Why Are We Still Forcing Animals to Pull Heavy Loads?

Many of us see it regularly — a bullock dragging an overloaded cart of bricks, a horse pulling a tourist carriage on hot asphalt, a donkey carrying cement bags in construction areas, even in metropolitan cities.

And we silently walk past it…
But let’s ask honestly:
Is this normal? Or are we ignoring suffering just because it is old tradition?

Is this cruelty? Yes — and here’s why.

Animals:

• feel pain

• feel exhaustion

• feel fear

• feel stress

• and cannot speak

When a bull is forced to pull 600–900 kg for hours, this causes:

• joint damage

• muscle tearing

• skin abrasions

• dehydration

• slow internal organ damage

• shortened lifespan

A horse pulling carriages for tourists in summers walks on 40–50°C road temperatures.
Their hooves burn — literally.

This is not dignity.
This is exploitation.

But they have been doing this for centuries. (Common argument)

Tradition is NOT a valid excuse for cruelty.

Once upon a time:

• child labour was normal

• caste discrimination was normal

• women were denied education

• sati was normal

Humanity evolved.
Ethics evolved.
Compassion evolved.

So why should animals remain trapped in medieval labor systems?

Who is responsible?

Responsibility is shared — and layered:

1. Owners

Some owners are poor and use animals for livelihood — but poverty is not a justification for abuse.

2. Authorities

Municipal bodies should:

• enforce animal welfare laws

• fine overloaded carts

• provide veterinary monitoring

• replace animal labor with mechanical solutions

3. Society (that’s us)

When we see cruelty and say nothing —
we become silent enablers.

Legal Position: Are there laws?

India does have animal protection laws — but they are weak and rarely enforced.
For example:

• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

• Article 51A(g) — Constitutional duty to show compassion to living creatures

But penalties are often:
₹50 … or ₹100 …
This is meaningless.

We need:

• modernized laws

• stronger fines

• strict inspections

• humane alternatives

Better Solutions:

Instead of animal labor, we have:

• electric mini-transport vehicles

• battery carts

• auto-rickshaw carriers

• small pickup vans

• community load-sharing services

The world has moved on — the only reason this cruelty continues is convenience and negligence.

A small electric cargo motor can do in 15 minutes
what a bull does in 3 hours —
with ZERO suffering.

How we can create awareness

 Speak respectfully to owners

Not attack — educate.
Explain animal pain, long-term cost, alternatives.

 Promote government subsidies for EV cargo

Help owners transition.

 Encourage NGOs to monitor animal working conditions

Partnership improves compliance.

 Normalize empathy

Teach children that animals are SENTIENT lives — not tools.

 Social media responsibility

Share awareness posts — not only cute animal videos.

SafeSphere360: The ethical viewpoint

Our core philosophy is:
Safety is not only for humans — it is for every living being.

If we want a safer society,
we cannot allow suffering in silence,
even if the victim cannot speak.

By reducing animal pain,
we also reduce:

• road slowdowns

• pulling accidents

• animal panic behaviour

• collision risks

• public health hazards

Human safety and animal safety are deeply linked.

Call-to-Action

Become a witness, not a passerby.
If you see animal cruelty:

• Speak

• Document

• Report

• Educate

Kindness is a responsibility — not an option.

#SafeSphere360 #AnimalSafety #HumanityFirst #Compassion #RoadEthics #IndiaAwareness #CrueltyFreeFuture

A society becomes truly civilized not by how it treats its rich — but by how it treats its voiceless.

You can also read: https://safesphere360.blogspot.com/2025/12/staying-emotionally-strong-in.html