Animal abuse is on the rise; something we see or hear about more and more. Whether this is simply because of heightened awareness on society’s part or because there is, in fact, more abuse taking place is unclear. However regardless, it is clear that steps must be taken to address the situation.
Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse is a new initiative formed as part of a campaign to address animal abuse in Sri Lanka. Created by former Member of Parliament and President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha, Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse is a platform providing free legal information, advice, guidance, and assistance to those looking for justice when domesticated animals are subjected to abuse.
Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse brings together a small group of like-minded lawyers who are passionate about animal abuse to help complainants find recourse in the legal system; their assistance ranges from initiating complaints to ensuring that animal abusers are prosecuted according to the law of the country. The initiative is entirely self-funded and volunteer-based.
The Morning Brunch spoke to Musthapha to learn more about the initiative. Musthapha explained that while there are many animal rights activists who are very passionate about the cause, many are unable to take things to the next level and take abusers to task because they lack the skills or legal support to do so. This is where Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse would come in, supporting activists and helping them bring abusers to justice.
Musthapha shared that many animal abusers engage in the act simply because animals are weak and it is easy to take their frustration out on these weaker animals. During the curfew and lockdown, incidents of animal abuse also rose with some even taking to social media platforms like TikTok to brag about how they could abuse domestic animals because of no real repercussions.
Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, abusers are liable to pay a fine of Rs. 100 and a prison term of up to three months for abusing animals. Killing animals results in a Rs. 100 fine and potentially up to six months’ imprisonment. However, this is hardly ever enforced, with even law enforcement authorities sometimes not taking reports of animal abuse seriously when made by third parties.
Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse looks to help complainants take their complaints to the next level and see it through to ensure animal abusers are held liable for their actions, and by doing so, it looks to create an environment of social deterrence. “While people who love animals do not harm animals,” Musthapha commented, “Others don’t harm animals only because of the fear of the consequences. However, those who carry out the vile acts continue to do so because they feel they can get away with it. While we need stricter laws for the protection of animals, it is time to make animal abusers more accountable.”
Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse provides the general public with the contact numbers of lawyers to get in touch with should they want to lodge a complaint regarding animal abuse. The team at Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse will then assist complainants with taking the process further.
Musthapha shared that the response to Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse has been very promising so far, with them receiving numerous complaints of different levels of seriousness. The team has already begun working with a complainant in Ahangama on a case involving the poisoning of three dogs and is currently awaiting autopsy reports and substantive evidence regarding the culprits to proceed further. Musthapha is hopeful that Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse is a step in the right direction.
While there is the progressive Animal Welfare Bill in the making with more punitive penalties towards abusers, this has not yet been enacted by Parliament, and until such time, movements like Zero Tolerance Against Animal Abuse that allow animal abusers to be brought to justice are one of the few ways to bring about a change.