July 23. “Button, the corporal punishment matter we discussed a couple of days back is meted out to our four-legged friends too.”

“Like who?”

“Like dogs, monkeys, circus animals.”

“Really?”

“How are dogs trained?”

“I have no idea.”

“They are beaten, brutally tortured and even starved.”

“And monkeys?”

“Have you seen monkeys perform on the streets to help their masters earn their daily bread and leave the crumbs for them? Do you think those tricks you and I get pleasure from seeing come easily to them? These monkeys are brutally tortured to break them into doing these tricks.”

“That’s unfair. Monkeys are meant to live in the wild.”

“Except for pets like cats and dogs, all animals are meant to be out in the wild. Trainers do the same with circus animals. As a kid, I used to clap every time lions and tigers came on to the stage to perform. I realize today that it was a despicable thing to do. And I was stupid not to realize how they are made to perform for us. I do today.”

“Circuses have been banned, haven’t they?”

“Yes. And thank god for this particular ban.”

“Strays are repeatedly beaten up and tortured—sometimes for no reason at all. They live a very mean life on the streets.”