Singapore Community Cats

cuteness and friendliness overdose. we should all be friends like them.

2012-02-12T13:03:00.002+08:00

Lovely community cat in Upper Aljunied Road

2012-02-10T17:51:00.003+08:00

The World Will NOT be Destroyed...

2012-02-09T11:57:00.001+08:00

Girl Girl - Beautiful, Loyal and Brave Miracle Dog For Adoption

2012-02-09T11:33:00.001+08:00

Girl girl is nothing short of a miracle.

Originally from Boon Lay, Girl Girl took another mongrel, Cookie, under her wing. The 2 resided in a factory compound until Cookie was caught by AVA one day. Amazingly, Girl Girl ran looking for help from their stray feeder, who happened to be nearby! Girl Girl's efforts saved a life - Cookie was released with a fine.

Girl Girl was relocated to a fosterer. Unfortunately, the fosterer's mum removed Girl Girl from her home without warning one day, claiming that she had given Girl Girl to a factory. A 4 week wild goose chase ensued, with many dog lovers searching all over the island in vain for Girl Girl.

Finally, after 4 weeks of searching, and some divine intervention, Girl Girl's fosterer found her in Defu Lane, where she was taken care of by a kind stray feeder for the past 2 weeks. Girl Girl was likely dumped in Defu Lane in the open, but miraculously, she survived, and was found.

Girl Girl still has no where to go. I cannot house her for long as I am fostering others; she has gone through so much, and needs a permanent home, after a lifetime of running around, and nearly losing her life on many occasions.

Despite all her ordeals, Girl Girl is sweet natured, brave, friendly and extremely cheerful. She desires to find a companion who she can devote all her love to.

Girl Girl is small to medium sized, and appeals can be made to allow her in a HDB flat. She is 1 year old, and is likely a JRT mix, with adorable brown spots on her beautiful white coat.

Girl Girl has made me believe in miracles.

Please spread the word for adoption. Send me a msg or email allenseow@gmail.com for adoption enquiries.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150551484634093.390365.566154092&type=3

Understanding your cat's emotions

2012-02-09T10:53:00.001+08:00

Cats have been culled for poo in public areas but what do we do with human poo like this that even comes with toilet papers !!

2012-02-08T13:45:00.002+08:00

At the back of a PAP Meet-The-People office!

A senior community cat called Tom-King

2012-02-08T07:20:00.003+08:00

We can't find homes for all the homeless cats, trying to survive in an increasingly human-infested environment with increasing stress from urbanization that may result in increasing direct abuse on defenseless animals or indirectly by complaining to the town councils, but we can try to do the bit for just the cats at our downstairs, by getting them neutered, by helping feeders to be aware of the repercussion of irresponsible feeding, by emailing to your property officer at the town council that you will help to look into any complaints of cats in your neighbourhood, so that the default solution is not culling.

A cute tabby community cat in Bedok North

2012-02-07T18:20:00.003+08:00

A beautiful calico community cat

2012-02-07T08:44:00.002+08:00

A senior community cat called Tom-King

2012-02-06T09:18:00.001+08:00

Senior Parliamentary Secretary Dr Maliki Osman shared his thoughts in a letter to Berita Harian readers on responsible pet ownership and fostering a

2012-02-04T13:05:00.002+08:00

Ministry of National Development

Senior Parliamentary Secretary Dr Maliki Osman shared his thoughts in a letter to Berita Harian readers on responsible pet ownership and fostering a more cohesive community. Full article: http://bit.ly/yXXkPD

- Ministry of National Development
  An English translation of SPS Dr Maliki's letter:
  
  Living with pets is a personal issue – some of us are ardent pet lovers, while others prefer to keep away from animals. Let me share my thoughts on responsible pet ownership and building a more cohesive community.
  
  We have different opinions and tolerance levels towards pets and stray animals. Occasionally, some of us would share the lift with a pet owner and his pet, even if we are not comfortable being near such animals. We may not like it; but we still do it to avoid awkward situations. Indeed, as our society matures, we need to respect and be more open to the different views on these issues, and develop practical solutions together to create a conducive, shared living environment for all.
  
  To better understand Singaporeans’ views, an inter-agency taskforce on pet ownership and stray management, comprising officials from the Ministry of National Development (MND), the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), conducted an extensive public engagement exercise last year. This included an online feedback portal, a nation-wide telephone survey of HDB residents, and focus group discussions with different stakeholders.
  
  Interestingly, the responses and feedback were mixed! On the issue of pet ownership, many would like the Government to allow cat ownership and larger dogs in HDB flats. Others were concerned about the implications of changing the status quo because of nuisance and hygiene issues associated with irresponsible pet ownership. The taskforce has recommended a step-by-step approach to pilot two projects: a nation-wide re-homing of stray dogs in HDB flats, and allowing cat ownership in Chong Pang estate.
  
  I agree that ensuring responsible pet ownership is important if we want to expand the space for pet ownership, and more importantly, to promote harmonious community living. The key stakeholders, comprising animal welfare groups, residents and Town Councils and government agencies, will jointly take responsibility and ownership of these animals issues, as well as manage them. We will trial this framework for the two pilot projects. We are still working out the details of the pilot projects and aim to start both projects sometime this year.
  
  Reviewing our pet ownership policy is not for the cats and dogs, but for meeting the preferences of Singaporeans while bridging the interests of different segments of our society in sharing common spaces. Let us help one another in creating a harmonious living environment for everyone’s benefit. A little more tolerance and mutual respect can go a long way!

Two lovely community cats

2012-02-04T10:39:00.003+08:00

You can easily judge the character of a man....

2012-02-02T10:16:00.001+08:00

Sometimes...

2012-02-01T21:23:00.001+08:00

Owners abandon household pets as they spring clean for CNY

2012-02-01T07:23:00.002+08:00

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_760589.html

Adopt a rescue dog or cat...they add profound meaning to having a pet

2012-02-01T07:19:00.001+08:00

Cat Welfare Society: Our mediators Suzana and Michelle are featured in AVA's i-Pet Issue #13!

2012-01-31T21:51:00.002+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/catwelfaresg

Good looking community cat with a big yawn!

2012-01-31T18:23:00.001+08:00

Spotted in Tampines St 42

Who's fake, Who's true?

2012-01-30T22:15:00.000+08:00

A human being is part of a whole, called by us "universe," a part limited in time and space.

2012-01-29T21:37:00.001+08:00

The homeless

2012-01-29T08:40:00.001+08:00

A rap song by a Taiwanese artist about the life of stray cats!

2012-01-28T06:36:00.002+08:00

大支 - 最後的早晨 (feat. Soft Lipa)

www.youtube.com

【Last Morning】 (大支) 爸爸离家出走前我还在妈妈肚子里我马子怀孕我也离开他们毫不迟疑因为我马子跟他爸**so这谁的种? 流产的小孩尸体被丢进垃圾桶我的兄弟一个被车撞死横尸街头一个被毒死的样子陈尸水沟最小的弟弟被一个女人带走后来听说头被那女人用高跟鞋踩破还有我也被通缉至今抓进去就...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150596659738023&set=a.327713623022.185627.267893688022&type=3&theater

- Cat Welfare Society Thanks Yi Ting for highlighting this to us. Lyrics at http://mojim.com/twy102246x3x10.htm
  最後的早晨歌詞大支 ※ Mojim.com
  mojim.com
  最後的早晨 (大支) 爸爸離家出走前我還在媽媽肚子裡我馬子懷孕我也離開他們毫不遲疑因為我馬子跟他爸亂倫so這誰的種? 流產的小孩屍體被丟進垃圾桶我的兄弟一個被車撞死橫屍街頭一個被毒死的樣子陳屍水溝最小的弟弟被一個女人帶走後來聽說頭被那女人用高跟鞋踩破還有我也被通緝至今抓進去就是死刑但我從沒幹過壞
  4 hours ago ·

Commendation Letter from a Complainant

2012-01-28T06:35:00.002+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/notes/cat-welfare-society/commendation-letter-from-a-complainant/10150525420028697

Orange-Boy recuperating in a shelter

2012-01-25T19:20:00.004+08:00

Orange-Boy's limping was due to an abscess near the right hip joint. The abscess burst and a caregiver has sprinkled antibiotic powder on the wound.

However he was still limping badly this morning and so a decision was made to board him in a shelter for him to recover in a clean environment instead of being under cars, rain or shine!

Finally he was nabbed from under a car

Safe in a shelter where the wound will be cleaned and medicated.

A lovely community calico cat called Malu (meaning "little girl" in an Indian language)

2012-01-25T19:19:00.002+08:00

Why is a rescue dog not good enough for you?

2012-01-24T21:06:00.000+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Real-Men-are-Kind-to-Animals/199905080358

"Bacon is the gentlest and sweetest dog I have ever known."

2012-01-24T21:00:00.001+08:00

Save the Punggol Strays

‎"Bacon is the gentlest and sweetest dog I have ever known. Everytime I leave the house, he will run out onto the porch and sit there to see me off" ~ adopter Hawk Cut Weis

Bacon Days

Bacon in his collar post sterilisation.

He is the sweetest and more gentle dog I have ever known. Everytime I leave the house, Bacon will run out onto the porch, sit there, and see me off. :)

note the other 2 furballs staying far away to avoid the sun!!

In many ways, Bacon is a very special dog... From how he survived culling, to how we got to know him, to how he chose us as his new owners. Really, it can only be fate. I wrote about the dramatic story of how he came to be with us: http://www.savepunggoldogs.com/2012/01/bacon-extremely-special-dog.html Everyday, I wake up, with a warm feeling in my heart, happy to have him as a companion. :)

by: Hawk Cut Weis

Bacon gets lots of attention from the girls these days.. But he remains a gentleman in front of a lady!

Seduction 101 (The Yoghurt Way)

www.youtube.com

It is up to the girl to make the move on the man these days.. Yoghurt the Mongrel shows us how it is done, as she demonstrates her superior seduction skills ...

The Real Singapore Cat

2012-01-24T17:10:00.000+08:00

http://poskod.sg/Posts/2012/1/20/The-Real-Singapore-Cat

The Real Singapore Cat

A breed of our own.

20.01.2012

cats talk

2012-01-23T20:04:00.001+08:00

Animal lovers: Thank goodness dragons aren't for real

2012-01-22T08:57:00.000+08:00

http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20120116-322009.html

The Star/Asia News Network
Monday, Jan 16, 2012

PETALING JAYA: Animal rescuers are thanking their lucky stars it is the Year of the Dragon this year, as the mythical creature cannot be bought by those seeking to embrace the upcoming Chinese New Year.

Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) founder Wani Muthiah said the Chinese zodiac years of the Dog and Rabbit were a "nightmare for rescue groups".

She pointed out that the current Rabbit Year, which ends on Jan 22, saw many rabbits abandoned by irresponsible pet owners, who had rushed to buy them at the start of last Chinese New Year.

"Keeping an animal is a big responsibility. These are living beings with feelings.

"They are confused and frightened when abandoned.

"Thank goodness, dragons don't exist. Otherwise, there will be a lot of abandoned dragons after the New Year is over," she said, stressing that people should not just buy and discard their pets at their pleasure.

PAWS shelter manager Edward Lim warned that the spillover effect from the Year of the Rabbit was not over yet, predicting the shelter would receive more abandoned rabbits for another half a year.

He said it was a "very stupid thing" for people to want rabbits as pets just because it was the Year of the Rabbit.

"Owners are the biggest culprits. It is also sad, but true, that pet shops are capitalising and catering to the demand.

"At the end of the day, the animals suffer," he said, adding that the shelter had accepted and found homes for around 30 rabbits in the past year.

Lim stressed that future pet owners should be more responsible in selecting their pets, especially in the Year of the Dog.

Dog Saved from Puppy Mill Adopted through Berkeley Heights Rescue

2012-01-21T20:54:00.001+08:00

http://berkeleyheights.patch.com/articles/dog-rescued-from-puppy-mill-adopted-through-berkeley-heights-rescue

Photos (16)

China, a 15-year old Chihuahua, was shaking when she was taken out of her cage for the first time after years of forced reproduction in a Georgia puppy mill. It was partially because she was scared, partially because her legs couldn't support the weight of her body.

She has a tumor the size of a deck of cards on her back leg. She doesn't have teeth after years of malnutrition. Her eyes are gray and cloudy. She's basically skin and bones.

"Do you think she's feeling any love?" asked Susan Strell, a volunteer with The Home for Good Dog Rescue in Berkeley Heights, who wrapped China in a blanket and held her like a baby. She stopped shaking afer a while in her arms.

"At least she might feel some love for once in her life." Strell began to cry, it was too sad to look at China's face, she said.

China was brought from a closed puppy mill by Atlanta, Georgia to spend her final days in the loving home of Joann Mullen, a Hopewell resident who has set up a dog hospice in her house. She cares for several hospice dogs and when she heard China's story, she wanted to make her feel comfortable and loved after years of abuse.

The Home for Good Dog Rescue organized the transport from Georgia - Strell said she was up all night hoping China would survive the trip. The rescue matches dogs with foster homes so the dog is in a family environment and not in a kennel, and then sets up adoptions.

It was a life or death situaiton, Mullen said, as the puppy mill was going to put China down once it closed. But Mullen said she deserves to spend her last days comfortable, and away from the life that plagued her while in captivity.

Every three months for her 15 years, China would give birth to a new litter of puppies, which were sold by the Georgia breeder. She was hardly fed, never cleaned and forced to reproduce regularly.

Her conditions are common in puppy mills where dogs are bred for sale, said Gail Ryan, a volunteer with the rescue. "There is no end to the abuse," she said, pointing to pictures of cramped, stacked cages with dead dogs among the live ones.

Puppy mills, which are monitored by the United States Department of Agriculture, have 70 inspectors to check 4,500 facilities in the country. The regulation is that a cage needs to be six inches longer and six inches heigher than the dog so he or she can move. In some mills, cages are stacked so urine drips down from the top cages to the bottom, Ryan said.

There are no regulations for treatment for dogs sold over the internet, which isn't good enough, Ryan said.

That's why the rescue has a network of 40 foster homes throughout the area who take dogs out of their cages and let them into their homes until they can be adopted. The Home for Good rescue receives two to three transport shipments of dogs a month, with 30 dogs coming in for adoption. Most are coming from mills and are in need of a good home.

Scooter, a black lab at the rescue, was scheduled to be put down today, before he was taken by the rescue. He's been cleaned and checked and is waiting for adoption.

The rescue sets up medical care and checks for the dogs and make sure they are clean before adoption.

"They are dirty, scared and shaking," Strell said. "And we clean them up and love them. Here, they are loved.

For more information about adoptions and donations, visit www.homeforgooddogs.org.

Abandoned Dog Adopted by Nursing Home

2012-01-21T16:16:00.001+08:00

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/01/abandoned-dog-finds-shelter-at-nursing-home/

Stormy Edwards says she was creeped out when she heard barking coming from somewhere in the dark at Springfield’s Stuart Park.

The Illinois woman was walking her pooch in the dog park on Thanksgiving night when she heard the cries of a dog in distress. She crept forward cautiously, walking about a block and nearing the source of the sound. A few steps later, there stood Antoinette, a frightened cockapoo, abandoned in one of the park’s pens.

“I went into the enclosure, and my dog went in with me,” she says. “I had a flashlight. I tried to get a photo of the dog. A person had left a dish of lasagna and a bowl of water. I found the note under the lasagna.”

The heartbreaking note began, “My name is Antoinette, Annie for short.”

The letter went on to mention that Annie’s shots were up to date, and that she was spayed. It also explained that Antoinette’s owner, a woman, had fallen ill and could no longer care for her. She was hoping another dog lover in the park would find her and take her home. The note ended, “Please take me home. I am a loving dog.”

“That’s when I burst into tears,” Edwards said.

Annie was eventually taken to Sangamon County Animal Control, and her former owner could not have wished for a better turn of events.

Animal Protective League volunteer Carol Rodgers, saw Annie, and knew that the owners of Regency Nursing Care were looking for a live-in dog to provide pet therapy for its residents. Rodgers told Erin Sabath, one of the owners of Regency Nursing Care, about Annie and her tale of woe. Sabath visited Animal Control to meet Annie, and said it was love at first sight. Annie was given an chance to try some on-the-job training, and was an immediate hit.

Now Annie spends her days walking the hall of Regency with a handler as she greets everyone. She has already learned that the dining room is off limits, and seems to understand that she needs to be gentle in her approach with elderly residents – who just can’t get enough of her.

“Everybody who sees this dog falls in love with her,” Sabath says. “She’s wonderful.”

Carol Rodgers said Annie is very healthy, and she believes that whoever left her in the dog park took good care of her until they were no longer able to.

“It makes me think that this owner honestly didn’t know what to do,” Rodgers says. “It may have been an older lady who was sick and didn’t know about Animal Control or APL and thought, ‘Well, people who go to dog parks like dogs.’ Wouldn’t it be nice if the owner reads this and knows the dog is safe?”

Anonymous dog owner, if you are reading this, know that Annie is safe and loved. She didn’t just find the loving home you had hoped for – she also found her calling.

Orange-Boy still limping

2012-01-21T16:04:00.003+08:00

Despite the limp with no visible external wound and swelling, his eyes are bright and his fur shining. The concern is whether he is able to get from under a car, where he now tends to rest (as he probably couldn't jump onto the metallic bench nearby), fast enough to escape being hit.

Joanna Lumley Catwoman

2012-01-19T21:58:00.001+08:00

A senior community cat called Orange-Boy limping

2012-01-19T19:40:00.002+08:00

No external wounds and obvious swelling are seen on Orange-Boy's hind leg that caused him to limp.

Give him food.

Clearing up

world's best keeper...

2012-01-16T10:42:00.001+08:00

Life is life--whether in a cat, or dog or man

2012-01-15T10:21:00.002+08:00

Life is life--whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage.

http://www.sriaurobindosociety.org.in/index.htm

Spring cleaning with a difference

2012-01-15T10:16:00.002+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150468039031065.357372.99555921064&type=1

Cat Welfare Society

No More Puppy Mills: Local Pet Store Will Only Sell Shelter Dogs

2012-01-15T10:08:00.000+08:00

http://laist.com/2012/01/13/local_pet_store_will_only_sell_shel.php

Illustration by joingate via Shutterstock

A national organization is helping pet retailers move away from selling commercially bred dogs and get shelter pets in the store and for sale. In March, the Barkworks store at the Westside Pavilion will "become an official adoption center for rescues," according to ABC7.

Barkworks has been the focus of a protest movement because of their use of puppy mills as a source for dogs to sell.

Pet Connections Inc. has devised what they call a Pet Transport Program, which gets shelter pets into retail stores, so that clientele who do not wish to go to the shelters can still buy a rescue pet. Thanks to the pilot program's popularity, Barkworks at the Westside Pavilion has made the move to make the switch.

"If it goes well at this Barkworks store where rescues will be adopted out for a $300 to $500 fee, owners say they will convert the rest of their stores into adoption centers," notes ABC7, who spoke to Barkworks General Manager Darren Letterman about the change in how they do business.

"I just think it gives us a great opportunity to help the county and the city of L.A. and surrounding areas diminish the amount of dogs that are euthanized every year," said Letterman.

Cat Welfare Society - Better With A Cat

2012-01-14T17:57:00.002+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/catwelfaresg?sk=app_253645081372805

CAT ABUSE @ Jalan Rajah, near Condominium D'Royale on 13th Jan 2012 (Friday)

2012-01-14T17:41:00.004+08:00

Chua Sok Hoon

CAT ABUSE @ Jalan Rajah, near Condominium D'Royale on 13th Jan 2012 (Friday)

A cat was found sprawled across e walkway @ ard 2pm today. I was alerted by a colleague who came back from lunch, saying that he saw a sick cat along e way.

By e time I rushed there, I realized that it wasn't sick. It was brutally beaten to death.

Found with its jaw dislocated, it's tongue was sticking out, deeply inflicted wounds on its hind legs (can see e bones) with blood oozing out from its mouth & genital area. What was heartbreaking was that it's shit was oozing out from his bottom when I carried it.

JUST IMAGINE E PAIN IT WENT THROUGH B4 IT DIED

As it was still warm & soft to touch, it's obvious that it was just brutally killed & dumped @ e rear exit door of e condominium. It was as if e abuser couldnt wait for passerby to witness how cheap a life is. U can just kill it & showcase it. It isn't worth a thing.

I carried its body back to my workplace, got e sweeper's help to wrap it up & dispose it away @ e rubbish centre. I am sorry. How I wished I could bring it to SPCA for incineration, b4 e flies & decomposition starts kicking it, but unfortunately, I was rushing to a mtg.

