Clannies monthly stats (Nov 06)

In accordance with Tracking – TNRM Reimbursement from CWS:

	No.	Remarks
Total number of cats	24	6 in Area 3: Marty, Hannah, Martin, Macy, Marcus, Mary 9 in Area 2: Sasha, Satin, Benji, Buddy, Buffy, Benny, Sally, Bella (formerly unnamed calico female), Omi 9 in Area 1: Ian, Baby, Chica, Salvi (free-ranging pet cats), Ivan, Cara, Cassie, Cally, new ginger-tom
Total sterilised	17	6 in Area 3: Marty, Hannah, Martin, Macy, Marcus, Mary 3 in Area 2: Sasha, Satin, Sally 8 in Area 1: Ian, Baby, Chica, Salvi, Ivan, Cara, Cassie, Cally
Newly sterilised this month	0	–
Still unsterilised	7	6 in Area 2: 3 females – Buffy, Bella, Omi; 3 males – Benji, Benny, Buddy (either free-ranging pet cat or abandoned) 1 in Area 2: 1 male, large ginger (newly spotted, suspected to be free-ranging pet cat)
Newly abandoned this month	1	1 in Area 2: 1 male – Benji
Newly killed or missing this month	0	–
Number of complaints this month	0	–

News: CatPeople struggle to stay solvent

From CatPeople struggle to stay solvent on Feral Cats In The News. This sounds so familar:

“Theirs is a somewhat underground operation. Few students on campus realize the time it takes to care for the cats, mostly feral colonies that live along the edges of the campus and are unaccustomed to human kindness.

But the CatPeople operate with the support of the college and community members who understand that homeless cats need a place to call their own.”

I think the only local equivalent to this great work being done over in this institute of higher learning in California is the NTU Cat Cafe Society (SG). ButCatPeople do have one edge:

“While the CatPeople has been budgeted to receive more than $1,000 in funds for the 2006-07 year, without backup from the Associated Students, the group’s funding and nonprofit status could disintegrate.”

The potential disintegration mentioned is due to this:

“An executive order earlier this year by CSU Chancellor Charles Reed states that Associated Student groups must include at least five students to be able to receive funding. Adams, who was a history major, graduated last year. Now the group includes mostly staff, faculty and one other student.”

Here’s the whole article:

CatPeople struggle to stay solvent
Los Angeles Daily News, California – Nov 24, 2006

CSUN’s feline-aid group needs student volunteers to keep nonprofit funding

BY SUSAN ABRAM, Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE – Louise Adams is on the prowl.

She waits and watches, edges closer to her target area, then backs away.

If it’s true what they say – that a cat usually doesn’t catch a mouse on its first pounce – then it is the same for Adams, who doesn’t always trap a cat on her first attempt of the day.

“This is the frustrating part,” Adams said one recent early morning after setting up a trap at the northern edge of the California State University, Northridge, football field. “I can be sitting here for more than an hour and not one will come along.”

Such is life sometimes for a cat lover such as Adams and a crew of about six others who make up the CSUN CatPeople. The group voluntarily cares for nearly 75 feral cats that call the 356-acre campus home.

Since forming in 2002, their mission has been to practice the trap-neuter-release technique that helps control the population, maintain 18 feeding stations across the campus and educate the public about the importance of spaying and neuturing cats.

Theirs is a somewhat underground operation. Few students on campus realize the time it takes to care for the cats, mostly feral colonies that live along the edges of the campus and are unaccustomed to human kindness.

But the CatPeople operate with the support of the college and community members who understand that homeless cats need a place to call their own.

Yet the group’s existence could soon unravel like a ball of yarn if more volunteers don’t come forward, members say.

“The university has been very supportive,” Adams said. “But we are now in a somewhat tenuous place.”

An executive order earlier this year by CSU Chancellor Charles Reed states that Associated Student groups must include at least five students to be able to receive funding. Adams, who was a history major, graduated last year. Now the group includes mostly staff, faculty and one other student.

While the CatPeople has been budgeted to receive more than $1,000 in funds for the 2006-07 year, without backup from the Associated Students, the group’s funding and nonprofit status could disintegrate.

