“I treat them like my own children”: Man shares his emotional bond with sacrificial animals

A livestock keeper in Karachi said he has been fond of raising animals for sacrifice since childhood and has been involved in preparing sacrificial animals for the past two years.

“I have had this passion since I was a child,” he said. “For the last two years, I have been raising animals specifically for Qurbani," the man said, talking to Dialogue Pakistan on its series 'Qurbani Aik Ehsass'.

He explained that his interest in acquiring animals for sacrifice begins well in advance of Eid. “Even as a child, I used to feel like bringing the animal home a year before Eid,” he said. “By the grace of Allah, I have been given the ability over the past two years to do this properly.”

The breeder said he has raised three animals in total so far. “We had three animals. One was sacrificed last year, and two remain with us now—Sibba and Shehzada,” he said.

He added that one of the animals he had initially intended to sacrifice eventually remained with him due to emotional attachment. “It was very close to my heart. I was supposed to sacrifice it last year, but I couldn’t. I decided to keep it for further care and companionship,” he said.

He noted that his selection process is based on personal preference rather than breed alone. “I did not choose them only based on breed. My focus was passion. I specifically wanted a white Nukra-type animal,” he said.

Describing the animals’ behaviour, he said they are gentle and affectionate. “They are like children. If you touch their face, they will lie down calmly. But they can also be a bit stubborn, especially during vaccinations or when taken to the doctor,” he said.

“They behave very differently at home compared to the vet. At home, they are calm, but at the doctor’s they become very difficult,” he added.

He also described the level of care involved in their daily routine. “We feed them regular household food. In winter, we even give them ghee. In summer, we used to give them oil. I have always fed them myself,” he said.

“It has never happened that I eat first and they don’t eat. My first priority has always been to feed them before anything else,” he added.

He said the animals are bathed regularly and cared for with consistency. “We bathe them every 15 to 17 days, whether it is hot or cold. They actually enjoy it,” he said.

Reflecting on the emotional bond, he said: “This is our love and attachment. The loyalty they show is something you don’t often find in humans. The affection you give them, they respond to it.”

He added that the prospect of eventual sacrifice is emotionally difficult. “Even now, I feel like stopping myself. It becomes very hard to part with them, but Qurbani is in the path of Allah,” he said.

“When they are eventually sacrificed, we will miss them deeply. Once you form a bond with animals, those memories never go away.”