Sunday, September 30, 2012
An ex-homeless cat called Powder, now renamed Jude
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
An ex-homeless now, now in a good safe home.
Now called Jude
Previously named Powder after a movie's character.
Previously named Powder after a movie's character.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Ensure better protection of animals against cruel acts
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/ensure-better-protection-animals-against-cruel-acts-20120925
Published on Sep 25, 2012
Published on Sep 25, 2012
THE Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) thanks Dr Andy Ho ("Let's talk about animal welfare"; Sept 14) for highlighting the Animal Welfare Legislation Review, which marks a milestone in animal welfare here.
We hope it will result in much improved legislation to protect animals against cruel acts, including wanton neglect.
As long as there are economic factors affecting animal industries - whether factory farming or commercial breeding and sale of pets - it seems that the welfare of the animals involved is often left out of the equation.
In New Zealand, which Dr Ho referred to, the SPCA does not have to go through the attorney-general or public prosecutor to take perpetrators of animal cruelty to task legally, unlike in Singapore, where no independent parties have the legal standing to seek action by the courts.
This can be a serious hurdle to action when there are differences of opinion between the authorities and the SPCA in terms of what constitutes a cruel act.
We support Dr Ho's suggestion to introduce codes of welfare here, as has been done in New Zealand.
Currently, there is an ongoing review of New Zealand's Animal Welfare Act 1999, and there are indications that the codes of welfare it currently has will be changed into regulations.
The reason is that the codes are not directly enforceable (in particular, the production animal codes for layer hens, pigs and meat chickens).
So, failing to meet the minimum standard under a code may not necessarily relate directly to an offence under its Act, making it difficult to prosecute for non-compliance of the minimum standard in the relevant code of welfare.
So we hope that if the authorities were to introduce codes of welfare here, the codes would make reference to specific offences under the relevant Act.
For instance, if a person, company or corporate body failed to meet a minimum standard within a code of welfare, they would breach the Animals and Birds Act and would be liable upon conviction to a fine or imprisonment.
Last December, we submitted a proposal for legislative reform, which included a recommendation to consider a separate, standalone Act, that is, an animal welfare Act.
The setting up of an independent animal welfare advisory committee was also suggested in our proposal, as is the case in New Zealand and Australia.
Deirdre Moss (Ms)
Animal Welfare Director
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
How Your Cat Says "I Love You"
http://www.thedailycat.com/behavior/understanding/cat_says_i_love_you/index.html#axzz26w82hwiZ
Amy Morgan of Brooklyn, New York, first knew that her calico cat
Ruki loved her after he'd been living in her home for about two weeks.
"I was in bed, and out of the corner of my half-opened eye, I saw him
patiently waiting for me to wake up. The second I moved, he jumped on
top of me, purring and kneading my chest wildly. Ever since, he's done
that every morning. It's a great way to wake up."
But do cats love? And do they show it by kneading? "Absolutely," says Jackson Galaxy, a Redondo Beach, California-based cat behaviorist. "A friend of mine says it best: cats are the masters of detached love. She's talking about how cats can seem aloof and unfeeling. They express love in ways that baffle us."
Galaxy decodes seven of your furry friend's signals of l'amour.
1. Grooming
Grooming is the first way that kittens experience care. Mothers groom their kittens from birth, and so licking and being licked become associated with the serenity of being with mom. "Litter mates as they grow older, if they're adopted together, will groom each other for life," says Galaxy. If your cat is licking you, it's a sign of its affection.
2. Purring
A kitten is first guided to its mother's nipples by her purr. As a result, purring is associated with milk and the feeling of satisfaction. And kittens purr back. "It's almost like a Marco Polo type of game: call and response. It's life affirming to them," says Galaxy. "There's debate as to what the purr signifies later in a cat's life, but we do know they purr to sooth themselves -- the purring lowers their heart rate." If your cat is not injured or stressed, purring in your presence is likely related to feeling cared for by you, just as it was cared for by its mother.
3. Rubbing
Cats show affection to other cats, dogs and humans by rubbing against them. (Rubbing includes paw kneading, as in the case with Morgan's calico.) Says Galaxy, "When your cat puts its scent on you, it's saying something like, 'You and I belong together because I smell you on me and you smell me on you.' It's a scent complement." Kneading is also a throwback to kittenhood, when a kitten kneads its mom's teat in order to stimulate the flow of milk. Allowing the rubbing is essential to your relationship with your cat, and you won't smell a thing.
4. Mock Spraying
Male cats spray concentrated urine when claiming territory. In claiming you, your male cat may act as if he is spraying -- backing up toward you with a quivering tail -- but will not actually produce a spray. "They have so many scent glands to rub, they don't need to spray us," says Galaxy. Unfortunately for their human caretakers, an insecure cat may also show love by urinating in its owner's bed. "My clients sometimes mistake this for aggression. It's actually a compliment."