The group has tried to encourage more students to volunteer and received four calls after a story about their group ran in the student newspaper. But there is still uncertainty, said Sabina Magliocco, associate professor of anthropology at CSUN and the group’s adviser.

“There is no bad guy in this issue,” Magliocco said. “The executive order is well-meaning, because it comes down to how people’s tax money is spent. But we’re kind of in the middle. I’m sure they weren’t thinking about groups like ours.”

Magliocco said that thanks to the group’s trapping, spaying and neutering of the campus’ feral cats, the population has declined.

“We’ve been able to control what could be a big health problem on campus for very little money,” Magliocco said.

Because CSUN is largely a commuter campus, the majority of its students also have jobs, so student volunteers are hard-pressed to take on an extra activity, Magliocco said.

In addition to the five-student minimum, the executive order also states that the president and treasurer of the group must have a 2.0 grade-point average. But CSUN is taking the mandate further.

“Our campus has extended that to the vice president and each group has to maintain a university adviser,” said Anna Jackson, activities coordinator for clubs and organizations at CSUN.

So far, Jackson has not heard of any of the other 240 Associated Student groups at CSUN struggling to meet the requirements.

The CSUN CatPeople are expected to meet with the Associated Students to work out how the group can continue to exist. The group also plans to meet in December to discuss how to maintain its nonprofit status.

In the meantime, Adams and the others plan to continue their work because they believe in its importance. Newborn kittens, Adams said, have only a 50 percent chance of survival in the wild.

“It’s an amazing part of nature that even if we could take all the cats off campus, more would come to take their place,” Adams said. “But this way, the population is controlled because the cats already here are very territorial.”

susan.abram@dailynews.com

(818) 713-3664

Young Siamese Boy on the loose

Cassie’s carpark in Area 1 has a new member.

A young chocolate siamese boy who is very friendly and trusting of humans. He wears a collar and he accepted btmao’s food service readily.

This morning is our second sighting of this young kitt. btmao first spotted him on Saturday. More mojo robbery to plot… sigh.

ST 20061127 – Great letter

From Dawn’s blog:

ST (27-11-06)

Thanks to Vegancat and IwooiBlog for sending this to me :-

Control Stray cats but have some regard for their welfare

This is a good letter – and makes a good point. Some people who borrow traps are probably not doing the right things with them – and there really is not much we can do about it except to complain and ask the AVA take the trap back.

Plus of course some people are deliberately trapping their neighbours’ cats knowing full well that they DO belong to someone – and that should not be allowed.

The comments on this entry are also very good.

Personally, I feel this ties in with how the AVA and SPCA take in animals without asking, and then proceed to put them down, AVA 100% and SPCA at least 90% (also refer to this). There is a serious loophole in there that encourages and condones pet abandonment.

Am flexing the writing hand too – but let’s see what tomorrow brings first.

Meantime, please do consider writing in too:

• the AVA: online feedback. General feedback- Email: ava_email@ava.gov.sg,. Phone: 63257625. Quality Service Manager Hotline – Email: ava_qsm@ava.gov.sg, Phone: 1800-2262250.
• the Straits Time: stforum@sph.com.sg: Please include your full name (as in IC), your address and a telephone contact number. For women, please indicate Miss, Mrs or Ms. Also bear in mind their 400 word limit.

These links may help:

• Tips on letter-writing
• Tips: Writing Emails/Letters

Here’s the complete letter mentioned, in case the link expires

Nov 27, 2006 Mon

Control stray cats but have some regard for their welfare

WE HAVE been living in a residential estate of 45 houses for almost 20 years. There are a few stray cats in our estate but I do not see them creating any nuisance.

On Oct 3, my immediate neighbours borrowed a cat trap from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to trap stray cats. They set up the trap in their garden, with full exposure to the elements.

I understand the rationale for the trap, but I am appalled by the inhumane actions and cruelty to the cats. Because the AVA rounds up trapped cats only on weekdays, a cat trapped on Friday or over the weekend will be in the hot sun or heavy rain and suffer from lack of food and water until the following Monday. As an animal lover, I am disappointed that the AVA endorses such inhumane ways to get rid of stray animals.

