We hear it said all the time that we need to "be the change we want to see in the world", and most of the time that is much easier said than done. December of 2019 saw Malawi launching a set of Animal Welfare Guidelines, with the goal of improving the state of animal welfare in the country. These guidelines aim to ensure the welfare of "Livestock, Working Animals and Companion Animals". Before this, Animals in Malawi did not have any recognized "welfare guidelines" to ensure their safety or hold people accountable for their abuse, neglect, or torture. The reality of animal testing (another horrid form of animal abuse) is a testament to the fact that animals are not so different from us; the fact that companies would choose to "test" products on them, to determine the potential reactions these products would have on us speaks volumes. It is therefore heartbreaking that these animals have been abused for years under the premise that they "feel no pain" or "do not experience emotional reactions", among other misconceptions. 

The fight for Animal Rights and the recognition of Animal welfare still have such a long way to go here in Malawi, anyone who publically stands up for these voiceless creatures or demonstrates concern for them is often met with responses like "but it's not human" "it's just a cat/dog/chicken/cow/goat, etc.". To care for animals is still something that baffles many. However, I know that there are other people in Malawi who are as passionate about this cause as I am. 

The goal of this Petition is to put pressure on the department in charge of animal welfare. To show them that it is not just a few people working for the few animal welfare organizations in this country who would like to see an improvement in the state of animal welfare. We don't just want printed words on paper, we want to see action, and we want to see people being held accountable for failing to uphold these guidelines. We want to see more people being aware of what actions or conditions constitute animal abuse, and we want to see them reporting these acts.

You don't have to be vegetarian, vegan, or educated, to be able to recognize an action as abusive. It does not take a genius to recognize that the animal transportation methods in Malawi are terrible; that if you had been that animal, you would have absolutely hated being in that situation. This isn't about being better than anybody, this is about responding with compassion towards the issues that animals in Malawi are facing every day.

This petition also aims to set up an animal rights society, much like the humane League or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). I am aware of the loneliness and hopelessness one tends to feel in the fight for Animal Rights here in Malawi and would like to create a community so that people who believe in this fight feel less alone. If you are at all interested in lending your skills and knowledge to this endeavour [you don't even have to be in Malawi presently to lend a hand] please email theanimalplacemw@gmail.com. Please feel free to send an email if you also want to be a part of this society. This is all very new and all input is valuable. I want to believe that change can start with one person speaking up. If this cause speaks to you please sign and share it with people who care.