By sharing this on FB, I harbour no hopes that e abuser will be caught. There is no witness, no hard evidence. To some, it's just another stray cat that died. What's e big deal?

Humans, how will u feel if that's yr son/daughter found brutally beaten to death & body left to rot on e streets?

Feel painful? Injustice? Angry?

No need. Cos life is cheap & anyone can just do anything with it, isn't it?

To us cat caregivers, we just lost another feline friend today & once again witnessed e vulnerability of our feline friends when left on e streets.

Btw, it has a tipped ear. It's somebody's baby, but other people's trash.

Goodbye my friend.

Om Mani Pad Me Hom

Chua Sok Hoon added 18 new photos to the album not for e faint hearted --- Pics of CAT ABUSE @ Jalan Rajah.

When I made the decision...

2012-01-14T10:02:00.000+08:00

http://whenimadethedecision.tumblr.com/post/15566017311/when-i-made-the-decision-to-start-stray-cat

"When I made the decision to start stray cat management and sterilisation in my neighborhood in 2002, pay was not a key factor. Getting bitten and scratched by traumatised felines, receiving rude emails and brush-offs from 2 doctorate-titled MPs, reducing my brain cells to zero while reasoning with cat-hating complainants were. The disruption to my sanity was also an important consideration. I had some ground to believe that my family would not suffer a drastic change in the standard of living even though I experienced a drop in my brain cells from dealings with irrational cat-haters, condescending holier-than-thou MPs and cowboy Town Council block officers. So it is with the recent nasty email threads I received from a certain hypocritical doctorate MP in the east who sternly told me not to compare her with a young 27-yr old MP within the same constituency. If the balance is tilted further in the future, it will make it harder for anyone considering speaking to MP intelligently while standing up for the voiceless animals. One might consider undergoing brain lobotomy before doing any animal welfare mediation work with the powers that be in the near future."

“

My cat massaging my dog

2012-01-13T18:27:00.001+08:00

Save the Punggol Strays

2012-01-13T10:28:00.002+08:00

Save the Punggol Strays

Join us the our furry friends for an informal gathering at Bishan Park!

Location: Bishan Park Dog Run Area
Date: 14 Jan 2012, Saturday
Time: 10.30am

Spring cleaning with a difference

2012-01-12T21:41:00.000+08:00

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120112-0000066/Spring-cleaning-with-a-difference

台北市動物保護處TNR宣導片-王心如

2012-01-09T09:54:00.000+08:00

Stray dogs in Singapore? Yes..and they need saving!

2012-01-08T17:37:00.000+08:00

MsDemeanour Singapore

http://msdemeanoursingapore.blogspot.com/2012/01/stray-dogs-in-singapore-yesand-they.html

An Ode to the Stray Dogs Of Punggol

I don’t know how I ended up here

Paying the penance for someone else’s inconsiderate actions

Lonely I wander, the product of irresponsible breeding

In this place I once called my home

But if this is home, I long for a new one

These were once forests so familiar to me

They are now strange and hostile and I am so scared

Strange things are happening, dogs are disappearing, and I feel deep despair

Each night I cry myself to sleep, for I feel my life slipping away as I dream

I feel so weak, will I survive I dare to wonder to myself?

I’m sick of baking in the heat, hoping that the rain will come and release me

Each day I rummage in the bin, hoping that some scraps will sooth my aching stomach, but it is never enough…how long will it be before I starve?

I dream that someone will open up their heart and take care of me

That they will look into my eyes and see my gentle soul and personality

And all the warmth and affection I have to give

I dream that instead of shouting or throwing a stone at me

That they will see my innocence and soothe my fears away

When the men come to take the others away I say to myself

“I’m not a demon – I’m a dog.”

How I long to be looked in the eye with a smile, stroked and loved

How I long to be in the warm bosom of a family

But sometimes I feel like my time will never come

Is there someone?

If you see cats in corridors, please do not feed them but chase it downstairs.

2012-01-07T20:24:00.001+08:00

Cat Welfare Society's status update.

Cat Welfare Society

If you see cats in corridors, please do not feed it but chase it downstairs. If it often appears, it is likely to be pet cat that an irresponsible owner let out to roam. If you can identify the owner, please advise them to keep the cat indoors. Too many, way too many sad cases of cats who learn dependency on certain units who are misguided in their kindness, only to face wrath of neighbours, leading to abuse or culling.

Bacon - An Extremely Special Dog

2012-01-07T18:45:00.001+08:00

http://www.savepunggoldogs.com/2012/01/bacon-extremely-special-dog.html

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Bacon - An Extremely Special Dog

When I first decided to embark on this journey, I never expected to meet the most exceptional dog I have ever known. I never properly explained what happened to Bacon and how or who adopted him.

Bacon lived in a pack at Punggol Waterway Park all his life. Afer the park opened, his friends were all caught and gone. For some reason, he was the sole survivor. In normal circumstances, only the most elusive and aggressive dogs are able to escape being caught, hence it came as a big surprise to rescuers when he was easily approached and leased up, 3 days before Christmas.

It was late at night, and he had to be housed at our place for the night before being transferred to the shelter the next day. Only for the night, as you may recall I already had to urgently find fosterers for the puppies at my place due to my neighbours' incessant complaints.

He wasn't happy of course, thrashing and snapping on being caught. He remained defensive and seemingly aggresive when he arrived at our place. No one dared to go near this Herculian huge dog which was struggling and pulling. Finally, with the efforts of 5 people, we managed to lock him up securely inside a cage.

Imagine my surprise the next morning, when we found him in the cage, smiling. (This was how he looked that morning!)When I let him out, he actually wagged his tail and followed me around the porch, allowing me to pat him, and showing no signs of aggresion. Through the night he did not bark once, and so we decided we could foster him for awhile more rather than bring him to the shelter.

In barely 2 days, Bacon had begun to be very comfortable at home.. following us around, allowing himself to be bathed, wagging his tail, and just being happy to be with us. Not a bark still. When he does not want to do something (e.g. when eing bathed), he whines, like a little baby. He never once tried to run out or escape.

A week later, on New Year's Eve, a kind man and his family came to view Bacon. They were the perfect family for him - dog lovers who had many previous dogs, a maid who loves dogs, and a big compound for him to run around. They immediately fell in love with him, and brought him home with them that day. I was at work and did not get to say goodbye.

That evening, I just felt an inexplicable urge to see him. It was hard to explain. I went to his new home right after work... And there he was, sitting near the gate, waiting. When he saw me, he ran towards the gate, wagging. And went I entered the house, he followed me around the house, unwillingly to leave my side for a second.

But nothing prepared me for what happened when I took my leave.. He tried to dash out through the gate after me; the helper had to grab him to prevent him from running out, and he whimpered, and whined like I never heard before, at the top of his voice, while struggling to break free. I was heartbroken, and I knew that he was as well.

I went home, wondering if I had done something terribly wrong. Andy felt the same way. But we felt its best to let him get accustomed to his new life.

3 hours later, on our way to a countdown party, I received a call from his very distressed adopter. He refused to get into his cage, snapping at them when they tried to usher him in. Worse, he tried to escape by jumping out, and when he failed, squeezed his (big) head through the very small openings in the gate in a futile attempt, getting stuck and whining in pain.

The adopters asked me to take him back for the night for his safety.

So we made a U- Turn, went to him, and brought him back to our place.
After that, we knew we couldn't let him leave us again. He is now our dog, and our home is his permanent home.

1 week on, he has learned to respond to his name, obey simple commands like sit and paw, how to walk on a leash, and he has leanred from his siblings how to beg for food at the dining table. Otherwise, he remains his sweet self, always wagging his tail, and never aggresive.

Some things simply cannot be explained. Who can explain why he was the sole survivor in a highly active culling zone? Who can explain why a stray dog who has spent his whole life running free in a pack will be so receptive to domestication? And who can explain why he was so attached to us only after 2 days?

I can only attribute it to fate, and maybe some divine intervention.

Bacon has taught me so much. About love, about loyalty, about relationships, and most of all, about the preciousness of life.

The most special dog I know is not an expensive pedigree dog with a beautiful coat, or a dog who has won many competitions. The most special dog I know, is an ordinary looking brown mongrel dog, with a beautiful heart, an extremely noble character, and a delicious name.

Hawk Cut

i'll always be here for you....

2012-01-05T09:58:00.001+08:00

Gary Yourofsky's entire inspirational speech on animal rights and veganism held at Georgia Tech in summer of 2010

2012-01-05T06:18:00.001+08:00

Cat survives 2 euthanasia attempts at Utah shelter

2012-01-05T06:16:00.000+08:00

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/122211/cat-survives-2-euthanasia-attempts-at-utah-shelter

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — A stray cat has survived two trips to a Utah animal shelter’s gas chamber, leading shelter volunteers to seek a switch of its euthanasia method to lethal injection, which they called more humane.

Janita Coombs plays with her cat, Andrea, at her Syracuse, Utah home, in this photo taken on Oct. 16, 2011. AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune

Volunteers with the West Valley City’s animal shelter were expected to appear at a city council meeting Tuesday evening to argue for the switch from carbon monoxide poisoning to injections of sodium pentobarbital.

No one adopted Andrea, a longhaired black cat with white paws and green eyes, in 30 days, so shelter officials tried to put her to death in October. She survived, so they gassed her again.

Shelter officials detected no vital signs and presumed she was dead after the second try, so they put her in a plastic bag in a cooler. But when they checked the bag, they saw she had vomited on herself and had hypothermia, but was alive.

Officials decided to stop trying to kill her.

“It was just one of those things where they thought this cat obviously really wants to live,” West Valley City spokesman Aaron Crim told the Salt Lake Tribune (http://bit.ly/vCzWqY ). “Let’s give it a chance to find a permanent home.”

Volunteers with another shelter who took her in after the ordeal said she was a bit “wobbly.” But she was adopted Dec. 11, and her new owners reported she was settling in.

Volunteers say euthanasia by lethal injections of sodium pentobarbital would be more humane than the gas chamber, and also cheaper.

Shelter officials still aren’t sure why the gassing failed to kill Andrea. The other cats with her in the euthanasia chamber that day all died.

Papillon for Adoption! Owner moving soon so it will be send to SPCA if no one adopt.