On Oct 18, I wrote to the AVA as well as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to express my concern. I was told there is a maximum two-week loan period for the traps, after which they are taken back by the AVA. I was told that trap borrowers are not allowed to keep them over the weekend.

However, till today, eight weeks after the trap was first set up, it has not been removed by the AVA as promised. Furthermore, the trap remains open every weekend.

I have seen a number of cats caught, banging on the cage and crying pitifully in heavy rain until they were removed by the AVA. Another neighbour’s pet cat was also caught, and the owner had to pay the AVA $47 to rescue her injured cat.

I have brought up my case with the AVA repeatedly but have come up against a stone wall.

I understand that one of the AVA’s main priorities is to control and reduce the population of stray cats and dogs. However, I believe it is also its duty to ensure it does not disregard the animals’ welfare.

With recent media reports of animal abuse and public concern over such behaviour, I believe there is a collective desire among Singaporeans to prevent animal abuse.

Lim Swee Eng (Mdm)

Once again, the addresses to write to:

• the AVA: online feedback. General feedback- Email: ava_email@ava.gov.sg,. Phone: 63257625. Quality Service Manager Hotline – Email: ava_qsm@ava.gov.sg, Phone: 1800-2262250.
• the Straits Time: stforum@sph.com.sg: Please include your full name (as in IC), your address and a telephone contact number. For women, please indicate Miss, Mrs or Ms. Also bear in mind their 400 word limit.

These links may help:

• Tips on letter-writing
• Tips: Writing Emails/Letters

Izzy assimilation

Izzy’s been home with his dad, HB, since yesterday, and to date, HB has made an Izzy update everyday. We found that very thoughtful and appreciate his effort v much.

As expected, there was a bit of a freakout on Izzy’s part at the move, but it seems like nothing major. In fact, Izzy’s started to settle in, and has already made a friend, JJ, and met JJ’s mum and other denizens of the neighbourhood. We’ll aim to visit in a fortnight’s time.

If You Take the Time To Understand Them Cats Make Great Pets

From a new blog – Animal Shelter Pet Tip (Likely a US-based shelter)
(Paragraphing mine to facilitate reading)

November 18th, 2006

Cats do not normally perform any tricks, and they certainly do not guard your house while you are away. In fact, the only thing you can be guaranteed of by having a cat is that a mouse won’t last long if they creep into your home.

Most people love cats because of their independence. Cats have a life of their own so to speak. Most cats will not follow you around the house with their tongues hanging out of their mouths begging for your attention. While they do love their owners, cats will not grovel like a dog and worship their owners. Cats are perfectly content simply being themselves–and they do not seem to need constant reassurance, unlike dogs. However this does not mean that cats do not need your love and affection, it simply means cats are not “fragile” characters. In fact, cats can even exude a self assurance which can often be misunderstood as aloofness or coldness, which they are not. If a cat comes to sit on your lap, you know you are truly loved. Cats are mysterious animals, which is part of the draw to them.

Even when cats have been brought into the home, their instincts still remain. Cats adopt their owners and will even go out and provide “dinner.” Many cat owners including myself have stepped out on the stoop to find a dead mouse, opossum, or mole waiting for them. Now, that is love and loyalty!

If you are planning on bringing a new cat into your home, you should look at it as a life long commitment. Cats can live to be twenty years or longer. You should also understand that as cats get older, they will often sleep and lay around your home.

If you are wanting a pet to entertain you throughout her life, you should seriously think about whether a cat is the right pet for you. Kittens are very entertaining and young cats are always curious and up for a challenge. However, older cats aren’t easily excitable and usually prefer to watch the antics in the home from a distance.

When you have made the decision to bring a new cat into your home, you will have to decide between a domestic or purebred cat. We at the shelter recommend a domestic cat adopted of course. There are more than 40 breeds to choose from, so do your homework. Domestic cats come in all colors and shapes. When you look at any cat, there are some things you should consider. For instance, while all cats are fairly in proportion to each other, there are some cats which are more lanky and lean than others. These cats will be the ones who may be more interested in running and exploration. The chunkier, heavier cat will probably be more laid.

