Ahead of International Animal Rights Day, Mercy For Animals volunteers dressed as prisoners in handcuffs and shackles wore animal masks and held placards with a compelling message: All animals deserve to be free.
The volunteers highlighted the five essential freedoms for animals, widely considered the gold standard and emphasised by the Supreme Court of India: freedom to express normal behaviour; freedom from thirst and hunger; freedom from fear and distress; freedom from pain, injury, or disease; and freedom from discomfort.
Observed annually on December 10, International Animal Rights Day recognises the intrinsic value of animals and aims to raise awareness about their welfare, encourage ethical treatment, and inspire positive change in policies and practices.