Dr. Zulfiqar Otho and Dr. Shalla Hayat of the Karachi Animal Hospital check a blind donkey rescued by PAWS.

All creatures on earth are sentient beings. There is not an animal on earth, nor a bird that flies on its wings – but they are communities like you.

The Quran 6:38

Swiss animal rights lawyer, Antoine Goetschel, recently made international news when he defended a dead pike in a case of cruelty by a local fisherman who was overheard boasting about landing the fish after a ten minute long struggle. The basis of his argument was that fish are sentient beings and that the fisherman had caused the pike needless pain. Islam is a religion where the sentience of all animals has been declared in the Quran. However, the expected application of such a belief is sadly amiss in Pakistani society. In fact, many of the most vocal advocates for animal rights in the history of Pakistan have been non-Muslim.

Under British rule, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was passed in 1890 for the entire subcontinent. Earlier, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), modeled after the RSPCA in the UK, had been established in Karachi in 1878 by a group of animal lovers who convened a public meeting at the Frere Hall gardens. After Partition in 1947, India and Pakistan made their own amendments to the original 1890 act. The West Pakistan Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was ratified in 1961 to include rules regarding the licensing of farriers, bits and harnesses for animals, draught hours for buffaloes, restrictions on loading animal drawn vehicles, and the age of service of working animals.

The act, however, needs to be reviewed and further amended to meet the requirements of the current times. The Government of India, for example, established an Animal Welfare Board in 1962 which was set up in accordance with their Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960. Some of the functions of this board are to advise the government on any amendments required to the laws, and to stop the killing of stray dogs and enforce the Animal Birth Control program throughout India. This has institutionalized the entire animal welfare movement by strengthening existing laws and ensuring they are implemented. The board requires, for example, the setting up of SPCAs in each district with an attached hospital on land given by the local administration.

In Karachi, up to the 1980’s, the SPCA had a functional animal shelter with a capacity of 150 animals. Lady Constantine, a Swiss resident of Karachi, was the society’s president at the time. She had limited funds and manpower, but was untiring in her efforts to work for the cause of animal welfare. Unfortunately, her death in the early 1990’s spelt a break in this century-old tradition of service to animals in the city. Soon after Lady Constantine’s death, the SPCA shelter land was taken away by the government and the special animal court at the Sindh High Court wound up. At present, Punjab is the only province in Pakistan where the SPCA is still active. The city of Lahore has an office and shelter for the society’s work on the premises of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.

In such an absence of institutionalized support, the efforts of some individuals and organizations that are working towards the betterment of animals, is nothing short of heroic.

The Brooke Hospital for Animals is an international equine welfare organization whose motto is ‘healthy working animals for the world’s poorest communities’. The Brooke was established in Pakistan in 1991, and has centers in 12 districts across Pakistan. They have managed to turn entire communities around in their attitudes towards their beasts of burden, empowering both man and beast in the process. In 2009, for example, Brooke helped 280,000 working horses, donkeys and mules. It is also estimated that the work of this single organization supports the livelihoods of approximately 1.5 million people in 250 poor communities in Pakistan.

For more than 10 years, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and its member society, the Bioresource Research Centre, Pakistan (BRC), led by dedicated campaigner Dr. Fakhar-i-Abbas, have worked tirelessly to put an end to the cruel practice of bear baiting. In 2007 alone, BRC persuaded over a 1000 mosques in high-prevalence areas to preach against bear baiting. Over time, bear baiting incidences have seen a sharp decline. BRC also has a bear sanctuary in Kund (near Peshawar) that houses rescued bears.

The world’s largest NGO and Pakistan’s biggest charity, the Edhi Foundation, also maintains an animal shelter in the outskirts of Karachi. This shelter is home to several cats, dogs, donkeys, crows and kites.

U.S.-based veterinarian, Dr. I. H. Kathio, regularly contributes his expertise to the training of future veterinarians in colleges across the country. He also supports several veterinary clinics by donating medical literature and equipment, and is available to vets for consultation on complicated cases.

Urging the public’s moral conscience to consider the poor state of animal welfare, there are voices in the media which keep animals in the news. Three names, in particular, deserve mention for highlighting the cause of animals in the print media – senior columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee and journalists Bhagwandas and Faiza Ilyas.

Tiger the puppy, just moments after he was rescued by PAWS from a mangrove swamp in Karachi.

In the last decade there have also been a number of noteworthy events relevant to animal rights. In early 2000, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and a U.S. based organization, Engineers and Scientists for Animal Rights, in collaboration with the Pakistan Arts Council, held an exhibit of drawings by 6 to 8 year old children expressing their concern for animals. The drawings were compelling, especially considering that the children had never been exposed to any animal rights literature or website before.

Dr. Jerry Valask, a renowned U.S. Surgeon, also visited and spoke at the PMA House against the use of animals in medical research, and Pakistani media Geo TV and SouthAsia magazine were recognized at the Humane Society of the United States’ prestigious Genesis Awards in Beverley Hills.

In conclusion, while stray dogs are still poisoned with strychnine or shot, adequate veterinary facilities are scant, and illegal animal trade flourishes in Pakistan, all of the above are reasons to hope this will not remain the case. In addition to precedents in faith, there are historical precedents to persuade us to be kinder to animals. Pakistan’s founding father, Mohammad Ali Jinnah is a reference point in any discussion that touches upon the vision for the country. It is often overlooked that Mr. Jinnah was an animal lover. It is a legacy equally deserving of being honored.

