Due to our religious traditions, India has some of the best animal welfare laws in the world. Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, there are strict rules for the transportation of all kinds of animals. Under the PCA Act, any animal being abused can be seized by the VSPCA.

In Andhra Pradesh the law states that no cow, nor her progeny; no buffalo progenies; and no pregnant ones (buffalo nor cow) may be slaughtered. While transporting animals all rules must be followed, and they must have a valid certificate from a veterinarian. The rules require stopping for water and feed, and that only 6 large animals in a lorry can be transported or about 12 for smaller calves.

Any violation of these laws is termed illegal. As generally none of these laws are followed, we have the scope but not the resources to save these animals.

UPDATE MARCH 2014

A vehicle late night loaded with the cattles, near our shelter area was obstructed by our staff. On investigation driver and cleaner accepted that the vehicle was going to the Arilova, the illegal slaughter place. The vehicle was loaded with pure breed of Indian cow, it included pregnant too with one progeny and her mother. All very healthy; but carried in a very cruel tight situation. After seizing the vehicle the alarming mafias with high influences tried to stop us, but we remained unperturbed with these reactions as we have faced it several times before.

It was a good attempt as we rescued the Indian cows which are now a rarity, we have already lost 70% of them and it is very shameful more because in India cows are religiously protected, and the diminishing population of cows showcases the hypocrisy going on in India. Later the cattle were given for adoption to the needy farmers under strict monitoring by the police and CRPI team.

UPDATES 2013

2 cows and 5 bulls were being transported at late night through highway which was encountered by the VSPCA team, on receiving information by an Animals Welfare representative. On investigation it came out that the vehicle was going to slaughter house; they were the suppliers of beef to the zoo animals. Later, the vehicle was seized and cattles were shifted to our shelter.

A vehicle with 9 healthy cattle packed in the small vehicle one top of one another was being transported to Parwada region about 40 kms from here via the national highway. Sharada our Shelter Manager and Srinu the driver and animal helper were coming from shelter when they intercepted this vehicle, seized and brought to our shelter. As soon as the cattles were unloaded the driver and his partner disappeared before the police could arrive and before all of us could come to the spot. As usual threat calls were received but we remain unperturbed. The next day the appropriate letter was submitted to the police and the cattles after all examination and treatment were transferred to our Kindness Farm.

UPDATE 2012

The cows were in this enclosed vehicle for three days with swollen legs without any food and water. A container enclosed and not open to the world had 56 cows moving towards their death destination from Srikakulam area (north of our area) The lorry was intercepted at Marikavalasa village about 4 kms from our shelter by our volunteer workers. Shelter managers B.Sarada and Raj together with the workers intercepted the lorry and took it to the police station after the driver of the lorry hit one of our workers and then ran away leaving the cattle. The cows were in this vehicle for three days without any food and water and subsequently, they were handed over to us for their care. The others were suffering from severe malnutrition and dehydration and wounds and were taken under our very special care. With sunken eyes and thin stomachs they drank liters of water first before touching the feed. It was quite an emotional rescue.

In the course of developing proper legal animal shandies our Cattle Respect Programme India team has been seizing cattle due to illegal transport Violations in any of the Rules and Laws pertaining to transportation with the help of police. Animals being seized which are shifted to our shelter and some given to eligible poor farmers under strict documentation and monitoring. The team has conducted extensive awareness and education programme in 145 villages, covering 3 districts namely Vijiyanagram, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam. The team has educated more than 7000 villagers. These education and awareness campaigns have brought a much-needed change in providing respect to the cattle. The foundation laid down 3 years back with the collaboration of VSPCA and Animals’ Angels as ‘Cattle Respect Programme’ has now gained much grace and speed, and also raised several questions to the Authorities, which has made the situation more active

Events of September 2007

On the road between Kothvalasa and Vijayanagaram in Andhra Pradesh a lorry containing over 40 "black cattle" (in India buffaloes are called black cattle) was seized by VSPCA due to the illegal nature of the transport.

In our area illegal "white cattle" (cows) are transported to Hyderabad, Orissa and West Bengal and Bangladesh, while "black cattle" (buffaloes) are sent down south and to Kerala.

Cows are considered more hygienic and “tasty,” and thus the demand is greater for them from those who are interested in cattle for meat.

VSPCA seized the illegal truck and handed over all the buffaloes to the Srikakulum Blue Cross (90 kms. north of Visakhapatnam), which currently has around 65 cows in their goshala (cow sanctuary) obtained with our assistance in four raids. This organisation has previously wanted only cows because people donate more towards them, but VSPCA has been insisting they not ignore the buffaloes and bulls on the condition that otherwise we will not work with them.

Because VSPCA currently has over 600 large animals we are unable to take in any more due to space and budget. Since we do not have any place to keep them we have slowed down our raids. However, it seems a long absence has given the criminals more chance to work and thus we have decided to selectively start our raids again and hand over the seized cattle to animal welfare organisations who are genuinely interested and responsible.

In fact, all cow slaughter is banned in Andhra Pradesh but it still goes on in back road areas. Much of that has been curtailed due to the raids of VSPCA over the years. The small slaughterhouses that do exist legally for other animals – goat, sheep, chicken and pigs – have to comply with municipality health rules of cleanliness and humane slaughter.

Legally buffalo – if they are over the age of 16 and no use – may be slaughtered. But any milk yielding or pregnant buffalo are protected by law from slaughter. If the buffalo are being transported illegally as in the photos below, the VSPCA has the authority to seize them. Cows and progenies – even if they are old and no use – cannot be slaughtered legally.

The photos below show male and female buffaloes that were young and quite healthy – and the calf depicted is completely illegal.

We had to seize this lorry because of the illegal nature of the transport, but 70% of these type of transports are going to be sold for slaughter. Animals going to slaughter will have a mark on their backs after they are shifted to an intermediate marketplace for consolidation.

We are catching the butchers here after the farmer has sold the cattle to them. So it is a huge financial loss to the butchers when we seize these cattle, hence we are putting ourselves in danger of reprisals when we do this. We would not hesitate to seize many more of these trucks but the question is where can the cattle go to live afterwards and who will take care of them?

Goshalas exist only as a part of Animal Welfare Organisations. There are now many of them in Andhra Pradesh many of them are asking us at VSPCA how to improve and for our advice.

The transportation of animals is a vast issue with immense cruelties.

Thankfully we were able to save the animals below from illegal slaughter.

The Animal Welfare Board of India was set up in accordance with Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (No.59 of 1960). The Board consists of 28 Members.

CONSTITUTION OF INDIA Article 51-A(g)

" It shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the Natural Environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for all living creatures." In order to ensure COW PROTECTION and to impose a total BAN on the SLAUGHTER OF COWS and COW PROGENY, Government will take suitable measures. "

A valid certificate by a qualified veterinary surgeon to the effect that the cattle are in fit condition to travel by rail or road and are not suffering from any infectious or contagious or parasitic diseases and that they have been vaccinated against rinderpest and any other infectious or contagious or parasitic diseases, shall accompany each consignment.