The year 2011 ended with pompous shows and ceremonies marking the beginning of a year which holds much hope and controversial significance for people across the globe. With many predictions and speculations hovering over us, I wonder if Pakistanis passed any New Year resolutions to transform and change elements within themselves that have stopped all of us from progressing. Maybe this year we can try to be more tolerant and less hostile toward each others’ ideologies and opinions.

For a change let’s start this year by curbing our aggression towards weaker beings; paying special attention to animals. Many a times I have witnessed children pelting stones at animals and wringing their necks with a rope and I ask myself is this because of all the anger and frustration that is mounting within all of us? Or is this stemming out because parents are abusive toward children and they inadvertently ‘pass’ this anger on to animals? Either way, this is not healthy and constructive as these children grow up to become disrespectful and abusive especially towards women.

People argue that in a country where human rights are nonexistent, the concept of fighting for animal rights is hideous and equivalent to a ‘crime’ but it is not about the mutual exclusivity of the aforementioned issues that is critical. The most apparent problem here is that what motivates children to harm animals? Research shows that almost all serial killers, in United Kingdom, in the past century were animal abusers at some point in time, which clearly means that children who abuse animals are likely to harm humans as well.

The practice of harming animals is not exactly a rare sight in Pakistan and is not restricted to the underprivileged communities. Many children and adults belonging to the so-called ‘elite’ section of the society act like mental delinquents and abuse animals also. Children abusing animals is highly worrisome and should raise a ‘red flag’ in parents’ mind as perpetrators of such activities are in dire need of psychological assistance.

Research shows that animal abuse is more evident in households where spousal and parental abuse is more common. It also serves as one of the many signs of a child who lacks conscience as they feel no remorse or guilt after the abuse. This chain of abuse needs to be disrupted because this is hampering our cognitive and emotional growth as a nation.

The argument remains where are we moving as a society? As a mature citizen it is our moral duty to stop children from acting nastily towards animals. The best way to propagate the idea of putting an end to animal cruelty is by encouraging children to rescue animals. Reporting animal abuse and injuries to organisations working for animal welfare such as Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Edhi, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Brooke will instill a sense of conscientiousness in children. These prestigious institutions provide immediate relief and support to animals in trouble.

Designing curriculum and developing animal to human relationship as a child grows up is an essential component of healthy upbringing. Shazia Mirza, CEO of Manzil Educational Organisation, runs an underprivileged school in Reiti Line Basti, located off Bath Island in Karachi, and emphasises on the importance of inculcating a sense of responsibility amongst her students through animals.

“When we started off our school, we observed that students randomly abused stray dogs and cats. I found this very threatening for their psychological development and decided to construct a small recreational area where I kept rabbits, cats, dogs and other domestic animals. I assigned different tasks to the students, such as feeding pets and ensuring their cleanliness, which helped in abridging the gap that exists between Pakistani children and animals.”

Underprivileged communities are motivated by religious doctrines and Mirza ensured that the children remain cognizant of the stature of animals in Islam by providing them with live examples of kindness towards animals, practiced by noble people. We must advocate animal rights as much as human rights.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Judging the Pakistani society from the statement Gandhi made, it is quite obvious that we have not progressed much morally and ethically. Helping animals on ‘humanitarian grounds’ and appreciating them will help us prove our worth as a ‘progressive’ society.

The combination of establishing human and animal rights is of paramount importance, as it manifests and completes the ‘human’ hierarchy, leading to ‘self-actualisation’, stressed upon by social and religious decrees.

Let 2012 be the year of animal rights and people who profess animal liberation. Let’s not laugh at people who care for animals and make an effort to take care of them. Most importantly let’s vouch to adopt appropriate measures to provide animals with food, shelter, water and abolish cruelty in all forms.