A young boy lost his pet dog at a young age. He was helpless and wanted to do something about it. He decided to protect innocent street animals against all sorts of road cruelties, attacks, and natural calamities. A PLACE TO BARK the NGO founded by Zabi, a shelter for pets where he rescued more than 3000 animals. However,  this journey of the rescue mission started with a sad story that happened in Zabi Khan,s life. Zabi had love and affection for animals from a very young age, once he found a cute puppy who was looking for his owner. Zabi decided to bring that puppy home and took care of it. However, within two days that pet puppy died. That left Zabi grief-stricken, in mental trauma, and in sad feelings. He decided to do something for animals, protecting street animals against all sorts of challenges. A PLACE TO BARK, the NGO which ZABI KHAN founded since its inception rescued more than 3000 street animals. He is on a mission, which is not just limited to protecting animals. He wants to change people’s mentality towards street animals. Animals want to care, and affection, they are voiceless. They have limited communication skills. But people are busy in their daily lives. They have no time to even look around the world surrounding them and have a look. The world is not only for humans. Great people have great visions. Zabi is not just an animal rights activist. He is a visionary. He wants to create a new, better, safer world for animals where they will never be abused.

A small glimpse at the achievements of Zabi Khan:

• ASHOKA YOUTH VENTURER 2017
• RISE YOUNG CITIZEN 2017
• NATIONAL YOUTH ICON FOR HUMILITY 2018
• THE PRIDE OF TELANGANA AWARD
• V AWARD AN INITIATIVE BY THE UN VOLUNTEERS INDIA (2019)

Zabi was awarded as one of the best volunteers in India by the United Nations and Minister of Youth Affair and Sports Kiren Rijiju on December 05 on the occasion of International Volunteers day. Zabi has redefined what being a true influencer is actually supposed to be. He also holds the world record for being the youngest globally acclaimed animal rights activist. An influencer changes the mind of his followers and directs them to think in a positive way that brings enlightenment and positivity to the surrounding world. Zabi was the youngest Padmashree nominee. The engineering college where Zabi Studied, KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology Hyderabad became the 1st animal-friendly college campus in India, a historical event. When the situation, issue, or problem aroused how to manage engineering studies and at the same time conduct his animal rescue activities. At the age of 13,  he rescued a puppy from the street and named it Casanova. That puppy fell sick and died. Doctors told Zabi that the puppy had a bacterial infection and that is why his owner abandoned him. Zabi was heartbroken but he understood one thing, there must be so many street animals who die every year due to a lack of treatment, care, and nurture. Zabi decided he will never let any pet suffer like Casanova. Initially, Zabi started volunteering for NGOs in Hyderabad.

• In 2014 he founded A PLACE TO BARK, the NGO where he takes care of street dogs who are abandoned and abused.
• His family supported him in setting up the shelter home.
• He pitched his idea to set up an animal shelter in his college and that got approved. KG Reddy college became the 1st animal-friendly educational campus.
• Zabi got national-level recognition after participating in the reality show MTV hero Honda Roadies Revolution 2020.

The real meaning of youth empowerment is channelizing the energy in a positive way in a positive direction. The action which you are taking on how the entire society is going to impact in a positive way is something of prime importance.

Apart from internationally acclaimed animal rights activists there are common people who strive hard, have endless energy, and zeal to do something for street animals and make a difference. There is a pet animals adoption center in the Airport area of Kolkata, named Shraddha,s Adaption which is solely handled by a corporate employee Shraddha Prianka Das. Her husband supports her a lot. Both are well-settled corporate employees in one of the biggest MNCs in Kolkata. Shraddha Prianka Das has been handling the adoption center for 2016, for almost 6 years. This shelter home mainly provides shelter to pet animals that are:

1. Abandoned by the pet owners.
2. Abused by pet owners.
3. Animals who are suffering from any sort of disease.
4. Animals who are victims of abuse on streets, roads, etc.

