Billy wearing a CNY shirt

A healthy handsome community cat, neutered 5 years ago!

Human urinating in public

A near-teens kid urinating in public. His parents were sitting nearby and they just watched.
Do we blame the kid or the parents?

Similarly if the irresponsible feeders leave a mess behind after feeding the cats, do we blame the cats?
However town councils have been doing so by culling/killing the cats, instead of going after the irresponsible feeders!

Victims of Abandonment !

8 cats were seen in 7 dirty stinking rusty cages.
By the time, caregivers arrived after being tipped off, only 2 very frightened cats remained.
The rest were probably hiding in the drains.
Abandoned home-cats is sheer cruelty. One can imagine how frightened the cats must be! As fearful as children lost in a shopping centre!
It is heart-breaking for caregivers to see the suffering of these cats. It is also frustrating for the caregivers who spent a lot of effort, time and money to neuter the cats in the neighbourhood. Now they have to search for 6 "new" cats to trap for neutering.
If the caregivers didn't arrive at the scene to help, how would the cleaners treat the two cats still in the cages. Would they remove all the cages including the two with the cats in them and dump them into the garbage truck that compresses the rubbish? There is absolutely NO training or protocol to guide these cleaners on how to handle such animal-related issues humanely.

The cargivers will do what they have to do, i.e. search for these frightened cats, and if found, trap for neutering.

If only the town council will be more appreciate of their effort and not blame them for an increase in the number of cats. If these caregivers give up this "cat managment" or TnRm (Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage), it will be back to endless cycles of culling without any reduction in complaints. In fact complaints may increase with an un-neutered population of cats!

Caregivers need help to reach out to owners of cats to educate them on what it means to be a responsible cat owners and to inform such owners that abandonment is a crime!

It is time that HDB realises that its archaic cat ban does NOTHING to stop residents from keeping cats. In fact HDB officers will inform HDB cat owners (if there are complaints against them, mainly resulting from the lack of confinement of these cats within their flats) to "remove" the cats and these cats may end up in the void deck like these 8 cats! The owners may not even be residing in this block!



































































































Named Morgan (photo taken on 20-02-2010)




























































































These two cats could have been in these cages all their lives!
They are now boarded in a shelter and will be sent for neutering and vaccination.
If you would like to support the care of these cats or better still, adopt them , do email to adoptarescuedcat@gmail.com

Who needs decorations at home when you have statuesque furry friends?

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Statuesque

Who needs decorations at home when you have statuesque furry friends? :)

Uploaded via Nokia E71

Posted by Kootoo | Muffin | Milo | Mama at 7:29 PM 2 comments

Cat on a late Sunday morning

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A lovely community calico cat

Tabby-boy remains safe

Tabby-boy's tail was almost amputated, likely due to abuse. See this posting....

New Jersey. USA.Mann devoted his life for Cat.. Tabbys Place:

http://www.tabbysplace.org/our-history.html

Beautiful community tabby cats

Noise from just ONE bird

Some time ago, a resident complaint to the town council of a bird making loud noise outside his windows.


Asian Koel

Cat ban prevents appropriate advice for cat owners on such poster

A separate poster for "Be a Responsible Cat Owner" should include
1) Keeping the cats indoor
2) Neutering the cats
3) Microchipping the cats (to trace if lost)
4) Be aware that abandonment of pets is a CRIME



In this poster, what does a cat standing in a puddle mean?

Free roaming home cat due to absence of responsible cat ownership regulations for HDB residents

This cat belongs to a Malay family living on the second storey. He suffered from injuries and skin problems, It was a caregiver who applied Revolution and Frontline-plus on this cat on different occasions. He is at risk of being abused, killed by cars, poisoned by chemical-filled drain water and "culled" or relocated by town council-activated pest controllers.
If this cat is a home-cat, keep him SAFE indoor.
"Downstairs" or homeless cats are managed by TnRm (Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage).


If you genuinely love your cat, please keep him or her SAFE indoor!

Human feeding leftover

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cat Collectibles

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Oreo and her "new" playground

SPCA Officer: 'His kindness encourages animal caregivers.'

The Straits Times
ST Forum
Jan 29, 2010
Bouquets

SPCA officer

'His kindness encourages animal caregivers.'