2012-01-04T06:39:00.004+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150486354971236&set=a.340989186235.153976.149272656235&type=1&theater

Takara Pets

"Papillon for Adoption! senior dog, age unknown. owner moving soon so it will be send to SPCA if no one adopt. if you are interested, send a facebook msg(: DO NOT email us because there are some problem with our email. Takara Pets"

Look Back at 2011: Animal Welfare

2012-01-04T06:33:00.000+08:00

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/look-back-at-2011-animal-welfare/

~ By Gangasudhan ~

The animal welfare scene in Singapore has been burgeoning in the last few years, and there is little argument that 2011 especially has been a year of milestones for animal welfare – and advocacy as a whole.

Hopping Mad about Rabbits!

In January, as the Year of the Rabbit was about to be ushered in, the House Rabbit Society of Singapore (HRSS) and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) both issued cautionary statements advising the public not to be swayed by impulse and engage in the purchase of live rabbits to welcome the Chinese New Year. But in spite of this caution, two rabbit exhibitions were nevertheless carried out at Harbourfront and Suntec City, including the open display of live rabbits for members of public to handle and photograph (with flash) causing much distress to the docile animals. Many rabbits in the exhibition at the Suntec City Atrium were also observed to have been housed in small wire cages and in grill-bottom pens. SPCA followed up on reports from animal lovers and wrote in to AVA, which in turn advised the organisers to improve the conditions for the rabbits. Fortunately, the organisers decided to cancel unsavoury contests and competitions they had planned – including a rabbit race.

Fin-less in Singapore

Another key initiative in anticipation of Chinese New Year was a move by Project: FIN – a local marine conservation group, to promote and encourage those celebrating Chinese New Year to exclude shark’s fin soup. With 26 to 73 million sharks a year being inhumanely finned, the damage to the marine eco-system is massive, in addition to the cruelty to sharks. Eaten for merely the symbolic and cultural reasons during festive occasions, Project: FIN worked closely with several animal welfare groups and various media platforms to increase awareness about shark finning and promoting the use of mock shark fin’s soup. This included offering samples of mock shark’s fin soup to the public and showcasing footage of shark-finning. With Chinese New Year 2012 around the corner, this might be something to consider as we move forward into the new year.

Voicing Out for the Voiceless

A truly historic milestone in the local animal welfare scene happened in June 2011 when Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES) together with Chong Pang CC organised the inaugural Public Forum on Animal Welfare Policies. Headed by Mr Louis Ng, executive director of ACRES, and Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law, animal lovers and advocates used this opportunity to highlight concerns of animal welfare advocates in Singapore including everyday issues such as culling of strays, dog trapping, puppy mills, as well as more pressing concerns such as dolphins in captivity and shark finning. The event was well received with about 400 people turning out to provide feedback and seek redress on queries.

Swimming Free

Perhaps the most extensively discussed, headline-grabbing and even somewhat militant animal advocacy issue would be the ACRES campaign to free 25 bottlenose dolphins that were purchased by Resorts World, Sentosa (RWS) to be part of its Marine Life Park. Launched in May, the campaign to ‘Save the World’s Saddest Dolphins‘ argues that these free-roaming wild dolphins would not thrive in captivity (two of the initial 27 dolphins that were purchased has already died in captivity). The advocacy extended to undercover investigation by the ACRES team to expose the unsuitable conditions – such as not meeting minimum pool dimensions, failure to provide shelter, being located next to a high boat-traffic location and rusty enclosures – that the dolphins had been kept in Langkawi, Malaysia for training. As a result of this revelation, RWS moved all the dolphins to a training facility in the Philippines.

Courting some controversy, ACRES came under criticism by RWS for cyber harassment when the latter’s Facebook page was inundated with appeals and calls to free the dolphins by animal lovers and concerned members of public. ACRES clarified that it had only asked supporters to petition for the release of the dolphins and to stay civil with the posts, and the group pointed out that RWS did not respond to any of these posts.

The momentum of the movement for this particular cause led to a concert in August at Speaker’s Corner, which featured several prominent bands and musicians with a turnout of over 1,000 people. This was followed by a public dialogue session in October with Mr Ric O’Barry – a renowned former dolphin trainer who became a passionate dolphin activist – at the Grand Copthorne Hotel where another strong turnout was witnessed. Separately, during his visit, Mr O’Barry made an attempt to personally meet the CEO of RWS but was declined.

The issue has not been resolved and ACRES has vowed to continue the campaign and generate large-scale awareness until a viable solution can be reached that ensures the well-being of the ‘World’s Saddest Dolphins’.

Chong Pang to the Rescue Again

Perhaps one the most unexpected developments was witnessed in October, when the Ministry of National Development (MND) announced that it would undertake a review of its policy on cat ownership in Housing Development Board (HDB) flats, while urging the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) to relook its stray culling policy. The announcement was made as a pilot cat feeding programme was launched in Chong Pang constituency to centralise stray cat feeding to specified vicinities that minimised mess and inconvenience for other residents (40 feeding stations have been planned for the neighbourhood).

Meanwhile, residents in the Chong Pang ward were polled to establish that 85% were against cat culling, which then opened the door to a sterilisation-only approach (i.e. zero culling) to be instituted there – to date, 31 cats have been sterilised under this programme. A pilot HDB cat ownership programme is also in the pipeline for residents of Chong Pang which would entail each resident officially registering the ownership of his or her cat with HDB.

For the Love of a Cat and Dogs

The close of the year saw localised animal welfare incidents to surface – such as the November case of a cat being callously dumped into a bin outside a vet’s clinic. Fortunately, CCTV footage outside the clinic caught the whole scene unfold, which led to an uproar online when scenes of the footage were posted on several websites. The buzz though helped to eventually identify the culprit as someone who was suffering from bipolar disorder and who had been supposed to surrender the cat to the SPCA instead of dumping the cat in a rubbish bin.

Finally, the notorious Punggol stray dog incident in December left many people torn between the safety of joggers and the welfare of the feral dogs, after one jogger was attacked by a pack of stray dogs along Punggol Waterway. When AVA subsequently rounded up about 30 stray dogs in the vicinity and put down those deemed aggressive, animal activists and dog lovers were up in arms. Soon after, many have since been earnestly trying their best to rehome the remaining dogs that have been rescued from the location while, at the same time, petitioning AVA to release the captured dogs still with the authority. A Facebook page titled ‘Penny Low & AVA, give Punggol strays a chance. Stop the massacre’ has since been set up which has attracted over 1,500 ‘likes’.

A Year of Consideration

2011 has been a year where several animal welfare issues have been thrown forward for the public to think about and the public response to these has been largely encouraging. It has been a year for advocates and the society at large to get familiar with one another, and a year for the government to take animal welfare issues that much more seriously than before.

Many of the tangible initiatives instituted this year can only be assessed appropriately next year and current sentiment is that they should achieve their goals. Meanwhile, more people are getting involved and stepping up to address local animal welfare issue within their communities at the micro level. Instances of ad-hoc sterilisation of feral cats and tending to injured animals is on the rise – with the very least being members of the public giving one of the welfare groups a call.

Advocacy groups have also been taking strides to improve their visibility among the public and many people now know more than just of the SPCA. It is likely that 2012 will witness a different type of development, but it is without a doubt that many of the future policy changes will find their roots in the seeds that were planted across 2011.

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Place more restrictions on pet ownership

2012-01-04T06:31:00.001+08:00

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/place-more-restrictions-on-pet-ownership/

Place more restrictions on pet ownership

Posted by theonlinecitizen on January 3, 2012 6 Comments

~by: Russel Low~

I refer to the Follow-up Survey on Pet Shops and Pet Farms which was published a few days ago. It appears to me that the crux of the problem is still not being addressed.

Currently, everyone is fixated with the culling of dogs in Punggol. Many of the dogs are strays or dogs which have been abandoned and allowed to multiply. There is no sterilisation program in place and AVA’s zero tolerant policy towards strays usually translates to the end of the road for many of them. Over the last few weeks, people have been campaigning and lobbying AVA to review its stance, to work with animal lovers (and not just AWGs) and to be more transparent. All of these are lives issues which needs to be addressed and resolved.

But the more pertinent issue remains, how we do reduce the incidences of abandonment, neglect and abuse. Whilst there may not be a direct link between this and the culling of strays, AWGs and animal lovers alike would have more resources to help manage the stray population if they didn’t also have to deal and cope with the number of dogs, cats and rabbits (both mongrels and purebreds) which are being neglected and abandoned.

And the only reason why we have so many cases of neglect and abandonment isn’t just because the public is not educated sufficiently on responsible pet ownership, or the laws are not strictly enforced by AVA or the sentences meted out are not harsh enough. It is mainly because of the pet trade in Singapore.

AVA has the power to impose restrictions on the pet trade, such as banning puppy/kitten mills and farms and prohibiting the sale of live animals in commercial pet shops. But it doesn’t do so. It comes up with guidelines which pet shops ignore. All pet shops are concerned with is commercial gain, not ethics and definitely not responsible pet ownership. The results of the Follow-up Survey (see HERE) speak for themselves.

If people truly want a dog or a cat, they either adopt or they acquire one through licensed breeders either in Singapore or abroad. Such pets will be licensed at the point of sale and registered not just with the breeder but also the new owner. They will also need to undergo an eligibility test to determine suitability. If people really want a dog or a cat, they must be prepared to go through the trouble and expense of doing so.

This is an effective way of differentiating the committed and responsible ones from those who buy out of impulse. This is just a rough framework and details will need to be worked out, and whilst it may not be 100 per cent effective due to things like the “underground pet trade”, it would still make a noticeable difference in the numbers of animals which are being abandoned and neglected.

If Singapore can cope with things like the COE, they can certainly live with the restrictions and difficulties involved in pet ownership. Time and time again, people have called for these restrictions to be put in place, but nothing appears to be put in place.

At the end of the day, AWGs, shelters, animal lovers and AVA themselves bear the burden and brunt of cleaning up the very mess which AVA themselves could have largely prevented.

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See also: SPCA continues push for pet ownership law

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This article first appeared on Russel Low’s Facebook. We thank him for allowing us to reproduce it in full here.

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picture credit: Stop the cruelty in puppy mills

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An anonymous contributor responds to Mr Tan Chuan Jin’s note: ‘Managing Stray Dogs.. Yet Again’

2012-01-03T18:28:00.000+08:00

An anonymous contributor responds to Mr Tan Chuan Jin’s note: ‘Managing Stray Dogs.. Yet Again’

by Save the Punggol Strays on Tuesday, 3 January 2012 at 17:14

In response to Mr Tan Chuan Jin’s post: ‘Managing Stray Dogs.. Yet Again’

http://www.facebook.com/notes/tan-chuan-jin/managing-straysyet-again/298828286826620

Indeed, the saga over the stray dogs in Punggol has been very revealing.

