Apr06
Shilya the Bullock
Posted at 09:01 AM | Permalink
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Comments (10)
We’d like to share a moving story from our friends at Animal Rahat, the PETA-supported working-animal rescue group in India, about a bullock who had a hard life.
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When he came to us, Shilya was a 22-year-old cart-pulling bullock whose owner, Santosh Masal, loved him. When Mr. Masal realized that Shilya had become too old to work, instead of selling him for slaughter, which is what most cart owners do to their long-suffering cattle (so as to squeeze the last bit of money out of them), he visited Animal Rahat. He was very happy to see that all animals at our retirement facility were free to wander around without any ropes and spent their lives socializing, napping, relaxing in the shade, listening to the birds’ songs, and eating very well. Mr. Masal told our vets that Shilya had done a lot of work for him for two decades, and now that he was too old to work, he wanted to retire Shilya. And that’s what happened.
According to our vets, Santosh Masal was the very first bullock owner who was that kind and who thought of the well-being of his animal first. This week, Shilya lost his strength, and the vets made him as comfortable as possible in his final hours. With Mr. Masal at his side, Shilya slipped away to dance with Krishna and Shiva, and his body is buried at Animal Rahat.
Posted by Sanjay Mehta
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Comments
If more famers were like him more animals wouldn't be used for food but for great friendships
Posted by: Veronica | April 6, 2009 10:31 AM
Working or production animals who are slaughtered when they are too old or overworked to be of any use to their owners should be retired. This last horrifying "Thank you" shows the complete lack of empathy of these people. Mr. Masal is a truly higher soul!
Posted by: Maureen | April 6, 2009 12:42 PM
What a lovely story.
Posted by: Canaduck | April 6, 2009 01:01 PM
This is exactly how animals should be treated, they are our friends!!! :) this is a nice wee story
Posted by: Ellen | April 6, 2009 02:04 PM
What a great owner.
I would like, very much, to congratulate him on person and thank him.
This man is a great example of how people should be.
Great post peta
Posted by: Ashley | April 6, 2009 09:42 PM
Aww what a lovely animal :) Glad he's in a better place.
Posted by: Gina | April 6, 2009 11:26 PM
This is such a lovely story I felt a tear in my eye.
I wish all farmers would treat their animals as much as Mr Masal. Good work I say.
Posted by: andy | April 7, 2009 12:44 AM
That is such a beautiful shot. I hope the darling bullock got to spend many days in the sun warming his/her bones, grazing and chomping on grass.
Posted by: Saucy | April 7, 2009 11:28 AM
awwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats nice:]
Posted by: romy | April 7, 2009 01:10 PM
adorable. Beautiful photo and story. I didnt know about Animal Rahat - i think its really great.
Posted by: Spotlight | April 7, 2009 02:54 PM