MS ONG LU LU: 'Last Friday, I found a cat stuck on a ledge at the fifth level of an HDB block. It was in a perilous position as it could fall from the ledge which was only 30cm wide. It was very stressed and frightened as it had been stuck there for hours. As I could not reach it, I called the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for help. Despite its limited resources and manpower, its animal handling officer, Mr Morgan, arrived in less than an hour. I was impressed by his expertise and knowledge as he carried out the rescue work in an efficient manner. As I was wondering what to do with the cat after it was removed from the ledge, Mr Morgan offered to take it back to SPCA for sterilisation. I am grateful for his offer. His kindness encourages animal caregivers like me to continue with animal welfare work.'

Harvest for Hope by Jane Goodall

Beautiful community cat called Tara

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The human dog-owner is responsible for this dog poo mess

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Respect all lives

We are omnivorous.
Of course we have a choice.
Reduce meat consumption.

Save lives.

Garpy and the Shadows

Asia for Animals Conference 2010 - Resolutions

Asia for Animals Conference 2010 - Resolutions

ACRES, the lead agency in organising the AFA2010 Conference last week in Singapore, today released the resolutions made at the conference attended by 390 delegates representing over 200 organisations from 26 countries around the world.

The resolutions adopted at the conference are as follows:

Singapore Specific

Call for (as proposed by Action for Singapore Dogs, Animal Lovers League and Cat Welfare Society) the AVA and Town councils to:

• Revive the discontinued Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme
• Acknowledge with deep concern the increase in the numbers of animals sacrificed during religious events and festivals

Call for (as proposed by SPCA Singapore) the HDB to:

• Permit the keeping of cats and medium-sized dogs in HDB flats

Call for (as proposed by Action for Singapore Dogs, Animal Lovers League and Cat Welfare Society) the Government of Singapore to:

• Implement and/or support TNR programmes that are not only more effective but are also more humane than culling, as a method of long term stray population management

Call for (as proposed by SPCA Singapore) the AVA to:

• Not grant a license for the importation of dolphins into Singapore by Resorts World of Sentosa

Call for (as proposed by ACRES) the Wildlife Reserves Singapore to

• End the circus-style elephant shows
• Improve the living conditions for the ocelots and cougars, according to the ACRES Acceptable Standards for the Well-Being of Animals
• Improve the living conditions for the show animals at the Night Safari according to the ACRES Acceptable Standards for the Well-Being of Animals

In General

Call for (as proposed by Indonesian Vegetarian Society) all Governments of Asia to:

• Recognise animals as sentient beings
• Support the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare

Call for (as proposed by Mr Azam Siddiqui from India) the Governments of Asia to:

• Strive for a “Crime Control Bureau” which would connect all the nations of Asia through a network of Individuals and organizations who are experienced in this field, for animal related crimes

Call for (as proposed by Animal Nepal) all Governments of Asia to:

• Ban the use of animas in blood sacrifices

Urge (as proposed by Animal Nepal) religious leaders to:

• End the suffering of animals involved in animal sacrifices and promote non-animal alternatives.

Call for (as proposed by Animals Asia Foundation) all Governments of Asia to:

• End bear farming and all trade in bear products
• Cease dog and cat culling
• Cease the consumption of dogs and cats

Call for (as proposed by Blue Cross of India) all Governments of Asia to:

• Reduce farming of animals that releases methane into the air and contributes to climate change

Call for (as proposed by Born Free Foundation) all Governments of Asia to:

• End the keeping of wild animals in circuses and travelling menageries
• Ensure all animals in zoos and other captive animal facilities are provided with conditions that meet their species-specific needs
• Phase out the keeping of wild animals as pets

Country Specific

Call for (as proposed by Taiwan SPCA) for the Government of Taiwan to:

• Criminalise the possession, use, buying and selling of gin traps, snares, glue traps and other inhumane trapping devices

Call for the Government of Australia to:

• Commit funding to improving the detection of CITES Appendix I products being imported into the country

Call for the CITES MA of Qatar to:

• End the local trade of wildlife in Doha

Call for (as proposed by Korean Animal Welfare Association) the Government of South Korea to:

• Ban the consumption and trade in dog and cat meat
• Work towards the introduction of legislation to guarantee the welfare of farm animals
• End the hunting of wild animals
• Ban classroom dissections

Call for (as proposed by all Delegates from Nepal present) the Government of Nepal to:

• Raise a global and common voice to control widespread poaching of the Greater one horned Asian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in coordination with the national conservation organisations which are working to control rhino poaching

Call for (as proposed by all Philippine Animal Welfare Groups present) the Government of Philippines to:

• End the dog meat trade
• Work closely with animal protection NGOs to improve enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, which prohibits dog and horse fighting
• End the exploitation of animals in zoos
• Ensure all animals in zoos and other captive animal facilities are provided conditions that meet their species specific needs
• End the exploitation of animals in the tourism industry
• End the trade in wildlife
• Integrate humane education into the national education system
• Make spay neuter programmes for companion animals, a government policy
• Make government pounds animal welfare friendly
• Ensure that humane slaughter policies for food animals are strictly followed
• Not allow greyhound racing to take place in the Philippines
• Aim for a rabies-free Philippines by 2015 through vaccinations and education
• Ban the importation of elephants
• Ban the importation and exportation of dolphins

While important calls were made to agencies in Singapore to do more and improve on the methods used in controlling the stray animal population in Singapore, there were also community-level calls intended to create awareness amongst the general public, such as calling on agencies in Singapore to publically acknowledge that the number of animals used in various religious sacrifice has been on the increase.

In addition, a call for sensibility on the part of the authorities to allow reasonable pet ownership in HDB flats was also made, and also reference to the ongoing issue of ensuring Resorts World of Sentosa does not import dolphins for public amusement.

Overall, the resolutions seem to be specific and achievable, and generally work towards the larger goal of better animal welfare for all sentient beings not of human origin.

A copy of the original AFA2010 Conference Resolutions document is available on this blog for inspection.

Taking care of Oreo

Resurfacing the pillars in the void deck provides a lot of "new" things to satisfy the innate feline curiosity of Oreo but it also brings possible health hazards. Cement dust can cause skin irritation. Cement contaminating the drink water may also be detrimental to her health.
Generally Indian foreign workers are warm towards cats, unless they are dictated by "bad" supervisors to trap cats in gunny sacks! This Indian worker was aware of the presence of Oreo and he agreed to change the drinking water whenever it was contaminated.

p.s. the water was changed in the late afternoon (I filled up a discarded plastic bottle and left it on top of the water meters, and this water was emptied into the water plastic container).

This is a cat called Cai-Lee, named after the Indian foreign worker called Charles, who took care of her when she was homeless. From Charles, Cai-Lee acquired a liking for curry. Cai-Lee is now a home companion with Mary.

End of the line for "fragrant meat"

Animal rights activists stage a march calling for refrain from eating cats and dogs, in Wuhan, China. AFP

End of line for 'fragrant meat'?

TODAY
05:55 AM Jan 27, 2010

BEIJING - Dog and cat meat - age-old delicacies in China - could be off the menu in the food-loving nation under its first law against animal abuse.

People who eat either animal, both of which are viewed as promoting bodily warmth, would face fines of up to 5,000 yuan ($1,030) and up to 15 days in jail if the law is passed, the Chongqing Evening News reported yesterday.

The report also said that "organisations" involved in the practice would be fined from 10,000 to 500,000 yuan.

The law has been at the drafting stage over the past year and the report did not make clear when the legislation was expected to become law. China's legislature meets in March but some draft legislation takes years to be approved.

Cruelty to animals and the raising of cats and dogs for dinner tables remain widespread in China, despite growing consciousness over animal welfare.

Restaurants touting "fragrant meat" a euphemism for dog, can be seen in cities throughout the country, where the fondness for dogs as pets co-exists with a taste for canine meat.

Cat meat is most popular in parts of southern China and there are regular reports of animal lovers attempting to prevent the sale of cats to meat markets. AFP

"Cat lovers" "Cat haters"

In replies from the town councils, AVA and the HBD, the term "cat lovers" often crop up, insinuating an irrational lot of "crazy" people and they will declare that approach has to be "balanced" but in practice, '"cat haters" are respected or even feared, as the action taken by tey authorities is culling/killing. "Cat lovers" are ignored and even treated as "irritants" for making the work of officers in these government department difficult when in the past it was as easy as picking up the phone to activate the pest controllers!

People, who are actively taking care of cats in their estate, usually have a personal interest in cats. Some of these people live with cats. As such, they are able to experience for themselves, that cats are individuals and not some "feeling-less" pests. From such close bonding with cats, "sentience" is appreciated.