5. Gumming
Is Fluffy rubbing its gums on you? Yep, that's one more way in which your cat may attempt to blend its scent with yours.
6. Blinking
It's been referred to as "the cat I love you." This visual signal usually consists of a stare, followed by a blink, an open eye, and then a soft second blink. "It's actually a sign of trust, like showing you its belly," says Galaxy, who mimics the blink with cats he works with when trying to gain their confidence. "It's a form of communication I know works. Do it a few times with your own cat. They'll begin returning it to you."
7. Gifting
When your cat brings you a dead mouse, it's not a present in the traditional sense. "What seems like an obvious sign of affection is something that comes from a dog or human-centric viewpoint. When a cat brings a dead mouse home, they're saying, 'I bring this thing to my safe place.' It's more a demonstration that your cat feels supremely safe in the home you share. That, too, is a compliment."
To return your cat's affection, Galaxy recommends following its lead. "Experiment. Present your hand and see where your cat forces it. You'll find out what your cat likes to feel." Your cat will discover that people, too, are capable of feeling love.
But do cats love? And do they show it by kneading? "Absolutely," says Jackson Galaxy, a Redondo Beach, California-based cat behaviorist. "A friend of mine says it best: cats are the masters of detached love. She's talking about how cats can seem aloof and unfeeling. They express love in ways that baffle us."
Galaxy decodes seven of your furry friend's signals of l'amour.
1. Grooming
Grooming is the first way that kittens experience care. Mothers groom their kittens from birth, and so licking and being licked become associated with the serenity of being with mom. "Litter mates as they grow older, if they're adopted together, will groom each other for life," says Galaxy. If your cat is licking you, it's a sign of its affection.
2. Purring
A kitten is first guided to its mother's nipples by her purr. As a result, purring is associated with milk and the feeling of satisfaction. And kittens purr back. "It's almost like a Marco Polo type of game: call and response. It's life affirming to them," says Galaxy. "There's debate as to what the purr signifies later in a cat's life, but we do know they purr to sooth themselves -- the purring lowers their heart rate." If your cat is not injured or stressed, purring in your presence is likely related to feeling cared for by you, just as it was cared for by its mother.
3. Rubbing
Cats show affection to other cats, dogs and humans by rubbing against them. (Rubbing includes paw kneading, as in the case with Morgan's calico.) Says Galaxy, "When your cat puts its scent on you, it's saying something like, 'You and I belong together because I smell you on me and you smell me on you.' It's a scent complement." Kneading is also a throwback to kittenhood, when a kitten kneads its mom's teat in order to stimulate the flow of milk. Allowing the rubbing is essential to your relationship with your cat, and you won't smell a thing.
4. Mock Spraying
Male cats spray concentrated urine when claiming territory. In claiming you, your male cat may act as if he is spraying -- backing up toward you with a quivering tail -- but will not actually produce a spray. "They have so many scent glands to rub, they don't need to spray us," says Galaxy. Unfortunately for their human caretakers, an insecure cat may also show love by urinating in its owner's bed. "My clients sometimes mistake this for aggression. It's actually a compliment."
5. Gumming
Is Fluffy rubbing its gums on you? Yep, that's one more way in which your cat may attempt to blend its scent with yours.
6. Blinking
It's been referred to as "the cat I love you." This visual signal usually consists of a stare, followed by a blink, an open eye, and then a soft second blink. "It's actually a sign of trust, like showing you its belly," says Galaxy, who mimics the blink with cats he works with when trying to gain their confidence. "It's a form of communication I know works. Do it a few times with your own cat. They'll begin returning it to you."
7. Gifting
When your cat brings you a dead mouse, it's not a present in the traditional sense. "What seems like an obvious sign of affection is something that comes from a dog or human-centric viewpoint. When a cat brings a dead mouse home, they're saying, 'I bring this thing to my safe place.' It's more a demonstration that your cat feels supremely safe in the home you share. That, too, is a compliment."
To return your cat's affection, Galaxy recommends following its lead. "Experiment. Present your hand and see where your cat forces it. You'll find out what your cat likes to feel." Your cat will discover that people, too, are capable of feeling love.
Darcy Lockman is a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Daily Cat. Her work has appeared in publications such as the New York Times and Rolling Stone.
Singapore can do more for animal welfare
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/singapore-can-do-more-animal-welfare-20120922
Published on Sep 22, 2012
Published on Sep 22, 2012
IN ADDITION to the welfare of pets and farm animals, the
Government should also look into taking proactive steps on wildlife
conservation ("Let's talk about animal welfare"; Sept 14).
Singapore is a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).
