A Message From Ingrid Newkirk

One winter, eight years ago, I entered a haulage yard where a small group of bullocks were lying in the dirt, tied by nose ropes to their carts. They were thin. So were their owners. And their lives were bleak: Every day, all day, they were goaded along, pulling heavy carts through chaotic Delhi streets. 

One large bullock captured my heart. He had only one and a half horns (that’s him, below), and his name was Ganesh. His owner told me that a lorry had hit the cart Ganesh was pulling. That’s how Ganesh had lost part of his sensitive horn. 

Mahesh, a PETA India fieldworker, suggested to the owners that we swap their bullocks for electric three-wheeler vehicles. They agreed. Shortly afterward came a lovely ceremony of transfer with happy owners and confused bullocks, but off the bullocks went to live the good life at PETA-supported Animal Rahat’s Ranapur sanctuary. Ganesh’s painful nose rope was removed, as were his heavy iron shoes. He was bathed and, unrecognizable except for his one and a half horns, retired to graze. 

One night recently, dear aging Ganesh was bitten by a krait, one of India’s most venomous snakes. The puncture marks were visible when he was found in the morning. The krait’s bite is unusual in that there is no pain or swelling. It is like a mosquito bite and may itch a little, but it is fatal. I cherish the idea that Ganesh was probably dreaming when he passed away in his sleep after years of being spared any hardships, such as those he had experienced in his early life. I will always love that dear bull. To become a guardian angel to others like him, please visit PETA.org/AnimalRahat.