"Cat haters" are deluded by fear and aversion.

Who's really the dirty one?

and look at the damage to public property. Yet the species responsible is never "culled"!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Indoors or Outdoors?

Indoors or Outdoors? By Jean Hofve, DVM

Are you thinking about allowing your cat to go outside without restriction? To make the right decision, you need to know the facts.

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 15-18 years. For a cat allowed outdoors, the average life is only 2-5 years. There are many dangers that can harm or kill an outdoor cat. (However, there are safe alternatives to simply opening the door; see our article on Outdoor Safety for more info.)

Read on....

Litter on the ground, on the wall and in the air!

It's not a UFO but a flying plastic bag!!

A community cat taking shade under a car

Typical kay-poh cats

Cats have been seen to be trapped in this plastic mesh

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”

TODAY
'Where did it all go wrong?'

05:55 AM Jan 26, 2010

Letter from Val Looi

THIS is a true story: A blind man boards a crowded bus. Every seat is filled.

There is a partially-blind boy who is seated. He stands up and offers his seat to the blind man.

The boy remains standing because no one else offers his or her seat to him.

If I had harboured any hope that our society might become more gracious in such a situation, all that hope died the day I witnessed that act.

I had no seat to offer the boy but I wish I had been brave enough to speak up then. But I did not, which is a reason why I am writing this.

I take public transport daily and I witness inconsiderate behaviour by commuters every day.

You name it, I've seen it. But a partially-blind boy giving up his seat for a blind man in a bus full of people who have perfect vision - that takes the cake.

What is wrong with us? Why are so many people incapable of sparing a thought for someone other than themselves?

How is it that Singapore is such a developed country economically and infrastructurally, whereas its people are so sorely lacking in what matter most - compassion and empathy?

Where did it all go wrong?

I am sure some people think that such a situation is not that bad because there will always be some black sheep. My view is that that is just not good enough and that we should not settle for that.

Cruelty to animals:'The maximum fine is grossly inadequate.'

Cruelty to animals

'The maximum fine is grossly inadequate.'

MS DEIRDRE MOSS, executive officer, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: 'I refer to last Wednesday's report, 'Home's no place for wildlife', in particular, to the present penalty for anyone who kills, takes or keeps any wild animal or bird other than those specified in the Schedule, without a licence. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is of the opinion that the maximum fine of $1,000 is grossly inadequate and does not act as an effective deterrent. In recent years, press reports have highlighted traps set at Pulau Ubin and Lim Chu Kang to trap wild boar. On occasion, other species like dogs have been caught in them. Two years ago, the SPCA wrote to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority asking it to consider making a recommendation to Parliament that the penalty be increased so it represents more than a slap on the wrist.'

Popular neighbourhood kitty suffers severe burns after man pours hot water on it

Posted on 22 Jan 2010

Popular neighbourhood kitty suffers severe burns after man pours hot water on it

STOMPer Sarah says this well-loved neighbourhood cat, whom she names Tiger, has recently suffered these severe burns. A neighbour told her that a man in his sixties was apparently the one abusing Tiger.

Sarah elaborates:

"It pains me to be writing this.

"A lovable cat that I named Tiger has been living around my housing estate for more than 2 years. It does not make any noise or cause any disturbance to the residents. Many residents also take turns to feed it daily to ensure that its health is being cared for.

"Recently however, not only has Tiger been looking depressed, a few residents and I noticed that Tiger has been severely abused.

"A lady told me that there is a 60+ year old man that was seen kicking Tiger until it was limping. He was also seen looking for Tiger, specifically to torture it.

"Lately, Tiger was seen with horrible burns on his face, leg and part of his body.

"The lady also told me that whenever the old man sees her feeding Tiger, he would shout at her to stop or bring it elsewhere.

"The incident took place at Blk 877, Yishun Street 81.

"I will be sending Tiger to a vet and am appealing for anyone who would love to contribute even a small amount of money for his treatment. I do hope that residents living around this estate can keep an eye out for such abuse.

"Anyone with evidence, I implore you to come forth and nab the culprit.

"The supposed culprit was last seen washing this red car at around 5-6pm."

Click on thumbnails for larger image

Keywords: animal abuse