The two types of domestic cats are a domestic long hair or domestic short hair cat. When picking out your cat, you should understand that cats should not have an odor. While puppies do tend to have a smell about them, kittens do not. You may feel that a rowdy, rambunctious kitten will fit the best into your lively home. Or, you may decide that a laid back kitten is more your speed, especially if you have a quiet home.

Once you have made your decision and chosen your kitten, you should have a kennel waiting for travel, if you do not own one they an be purchased at any pet supply store, or Wal-Mart. You should never try to ride in a car with a cat unless they are restrained or in a kennel.

While most dogs love car rides, cats tend to scare more easily. They can cower under your feet preventing you from accelerating or braking and this can lead to a wreck.

When you bring your new cat into your home, you should immediately show her where the litter box, food and water are located. You should also have a supply of cat toys on hand keep him or her entertained.

Lavishing attention on a new kitten will do wonders in the transition to her new family. You should expect your new cat or kitten to explore every nook and cranny in your home. This is a necessary part of a cat’s disposition. (Even older cats seem to perk up when a new piece of furniture is brought into a home they have lived in for years.)

You will want to cat proof your home. You should keep the lids down on the toilet, and you may want to remove potted plants and the like until your new cat learns the rules of the house. Cats are social creatures, and they can learn the rules of their new environment with consistency. While you may think they do not understand what you are saying, this is not true. If you have a new kitten who wants to walk across the kitchen counter or dining room table, simply rattling a newspaper at her and saying “down” will help to teach her to stay off. Be patient and with time you will be able to put the newspaper away and simply speak the command.

Kittens can add joy to any home. Part of the fun is knowing the kitten is oblivious to the fact that she is the center of attention. She is not trying to gain your attention by performing. She is simply being a cat. Don’t worry if your cat is not interested in being a lap cat. While she may be content for a few moments on your lap, kittens have to roam, play and explore. As your cat matures she will be more inclined to take it easy curled up on your lap. Until then, just make her feel loved and you will have a feline that will adore you and her new home.

Cara vid’d, Cassie and Ivan were there too

Yesterday morning was almost a gathering of Area 1’s carpark cats. There was Cara (at last), Cassie (who got the telemeow and just wanted company), and Ivan.

Cara

She liked btmao’s company, and of course the brekkie service. But she’s not been regular, as mentioned. So that just makes us wonder where she’s hanging out since her suspected motorcycle-seat-related injury.

Ivan the no longer terrible

Since he’s been demojo-ed, Ivan’s been letting go of his terror aura. He’s a big teddy bear now, sweet on btmao and the girls. He shared chow with Cassie and then went off for a drink.

Cassie

Somehow she knew there was a gathering, and turned up. She was really happy to have company, and her tail wagged with the energy of having breakfasted. btmao served her second brekkie and she shared it with Ivan. When Ivan moved off, the gathering sort of concluded itself, and we followed Ivan to his drinking spot to take the pics you see. We left Cara and Cassie to themselves.

As we past Ivan, I couldn’t resist taking photos of him slaking his thirst. What happened next is a distress call, just like the way the new b&w girl in area 2 cried last night – and who should appear, but Cassie. She’s still lonely and wants company, and as soon as she got us in sight, she stopped calling. We really hope to find her a home soon, where she won’t have to cry for feeling lonely.

Vidz!
Cara-chowtime

Cassie-standing on grooming ceremony

Ivan-none, all he did was sit there and make eyes at the camera.

Snowball boy

You looking at me? Really, really looking at me?

Okay, here’s better looks of my eyes

The full white

Reflections

Contrast

Talking

Vids:

Siesta

Prowl

UPDATE 20061203: Snowball has found his mum, and is no longer looking for a home. Thank you for considering Snowball.

Zen Izzy

Getting the last kinks out of the system

Now for some zen while waiting to go home with Dad tomorrow.

Homeseeker: Snowball

I am Snowball, a pure white young male cat. I love affection and will not resist being carried.

