Holy cow! Hindus accuse animal charity of “unlawful killing”

THE RSPCA unlawfully trespassed on temple property and unlawfully trespassed on the life of a cow.

So declared Gauri Das, president at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Europe’s biggest Hindu temple in Hertfordshire, north of London, when Hindu monks clad in saffron robes this week served legal papers on Britain’s leading animal welfare charity in protest at the slaughter of one of “Mother Gangotri,” a 13-year-old Belgian Blue-Jersey cross.

The animal was put down by the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals on December 13 last year in what the charity called “a mercy killing”.

Gauri Das added:

The cow was under veterinary care and was recovering. There was absolutely no reason for her to be killed. The way they carried out this act on the sacred premises of a temple with no dialogue was completely unacceptable.

Bhaktivedanta Manor runs the Cow Protection Project, which cares for old cows and bulls, and allows them to die naturally.

According to Worldwide Religious News, the Hindu protest, called Justice for Gangotri, also raised the case of Shambo, a bullock put down at a Hindu community in west Wales last year after a positive test for bovine tuberculosis.
His demise caused outrage among Britain’s 750,000-strong Hindu community Britain’s third-largest religion after Christianity and Islam who regard all life as sacred.

The RSPCA denies the claims, saying it informed staff at the temple of what they were going to do, and avoided killing the cow during prayers.

Said John Rolls, RSPCA director of animal welfare promotion.

We believe we acted properly, within the law, but clearly they are of a different opinion. I am sorry it has got to this point. I think the issue could be addressed through dialogue rather than the courts and it is unfortunate they are taking this action.

At the time of Gangrotis killing, RSPCA spokesperson Julie Stainton said:

It would have been wrong to allow this situation to continue. This animal had been in constant pain and suffering for some time. We know the cow was suffering from painful and infected sores, her limbs had become wasted and her breathing difficult. Three separate vets, including from the Royal College of Vets, from Defra and an independent vet, all agreed that the animal was suffering and should be immediately euthanased.

She added:

We have done everything we can to take account of religious sensitivities and it is sad that we have had to take this action, but the most important thing has been to stop this poor animal from suffering. That is what the RSPCA is for, and what the public would expect us to do.