Dogs are mammals, and mammals have emotions just like humans. They feel fear, happiness, hunger and even sadness. They’re not just animals on the road; they are living beings with feelings.

We often see the pain of street dogs or cats, but what about fish? Plastic waste in rivers and oceans kills millions of them every year. They swallow plastic, thinking it’s food, and die slowly. We don’t see their suffering, but it’s real. That’s why each of us must reduce plastic use.

Imagine you are sleeping, and someone suddenly wakes you up by shaking you roughly or poking you — you would feel upset, right? You would want to be woken gently, not rudely. Street dogs feel the same. When they are resting, they need peace. But sometimes people, even children, disturb them for no reason. If a dog is sleeping in a place where it’s not causing harm, let it be. Only move it if there is a genuine reason, like it’s blocking the way or it’s unsafe for them.

Caring for animals is not just kindness, it’s also part of our faith. Islam teaches us to respect and protect them, and logically, it makes sense to consider their feelings.

Every life matters — from the dogs on the streets to the fish in the rivers, all creatures feel, suffer and need our care. Pausing to consider their feelings is not just kindness, it’s our responsibility

Every day, many dogs and cats are injured in road accidents. Some die instantly, but many are only hurt, often with broken legs or wounds, and could survive if given a little treatment. Sadly, they are often left on the roadside without help, slowly dying from hunger, thirst or infection.

Think of it this way: when we humans get sick or injured, we seek treatment to heal. Without it, even a small problem can become serious. The same applies to animals. If we stop and help an injured animal, even by calling a vet, shelter or rescue group, we can save many lives.

Every year, over 70 billion land animals and more than a trillion fish are killed by humans, mostly for food or profit. Yet animals help us in countless ways: dogs give loyalty, bees pollinate crops, birds control pests and fish keep marine life in balance. Actually, I don’t mean we should fully stop the use of animals.

No, animals have always been used for human benefit, from the start of human history until now. Millions are still used to assist us or as food. But this does not give us the right to be cruel. We can and should benefit from animals, but without cruelty.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 24th, 2026