Article by Maheen Zia and Mahera Omar, co-founders of PAWS. Printed in May’s issue of SouthAsia magazine.

Eye-Opening Scenes Depicting Mutilation and Abuse Deemed Too Gruesome

Islamabad – A provocative new public service announcement (PSA) which aims to educate people about the plight of Pakistan’s dancing bears has been banned by Pakistan Television Corp. In a bid to expose viewers to the horrific mutilations and abuse that dancing bears endure, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia-Pacific (PETA) tried to buy a spot during the network’s prime time. PTV ad executives said the video – which shows a screaming man being burned and tethered through the nose like a dancing bear – was too graphic. PETA’s subsequent attempts to meet PTV’s requirements and run the ad during late-night spots with a subtitle ensuring viewers that it was made using special effects were also met with resistance. The 40-second PSA, written by Tony Burke and directed and produced by the award winning London based production company, Diamond Bullet Productions, has been forced on to the internet at www.peta.org.

“We’re shocked that with all the violence constantly aired on TV today, this ad – which motivates viewers to help rid Pakistan’s streets of illegal madaris with bears – would be rejected”, says PETA Director Jason Baker. “PTV claims this ad is too graphic, but it is a reality for the more than 600 dancing bears in Pakistan.”

Even though it has been illegal to capture bears in Pakistan since 2001, there are still more than 600 sloth bears being forced to dance for money by madaris. Bear cubs who are barely 1 year old squeal in agony as red-hot needles are jabbed through their noses and thick ropes are forced through the throbbing wounds. When the ropes are tugged, the bears lift their legs and “dance”. Most of their teeth are pulled out, and they are trained through pain and starvation. Many cubs die before the training begins because of the stress of capture; those who survive live an average of only 8 years – compared to the 30-year life expectancy of bears in the wild. PETA strongly urges anyone who encounters a madari with a bear to report the madari to the police.

For more information and to view the video, please visit http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/dancing_bears.

For Immediate Release:
29 May 2007

Contact:
Jason Baker + 852 6200 7588 (Hong Kong); JasonB@peta.org
Poorva Joshipura + 44 207 357 9229 (PETA Europe)

Click on the photograph below to see the Urdu version of the press release.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the world’s largest federation of animal welfare societies, has detected bear baiting activity in Islamabad. Unlike the large-scale bear-baiting events organised illegally in rural Pakistan, this event involved only one bear at the Islamabad bus stand.

The young Asiatic black bear, tethered by a rope through its nose, was set upon by two ferocious dogs in the back streets of Islamabad. This cruel spectacle was witnessed by several onlookers who appeared to rejoice in the bear’s attempts to fight off the attacking dogs. All information has been passed on to relevant authorities for a full investigation. It is hoped the Kalandar owner will be apprehended and his bear confiscated.

Fakhar Abbas, WSPA’s Pakistan Representative, said, “It is disturbing that bear baiting occurs within Islamabad, as previously it was thought to have been localized to rural areas only. We urge the authorities in Islamabad to investigate this incident fully as firm and appropriate action must be taken against the Kalandars involved.”

In 2001, President Musharraf issued a Decree calling for the enforcement of the existing ban on bear baiting, reinforcing Pakistan’s Prevention of Cruelty Act (1890). President Musharraf also directed that confiscated bears be moved to a WSPA built sanctuary in Kund Park, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, which was handed over to the authorities in 2002. Pakistan’s National Council for the Conservation of Wildlife (NCWW) has endorsed this decision in subsequent years and the sanctuary is now home to seven rescued bears.

Anyone with information on bear-baiting activity in Islamabad should contact WSPA representative at 03009552253.

Courtesy: WSPA

Take a look at more bear baiting photos here

Wildlife officials staged a daring raid on an illegal bear baiting event at (Mela Saeidi mosaani vilage NAWAN KOT taluqa MEHAR disst DADU) last weekend (8th November 2005), during the Eid religious festival. This followed a tip-off to the authorities from WSPA investigators.

Although a number of bear owners managed to flee with their animals, officials succeeded in finding a young female bear that had been hidden away in a shed by her owner. ‘Iris’, a seven year old Asiatic black bear, was taken to Hyderabad where officials resisted severe threats and pressure from the organisers of the event and ordered that she be sent to the safety of a WSPA-built bear sanctuary in Kund Park, North West Frontier Province.

Sanctuary

Iris is now in the care of staff at the sanctuary, her days as a ‘fighting bear’ over for good. She arrived there (2 A.M 9 November 9, 2005) and will be released into a quarantine enclosure (after intial medicale treatment and removal of metallic ring from its muzzle) before being gradually introduced to the other bears who live there.

Iris is the second bear to have been confiscated from an illegal bear baiting event in the past few weeks and joins ‘Lucky’, a male Himalayan brown bear who was rescued last month.

Events stopped

Repeated reports by WSPA investigators have succeeded in (12 even reported by WSPA field staff and 9 were stopped and at tow sites confiscations were made during October November 2005several bear baiting events being stopped from taking place by the authorities. However, illegal bear baiting continues to be a problem and WSPA is working with the government of Pakistan to stamp out the bloodsport once and for all.

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Removal of the nose-ring

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Source: WSPA

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After arrival at the sanctuary the nose-ring was removed immediately.

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Wounds in the neck were treated for maggots.

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The bear enjoys new found freedom. He has extensive scarring on his muzzle from years of bear baiting fights.

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WSPA staff look on as the bear explores his surroundings.

Photo Credit: World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)