My eyes have different colours, and my tail doubles back on itself. I was abandoned when I got sick. I was picked up some strangers and cared for. Now I am recovered and ready to go to a real home. See more of my beautiful eyes and furcoat here.

Snowball has been sterilised, and litter-box trained.

If you or anyone you know is interested to give this affectionate young boy a real home, please write to sephycat at gmail dot com.

His story
Snowball was first sighted on Oct 19. Subsequently seen on Oct 24, he was bundled off into fostercare.

He was found to be suffering from a skin problem, which may be why he was abandoned. He has since recovered, but not before worrying us about his health. He refused to eat at first, and we feared he may be rejecting food and pine himself to death.

Luckily he’s made a full recovery, and is now ready for a real home.

New semi-pet cat in Area 2

I was with btmao on the evening rounds.

At Sasha’s, we found her at her usual spot on the staricase by the roadside… waiting for her “owner” to return or maybe just bided goodbye.

We called her and fed her at her usual feeding spot. As she was tucking in, we heard loud meows. It was coming from the grilled-covered drains running right along the spot.

The aroma of the food probably lured a hungry kitty into revealing itself. It was dark away from the feeding spot, but btmao could identify it as a cat she’s seen once, at a distance, some time back.

It was wary and calling its hunger out, but also keeping away from us. We tried to get it to come out of the drain by opening one of the hatches, but we needn’t have worried. The cat had come out at the other end of the drain, approaching with the usual cautious daring of a skittish cat driven by hunger to approach strangers.

The new cat is a girl, probably about 8-10 months old. No pictures – the cam in the phone gave… in faithful accordance with Murphy’s law, so I’ll try to describe her as accurately as possible in lieu of a photo. She was white, with a lope-sided face mask that covered partially her left forehead, and the front of her ears, which were untipped. The whole of her right face around the eye was covered. On her back, there was a patch about 8cm in diameter below her shoulder blades. Further down, and a little to the left was another. Her tail was a black bob. She, unsurprisingly, was wearing a collar, a red one with black edging/trimming. Also unsurprising was how grubby her white coat look.

Even more unsurprising was her hunger. She was obviously wary and perhaps fearful of Sasha. But hunger drove her and she dared to try to eat from Sasha’s plate. As with cats that had not eaten for a long time, she made some of that funny noise as she gulped and snatched food.

After some posturing between Sasha and this cat, they settled into eating for a bit, and then Sasha decided she wanted no part of it, and left.

The new girl quickly, and warily, gulped down everything, and quickly scooted away from the plates.

Then she continued to sit out of reach and resumed calling in that plaintive way that cats seem to cry when they’re lost… or abandoned.

While it is true that a cat, no matter how well-fed, would be interested in food regardless, this girl was calling, and she was ravenous, and after eating, she resumed calling. No properly cared-for pet cat would display such desperation for food.

Damn irresponsible pet ‘ownership’.

(Of course we’d have to try to arrange for her to go to the vet if she sticks around – have her opened up and if not sterilised, take away her mojo, and get her ear tipped. Poor girl, especially if she’s already sterilised – though i HIGHLY doubt it.)

Won’t you give her a chance?

Timmi‘s been looking for a home for abot 1.5 years now. Like Booties and Frankie, there’s hardly any enquiries about her.

We see her only about once a week, since she’s at Foster Mum’s. But Timmi greets us, especially btmao, every single time she sees us. She even start calling once she hears btmao! If that is not the sign of an affectionate cat, I don’t know what is.

I can’t make her do something eye-catching like break-dance to add spice to her adoption notice so it’s vexing.

There’s nothing wrong with her except a lead-time in warming up to strangers, so she tends to want to hide or stay away. In a cattery with at least 20 other cats, she’s bound to lose out in the first impressions stake. Actually, her nature is so calm, even visitors who had stuck around in the cattery until she’s comfortable, think her boring because she just sits or lay there and enjoy their chin rubs and head scratches. But she’s really just a bit reserved. Her behaviour with us does show the level of affectionate she’s capable of – she just needs time to establish that rapport with new people, and we’re talking maybe hours or days here, not seconds.

