IN the Western World of today and as an important adjunct to Western Civilisation, the protection of animal species and the treatment of individual animals with kindliness and humanity has become a norm. The raison d’etre of this attitude to species of animals is the realisation that if species are exterminated or allowed to disappear, the ecological balance of nature is harmed and will eventually adversely affect human beings.

Also, that the treatment of animals with kindliness and humanity is a civilising force and helps to make man more humane to his fellow man. For instance, if one beats up his horse or donkey or dog or starves such animals, it is inevitable that such actions will manifest themselves in domestic violence or violent criminal activity.

The value of the protection and the humane treatment of animals was known and practised in the ancient world. In the Buddhist tradition, for example, in the famous sermon on loving-kindness (the Metta Sutra), Lord Buddha enjoins the world to treat every living being with loving-kindness. And this humane teaching was practised by Buddhist monks, laymen and rulers. For example, the Emperor Asoka whose Empire stretched over the Indian sub-continent and in parts of the surrounding countries had hospitals for birds and other animals.

This humane attitude to animals had the sanction of philosophy and metaphysics of these ancient faiths. They understood all life to be one and the life of an animal and a human being was the same, though their minds and bodies may differ. This could be seen if a chicken or animal is to be killed or slaughtered and it realises what is threatening, it begins to wail and beg for its life.

And nearer home in Guyana, we could see this ancient wisdom manifested in the funerary (Shraad) ceremonies of the Hindu religion. Towards the end of the ceremony which is done on the 13th day of death, the purohit (priest) allocates food which had been prepared, to the birds of the air, the animals of the field and the creatures of the water and the main mourners take the food outside of the house and symbolically leaves one portion on any open space for the animals of the field, another portion is thrown into any canal or river for the creatures of the water and the third portion is left on any elevated place for the birds of the air. This symbolic sharing of food is meant to remind people to be caring and respectful to the animal kingdom and to reinforce it with the sanction of religion and spirituality.

Guyana is only 400 years old which is a very tiny fraction of the span of human history, and for most of those years it has been subject to violent and inhumane treatment of man and man, and man and animals by the system of Slavery and Indenture. It is only towards the end of the 19th century when Guyana began to develop a profile of its own and the national psyche began to gradually exorcise this culture of violence.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were very few motor-cars, buses and lorries. Most of the transportation of people and goods was done by animal-drawn carts and cabs. Most of the animals used were donkeys and to a much lesser extent, horses and mules. The drivers of these carts very often beat their animals savagely and sadistically, the poor donkeys crying out in great pain.

Members of the colonial administration who had come from Britain, a country where the humane treatment of animals had advanced a great way, introduced that ethic and the laws were amended to provide for the protection of animals. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) was established and later became the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) at Independence.
The RSPCA and later the GSPCA began to revolutionise the kindly treatment to animals and many cartmen and other citizens were prosecuted for ill-treating their animals. The message of humane treatment of animals was steadily spread until today it is a norm in Guyanese society.

The GSPCA is chaired by Mr Oliver Insanally and the staff is mainly young people who are giving voluntary service. They do veterinary services and give homes to cats, dogs and other pets which are brought to the GSPCA facility. They also offer a spay and neuter service to prevent animals from having unwanted pregnancies.

Many families have gotten their pets and even guard dogs from the GSPCA. The pets, especially the cats and dogs, bring a great deal of pleasure and delight to young children who have faithful and friendly companions and many adults discover the pleasure of having such pets. The GSPCA welcomes volunteers at all times and new volunteers would be integrated into a delightful group of people. The GSPCA facilities are in Robb Street, Georgetown quite close to the Bourda market and the public could choose their pets there without cost. Teachers will do well to introduce the GSPCA to their fifth and sixth form pupils.

There are a number of animal rights activists, who though associated with the GSPCA, act on their own. One of the most known of these is Ms Syeda Manbodh, who at her own expense and use of her own resources has been saving the lives and bringing happiness to many a sick or lost or abandoned animal. Her name has become a household word and she was recently accorded national recognition and a National Honour. Protecting animals and birds both domesticated and in the wild is one of the most satisfying of human activities.