If anything, it has revealed that Singaporeans have a heart. When lives are at stake (The dogs’ lives, not the joggers who were attacked!), many people will speak up, and chip in their part to try save these lives. Innocent lives are involved here, and needless to say, in the process, emotions flare. Many have made angry comments at the authorities, at the joggers who were attacked, and at the whole situation in general, leading to the authorities labeling animal lovers as being ‘hostile’, ‘ludicrous’, and of ‘making up false stories’, etc.

Please note, however, that hostility has come not only from people for the dogs, but also from people against the dogs. Over the last 2 wks, people have called animal lovers ‘bitches just like the creatures they are trying to save’, and other worse names on Facebook. After the video clip of the pregnant lady with the run-in with dog catchers was circulated, people have attacked her viciously, ridiculing her poor command of English, and even cursing her unborn child. From what I understand, she was so distressed by these hate comments that comments had to be disallowed on the youtube video.

The truth is, animal lovers have been working tirelessly through the festive season, day and night, to catch, rehabilitate, and try to rehome these dogs. The amazing work of these dedicated animal lovers should not, and cannot be callously brushed aside and overlooked simply because the emotions are running wild in cyberspace.

Another important thing revealed in this saga, is that many Singaporeans do not know about the plight of stray dogs – Many do not even know that that exist until now! And because they do not know, they could not care. The outpour of emotions on the groud is simply a result of the public caring, because they now are aware.

Let’s be very clear on this.

When stray dogs are rounded up by AVA, they usually will end up being put to sleep. Dogs being impounded by AVA will only be released if they have an owner, meaning the dog needs to be microchipped, licensed, and registered at a permanent residence. Stray dogs, naturally do not have fulfill the above, and hence, on capture, will be put to sleep after a few days, unless someone comes to claim them. Culling may not be the default action, but it is the most common outcome.

Lets also be very clear, that the culling did not start only after the dog attack. As reported by ChannelNewsAsia, 26 dogs from Punggol were caught from Sep 2011 to Dec 2011 before the attack, and all but 2 have been put to sleep. The 2 dogs which survived only did so by sheer chance, as members of the public fought to bail them out, encountering difficulties along the way as highlighted in Today Newspaper. And way before that, many more dogs have been rounded up in Punggol alone, to make way for the new town.

These dogs did not attack anyone; maybe some of them were dominant males, but ask any stray feeder in Punggol and they will tell you about the docile and friendly dogs which they used to feed and have now gone. These dogs were simply in the way of urbanization and development, and hence, in a society with little tolerance for them, they were rounded up and removed.

The irony of it all, is that the friendlier and more rehomable dogs are always the ones being caught first, as these dogs are less wary of dog catchers. Conversely, the agressive, elusive ones, are the hardest to catch, and will be left behind after the friendly and docile ones have been removed. At present, very few friendly dogs in Punggol are left, and hence volunteers are having difficulty catching the remaining dogs and putting them up for adoption.

8 out of the 12 dogs which were caught after the jogger was attacked were assessed to dominant males, and agressive, and hence put to sleep. Let us take a step back and look at this logically - there can never be so many dominant males in a pack. And dominant males are the ones who run the fastest and avoid capture the best. Dogs can sense danger very well. When faced with being caught and imminent death, which dog, even the most docile, will not be aggressive? It is flight, or fight. Simple physiology.

We should also be very clear, that AVA is just doing its job. The AVA has a duty to answer to the public – when the public complains, they need to act and respond. The AVA also has to answer to the policy makers and other stat boards – when HDB needed to clear the area for the development of the Punggol Waterway Park, they had to round up the strays in the area. As Mr Tan mentioned, there are many animal lovers in AVA, and it pains them as much as us, when they have to see innocent dogs being put to sleep. It is very easy to be angry with AVA as they are the ones doing the dirty work, but we should look at the larger picture, and instead use the energy to try to effect change.

On the issue of the pregnant stray feeder, we need to hear both sides of the story before condemning her. This lady followed the dog catchers for 2 hours, taking pictures of them, but always keeping a distance behind them. The dog catchers became upset as they did not want to be photographed, citing reasons that 'their work should not be known to the public'. They were hostile to her and set the police on her after she refused to stop photographing. There is no law in Singapore is allowing photography in public places, nor any preventing people from trailing behind others in a public space.

What is really disappointing in this saga in the way our leaders have responded. The only dialogue held so far is the one by MP Penny Low, a day after ChannelNewsAsia brought the issue up. She called for a meeting, unfortunately giving too short a notice so most of the involved people could not attend. But at least she tried. Others are only hearing one side of the story, making unfair conclusions, while sugar-coating the way in which stray dogs are managed in Singapore. Their attitude has to change if Singapore wants to work towards a more humane society, or if they want the public to be more supportive.

Finally, please realize that AWGs have their limitations as well. Most of their kennels are full – ALL, ASD, SPCA, etc. They cannot take in any more dogs. What is needed is, for members of the public, to step up, and work towards a better future for our stray dogs. Not only in Punggol, but in the whole country.

I do not want to live in a society where innocent lives are disposed of simply because they are deemed to be useless. Do you?

2 male puppies which were rescued from Punggol. They are now with ASD.

Be stricter with animal abusers

2012-01-03T08:53:00.002+08:00

Be stricter with animal abusers

Letter from Raj Chotrani

04:47 AM Jan 03, 2012

I AM saddened that a man who had tortured an animal to death was sentenced to only two months in jail, as reported in "Man jailed for theft and animal abuse" (Dec 28).

The man "had tied a rope around the neck of a cat" and a witness said it was "struggling to free itself before it was hung" over a parapet. This showed the level of emotional stress suffered by the cat, which died a slow and agonising death.

On its own, killing the cat justifies punishment, but the torture was far more unforgivable. How is two months in jail adequate punishment?

The trauma the animal must have felt is no different to what a person would experience if he/she was being dragged to a slow death.

We have, in the past year, read reports of other animal abuse cases, for example, the foreign worker who smashed the snout of a dog with a chain. Although it was rescued later, it eventually succumbed to its wounds and died.

Our courts need to take a far more serious view of animal abuse and set a higher level of deterrence by enforcing sterner punishments.

This is the only way to reduce the suffering inflicted on innocent animals

Save a life, Adopt a Punggol Dog

2012-01-01T09:25:00.001+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=158145524289204&set=a.156467754456981.20749.156463767790713&type=1&theater

FUNNY CATS SING NEW YEARS

2012-01-01T09:17:00.001+08:00

Singapore's community activism blossoming

2011-12-31T11:26:00.002+08:00

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1173895/1/.html

SINGAPORE: More Singaporeans this year have spoken up and acted on a slew of social causes from heritage conservation and environmental protection to animal welfare.

In June, Singapore saw its first-ever public forum on animal welfare policies.

Observers said this is not unusual for a developed country with an educated population.

Assistant Professor Reuben Wong, from the National University of Singapore's Political Science Department, said: "Singaporeans find it remarkable because we've been used to a certain kind of politics which I'd describe as abnormal, where the citizenry has been depoliticised, where there is one overwhelming party or sometimes just one party in Parliament."

At the National Day Rally in August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had urged Singaporeans to come forward to play a larger and positive role on issues affecting the country.

Leading the way in this effort are civil society groups such as the Cat Welfare Society.

The society has seen public support increase steadily over the years.

But what made 2011 a milestone for the group was its engagement with the government.

It has successfully lobbied authorities to start sterilising stray cats this year -- a shift from the old policy of culling them.

Its vice-president Veron Lau said the Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme, which was terminated in 2005, is now back and piloting in a number of housing estates like Ang Mo Kio and Tampines.

Under the programme, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) works with town councils to microchip and sterilise stray cats, and pays for half the cost.

"I see the change from the government officers in the way they want to work together with us," Ms Lau said.

"It's because they have seen the results that are brought about when volunteers and residents in the community step forward to resolve issues, rather than just leaving it to the government officials to resolve them."

Separately, architect Tham Wai Hon got his friends and colleagues together to lobby the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to preserve the full tract of KTM railway land recently returned to Singapore. They did that by proposing creative development ideas.

Mr Tham said: "What's so amazing was that, usually in Singapore, things are planned 10, 20 years in advance, but this time, things happened so suddenly, no one was ready except our group. And so in that way it lent us a bigger voice, and the URA was really keen to get any ideas for what they could do about the space."

Mr Tham's group -- Friends of the Rail Corridor -- is now part of an official dialogue process with the Rail Corridor Consultation Group on the Rail Corridor.

There are concerns lengthy consultations will slow down Singapore's efficiency and strong government.

But activists and observers said the dialogue process as well as active citizens and a strong civil society are vital to a mature and resilient society.

NUS' Assistant Professor Wong said: "Some of the younger ministers and younger Members of Parliament (MPs) understand more intuitively, but the rest of the cabinet and government might have to be convinced of the merits of a more consultative approach."

While some observers said activist groups are getting more organised and connected, others believe there will always be new issues that will get Singaporeans talking and moving.

But one thing all can agree with, though, is that Singapore's budding community activism looks set to grow in the years ahead.

- CNA/wk

Stir-fried snake show when society is more compassionate?

2011-12-31T09:47:00.003+08:00

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_750445.html

SINGAPORE is changing. Our society is becoming more compassionate towards animals.

Laws protect domesticated animals from abuse and wild animals from being trafficked. People rescue abandoned animals, such as cats, from shelters and provide them with loving homes.

People question the serving of shark's fin soup on special occasions, such as wedding dinners. Zoo animals are no longer forced to give unnatural performances. Restaurants offer more vegetarian options on their menus.

Indeed, in increasing numbers, people recognise that animals are thinking, feeling beings deserving of respect. This shift towards greater compassion by Singapore's Government, people and businesses makes it all the more disturbing to see the Healthy Dining series, on Wednesdays on MediaCorp's Channel 8. The series is shot in China, with the goal of teaching the audience about healthy ingredients and how to prepare them.

However, some of these ingredients are animals, such as snakes and guinea pigs. For example, in the show about snakes, the hosts visit a snake farm and play with a snake. Not long after, we see stir-fried snake served on a plate, snake in a soup and a skinned snake. In this way, the show promotes the consumption of exotic animal parts for their alleged 'healing properties' and may whet appetites for exotic game meat among viewers.