However, the thing is, there’s hardly even any enquiries about her, so it’s tough even to have a visitor look at her and consider giving her their laps – which she loves.

Now that I’ve made a vid/pic page for her, I can see there’s some traffic, casual traffic at least, especially after her adoption notice was updated. But still, no one has expressed interest. Until yesterday that is. We were ecstatic when we saw the email. But it turns out the enquirer lives in the US… so it’s not going to work. I’ve suggested to the enquirer to ty looknig in the local county or state shelters instead.

Meantime, I just watch the hit counter like a stockbroker and hope somewhere in there, one is from Timmi’s furever home.

Accounting for breeding stock

(If you find this post informative, you might like to check out these.)

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I stumbled on the Project Kindness – “Just Kindness, from our souls to theirs” blog, and feel the entry below should be shared with all. It is with regards to the way business-minded people exploit animals to breed babies and sell them for a profit, all in the name of selling love and devotion, aka the pet trade. This of course contributes to the homeless animals wandering our streets too.

Please:

Don’t breed or buy while shelter animals DIE

Given the fact that at least 90% of all animals sent to the Singapore SPCA are killed by lethal injection, please consider the impact of your actions in deciding to breed or buy a “pet” animal.

And have you ever wonder what happens to the kittens and puppies who are not good enough for sale, whether they are white or normal coloured? How about the ones who are good enough for sale, but outgrew their sell-by date, and stopped being cute?

Stop Puppy Mills!

 

• A PETSHOP KITTEN
• ARE YOU FUNDING PUPPY MILLS AND ANIMAL CRUELTY?
• DawnWatch: Philly Daily News slams puppy mills — 3/29/06
• Get the Facts on Puppy Mills
• Kitten Mills
• Little Shops of Sorrows: API’s Pet Shop Campaign and Undercover Investigation by Animal Protection Institute
• Prisoners for Profit
• prisonersofgreed.org
• Why you should NEVER buy from a Pet Store

And in case you think such callous barbaric inhumanity is something that doesn’t happen on our dear great little red dot called Singapore, think again. These are just some of the articles on the local situation, published in the local media:

Articles and online comments in this year, 2006 alone.

• Do You Contribute to Animal Abuse? (ST, 20061022)
• Macaw had no food, water on hot afternoon (ST 20061010)
• AVA making right moves (Today, 20061003)
• AVA introduces Pet Shop Grading Scheme to up standards of pet shops (CNA 20060930)
• Denying links with animals allows us to treat them like mere objects (ST 20060926)
• Severely starved dog found dead on #14 Blk 652 Ponggol Central (ST 20060820)
• Despite suffering abuse and horrible injury, these pets bounced back thanks….. (ST 20060709)
• Shelters not the answer (Today, 20060518)
• Don’t let animals end up like Spot (Today, 20060509)
• My dog died and I was scolded (TNP, 20060504)
• Callous attitude of pet shop staff (Today, 20060428)
• Grooming session goes wrong and maltese puppy ends up castrated (ST 20060501)
• Raise awareness about responsibility in pet ownership (ST 20060426)
• Cat in Collar in danger of being culled/killed (Dawn’s blog, 20060425)
• I’m not a great fan of those pedigree cats…. (ST 20060423)
• Tough action needed to protect puppies and prevent negligence (ST 20060420)
• Stiffer penalties needed to rein in pet shops (ST 20060420)
• Virus kills 3 pups – pet shop fined (ST 20060417)
• Pet-assisted therapy for dementia patients gaining popularity in Singapore (ST 20060417)
• The suffering of an abandoned cat (20060416)
• Train strays as guide dogs, avoid culling them (Today 20060412)
• “put to sleep” – is this not killing? (Today 20060407)
• Over 1,000 rabbits ditched (Today 20060407)
• Don’t have pets unless you can care for them (TNP 20060329)
• Shop’s cages so small, dogs could hardly move (ST 20060302)
• OK to keep pet shark without a licence? (Today 20060223)
• Feedback on proposed new measures for managing the pet and stray dog populations (20060216)
• Tarantulas found abandoned (Today 20060207)
• Some dogs suffer (TNP 20060131)
• Animal lovers alarmed as dogs sales rise for Lunar New Year (CNA 20060126)
• The suffering of an abandoned cat (20060120)
• Dogs apparently need no help lifting the spirits of lonely senior citizens (20060118)
• Pets are not toys. Don’t turn hermit crabs into ornaments (ST 20060117)

