We aren’t even in the second month of 2019, yet more abhorrent cases of animal cruelty have once again been reported.
It has been said that the maturity, prosperity and success of any country can be measured by how it treats its wildlife and domestic pets. Sadly, our once caring and compassionate country is by now close to the bottom of the list.
On the international scene, Japan has resumed hunting and killing whales, while their fishing industry still carries out the relentless slaughter of dolphins. Horror stories concerning the abuse of animals continue to emerge from Asia and Africa, while so-called ‘bush meat’ (despite its proven link to the Ebola virus) is now even being smuggled into Canada and Europe, to satisfy the tastes of Central African expatriates.
Psychological studies have established that people who engage in cruelty to animals are more likely to exhibit sociopathic tendencies toward society, and are normally of lower education and intelligence than the general population.
While I am sure that many people would advocate for an ‘eye for an eye’ punishment being meted out to these abusers, why can the law not be amended to sentence offenders to lengthy community service, and compulsory re-education, instead of a fine and a nominal slap on the wrist? Until our laws are amended to provide an effective deterrent for abusers, I cannot see the situation improving in the slightest.