At meetings of member countries, animal protection proposals are discussed. Countries then vote in acceptance or rejection of the proposals to protect animal species. Each country is entitled to a single vote, and Singapore's vote is represented by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
If two-thirds of the member countries vote against a proposal to protect a particular species, the proposal falls, regardless of the animal's conservation status, be it endangered or critically endangered.
Many considerations, such as economic impact, support from citizens and political relationships with countries that could be potentially affected by the new proposal, often take precedence over the need to conserve a particular species.
As a result, many proposals to protect endangered animal species have been consistently rejected throughout the years by different countries, due to a variety of reasons that disfavour protection of an animal species.
Today, many endangered species are still freely sold in Singapore.
Critically endangered southern bluefin tuna and endangered bluefin tuna are sold as sashimi in Japanese restaurants. Chinese restaurants are still selling shark's fin relatively freely, despite the fact that many shark species are threatened by extinction today.
Horns of critically endangered saiga antelopes are still being used to make "cooling drinks" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
More than 70 per cent of local TCM stores are either selling full-sized horns, horn shavings or drinks made from their horns, because traders are allowed to sell their horns as long as they have a Cites permit.
At the Cites Conference of the Parties in March next year, a proposal to legalise the elephant ivory trade will be brought to the table for voting, putting the lives of elephants on the line once again.
Because the AVA holds a vote in Cites, Singapore has an important role to play towards conservation.
At the upcoming conference, the Government should vote based on environmental responsibility. All products derived from endangered animals must be banned.
Jennifer Lee (Ms)
Founder
Project: WILD
Project: FIN
Singapore is a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).
At meetings of member countries, animal protection proposals are discussed. Countries then vote in acceptance or rejection of the proposals to protect animal species. Each country is entitled to a single vote, and Singapore's vote is represented by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
If two-thirds of the member countries vote against a proposal to protect a particular species, the proposal falls, regardless of the animal's conservation status, be it endangered or critically endangered.
Many considerations, such as economic impact, support from citizens and political relationships with countries that could be potentially affected by the new proposal, often take precedence over the need to conserve a particular species.
As a result, many proposals to protect endangered animal species have been consistently rejected throughout the years by different countries, due to a variety of reasons that disfavour protection of an animal species.
Today, many endangered species are still freely sold in Singapore.
Critically endangered southern bluefin tuna and endangered bluefin tuna are sold as sashimi in Japanese restaurants. Chinese restaurants are still selling shark's fin relatively freely, despite the fact that many shark species are threatened by extinction today.
Horns of critically endangered saiga antelopes are still being used to make "cooling drinks" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
More than 70 per cent of local TCM stores are either selling full-sized horns, horn shavings or drinks made from their horns, because traders are allowed to sell their horns as long as they have a Cites permit.
At the Cites Conference of the Parties in March next year, a proposal to legalise the elephant ivory trade will be brought to the table for voting, putting the lives of elephants on the line once again.
Because the AVA holds a vote in Cites, Singapore has an important role to play towards conservation.
At the upcoming conference, the Government should vote based on environmental responsibility. All products derived from endangered animals must be banned.
Jennifer Lee (Ms)
Founder
Project: WILD
Project: FIN
Dreaming of a world where.........
Dreaming of a world where.........
There are no more homeless cats
There are no more shelters
Every cat is in a loving home like mine!
There are no more homeless cats
There are no more shelters
Every cat is in a loving home like mine!
Friday, September 21, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Taiwan press! Newborn mingle with animals with have a better immune system, do not desert your cats or dogs jus because you are pregnant !
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
The dangers of being too friendly a cat in the community
This beautiful cat deserves the safety of a good safe home.
Being so "manja" endears her to residents who love cats but also puts her life in danger from possible complaints from JUST ONE resident who has phobia of cats and also she risks
being caught by pest controller as she is a "sitting duck" as the property officer who gives the order to trap "that" cat is not going to bother to find out if this is the "right" cat caught.
This friendly cat also risks being harmed or even killed by abusers or people who are just frustrated in our increasingly crowded and stressful urban environment!
This friendly cat also risks being harmed or even killed by abusers or people who are just frustrated in our increasingly crowded and stressful urban environment!
Good Bye to a community cat called Firsie
She is estimated to be about 8 or 9 years' old.
She would have died in the drain somewhere, alone and fearful, if not noticed to be unwell by a caregiver who then asked for help.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Tuxedo-Cat
A few years ago, a father complaint to the town council that this cat attacked his child. Fortunately the town council's property officer is a cat-friendly person and he is also answerable to the registered caregivers, he made a trip to this block and spoke to users of the Senior Citizens' corner. A few members vouched that this cat was very docile and never attacked anyone! The property officer managed to pacific the complainant and this cat was not required to be "removed".
In this video, one of the users of the centre praised Tuxedo-cat for being the most "kwai" cat in the whole of Singapore. She would only hiss at dogs but 100% gentle with humans!
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