Some info from 2005 and 2004

• Review animal re-homing rules (ST 20051219)
• A dog is a dog. Don’t look down on mongrels (ST 20051125)
• AVA to launch new deterrents to curb pet abandonment (CNA 20051126)
• Be fair to cats. We could live with a few meows (ST 20051125)
• Trade in your dog, upgrade to new one. What’s next? (ST 20051123)
• Neglected Arctic sled dog died of heatstroke (ST 20050825)
• Anti-animal abuse rules lack bite (Today 20050601)
• Taming the pet industry (Today 20050504)
• Harsh punishment for victims, a wrist slap for perpetrator? (Today 20050425)
• Pet shop sues dead dog’s owner over Net posting (TNP 20050108)
• Will someone love this blind pup? (TNP 20050125)
• 3 maggot-infested Shih Tzus feed on carcass of canine (update) (20041217)
• 100 dogs living in urine and filth (TNP 20041029)
• IN THREE years, the number of pet shops has more than doubled from 291 to 642 (TNP 20041017)

Please, please: DO NOT breed or buy while shelter animals DIE.

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Project Kindness – “Just Kindness, from our souls to theirs” blog:

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Singapore Cat Groups

It’s not just about dogs. Neither is it just about cats.It is all about LIFE and life as it is meant to be – a GIFT to the living – and never just labelled as a number in the crowd, treated with a callous attitude as if the living, breathing, sentient being who responds with the same spectrum of emotions as you, is nothing but a commodity for selfish and perverted acts of cruelty and neglect, profit and exchange.Where LIFE is bred without a residue of emotional attachment. Pups and kittens churned out like donuts on a conveyor belt. The sheer repetitive and numerous production further hardening the senses of people who are unfit to be in the animal industry in the first place, for the very simple reason that they have not even grasped in their small minds the TRUE VALUE of LIFE.

How can he, whose heart feels nought in the presence of hungry and distressed cries and whimpers of need, in an environment not even of acceptable hygiene levels to boldly let your premises be seen … how can he, who looks at a new life with an eye trained on dollars and cents, who gives himself the power to snuff out newborn lives whom, in his ‘professional opinion’ will not make it on the markets, that no one would buy them for they are born deformed, disabled, weak. Who also decides when the breeding moms and dads have outlived their ‘use’ and then have you wondered whatever happens to them?Think and think hard again if you have the intention to buy a pup from one of our petshops. Make sure you know full well where the pup has been bred, who are the parents. Ask for pups who are microchipped, which is the least we can ask of, in an environment where honesty may be compromised for profit.

A microchip will offer certain levels of assurance:

– It will assure that the animal is indeed imported from such a country and such a reputable breeder, instead of being churned out from a pet farm of dubious origins.

– It will assure that ALL animals are properly accounted for. Take a minute now to imagine: how many dogs do you think are now being kept in breeding farms, behind doors closed to the public eye? How many do you think come and go? What happen to those who are no longer ‘useful’?

If we do not take up the efforts to properly identify each animal in the breeding trade, what are we exactly saying? Is it too much work? Does it cost too much? Is it not economically viable to want to know what happens to each life?

Is our non-action and tolerance proclaiming that the life of these breeding dogs are not worthy of such efforts? Why spend money on identifying them when they are just meant for breeding and it is their offsprings who bring in the money?

When have we crossed the line? Have our levels of acceptance risen so much in our developing years, that now, we quietly tolerate an industry where life is hidden behind closed doors? And we silently stand outside, hearing the cries, but not bothering or maybe not daring to lift a finger to help, nor even lifting a hand to query – hey, just what is happening behind those doors? And just where are the people who HAVE the authority to go behind those doors? Until the next unfortunate discovery gets splashed in the papers.

The very presence of closed doors implies there is something to conceal. Or does it?

