Rude Town Council Officers

November 3, 2008

Update to rude town council officers case

Ivan:

This morning, the town council’s PR officer emailed me back about the earlier mentioned case. She said the caregiver who exchanged angry words with the officers was actually cursing and swearing. I explained to her that it is always CWS’s protocol to check with caregivers if caregivers have been rude to town council property officers too, when caregivers highlight such complains to us. As far as we gathered, it was the caregivers who were offended first and then both parties started the exchange of words.

At the same time, the PR officer has included all the relevant officers in her email reply to CWS. Since she has opened up the issue to her officers and superiors in her reply to us, we extend this openess to the caregivers and our executive committee by copying them in the email too. As I was typing the email, the caregiver just contacted us and said that she has received a call from her in-charge property officer. Again rudeness came through when the officer told the caregiver that if if tonight’s session with MP does not go well (caregivers are meeting the MP to speak about the culling of the cats), she will have to catch all to cats to be “sha diao” (meaning “killing” in Mandarin). If wonder if such threatening language should be used when communicating with caregivers? Again, I think this other officer has to be counselled too. We have feedback to the Town Council about this.

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Tags: rude officer, town council

November 3, 2008

Case of Town Council Officers being rude to caregivers

Ivan:

On Spay Day, a caregiver shared with Li Tin and me that three town council officers went to her area to cull some sterilised community cats in the area. Two male town council property officers were accompanying the female property officer in charge of the area during this culling exercise. When the culling was going on, a second caregiver caught the officers culling his cats and then the two camps exchanged angry words. During the exchange of words, one town council officer said something like ”do not talk to this type of people (cat feeders)” to another officer. This is a rude statement to most and it is shocking to hear it from a town council officer serving residents (who are really his customers).

The caregiver who spoke to us asked CWS to intervene. The next day, I emailed the Town Council’s PR Officer asking her for the contact information of the rude TC officers’ superior, and if there are counselling protocol available for town council property officers who are rude to residents.

Does anyone have similar experiences with rude town council officers? What did you do?

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Tags: rude officer, town council

"New" abandoned cat to be tracked for trapping

In an estate where almost 100% of the cats bear a tipped ear, it is easy to spot a newbie. This siamese-x was seen this morning. It was frightened and hungry, likely because its owners just dumped him out. It will be tracked and trapped for sterilisation.

Irresponsible cat owners

Home cat locked out at night

Nov 3, '08 4:44 PM for everyone

This 5 to 6 months old tabby-white male kitten belongs to the Chinese family next door to Mia's owners. Have spoken to them twice... still no mesh and probably still not sterilised...sigh!

Don't they care that he may be killed or maimed by a vehicle, stray dogs, abused by humans or attacked by the other male cats like Puma....???

How can they sleep peacefully while their kitten is locked out and exposed to all these dangers!!!

Two cats abandoned at the same place, one is still a community cat, the other is now a home cat.

This tabby girl (sterilised) is still sleeping under cars

This ginger-boy now sleeps on a comfortable king-size bed!

However we as human beings have the ability to make a choice. To be passive and leave things to fate, karma or an almighty, or to take an active role in making the environment for a community cat as safe as possible?

This include sterilising the cats, educate feeders on responsible feeding, show public affection for the community cats, educate children on how to approach a cat safely, volunteer with one’s town council to help look into any complaint about cats, support the catwelfare society by becoming a member, form a network with other residents concerned about the welfare of community cats, write to the press to express support for TnRm, appeal for removal of the ban on cats in HBD flats, and to appeal to the government to restore the “stray cat rehabilitation scheme” so that more community cats can be sterilised as fast as possible. Tolerance and even appreciation of community cats definitely come when there are less cats after TnRm kicks in. Look out for owners of cats and appeal to them to be responsible by keeping their cats indoor and getting them sterilised.

So there are a lot that one can do to change “fate”. Their future is dependent on how much we want to do for them NOW.

Fun Living with cats (who were all once abandoned)

The Ultimate Basin Challenge - Part 1

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

I decided to buy a snug-fit basin for the kitties, and threw a challenge to the two tubbies, Milo and Kootoo (Muffin is happy with his cushion, thank you).


Milo the intrepid checking out the new tub.


Will he or will he not fit??


Milo has done it! Never mind the spilling over, will you?


Erm, it doesn't look too comfy, does it?


Look at those squashed paws!


Now, can Kootoo Monster win The Ultimate Basin Challenge?

The answer ...

HDB should ban the human species.

HDB’s reasons for disallowing residents to have cats as animal companions

“Cats are not allowed to be kept in HDB flats as they are nomadic in nature and are difficult to be confined within the flats. Due to the nomadic nature of cats, the nuisances caused by cats such as shedding of fur, defecating/urinating in public areas, noise disturbance etc would affect the environment and neighbourliness in our housing estates. In view of this, HDB has the policy of not allowing cats to be kept in HDB flats.”

I think HDB should ban the human species. Look what were thrown out of HDB flats in Bukit Merah View on 31-10-2008.

'What is the point of having a rule banning cats in HDB flats when enforcement is ineffective?'

Nov 1, 2008

My Point

Unresolved for 2 years

'What is the point of having a rule banning cats in HDB flats when enforcement is ineffective?'

MR WEE ENG LEONG: 'My aged parents living in a Housing Board estate in St George's Lane are at their wits' end over the nuisance posed by cat poo along the corridor of their unit. Their complaints to the Housing Board branch office have come to naught. The HDB tells them to be patient and that action is being taken. But how patient are they supposed to be? The problem has remained unresolved for two years now. How long are my parents to live with the foul smell, day in day out, because of inconsiderate neighbours who let loose their cats? What is the point of having a rule banning cats in HDB flats when enforcement is ineffective? It makes a mockery of the rule.'

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This shows that the BAN is INEFFECTIVE.

Please take advantage of this letter and write in to request for a removal of the BAN and replace it with regulations including FINING such irresponsible cat owners.!

Please include your full name (as in IC), your address and a telephone contact number. For women, please indicate Miss, Mrs or Ms. Send your letters via e-mail: stforum@sph.com.sg or Fax (65) 6319-8289