In Healthy Dining, the animals are viewed only as objects of entertainment and nutrition for humans. Where, please, is the shift towards greater compassion for animals that we are seeing elsewhere in Singapore society?

Louis Ng

Executive Director

Animal Concerns, Research and Education Society (Acres)

Dr George Jacobs

President

Vegetarian Society (Singapore)

Jennifer Lee (Ms)

Coordinator

Project: FIN

Better to 'cull' antisocial habits

2011-12-31T09:46:00.003+08:00

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_750279.html

I TOTALLY agree with Mr Henry Ong's call for clearing of leftover food and used utensils ('Bird nuisance at hawker centres'; Thursday).

However, I disagree with his call for culling of the birds as it is not only ineffective and hence a waste of public funds, but is also extremely cruel. I have personally witnessed birds convulsing after eating bait laced with poison. My other concern is the danger of the poisoned bait to others like curious children or pet dogs.

According to the Animal Aid website: 'In areas where culling is carried out, there will be an initial reduction in pigeon numbers. However, this effect is very short term as the population will almost certainly have returned to or even exceeded the previous level within a few weeks. This is because pigeons control their own numbers according to the food source available.'

We need to 'cull' our antisocial personal habits by not leaving leftover food on the tables, by not throwing leftover food on the floor and learning to place our used utensils at collection points to facilitate rapid clearing by the cleaners.

We are at risk of contracting diseases from our fellow human beings who leave used tissue paper in bowls and cups in public eating places, cough and sneeze in public, and indulge in other unhygienic acts.

Stop blaming the birds.

The fault is ours and if we continue to deny that fact, we will never change.

Dr Tan Chek Wee

Join hands for a humane approach towards strays

2011-12-29T10:59:00.000+08:00

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_749561.html

LET us not polarise the issue: Animal lovers and the public have a common goal, which is to get the strays off the streets ('Dog lovers upset over stepped-up culling'; Dec 21).

Where we differ is in the ways - in the treatment of the strays during their capture, and their rehoming and adoption.

Animal lovers, too, are concerned about public safety. However, the brutal capture and culling of these animals isn't the solution.

Many animal lovers like me feed stray dogs and cats with the goal of winning their trust so we can rescue them and take them off the streets and into homes or shelters where they can be properly looked after.

We do it not with the purpose of having them breed and cause more problems. But time is not on our side, simply because the support and resources are lacking.

This is the crux of the issue for all animal welfare groups and animal lovers. And, I can imagine, the same goes for the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

This problem will not go away. The only solution is one where we all work together on a nationwide permanent effort that involves the AVA and animal welfare groups - a collaborative multi-agency task force to systematically and humanely rescue all strays and shepherd them into homes or shelters.

What is paramount is to stop the culling and brutal methods of capture.

Animal lovers like me will rally behind a joint effort to source for funding, pool resources and organise adoption campaigns.

Adrian Teo

Follow-up Report on Efforts to Rehome Punggol Strays on Channel News Asia, 28 Dec 2011

2011-12-29T09:40:00.000+08:00

Save the Punggol Strays

Rescue Efforts on ChannelNewsAsia last night.
Bacon was featured!

Singapore: Animal Lovers Rally to Save Stray Dogs · Global Voices

2011-12-28T20:58:00.000+08:00

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/12/27/singapore-animal-lovers-rally-to-save-stray-dogs/

Thirty-two-year-old Lin Chuan had tied a rope around the neck of a cat, dragging it along the second floor of a block in Toa Payoh on May 7 this year.

2011-12-28T09:46:00.005+08:00

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_749142.html

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC111228-0000030/Man-jailed-for-theft-and-animal-abuse

Save the Punggol Strays

2011-12-28T04:44:00.005+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Punggol-Strays/156463767790713

Save the Punggol Strays

‎'What are we teaching our children? Dispose of things we hate? That animal lives are not as precious as human beings?
The mark of a country is seen in its compassion towards animals.
Are we a compassionate country?
Are we?'

http://awolfstale.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/the-mark-of-a-country-my-plea-for-compassion/

https://www.facebook.com/notes/save-the-punggol-strays/an-anonymous-contributor-shares-her-response-to-the-culling-of-punggol-dogs/156470901123333

An Anonymous Contributor Shares her Response to the Culling of Punggol Dogs

by Save the Punggol Strays on Tuesday, 27 December 2011 at 19:32

The Save the Punggol Strays campaign has been challenged at every turn.

They have been called ‘ludicrous’ and ‘extreme’. They have been accused of ‘trivialis[ing] the lives of fellow Singaporeans’. They have been warned not to ‘stir emotions’, ‘demonize AVA’, and ‘go after the government’. They have been labeled as ‘activists’ and ‘animal lovers’.

Do you know what is ‘ludicrous’? They think we are simple enough to reject their ideas if they point at them and call them ‘extreme’. They think we are afraid of anything that might be perceived as challenging the government. They think we can be distracted from the fact that they actually have a point.

They want people to be scared of them. They want you to think they are radical ‘activists’ and ‘animal lovers’. But here’s the thing: You do *not* have to be an activist or love animals, to see the flawed logic behind catch and kill policy. Anyone can figure out catch and kill does not work. And that is why they want this campaign to fade away— they are afraid regular people might start to notice that they are using their taxpayer dollars to kill hundreds of animals every year for no discernable reason.

Culling achieves nothing but we do it anyway. Killing the animals in an area creates a vacuum. Animals from other places move in to fill that void. And these animals keep having more babies so we end up with even more animals than before. This is called the vacuum effect. It is a well-documented phenomenon that is backed up by hard scientific research. Killian et al (2007) said it best: ‘Depopulation by lethal means may result in a “vacuum” effect where territorial boundaries are no longer defended allowing for influx of new diseased and non diseased animals to the area. Moreover, populations greatly reduced by culling are likely to rebound quickly, providing young animals’.

There are so many ways we could meaningfully reduce the homeless animal population. Actively discouraging people from abandoning animals. Letting people give animals a home in their flats. Supporting and encouraging sterilization of animals. All of these solutions would be better than killing tens of thousands of homeless animals under the guise of ‘public safety’.

Not a lot of people knew how prevalent catch and kill is before this campaign came along. People are only just starting to notice resources are being wasted on an endless cycle of trapping and killing. For the first time, people are becoming aware that animals are being killed all the time in their neighborhoods. We can no longer stay silent. By keeping quiet, we tacitly condone and accept the killing of lots innocent animals for no particular reason as a legitimate action to ‘ensure the public is kept safe’.

Read, share, and discuss. Spread the word. Start conversations. Together, we can help give the Punggol strays a chance, and make people sit up and take notice of wasteful, ineffective, and indiscriminate culling.

Links roundup:

Exchange on Mr Tan Chuan Jin’s Facebook Wall

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=292921417417307&id=182928775083239

Straits Times: Dog lovers upset over stepped-up culling in Punggol

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_747280.html

Straits Times: Culling done to ensure public safety

http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20111223-317957.html

Today Online: Roadblocks to re-homing dogs?

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC111224-0000012/Roadblocks-to-re-homing-dogs

Killian et al (2007). USDA National Wildlife Research Center - Staff Publications. Paper 758.

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/758

Plea to Save the Punggol Stray Dogs on Channel News Asia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhm5unx2P4U&feature=youtu.be

Plea to save Punggol Stray Dogs on Mediacorp Channel 8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbaKWEAt6MM&feature=youtu.be

Lost Blind Dog Reunites With Owner

2011-12-26T10:57:00.002+08:00

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/lost-blind-dog-reunites-owner

Christmas Cat Song

2011-12-25T10:12:00.001+08:00

A Cat's Prayer

2011-12-25T09:30:00.001+08:00

Although I am too proud to beg,

and may appear to be a very independent creature,

I ask for your loving care and attention.

I rely on you for my well being much more than you may realize.

This I promise you, my benefactor, that I will not be a burden on you

nor will I demand more of you than you care to give.

I will be a quiet peaceful island of serenity for you to gaze upon;

a soft soothing body to caress,

and I shall purr with pleasure to rest your weary ears.

Since I am a gourmet who appreciates different taste sensations,

I pray you will give me a variety of nutritious foods and fresh water daily.

You know dear friend, how I love to go.

Allow me, I pray, a warm sheltered place

where I can rest peacefully and feel secure.

If I am wounded in battle or suffering from disease,

please tend me gently, and see that I am treated

by loving and competent hands.

Please protect me from the inhuman humans

who would hurt and torture me for their own amusement.

I am accustomed to your gentle touch and am not always suspicious

nor swift enough to avoid such malicious acts.

In my later years when my senses fail me

and my infirmities become too great to bear,

allow me the comfort and dignity that I desire for my closing days

and help me gently in my pain or passing.

Hear this prayer, my dear friend, my fate depends on you.

*author unknown

Bendeecat: "Meowrry Christmas my lovely humans!"

2011-12-24T13:32:00.002+08:00

Bendeecat

Meowrry Christmas my lovely humans!

Me, Bendeecat would like to thank you for loving me. Your constant support to my ahmas and encouragement on my fb page meant a lot to me.
Have a great Christmas while I celebrate mine with my neighbour (a ginger cat) in ARC.

I meow (love) you...
Hope to meet everyone soon!

Punggol Dogs Rescued from Culling - for Adoption.

2011-12-23T15:51:00.003+08:00

One puppy saved from being KILLED!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-Low-AVA-give-Punggol-strays-a-chance-Stop-the-massacre/196499570439218

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150453854509093.375473.566154092&type=3

An ex-community once-homeless cat

2011-12-22T11:12:00.002+08:00

Take your time...

2011-12-21T19:41:00.000+08:00

Story of Little Tom (USA)

2011-12-21T09:57:00.002+08:00

http://animalcaresociety.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/little-tom/

"Little Tom probably lived a miserable life, but he was loved and received affection for the last four hours of his life. However, this is not enough. There is no reason why Little Tom shouldn’t have received a bit more compassion during his life. He didn’t deserve it.
Please people, look around you and don’t ignore your ferals. Offer them a bit of food, a warm shelter and whatever love you have to spare."

A Community Cat in Eunos Crescent

2011-12-20T19:12:00.000+08:00

Community Cats on a Tuesday

2011-12-20T19:10:00.001+08:00

Circuit Road

Please Save the Punggol Dogs

2011-12-19T10:08:00.004+08:00

http://www.change.org/petitions/we-holds-no-right-to-end-life

Save Our StreetDogs SOSD

Penny Low (MP of Punggol) announced that todate, 24 lives have been rounded up by AVA. And she will work with AVA to round up all the street dogs they can find in the Punggol park area next week : Is this MP endorsing senseless genocide of innocent animal life? Please let her know what you think.

