Our mistreatment of animals reflects society gone to the dogs

When a video of West Ham defender Kurt Zouma kicking and throwing his cat surfaced online, it was widely condemned by animal lovers across the world. While the act by the footballer was heavily criticised as animal abuse and almost cost him his career, it reveals the seriousness with which animal welfare issues are handled in other countries.

Back home, the scenario of cats being kicked, battered and thrown around are never new. Scenarios of dogs wagging their tails by the door as they drool over people eating while constantly ducking objects thrown at them to keep them off are neither new either. Those of dogs, oxen and donkeys nursing serious wounds inflicted by their owners are an almost everyday occurrence.