as a baby.
Ever since Confederation, the Criminal Code has prohibited animal abuse. The following is how the Criminal Code describes offenses against animals:
Everyone who wilfully and without lawful excuse, kills or injures dogs, birds or animals that are not cattle and are kept for a lawful purpose, or places poison in such a position that it may easily be consumed by these animals, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
Every one commits an offence who
- wilfully causes or, being the owner, wilfully permits to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or a bird;
- by wilful neglect causes damage or injury to animals or birds while they are being driven or conveyed;
- being the owner or the person having the custody or control of a domestic animal or a bird or an animal or a bird wild by nature that is in captivity, abandons it in distress or wilfully neglects or fails to provide suitable and adequate food, water, shelter and care for it;
- in any manner encourages, aids or assists at the fighting or baiting of animals or birds;
- wilfully, without reasonable excuse, administers a poisonous or an injurious drug or substance to a domestic animal or bird or an animal or a bird wild by nature that is kept in captivity or, being the owner of such an animal or a bird, wilfully permits a poisonous or an injurious drug or substance to be administered to it; or
- takes part in any meeting, competition, exhibition, pastime, practice, display or event at or in the course of which captive birds are liberated by hand, trap, contrivance or any other means for the purpose of being shot when they are liberated.
That’s all fine and dandy, but what is the punishment for harming an animal?
Just last April, a University of Windsor student from China beat his husky puppy so harshly that it had to be taken away by police and euthanised at the local animal shelter. Onlookers watched as the man dragged the puppy on a leash, choking it. He then smashed it into a fire hydrant and began to kick the dog. Residents followed the man in protest as he assaulted the dog and begged him to stop. By the time police arrived on the scene, the man had broken all four of the puppy’s legs. The left legs were completely shattered on the dog. The man argued that he is an international student and didn’t know he could be charged with animal cruelty. He said he had merely been training the dog and had been punching the dog to teach it.
On the X-Rays, the bones looked like someone chopped them right in half.
The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is a $2,000 fine and/or six months in jail.
I want to know in what way that this is a reasonable punishment.
How can someone harm a living thing in such a disgusting way, and the maximum penalty is only six months in jail and a small fine? Are these harsh enough consequences for beating the shit out of a living thing to the point that their bones are completely shattered, and surgery is not even an option to save it’s life?
In my opinion, people who have mistreated animals in any way need to be recognized as a criminal in society. Who is to say that after they are charged, that they will learn from the repercussions and not act in such a way ever again? These people should be banned from owning an animal ever again.
The government needs to enforce a system where animal owners need to obtain a license in order to possess an animal. In addition, animal cruelty cases need to be publicized more. The power of people is alarming, and there simply aren’t enough people being made aware of cases such as the one with the husky puppy.
I also wonder if people are aware that cruelty to animals is the early signs of a serial killer. If someone is heartless enough to beat a dog against a fire hydrant, is there anything stopping them from committing other criminal acts? Especially since the man responsible blamed the crime on the fact that he was from another country and therefore unaware of the laws? Or can justify what he did by saying he was “training” the dog?
The UDAW is something that needed to happen a long time ago. The government of Canada should be considering getting on the band wagon without the signatures to support the idea, although the petition is a good way to make people aware of animal cruelty happening all around us.
