My name is Jasmine.  I was born during the winter’s month. I had a big family - Five sisters and a beautiful mother who has light orange fur and caramel eyes. We were born on the streets of a posh area of Kolkata. We survived on garbage and never bugged anyone. Soon after our birth we met a nice human who fed us and gave medicines to our mother. More she played with us – lots of love and kisses. At the age of only 3 weeks our youngest sister passed away due to the cold. She named us after flowers – Jasmine, Sweet pea, Lily and Daisy. My mother was kicked by humans when she went to search for food for us. We heard that one of our neighbors, a two month old puppy was killed after an evil human threw acid on him. We got used to the daily abuse of getting shouted at us, kicked, and stoned and hot water thrown on us. Life was going fine. Until one day my mother slept a rickshaw wala day rest place. She returned scared and battered. The next evening Sweet Pea was run over by the same person who laughed. Her neck cracked and she died in an hour. No one on the street helped us. My human was late. She was heartbroken and cried for her. She buried her.  Few weeks later my sisters- Lily and Daisy were crushed under a car. The human driver ditched their bodies in a garbage container. They were not even 3 months old. Now only I survived. We forgot our misery and moved on. My human was harassed every single time for helping us. At times we feared for her safety. She got my mother neutered. I can never have more siblings to play with. My mother only has me now. My human was happy when I turned 7 months old. Over a weekend, a local sport games were held near my home. There were loads of kids sadly no one petted me or gave me food. I kept to myself; I was scared of the loud noises and crackers.  One morning one of the guys gave me some food. The food tasted funny. I trusted him and ate the food. Next morning I felt sick. The pain was excruciating. I was foaming at my mouth. I went and hid inside a rubble home. My human came searching for me twice. I could hear her but I could not raise an alarm. I died the next morning. She found me. I was covered in my own blood and feces. I was poisoned. My mother lives alone. My human knows who did this to me but can’t do anything.

What wrong I did? I have two eyes, four legs and a cold nose like other pet dogs. Why are we treated so badly daily? It’s only an animal. They don’t have a soul. God has created humans and the same God has created us. Look into my eyes and tell me that I don’t have a soul?

We need stronger animal rights law so that the culprits do not get away by merely paying Rs 50/- for their criminal action under the prevailing Act.  The laws need to be revised.

Hurting animals is just a dress rehearsal before these criminals actually hurts a human.