You have a right to know the origins of the animal if you have an intention of purchase. If your queries are met with blank walls and avoidance, then do the animal trade here an uplifting favour – do not purchase from that shop, and make it a point to share your experience with people around so that, in time, the professional standards and more vitally, the HEART of people involved in our pet industry, will improve to acceptable levels.

It is through small, conscious acts on YOUR PART that will make positive difference and bring much relief to countless, faceless, nameless animals out there – who are now, at this moment, put through manmade processes – which are NEVER meant as part of their gift of life.

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(If you find this post informative, you might like to check out these.)

Do you know Singapore’s housing authority is anti-cat, Mrs Bush?

Mrs Bush, First Lady of the United States Of America, likes cats. She was just here last week with her husband, the President of the United States of America.

I wonder what it would be like if one of these kids asked her if she knew HDB bans cats from flats, and refuses to review the senseless ban. Actually, I wonder more what her reply would be and how different it would be from her real personal thoughts on it.

Really, how does Singapore’s autocratic, unreasoning adamant policy that specifically ban cats as pets in government-built apartment buildings, which houses 3 quarters of the population reflect on the level of grace in Singapore? It speaks volumes, reverberating volumes.

Singaporeans: please, please consider writing in and asking HDB why are they so stuck on this ridiculous ban. More details on the history of this embarrassingly backward officious attitude and information on where to write to here.

(PS I am the farthest you could be from being a fan of Mr. George W. Bush, regardless of sides, persuasion or inclination.)

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This story was printed from TODAYonline

Do you live in a big flat? Do you work, Mrs Bush? Friday • November 17, 2006
Sheralyn Tay
sheralyn@mediacorp.com.sgCHILDREN say the darndest things. And, going by the questions from inquisitive youngsters during Mrs Laura Bush’s visit to the National Library yesterday, they ask the darndest things too — even if you are the First Lady of the United States.

After her storytelling session for 30 children from low-income families, Mrs Bush fielded queries on her hobbies, her favourite pet and if she liked Singapore. She answered each innocent question — however direct — with her natural Texan charm and warm smile, endearing herself to her young audience.

The First Lady was also thrown some stumpers by the seven- to nine-year-olds, such as: Are you popular? Do you live in a big flat? Do you work?

To the last question, she replied: “I only work like this. I did work as a librarian, but now I get to work like this, visiting Presidents and meeting children from all over …”

An engaging storyteller, Mrs Bush would pause between the pages of Miss Spider’s Tea Party to explain, ask questions and chat about the story. The children responded with enthusiasm, raising their hands to call out their answers.

“She is very pretty,” said Nur Alija Ibrahim, 8, who is in the National Library Board’s KidsRead programme. She asked Mrs Bush why she was called the First Lady and learnt some things about her as well.

“She likes cats and her hobbies are collecting things, reading books and she has a garden with many roses. She has a big white house,” Nur Alija said.

Mrs Bush, who was dressed in a pale jade-green trouser suit, also viewed 12 items from the library’s rare-books collection, which included a letter written in 1819 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.

For American graduate student Tim Gorman, 25, who is studying at the National University of Singapore (NUS), it was a surprise to see the First Lady at the library.

“I usually study at NUS, but I figured that because Bush was speaking there it would be crazy today, so I thought I’d come to the National Library instead to beat the crowds. And I run into Laura Bush instead,” he said.

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Once again: Singaporeans, please, please consider writing in and asking HDB why are they so stuck on this ridiculous ban. More details on the history of this embarrassingly backward officious attitude and information on where to write to here.

HDB refuse to review cat-ban

Latest news about CWS’ effort to engage in dialogue with HDB and get them to review their ridiculous cat specific ban:

HDB declined meeting

HDB just wrote back to say that they had just renewed the housing policy in July and hence did not wish to meet with us again.

I have written back to say that I hoped they would reconsider.

– Dawn’s Blog

Please, please consider writing in and asking HDB why are they so stuck on this ridiculous ban. More details on the history of this embarrassingly backward officious attitude and information on where to write to here.

(Related: Do you know Singapore’s housing authority is anti-cat, Mrs Bush?)