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Companion animals are sometimes ill treated and abused by veterinarians, animal shelters, their guardians or even people on the street. They are starved, beaten, caged, left chained on a short rope outside or tortured in other ways. The first step toward putting an end to this cruelty is to learn the laws that protect companion animals.

Responsible and humane treatment of companion animals is required by law. Offenders should be reported to the local animal protection group, and an FIR should be lodged with the police. Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (PCA), the following are punishable offences.

• Beating, kicking, overriding, torturing an animal or causing any animal pain or suffering, on the part of the guardian or any other person. The penalty is a fine of Rs 100 or a jail term of up to three months or both.

• Caging or confining an animal in a cage or an enclosure too small to allow reasonable movement. The penalty is a fine of Rs 100 or a jail term of up to three months or both.

• Tying an animal with a short or very heavy chain. The penalty is a fine of Rs 100 or up to three months in jail or both.

• Keeping an animal constantly confined or tied for extended periods and denying her or him the opportunity to exercise. This is punishable by a fine of Rs 100 or up to three months in jail or both.

• Failure to provide sufficient food and water to a companion animal. The penalty is a fine of Rs 100 or up to three months in jail or both.

• Failure to provide proper shelter and protection from the environment, such as leaving a dog out in the rain or cold or without access to shade in summer. The penalty is a fine of Rs 100 or up to three months in jail or both.

• Subjecting an animal to circumstances that are likely to endanger his or her life and cause his or her death from starvation or thirst. Abandoning sick or old animals is illegal. The penalty is a fine of Rs 100 and up to three months in jail.

• Maiming or injuring an animal in any way and any surgical or invasive procedure without anaesthesia, including ear- and tail-docking, which are illegal under Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code. The penalty is a fine and up to five years in jail.

• Inadequate health care, including lack of timely and appropriate veterinary treatment.

• Using an animal for the purpose of animal fights or contests (cockfights, oxen races, dog races, etc.) or baiting. This is illegal under Section 11(1.9n).

• Offering for sale or possessing any animal who is suffering from mutilation, starvation, thirst, overcrowding or other ill treatment. It is illegal to over-breed dogs or to keep pups for sale under poor conditions.