Letter to the MP from a caregiver
Date: Monday, 28 September, 2009, 2:26 PM
CC ****, **** Town Council
**** Stray Cat Rehab Volunteers
Dear Sir,
I am ***, one of the volunteers managing the stray cats in the *** estate.
Firstly, I would like to thank **** Town Council for their continuous support in working with the volunteers towards stray cat management in the *** Estate. We have been working with **TC for several years and many residents are aware of the programme through 'neighbourly talks' although we have yet to publicise it through posters and publicly educating even more residents on the programme.
Last Saturday residents of T*** RC at Blk ** ***** celebrated the Mid Autumn Festival. It was a happy occasion but something unpleasant took place that made me write to you.
That night, as usual, our feeders went on their daily feeding rounds. The feeders feed the strays in a responsible manner, leaving no food behind and ensure that the cats are well managed through neutering. A fellow resident, with a digital camera at hand, began taking videos and pictures of the feeders, which aroused our concern. A volunteer approached him to find out more and he confidently blurted out that feeding animals is wrong and that he wanted to make a complaint.
I identified him as the son of a fellow T*** RC volunteer (I can only remember him as Mr Y), residing at Blk ** #0*-1***. Mr Y was identified by the RC as one of those whom new residents can look for if they have any queries about the neighbourhood. I received the newsletter when I moved in a few years back.
As a resident and fellow volunteer contributing my services towards the estate too, I am distraught and would like the RC to look into this.
1) As an RC volunteer, Mr Y is either not being briefed by his RC on the estate's programmes or chose not to support the stray cat rehab programme **TC is collaborating with fellow residents of the estate. Such misinformed belief that feeding animals is wrong needs to be corrected. Lest we forget, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong stated during his walkabout in Kim Keat that it is not illegal to feed stray cats, but it must be done responsibly.
2) Identified by the RC as someone whom new residents can look for, he is not setting a good example to new residents by his recent actions. Instead of explaining to the new residents the rationale of the programme and supporting it, he might even be condemning it.
3) Mr Y and myself all make up a team of volunteers working towards the better good of the estate. I would appreciate that he will go up to the volunteers if he has any concern instead of getting his son to take photos and videos, making the feeders feel not at ease.
4) I urge the RC to educate Mr Y and fellow residents on animal compassion if he continues to volunteer for the RC as his actions will reflect badly on the organisation he represents. On one occasion sometime ago, I witnessed him picking up a stone and throwing it at a passing-by cat. What horrified me next was, he picked another stone and gave it to his grandchild to throw it again at the poor animal. Studies have shown the benefits of interaction with animals and how children exposed to pets develop tolerance, compassion and social responsibility. Unfortunately, Mr Y actions could instill negative values in children: the intolerance of other living beings in our community and the acceptability of a sterile humans-only Singapore.
Let's hope Mr Y and family will look beyond their personal dislike for animals/cats and understand the main objective of why the stray cats rehab scheme exist in the first place.
Lastly, I do recognise T** RC's main objectives and reason for their existence. Let's hope we can work as a team and not in silos towards making Fengshan a better place to live in for all.
Thank You
***
http://www.pa.gov.sg/1148093110402/1148970724032.html
Functions of the Committee
3 The functions of the Committee are :
(a) to promote neighbourliness, harmony and cohesiveness among the residents of the Designated Zone;
(b) to liaise with and make recommendations to governmental authorities on the needs and aspirations of residents of the Designated Zone;
(c) to disseminate information and channel feedback on government policies and actions from residents of the Designated Zone; and
(d) to promote good citizenship among residents of the Designated Zone.
