World Kindness Day 2019: Be kind to every kind, not just mankind

World Kindness Day is celebrated every year on November 13 to highlight good deeds and to emphasize on the positive power and common thread of kindness. Having the capacity for love and generosity for not just mankind but every kind has magical potential and can renew faith in humanity. This year, the theme for World Kindness day is empathy, encouraging people across the globe to better understand "the pains of others" and touch their lives "positively". As we talk about being kind to others, it becomes important, especially in the current scenario, to remind ourselves about being kind to not just humans but animals as well. 

“Be kind to every kind, not just mankind.” – AD Williams said

Perhaps, animals do not have much to offer in return more than playful loving gestures but kindness, in its true sense, means to be good to someone without having an expectation of anything in return. Sadly, there has been an increase in animal cruelty with horrendous human behavior against animals coming to light almost every other day. As many writers and poets have rightly highlighted, a man's real nature can be judged by the way they choose to treat animals.

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." – Immanuel Kant

Read: World Kindness Day 2019: Initiatives That Teach The Art Of Giving

Animal abuse statistics

• 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are reportedly euthanized every year in shelters. 
• Millions of day-old male chicks are reportedly killed in a high capacity macerator.
• In the US alone, 1.13 million animals are reportedly used in testing and research every year.
• Over 15 million warm-blooded animals are used in research across the world.

Read: World Kindness Day 2019: Initiatives That Teach The Art Of Giving

How to report animal abuse

• Know the law: Familiarising yourself with animal-protection laws is very important if you wish to help and support animals. You can visit the websites of the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Document the crime: Though witnessing such an incident can be extremely disturbing, it is important that you maintain patience and documenting the crime is important. Take a photo or video to document the details if you can.
•  File FIR with the police: Report the crime to the police and file FIR to begin the process of criminal justice into motion.
• Notify other appropriate authorities: Besides filing FIR, notifying other appropriate authorities can also provide extra help to the animal. 

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Extends compassion to animals

One of the largest animal rights organization in the world, PETA urged fellows to "extend comapssion to some of the most exploited and vulnerable among us: animals." The organization suggests ways through which one can make a "lifesaving impact on countless animals" by being more conscious of their everyday choices. 

At any given moment, millions of animals are locked inside cages in laboratories across the world, subjected to cruel experiments that cause them immense pain. PETA mentions on its website, "Monkeys are forced to become addicted to drugs, the skin of sheep and pigs is burned off, and rats’ spinal cords are crushed. Mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and other animals are forced to swallow or inhale massive quantities of test substances, and chemicals are smeared in their eyes or on their skin. Dogs are poisoned with experimental drugs, and grotesque devices are implanted in rabbits’ bodies, all in the name of “health” and “science.”

Besides, the use of animals for entertainment, fashion and food need serious consideration. Just one simple act of kindness can make someone's life more beautiful. That someone can be the stray dog in your street, a monkey howling out of pain in some laboratory, a bird battling life... if only everyone starts valuing life in every being, the world can be a much more beautiful place, not just for mankind, but for every kind. 

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