Practise compassion wisely

Practise compassion wisely

PUBLISHED ON JUN 1, 2015 12:45 AM 

AS WE celebrate Vesak Day today, some people still cling to the practice of "liberating" animals to mark the occasion.

But one has to practise compassion wisely. As such an act can cause environmental harm, we should discard this practice.

We need not wait for Vesak Day to practise compassion. In our daily lives, we can liberate animals from suffering by showing kindness to these creatures in our midst.

For instance, instead of culling animals such as homeless cats and dogs, we can control their population by sterilising them, and reducing the abandonment of pets by educating the owners, breeders and pet shops.

Instead of buying pets, we can choose to adopt rescued animals in shelters. We can also support animal welfare organisations by volunteering and giving donations.

We can also reduce the slaughter of animals in abattoirs by reducing our intake of meat or becoming vegetarian.

Tan Chek Wee (Dr)

- http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/practise-compassion-wisely-20150601

Backyard breeding more than just a pet peeve

http://www.todayonline.com/voices/backyard-breeding-more-just-pet-peeve

FROM

NICHOLAS YEO HUIMING

PUBLISHED: 4:17 AM, MAY 28, 2015

In the light of the report about an investigation by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (“Many top-graded pet shops ‘fail in animal welfare’”, May 21), I wish to highlight that there are many backyard breeders in Singapore.

I want to focus particularly on the issue of illegal cat breeding. A quick search online would show a slew of pages with animals put up for sale and with promises that the cats are registered with world-recognised cat associations.

However, what these breeders do not have are licences issued to the relevantpet businesses under the Animals and Birds Act, legislation that duly penalises businesses and their employees for errant practices and neglect of animal welfare.

There are also many non-internationally-approved breeders, whose inappropriate breeding practices often lead to genetic health issues for cats.

A look at numerous websites would show that none of them have a business registration address, which means they are effectively not registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

Hence, they would not be subject to taxes and other matters such as manpower and hygiene.

With prices of cats ranging anywhere from S$100 to S$10,000 in the market, I am amazed that individuals are not only profiteering, but are also not required to be accountable for their actions while subjecting buyers to strict, confidential terms.

This would surely not be approved for most legal businesses here. A particular breeder even uses the word “adoption” instead of “sale” in a blatant case of false advertising.

Backyard breeding is also feeding the continued abandonment of cats, which increases the stray population, something the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is trying to halt through various programmes.

While the AVA has done a commendable job working with organisations such as the Cat Welfare Society on efforts like the Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage campaign, it must stop the problem at the source: Pet shops and, more importantly, illegal backyard breeders.

Pets can be comforting for critically ill

Regular cat feeders are responsible, occasional do-gooders are the problem

IT IS easy to blame stray cat feeders because most people are not aware of how they operate ("Irresponsible feeding poses health risk" by Mr Ramoo Puru; last Tuesday

The Cat Welfare Society has designated caregivers in many estates, and volunteers like me know who these feeders are.They are familiar with the cats in the estate and clean up after doing their rounds. They may leave plastic bowls containing fresh water outside, and change them once or twice a day.

I have seen people who thought they were doing a good deed by leaving a packet of briyani on the floor, expecting the cats to eat it.

Some families leave cat food at lift landings, not realising that they are encouraging cats to go up the block. This can lead to problems when the cats defecate.

Another problem arises when a family that has been feeding the cats moves out. The next family to move in may not like cats, but the animals would be used to visiting that house.

I urge the public to be more compassionate. It is okay for people not to like cats. They can leave the feeding to people who do. There is no need to get angry at the feeders, stomp on the water bowls or scare the cats with sticks.

We can become a better society if residents learn to accept that cats are innocent animals that simply need a place to live.

Shelby Doshi (Ms)

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/regular-cat-feeders-are-responsible-occasional-do-gooders-are-the-proble#sthash.qYBKXKD9.dpuf