PETS WORLD ZAMBIA
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Look after us, Max said, the petition in one paw. We are aware that these are hard times for you, that with the high cost of living, you human beings are merely breaking even, failing to make ends meet.
But find it in your hearts to care for us. Think about us. We also deserve good health and happiness. In our own way, we will also continue to look after you.
The palaver was now over. Attendance had exceeded expectations. All my thirteen cats had been present. Dogs, monkeys and parrots from different homes in the neighbourhood had come.
Peace reigned. Consensus was built. Resolutions were made. All the animals were heard.
Max was the chairman. Being the CEO of Pets World Zambia, the animals had decided to present their petition to me. I gladly received it.
It was a fine and touching piece of work. Their resolutions covered a wide range of issues cardinal to animal welfare, their welfare.
Clearly, the animals had both quantity and quality of their life on their minds. They envisaged that, united, joint and collective action on their part would lead to the required improvements in many spheres of their lives.
Sky was Max’s juvenile mating partner. She was by his side as Max represented the others, as I received the petition.
Other animals, constituting the lead and escort party, were also present, eagerly and in support, listening to their chairman speak. The monkeys in particular, sporadically ululated and clapped their hands as their chairman spoke.
As I glanced at their resolutions, quickly, something caught my eye. It was their freedoms. They had listed them in the preamble of the petition:
‘We, animals of the world, friends of man, seeking a healthy life, a life of happiness and wellbeing, one which is symbiotic with man, hereby declare our freedoms as follows:
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease,
- Freedom from hunger and thirst,
- Freedom to express normal behaviour,
- Freedom from discomfort,
- Freedom from fear and distress,
- Freedom to play and pursue happiness.’
I nodded. Evidently, these animals had more brains than some people, I said to myself.
With a smile on my face, betraying both joy and contentment on my part, I promised the animals that their petition would be treated as urgent and important, and that it would receive the required attention.
With that said, and having both confidence and faith in me, and picking my impeccable trustworthiness at the vibrational and subliminal level, the animals dispersed, happily chatting amongst themselves as they went back to their homes.
Max, living with me and being chairman, was also saddled with the responsibility of follow-up. He stood by the gate, Sky by his side, seeing each animal out, as he bade farewell to each one of them.
You see, dear reader, I am a cat person. I love cats, and cats love me. I have thirteen of them. Max and Sky are part of the group, my family.
People think that I am a witch. Gee! Thirteen cats! They wonder, shock all over them. And truth be told, I think that I am a witch. The right kind.
Pray that I bewitch you someday, dear reader. You see, anyone that I bewitch, prospers. Over the years, I have cast spells on republican presidents, cabinet ministers, church ministers, civil servants, a horde of women, family and friends. I bewitched them all.
You see, the energy I possess is the required kind. When I touch you, your life changes forever. I transform and build lives. I am a pilgrim, an anointed vessel of God.
Noteworthy is that I do not brag. I am not given to vainglory. I just play my role. Like the sun, it doesn’t matter whether you praise or criticise me. I keep rising and shine, anyway.
I cast spells on communities for their own good. I entrance societies for their betterment, seeking their alignment with divine order.
And just for the heck of it, to frighten my neighbours, to dramatize my life and maintain the aura of mystery about myself, with all my thirteen cats in tow, following me, I take walks outside my yard. I deliberately walk slowly, the cats happily jumping about all over me. I walk slowly so that people see me. When I catch their stares, laden with both wonder and fear, I disappear back inside the house, mission accomplished. I stay in doors, out of sight, for days on end. Then I repeat the ritual.
‘Uyu mudala wa apa ni wamankhwala. That’s why ali popular mu ma politics. Ankhala cabe yeka na ma kiti. Just imagine! Unaonako munthu wa so?’ Inwardly smiling, I hear them gossip. I laugh to myself, utterly satisfied that my psychological tricks are working.
You should be like me, dear reader. I am not an ordinary person. The animals know this. I am at peace with nature. I value animals and treat them with respect and love. I vivify. I give life. I am difficult to hate. That is why I easily bond with them and they follow me.
Further, this explains why, as both a public health undertaking and an entrepreneurial fixture, I formed Pets World Zambia, my foundation. It is a private limited company that focuses on community health and wellbeing, from a pets-care perspective.
