Song of the caged orphans

ADITHA DISSANAYAKE

There they are, hopping back and forth, peeping inquisitively at you, leaning their head to the right and to the left, trying to get a better view, wondering what you are doing there. Any guesses? "No. Stare as much as you like." One brave love bird chirps. The others return to what they were doing before your intrusion. Flirting their tails, twiddling at the seed box, singing at the top of their shrill little voices, singing as if to say thank you to the thin ray of sunlight that slants through the glass on to the semi-dark "tin-jail".

Moving further into the interior, past the large cage with an uncountable number of pigeons, past the aquaria with the sleepy goldfish, gurami, angels, and sari guppies swimming round and round and round, as if they are on the wheel of Samsara, you come across an assortment of puppies, kittens and rabbits. Their sad, dark eyes drill craters in your heart. You yearn to unlock the doors, hug them, take them home and lavish them with all the love and care they have missed all their young lives.

You can. If you have the lucre. The American Cocker Spaniel gazing woefully at you from its prison is Rs 25,000. The Siamese kittens, two months old, black in colour, are Rs 8,000 each; ("a specially low rate, mind you, because we want to get rid of them"). The African gray parrot is Rs 125,000 and comes with the warning "it will cost at least Rs 4,000 a month to feed him."

"No", says Buddhika Iddagoda, owner of Lankapetlovers.com. Even if you have the money, "you should not buy pets from a pet shop".

The reasons are many and varied. You don't have to be Adam Smith or hold a degree in economics to realize all pet shops are profit driven. As every owner of an 'exotic' pet knows, responsible pet care requires a financial investment.

Yet, most pet shop owners are not in a position to make this investment, as the expenses, for example of veterinary consultation, would have a direct impact on their revenue. In other words, most pet shops are never truly in a position to act upon the best interests of the animals they sell.

Thus the 'shops' situated along busy roads, displaying the petrified animals to the passers by as if they are ornaments, with the hope of encouraging impulsive buying, manned by staff with little or no training, staff who are incompetent and unable to look after the 'merchandize' in their care. The living 'goods' that they sell are often kept in wire-bottomed cages which are filthy and far too small; fish which are meant to swim freely in the ocean, lake or river are reduced to circling the same few cubic inches of water in tanks that are often dirty and crowded; exotic birds are typically kept in tiny cages, which prevent them from satisfying their natural needs to fly and socialize with others of their own species.

The solution? Introduce standards and legislation. According to Veterinarian Jayantha Wickramasooriya "No person shall use any premises as an animal house unless an application is made by him, to the Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health in writing and should get the prior registration. (Animal diseases act section 16 (1))". He personally believes pet shops "should not be banned, but should be conducted under proper functioning and management conditions."

Most animal lovers though, would not agree with this view. Responding to an article on the future of the pet trade in Sri Lanka, posted on Lankapetlovers.com, Dimantha writes "I really don't like these pet shops that are sprouting up every where. We should get our pets from reputable breeders who really care for their animals. Most professional breeders are animal lovers and really do love their animals, however most pet shop owners (in my humble opinion) are basically middlemen out to make a quick buck. They do not offer the breeders a good price and they are not very discerning about potential buyers. They are basically buying and selling..."

Animal Welfare and Protection Association President Hemantha Jayatilake believes more strict legislations should be introduced to ensure those who profit from the sale of domestic animals adhere to a code of good practice. "We feel helpless when it comes to saving the animals kept in pet shops.

All we can do is appeal to the owners of the shops to be more caring," laments Jayatilake. She feels pet traders and breeders should be required to practice certain standards when it comes to humane and ethical treatment of animals intended for sale. This is the only form of action that can be taken to curb this insatiably greedy and cruel industry that is rampant with abuse.

Yet, no matter how many laws are made in order to protect the animals in pet shops, it is doubtful that they will be effectively implemented in controlling the abuse within the walls of these shops. The law, as we all know cannot see what goes on behind closed doors.

So, fancy animal fanciers, here is how you can help. When you next feel like stepping into a pet shop remember that the pet store would have got their pets from very cruel breeders (or through brokers) who are encouraged to breed with every sale made, remember the small filthy cages, the tiny, lonely bundles of fur, the little prisoners deprived of love and kindness, remember that, by purchasing a pet store animal you contribute to this cruelty. Find your pet instead in an animal shelter. Homeless and unwanted, they are waiting for you.

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