Penny Low

Sterilisation Saves Lives

2011-12-19T09:40:00.001+08:00

Once a homeless community cat

2011-12-18T15:58:00.002+08:00

What can our society do for low-income, destitute families who find joy and purpose in life with animals?

2011-12-17T16:34:00.000+08:00

Cat Welfare Society

Case 1: Dedicated caregivers have been assisting an old lady in rental flat with cats and mongrel dog for many years cleaning her flat and getting her animals sterilised. Her dogs, especially the mongrel dog, are loved by the community for their loyalty and are a constant companion of the old lady.

When the old lady died recently, the authorities sent the old lady's son still living in the flat a fine for the dogs to indirectly ask for their removal.

We have sought amnesty for this family. It is also a case that provides a human face to the issues to be discussed with the joint-agency taskforce.

What can our society do for low-income, destitute families who find joy and purpose in life with animals?

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) with the NYC Feral Cat Initiative

2011-12-17T12:37:00.000+08:00

Another Hoarder House Uncovered – Circuit Road

2011-12-16T08:56:00.000+08:00

http://omcat.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/another-hoarder-house-uncovered-circuit-road/

December 15, 2011 at 5:28 pm | Posted in Adoption, Animal Rescue | Leave a comment

As Omcat volunteers entered the filthy, smelly and dark house, the were greeted by a box of 5 ten-days’ old kittens in a cardboard box. 3 of them had died from malnutrition / dehydration. The other 2 were crawling weakly over the carcasses of the 3 dead kittens.

The house was a sad sight. Layers of urine-soaked newspapers covered with defecation were strewn all over the unkempt house. The stench was unbearable and all the windows were tightly shut to keep the smell in.

Omcat volunteers were greeted by 30+ starving, emaciated cats. 7 of the 30+ cats were kittens ranging from 2 – 6 months old. They were weak, hungry and had been starved for at least 3 weeks. They were more than relieved when food was quickly placed on the ground for them.

Suddenly, from no where came a dirty and skinny Shitzu dog with matted fur, lunging for the food. A couple of starving cats started slapping her and she quickly went to cower in a corner. As Omcat volunteers only had cat food on them, they quickly gave some to the hungry dog.

Then came more gruesome discovery!!

A 2 feet cage, covered completely with cloth. As the volunteers lifted up the cloth, they were shocked to see a dirty, smelly dog covered in its own filth and eating poo!! It appeared to be a Silky Terrier with severe skin problem.

There were 2 other dogs in the house, in rather bad condition as well. One is a Jack Russell and the other is a Silky Terrier.

The story behind this out-of-control situation is a rather sad one. An elderly couple, out of compassion, rescued animals from the community. The wife is ill and not working, while the husband earns a very low income. The step-son is still quite young and entering N.S. soon. The wife had suddenly passed away and the husband is in a daze. They couldn’t afford food for the cats and in his depressed state, the animals were unfortunate victims of neglect. The rental flat will be taken away as the husband and wife are not legally married (on paper). The man and the step-son will be homeless.

Omcat volunteers would like to appeal to kind volunteers to please help out with:

1. food (cat and dog)

2. sterilisation and medical funding

3. Dettol spray to disinfect the area (Dettol kills flu virus, among other viruses)

4. adoption of dogs, kittens, cats

Omcat volunteers brought the badly matted Shitzu back for a good groom so that she could potentially be adopted. She’s the healthier of the lot and she is extremely mild. No barking at all the whole time, not even being left in the cage, and gets along well with other cats and dogs. She’s our first Adoption candidate. Please help spread the word.

If you can answer to our appeal for help, please email crystal.chakra@gmail.com

Here’s the complete album of the house and the animals.

Another Hoarder House Uncovered – Circuit Road

Why has no action been taken: Maggot-infested Dog at Lim Chu Kang, Lane 1

2011-12-15T19:08:00.001+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/notes/russel-low/why-has-no-action-been-taken-maggot-infested-dog-at-lim-chu-kang-lane-1/10150523368586273

Kitty Asana

2011-12-14T19:41:00.000+08:00

Cats with Thumbs

2011-12-11T15:26:00.001+08:00

An Amazing Puppy Rescue (USA)

2011-12-11T12:14:00.000+08:00

Stray moggy bags $18 million

2011-12-11T11:29:00.003+08:00

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10772507

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2072417/Italian-cat-inherits-10m-fortune-owner-Maria-Assunta-dies-aged-94.html

The Gentle Barn: Karma's Reunion

2011-12-10T10:27:00.002+08:00

Funny Dog Adoption Commercial

2011-12-08T19:08:00.000+08:00

Save the World’s Saddest Dolphins

2011-12-08T11:11:00.002+08:00

Feel free to repost this and give the sad dolphins a voice.

https://www.facebook.com/RWSLetTheDolphinsGo

Mio Mao (New Series) - The Clew

2011-12-07T21:39:00.000+08:00

Project 500 - A CWS Sterilisation Project

2011-12-07T06:06:00.001+08:00

http://www.catwelfare.org/drupal/node/5653

Project 500 - A CWS Sterilisation Project

Submitted by veron on Mon, 12/05/2011 - 14:16

After the success of Spay Day, we are launching PROJECT 500 to provide free sterilisation to 500 community cats by end January 2012.

Unlike Spay Day that aims to benefit all caregivers, this project is our dedication to a select team of dedicated and effective MEDIATORS around Singapore.

Why only for Mediators?

Because mediation is a critical pillar in the entire humane cat management programme in Singapore. It is not enough just to feed and sterilise the cats, assisting Town Councils in handling cat-related issues is one of the most important functions of caregiving.

These mediators are an example to others in their
---- Dedication to the cause
---- Ability to establish good working relationship with Town Councils
---- Ability to achieve win-win in mediation cases
---- They work hard to build connections and networks to caregivers and feeders in the areas they are covering

These are the cat welfare heroes that deserve our support to do more and do better. We also like to encourage more people to come forward in filling this critical role in more areas!

A touching tribute

We sincerely thank Katherine Houghtby for supporting the Cat Welfare Society and Project 500 in a truly touching way. She lost her kind, faithful, animal-loving husband and father to her children, Michael Houghtby, recently. In lieu of condolences, she appealed to his colleagues at APL/NOL to donate to the Cat Welfare Society instead.

They raised over $3,700 in memory of Mike and this donation will kickstart PROJECT 500. We are extremely grateful to Katherine to have turned her deep loss into this beautiful thing.

We need your help too in support of community cats and those that give so much of themselves towards this worthwhile cause.

We are accepting donations as Festive Charity Gifts and will send a special acknowledgement to friends or family about your meaningful gift!

Donate to CWS for Project 500 at AXS Stations or through internet transfer:

Bank: DBS Current Account
Account number: 065 - 013507 - 8
Bank Code: 7171
Branch Code: 065

If you are donating via internet transfer, please send us an email to info@catwelfare.org with the title "Donation to Project 500" and the following infomation:

Name of donor:
Amount donated:
Transacting bank:
Transaction number:
Date and time of internet/ATM transfer:
Name of recipient of charity gift (where applicable):
Email address of recipient of charity gift (where applicable):

Make 2011/2012 a critical turning point in cat welfare in Singapore.

Photo courtesy of Chua Ju Wei Jeremy

Charity Gift Photo courtesy of Charlie Tan

SPCA appeals for information on dead Shih Tzus

2011-12-06T21:13:00.002+08:00

Cozy basket for a community cat in Pasir Ris

2011-12-06T17:10:00.002+08:00

Animal abuse case prosecuted

2011-12-04T17:27:00.000+08:00

Animal abuse case prosecuted

by Cat Welfare Society on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 at 16:55

This was carried in the Chinese News recently, but not the English News. An unemployed man will be brought to court on charges of stealing and abusing a cat in Toa Payoh.

Thanks Mu Lao Hu for the translation of 3rd article, below.

新加坡新闻

无业男子被控虐猫致死

19 November 2011

联合早报 (简体)

无业男子被指把猫吊在组屋公共走廊围墙外，然后拉扯绳子，前天被控上法庭。

与此同时，被告林川（32岁，译音）也被控两项偷窃控状。凌晨在组屋对猫施酷刑

被告面对的虐猫控状，指他在今年5月7日凌晨4时10分，在大巴窑1巷第149座组屋虐待一只4岁雌性家猫，用绳子绑住猫的颈项，吊在 11楼公共走廊的围墙外，然后拉扯绳子，对猫施酷刑。

据知，遭虐待的猫已死掉。

被告因此被指触犯动物与鸟类法令，如果罪成，他可被判罚款高达1万元，或坐牢最长12个月，或两者兼施。

被告面对另两项偷窃罪，一项指他在去年12月3日晚上9时许，在大巴窑6巷的职总平价超市偷窃总值53元的鱼肉和鸡肉等货物。另一项指他在今年3月19日晚上7时，在大巴窑6巷的大众书局偷窃28个指南针和一本《通书》，总值433元。

林川获准以1万5000元保释，案展12月1日过堂。

Singapore Press Holdings Limited

晚报新闻

无业汉被控半夜虐猫致死

曾顺舟

17 November 2011

联合晚报 (新加坡) (简体)

涉嫌在凌晨时分当屠猫手，残酷的把猫吊在走廊围墙外，个子矮小的一个无业汉，今天被控上庭。

被告林川（译音、32岁）共面对3项罪状，其中2项是偷窃罪，1 项是抵触动物与鸟类法令。法庭在他面控准他以1万5000元保释，不过，他表示家人拿不出那笔钱担保他。

根据控状，被告在今年5月7日凌晨4时10分左右，在大巴窑1巷第 149座组屋，用1条黑色的绳子，绑住1只4岁的灰色短毛家猫的颈项，吊在11楼公关走廊的围墙外，连连拉扯，对猫施于酷刑，因此触犯了动物与鸟类法令。

另2项偷窃罪，则分别指被告：在去年12月3日晚上9时许，在大巴窑6巷的职总平价超市偷窃总值53元的鱼肉和鸡肉等货物；而在今年 3月19日晚上7时，则在大巴窑6巷的大众书局偷窃总值433元的28个指南针和1本《通书》。