Commonly, I am ahead of the times. Explains why to many, the ordinary, I seem eccentric. Trust me, I am vital for your wellbeing. I am your unseen guardian, occasioning good everywhere, for you, even without your awareness and appreciation.
Considering my work as exceedingly important, indispensable for societal wellbeing, as game-changing required community action, I receive a sizeable quarterly grant from the government. In addition, recognising my work as required human behaviour, recently an anonymous donor deposited thousands of British pounds in the Pets World Zambia bank account.
Hang on a minute. Don’t place that call just yet. Remember the government discourages from giving alms. And I am a law-abiding citizen. Besides, the money isn’t meant for you. It’s for the animals.
We really are doing well as a movement. Soon all our company targets, premised on animal rights and freedoms, shall be met. And in essence, as a consequence of our work ethic, both human and pets health shall be secured and safeguarded.
You see, dear reader, when pets are not looked after in accordance with public health standards, they can pass on their diseases to human beings. Diseases like these, which are transmitted across animal species, for example, from animals to man, are called zoonotic diseases.
Zoonotic diseases include rabies, avian flu, plague, anthrax, monkey pox, ebola and brucellosis. They are many
And these diseases kill.
At Pets World Zambia, our motto is Pet Health Is Human Health. With our approach to leaving no pet behind in securing their health, we intend to also secure human health, leaving no person behind.
You see, information and data are everything. These, when processed, constitute evidence.
And when national development planning is based on data, uses evidence, human management becomes sound and prosperity then dawns.
Chances of success are high when planning is based on evidence. Inspired by this fact, it explains why, as a pilot developmental project, working with the City Council, last year we conducted the first ever Pet Census in Zambia. It’s theme was ‘Leaving No Pet Behind.’
We now know all the pets that are in the City. Where they are, the types, ages, and their sexes.
For example, here you should laugh, we are aware that most of the bitches are found in Kaunda Square, Mtendere and Ibex Hill residential areas. Chilenje and Matero are also not to be outdone.
We have the data. Soon, we are going to zone the City. Based on the number of households and the population density of pets, we shall divide, for management and control purposes, the City into the Central, West, North, South and East Pet Zones.
A Public Health Inspector [PHI], say for every 1000 households allocated, shall be assigned appropriately. With this stroke of genius in planning, this is how we shall create employment and at the same time ensure that both animal and human health are safeguarded.
Each public health inspector will be equipped with a checklist for animal welfare. It is this list of standards which will inform their work and upon which their door-to-door visits will be based.
It is both assuring and supportive to see that the Pets Act of Zambia is now in place. This piece of legislation is a vital instrument for the management and handling of pets in Zambia. Again, working with the City Council, and premised on this Act, a Pets Charter has now been developed.
This Charter now requires that every pet is registered. Every owner should have a renewable Pet Licence.
Renewal of the licence shall only be granted following scheduled appraisal of a pet owner and his or her strict adherence to established pet handling rules.
Pet abuse shall attract a wide range of penalties, with arrest of owner, seizure and withdrawal of licence and pets being the severest of penalties. The Charter is enforceable by law.
A new tax has now been introduced. Each pet owner shall from now on pay a Pet Tax. It is this money, with additional grants from the central government, which the City Council shall then use to develop and purchase vaccines for the pets, and pay salaries for the public health inspectors.
Work has reached an advanced stage in the area of monitoring and evaluation. Using GPS, a digital system is now being developed to geo-locate pets and their owners. This system is intended to keep track of all pets besides ensuring compliance by the owners with the Pets Act and Charter.
To encourage pets nutrition, all pet food has now been zero-rated. Any shop owner that stocks and deals in pet food, such as Whiskas and Bobtail, should be registered with the City Council for him or her to enjoy additional tax incentives.
At Pets World Zambia, we comb the communities of stray dogs and cats. We provide shelter for these.
We wash them, keep them clean, and feed them. Working pro bono, licensed veterinary officers come to vaccinate the pets, de-worm them and just to conduct routine health check-ups on them.
Additional support from you, esteemed reader, is welcome. Pet adoption is encouraged. Bring in the dollars.
The other day I was in Bauleni Compound, a somewhat shanty place, at a bus station. I approached one Ng’wa ng’awzi. Deliberately I said, ‘Nikuti kwamene ningagule vakudya vaba kiti?’
