Amendments proposed include prohibiting caging of birds, recognising animals as ‘living’ beings and not objects The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has submitted its proposals for the revision of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). Amendments proposed include replacing the pronoun “it” with “he” or “she” when referring to animals as a first step towards recognising them as living, feeling beings, and not objects. PETA India wants the Act to be, at minimum, less speciesist (i.e. less exploitative of animals) than it is now. Other recommendations include increasing penalties for cruelty to animals to a range between ₹25,000 and ₹1 lakh and up to five years of imprisonment. For a cognisable offence or a second non-cognisable offence, the group also recommends seizure of the person’s animal and preventing him or her from owning or working with any other animal.