据所知，遭虐待的那只猫过后丢了命；被告在庭上表示，警方曾针对他虐待猫的事给予严厉警告；至于有关偷窃罪，他表示要否认并进行抗辩，因此，法庭将本案展期到12月1日过堂。

Singapore Press Holdings Limited

新闻

绳捆脖子　悬吊高楼刺青汉虐猫被控

陈丽芬

17 November 2011

新明日报 (简体)

c) 2011 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

刺青汉清晨涉嫌在组屋虐猫，用绳子捆住小猫的脖子，悬吊在高楼墙沿，结果惹官司。

这起气闻发生在今年5月11日清晨4时10分，地点在大巴窑1巷第 149座组屋的11楼。涉案男子林川（32岁），案发时无业。据了解，惨遭虐待的猫儿已4岁大，雌性，事发后死掉。

男子被指在事发时，以一条黑色的绳子捆住小猫的颈项，让它悬吊在墙沿，并不断拉扯绳子，触犯了动物和飞禽法令的相关条文。

个子不高，蓄及肩头发的男子，左颈有刺青。他今早被还押上庭面控，神情木然。他除了上述罪状，还面对另两项偷窃控状。

两项偷窃控状分别指他在去年12月3日晚上9时，在大巴窑的超市偷了53元的鱼和鸡肉，以及在今年3月19日晚上7时，在书局偷了总值 433元的通书和28个指南针。

控方表示打算以当中两项偷窃罪提控他，剩余则交由法官下判时考虑在内。不过男子表示要抗辩，并准备申请法律援助。

法官批准所请，让他以1万5000元保释外出，案展12月1日过堂。

男子过后针对保释金，站在犯人栏以英语提问。

他声称自己所面对的3控状，获警方保释，不过控方解释他如今已被控上庭，将是法庭保释。男子称说，如果是这样将无法被保释出去，因为无法筹集这笔钱。（人名译音）

Sin Ming article (3rd article):

Man with tattoos accused of torturing cat in flat, using rope to tie around cat's neck, and hanging the cat from a wall along a corridor on a high floor.

This incident happened on 11 May around 4:40am, at Blk ...149 Toa Payoh Lor 1, 11th floor. Lim Chuan (32 yo) was unemployed. It was understood that the cat was a 4 yo female. The cat died from the incident.

The accused used a black rope to tie around the cat's neck and let it hang from the wall. The accused also pull on the rope repeatedly. This act is against certain provisions in the Animal and Birds Act.

[Another article stated that he had been warned previously by the police for his abusive acts towards animals.]

The accused is not very tall. He has shoulder length hair and a tattoo on the left side of his neck. While being charged in court this morning, he had a blank expression. In addition to this charge, he has two other charges of stealing.

The stealing charges were on him stealing about $53 worth of fish and chicken from a Toa Payoh supermarket on 3 Dec 2010 at about 9pm; and of him stealing about $433 worth of geomancy books and 28 compasses from a stationery shop on 19 March 2011 at 7pm.

The prosecution intends to charge him for 2 offences for stealing; the remaining will be determined by the judge. The accused however indicates that he intends to engage legal assistance to defend himself against the stealing charges.

The judge allowed him bail at $15,000. The case will be heard again on 1 Dec 2011.

On the bail, the accused explained that as he was already granted bail by the police, this additional bail imposed by the court means that he will not be able to apply for bail as he is not able to raise the money.

How to Bond With a Cat

2011-12-04T12:22:00.001+08:00

http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/how-to-bond-with-a-cat?ecd=wnl_cat_113011

Tips to help you make friends with a feline.

By Pamela Babcock

Reviewed by D. West Hamryka, DVM

WebMD Pet Health Feature

Tail wagging and sometimes protective, dogs have long held the title of man's best friend. Meanwhile, cats -- often silent and solitary -- can seem more like man's aloof neighbor. But if you introduce yourself properly, cool cats can become warm companions.

“People misunderstand cats simply because they are more independent than dogs,” says Pamela Reid, PhD, a certified applied animal behaviorist and vice president of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA) Animal Behavior Center. “But cats can become very bonded to people and they can be extremely affectionate, depending on their personality.”

Like dogs, cats have very distinct temperaments and personalities.

“Some cats will want to be lap cats and will purr and want to be stroked,” says Barbara J. King, chancellor professor of anthropology at the College of William & Mary and author of Being With Animals. “Some cats want to play but not to be lap cats. Some want to sit near you but not with you. And some are interested in communicating across the room.”

Want to be the cat’s meow when it comes to bonding? These steps will bring you purrs and head-butts for years to come.

A dog and a man

2011-12-03T13:17:00.000+08:00

Let's live harmoniously with community animals

2011-12-03T10:54:00.002+08:00

Let's live harmoniously with community animals

Letter from Corinne Fong Executive Director, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

04:45 AM Dec 03, 2011

I REFER to Ms Lau Vi Minh's letter "If you love them, take ownership of community cats at home" (Dec 1).

Were it possible, I am sure that community cat feeders would readily take home the cats. But, if and when it happens, then Ms Lau could potentially be living next door to a cat feeder with many cats. How would she feel, and what will she do then?

That cats are a nuisance to vehicle owners? Are we so void of any feeling or compassion that we grumble about a few scratches?

They sleep on cars to receive warmth from the engines. If cats are alleged to cause scratch marks on cars, I would think car owners had better return to their car distributor to demand for a better paint job.

Community cats serve a purpose in the location they are in; that they remain in the vicinity does prevent a new colony from taking over.

Cat faeces and urine do not constitute health risks to the general human population, although we concede that cat faeces can pose a danger to developing babies and persons with weakened immune systems.

However, one would have to be in an enclosed room for an extended period of time and inhale cat faeces, or pick up faeces with bare hands, in order to catch the virus.

Some birds and other animals, as well as some raw, cured or under-cooked meats, can also carry the parasite.

All that the animal welfare groups ask of the public is that community animals and people try to co-exist in the same space.

Bendeecat journal (01/12/11)

2011-12-02T06:43:00.002+08:00

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.154294704672100.23996.153537924747778&type=1

Singapore Community Cats

cuteness and friendliness overdose. we should all be friends like them.

Lovely community cat in Upper Aljunied Road

The World Will NOT be Destroyed...

Girl Girl - Beautiful, Loyal and Brave Miracle Dog For Adoption

Understanding your cat's emotions

Cats have been culled for poo in public areas but what do we do with human poo like this that even comes with toilet papers !!

A senior community cat called Tom-King

A cute tabby community cat in Bedok North

A beautiful calico community cat

A senior community cat called Tom-King

Senior Parliamentary Secretary Dr Maliki Osman shared his thoughts in a letter to Berita Harian readers on responsible pet ownership and fostering a

Two lovely community cats

You can easily judge the character of a man....

Sometimes...

Owners abandon household pets as they spring clean for CNY

Adopt a rescue dog or cat...they add profound meaning to having a pet

Cat Welfare Society: Our mediators Suzana and Michelle are featured in AVA's i-Pet Issue #13!

Good looking community cat with a big yawn!

Who's fake, Who's true?

A human being is part of a whole, called by us "universe," a part limited in time and space.

The homeless

A rap song by a Taiwanese artist about the life of stray cats!

Commendation Letter from a Complainant

Orange-Boy recuperating in a shelter

A lovely community calico cat called Malu (meaning "little girl" in an Indian language)

Why is a rescue dog not good enough for you?

"Bacon is the gentlest and sweetest dog I have ever known."

‎"Bacon is the gentlest and sweetest dog I have ever known. Everytime I leave the house, he will run out onto the porch and sit there to see me off" ~ adopter Hawk Cut Weis

Bacon gets lots of attention from the girls these days.. But he remains a gentleman in front of a lady!

The Real Singapore Cat

The Real Singapore Cat

A breed of our own.

cats talk

Animal lovers: Thank goodness dragons aren't for real

Dog Saved from Puppy Mill Adopted through Berkeley Heights Rescue

Abandoned Dog Adopted by Nursing Home

Orange-Boy still limping

Joanna Lumley Catwoman

A senior community cat called Orange-Boy limping

world's best keeper...

Life is life--whether in a cat, or dog or man

Spring cleaning with a difference

No More Puppy Mills: Local Pet Store Will Only Sell Shelter Dogs

Cat Welfare Society - Better With A Cat

CAT ABUSE @ Jalan Rajah, near Condominium D'Royale on 13th Jan 2012 (Friday)

Chua Sok Hoon added 18 new photos to the album *not for e faint hearted* --- Pics of CAT ABUSE @ Jalan Rajah.

When I made the decision...

My cat massaging my dog

Save the Punggol Strays

Spring cleaning with a difference

台北市動物保護處TNR宣導片-王心如

Stray dogs in Singapore? Yes..and they need saving!

If you see cats in corridors, please do not feed them but chase it downstairs.

Cat Welfare Society's status update.

Bacon - An Extremely Special Dog

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Bacon - An Extremely Special Dog

i'll always be here for you....

Gary Yourofsky's entire inspirational speech on animal rights and veganism held at Georgia Tech in summer of 2010

Cat survives 2 euthanasia attempts at Utah shelter

Papillon for Adoption! Owner moving soon so it will be send to SPCA if no one adopt.

Look Back at 2011: Animal Welfare

Place more restrictions on pet ownership

Place more restrictions on pet ownership

An anonymous contributor responds to Mr Tan Chuan Jin’s note: ‘Managing Stray Dogs.. Yet Again’

Be stricter with animal abusers

Save a life, Adopt a Punggol Dog

FUNNY CATS SING NEW YEARS

Singapore's community activism blossoming

Stir-fried snake show when society is more compassionate?

Better to 'cull' antisocial habits

Join hands for a humane approach towards strays

Follow-up Report on Efforts to Rehome Punggol Strays on Channel News Asia, 28 Dec 2011

Rescue Efforts on ChannelNewsAsia last night.Bacon was featured!

Singapore: Animal Lovers Rally to Save Stray Dogs · Global Voices

Thirty-two-year-old Lin Chuan had tied a rope around the neck of a cat, dragging it along the second floor of a block in Toa Payoh on May 7 this year.

Save the Punggol Strays

An Anonymous Contributor Shares her Response to the Culling of Punggol Dogs

Lost Blind Dog Reunites With Owner

Chua Sok Hoon added 18 new photos to the album not for e faint hearted --- Pics of CAT ABUSE @ Jalan Rajah.

Rescue Efforts on ChannelNewsAsia last night.
Bacon was featured!