Dear Editor,
A few days ago, two donkeys in Enterprise village were beaten. One is bleeding from his tummy and struggling to walk. The other donkey is heavily pregnant and traumatised. What kind of monstrous, ignorant behaviour is this?
I was told that the donkeys had been sprayed in the colours of one political party and that is why they were beaten in this village. This reaction is stupid and primitive. There is never any excuse for taking out one’s fear and anger on an animal.
The donkeys have been rescued, treated by a vet and are being nursed back to health.
Thank you, Bollers and the others who called to report this horrible cruelty. Thank you to those who helped − Bisnauth, Robert, Rakesh, Gautam, Syeada, Anasha and Shane Ally, as well as Ricky and the boys who seemed to appear out of nowhere. Thank you, Dr and Mrs Pierre for your swift kindness and professional expertise.
We want to live in peace and harmony with one another. That is impossible unless we reject the emotional, mental and psychological straitjacket of violence and stop cruelty to animals.
Our churches and religious leaders have to teach people to be kind to animals. So do our schools. The press should take a much stronger line against cruelty to animals and hammer home the message that animal abuse is wrong.
The police should stop behaving as if animals don’t matter and do their job of enforcing the laws against cruelty. Courtroom lawyers can contribute by doing free private prosecutions. The government should provide land for a sanctuary.
And finally, each and every person who witnesses cruelty should speak out on behalf of the victims who cannot speak for themselves.
The photo shows one of the donkeys.
Yours faithfully,
Melinda Janki