He gave me a long, lingering look, a look full of surprise and fear. He looked a tad annoyed.
As if he hadn’t heard me, he said: ‘Mwati bwanji, boss?’
I repeated my request.
He then walked over to a bunch of his cronies, huddled at a distance over a tin of what looked like Chibuku. It was still morning, 10am.
‘Ati afuna kugula vakudya vaba kiti. Ndiye uja mudala. Kuli va so ma guys? Ndiye ma Satanist aya!’ I overheard him tell his friends, their jaws dropping with shock, eyes widening with anger, sizing me up.
Sensing danger, I quickly vanished.
‘Ni ba doctor baja. Subaziba iwe? Baja benze ba Vice kuli Hakainde. Ndiye Canisius uyu.’ As I disappeared, my cover blown, I heard one of them explain, calming everyone down. My BP somewhat settled.
Following our work, we have noticed a significant drop in the incidence rates of rabies and other zoonotic diseases in our targeted communities. Awareness about pet health in society has also now increased.
We have noticed that cats have become less and less frightening and are now more loved than ever before. Man’s associating them with witchcraft is now diminishing. And more and more dog owners are no longer feeding their pets on left-over food. Further, the number of stray dogs has now reduced. Though much more work remains to be done, such measurable outputs are encouraging.
You see, dear reader, the misalignment of man to nature is the chief root of his difficulties. For man to prosper, to fulfil his potential and serve his purpose, man must always be in alignment with the dictates of nature.
Pets are important in the life of human beings. They provide love, care and companionship. Pets relieve stress and anxiety, they are vital for mental health and wellbeing. Pets also provide security. Whilst cats will keep rodents and snakes away from the home, dogs will guard it against criminal infiltration. Pets can also be diagnostic. They can sense disease in human beings before it becomes full blown.
At Pets World Zambia, we have also began to discuss the importance of pet recreation with the City Council. Though pet beauty and dress pageants can wait, we are agreed that we should have Pet Open Days and begin to hold Pet Olympic Games.
Do not be surprised for, pretty soon, medals – gold, silver and bronze – will be awarded to successful pets. For a start, Ward and Constituency pet competitions will be piloted and encouraged.
As is wont with people, soon some dogs, for their impressive performance, striking pace and sprints, will be named Samuel Matete, Usain Bolt, John Baxter Taylor Jr, or Jesse Owens. This is my Muzala Samukonga, a pet owner will brag some day, in honour of that celebrated Zambia’s athlete.
Pets deserve to exercise, play and be happy. We all should facilitate this aspect of their life.
A few years ago something utterly cruel and barbaric happened, something that clearly illustrates just how uncouth and backward we are as a people. Perhaps noticing that criminals were proving too difficult to catch, perhaps having excess bullets, bored and needing target practice, or perhaps just a depiction of bad Zambia police behaviour, police officers were deployed in the city to shoot to death stray dogs.
This senseless act of cruelty ought not to occur in any civilised society. Our attitude towards pets should always be humane, caring, loving and considerate. Pets shouldn’t be shot. Should the need arise, all they need is to be mercifully put down.
Explains why companies like mine, Pets World Zambia, which everyday promote the rights and freedoms of pets, and by so doing, enhance the public health security of human communities exist and deserve your support.
We are nature. Nature is us.
By treating our environment with the appropriate and required concern and attention, we improve the quality of our own lives and safeguard our own existence.
It follows then that investing in the health of pets ought to be a development priority of any nation. For indeed, pet health is human health.
At Pets World Zambia, we aim, through advocacy for pets welfare, to transform the economy of Zambia. Picture the wide array of vibrant economic activities that could emerge from the manufacture of pet food, pet vaccines and other pet associated goods, and the thriving trade in these services and goods that would ensure.
We see our work as vital for both the growth and expansion of Zambia’s economy. It is a no brainer that a vibrant pets world would not only secure human health but that it would also transform the economy of Zambia, and contribute towards ending household poverty.
I hope that Max and Sky, my beloved cats, are taking note of the progress made so far on their welfare. Soon, their lives and those of their colleagues, will reach a new, unprecedented and pleasing high.
I am doing my part, dear reader. Please, do yours.
Yes, much shall indeed be given to those that give. That then is the moral of the story.
Cause and effect. Universal reciprocity.
Godspeed!
Send your comments to: bandacanisius@gmail.com
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