Chickens were made to exercise..!? Two years in prison..!?
Adults did not just say, "Whether you do it knowingly.. or unknowingly, it is still a mistake." An incident in england made this saying come true. A court there sentenced two people to two years in prison for putting chickens on a treadmill for fun. This verdict shows the strictness of animal welfare laws and how humans should treat animals. Raising chickens is a unique culture in our country. Here, they are mostly used for meat. Especially during Sankranti, chicken fights are held like a big festival. Chickens are raised with great care for these fights. They are given nutrition like cashew nuts and almonds. They are kept in special cages. They are also given training such as exercise and swimming. They start preparing them for the race a year in advance. Special sheds are built for them. They are made to rest in AC rooms at night. They are specially raised in coconut groves, bathed in the morning and evening, and then kept safely in sheds.
 In our country, chickens are raised very gently. But, the situation is different abroad. There is not much of a culture of eating chickens there. However, some people raise them for fun. They decorate them in various ways to show off their beauty. Two people from Lincolnshire, england, thought their pet chickens were fat. They put them on a treadmill for fun to exercise them. However, animal welfare laws in england are very strict. When this matter came to light, the police responded immediately. Both of them were arrested and presented in court. The judge who heard the case sentenced both of them to two years in prison and gave a sensational verdict. "Animals are dumb creatures. It is the worst act to treat them harshly. What is the harm if the animals are fat? Isn't that a global problem? What is the need to keep them on a treadmill? They have become ill because of doing so. I am imposing this punishment because they should know their pain. I hope that even with this punishment, they will change," the judge said in his verdict. The two chickens were slightly injured when they were put on a treadmill. They recovered after being treated at a veterinary hospital. Although the youths pleaded to the court that they did it for fun, the judge did not consider their argument. The english media reports revealed that this verdict was given because it violated animal welfare.
This incident raises a big question about how we should treat animals. While animals are viewed in one way in our culture, in other countries their protection is given top priority. However, it is our responsibility as humans to realize that animals are also living beings and that they experience pain and suffering. It is not at all justifiable to act in a way that harms them, even for fun. Let us hope that this verdict will increase awareness among people about animal welfare.