Shraddha handles her animal shelter activities single-handedly and the entire operation and maintenance costs are self-financed. Her husband Mr. Sourav Das supports her a lot. The critical hurdle she faced initially is while keeping more than one dog, or cat in her house the other neighbors surrounding her started objection saying keeping dogs in an apartment is not safe, and kids might get scared. Shraddha Prianka Das had a mindset strong as steel. She never let off the battle so easily. As per law if you have your own flat or apartment you have the right to keep as many as pet animals you want and legally no one can touch you or stop you from adopting pets. Currently Shraddha, s adoption has around 170 pet dogs taking shelter. She conducts animal feeding activities every day 7 days a week near the area of the Airport, her residence,  and in the New Adipose area of Kolkata. The struggle of a common man is food, clothing, shelter,  and a steady income from a fixed corporate job. Once this is successfully managed, he /she gets time to devote to other activities. Problems, barriers, and obstacles will always be waiting to stop someone from doing something out of the box. All it takes is willpower, a positive Nobel mindset, and a promise to deliver a change. Prianka Das conducts animal feeding activities almost every day near the airport area, the typical challenge is that in the airport area it is legally prohibited to throw food on the ground. The animals do not get any food over there. So Shraddha lures the street dogs from the airport area and feeds them. She gets support from local neighbors, the same people who initially opposed her activities. Right now her daily street animal feeding drives she gets self-driven volunteers who assist her in her work.

Law is a prime weapon to fight any evil, protecting street animals one has to be well versed with animal laws and at the same time the tenacity to never give up on the cause. Prianka has handled and fought many cases where animals are abused by street goers. She will continue doing her work and slowly and slowly her work is growing well, and awareness of her activities is spreading slowly across Kolkata. The best part of her attitude is despite her work life, and family responsibilities she does her animal care activities with full efficiency. Fighting against any evil takes courage, guts,  and perseverance to tackle and face the odds. Be it a human-faced superhuman Zabi Khan or a common lady like Prianka Das the basic requirement is that spark of fire and the tenacity to keep fighting for a good, noble cause. A superman is not a comic book character. They do exist in real life and look like ordinary people but their activities are what differentiates them.

In the last 10 years,  nearly 5 lakh cases of animal cruelty cases took place in India that too as per official statistics. This report was drafted by the Federation of Animal Protection Organization and AGCS ( All Creatures Great and Small between 2010 and 2020. However, the law is the best weapon to prevent and clean any inefficient operating body only condition is the law must be properly understood and applied. The IPC 1860 IS THE OFFICIAL criminal code of India that covers aspects of criminal laws. Section 428 and 429 of the IPC provide law for punishment for acts of cruelty, abuse, and killing of animals.

Some basic laws are as follows:

1. ARTICLE 51(G) Compassion for animals is a duty of every Indian citizen.
2. IPC section 428, 429 PROHIBITS INJURY OR HARM TO ANY ANIMAL.
3. SECTION 11(1) (i), SECTION 11(1) (J) ABANDONING ANY ANIMAL FOR ANY REASON CAN LAND SOMEONE IN PRISON UPTO 3 MONTHS.
4. RULE 3 PREVENTION OF CRUELTY OF ANIMALS (SLAUGHTERHOUSE ) RULE, 2001 states no animals can be slaughtered anywhere except slaughterhouses.
5. Section 11(1) (h) PCA ACT 1960 NEGLECTING AN ANIMAL DENYING FOOD, WATER AND KEEPING IT CHAINED, CONFINED IS A PUNISHABLE OFFENSE.
6. ORGANISING OR PARTICIPATING IN ANIMAL FIGHTS FOR RECREATION, FUN, AND DISPLAY IS A PUNISHABLE OFFENCE UNDER SECTION 11 (1) (N), PCA ACT 1960.

LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT THE ANIMAL LAWS!

1. PET SHOP RULES:

• SECTION 3 ALLOWS THE TRADE OF ANIMALS ONLY AFTER GETTING A LICENCE.
• B SECTION 5 MANDATES THE REQUIREMENT OF ACCOMMODATION AND HOUSING OF ANIMALS.
• C SECTION 6 GUIDELINES FOR MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENT.

2. DOG BREEDING, MARKETING RULES:

• SECTION 3 PROVIDES THE REASON TO PROHIBIT THE SELLING, AND TRADING OF DOGS UNLESS HE/SHE HAS OBTAINED A LICENCE.
• SECTION 7 ENABLES THE STATE BOARD TO INSPECT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BREEDING AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
• SECTION 8 PROVIDES CLEAR RULES STATING THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR THE SALE OF DOGS.

These are the basic laws one should know. Not everyone can be like Zabi khan or as daring as PRIYANKA Das. But these basic laws can actually help someone to at least be aware. Knowledge is the biggest weapon. Once you have the right information at the right time you can counter an unlawful activity on the spot. The main motive is to ensure no harm, or injustice is done to any helpless, defenseless animal at any point in time at any place. Once anyone can do that, that becomes an inspiration for others.

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