Irresponsible Feeding

I was speaking with a caregiver today about a woman who feeds in her estate. The woman feeds early in the morning and goes off to work and then does not clear up often till afterwards, which can be as late as in the afternoon when she comes home. The caregiver said that if it rains, it looks as if someone has vomited all over the area because the food gets smeared.

She has spoken with the feeder several times and she says that she doesn't want to get the feeder into trouble because the feeder's husband doesn't like her to feed. The irony in this case is that she says the TC has been quite sympathetic but that the area is a mess and she can see why there are complaints.

After the TC called the last time, she said that she spoke with the feeder again. The feeder threatened to stop feeding - but then left food again that same night. The caregiver explained that the cats might get rounded up and killed, but the feeder was unmoved and said that if that was what happened, then so be it.

I told the caregiver she may have no choice but to let the TC know whom the feeder is. Perhaps if the feeder's husband finds out and is disapproving, that may be a factor that will cause her to stop - and stop putting the cats in danger.

Muhammad Ali Cat

Something amusing for a Friday.

Why a Cat?

This is a lovely post sent in by Chinky from a gentleman who took in a community cat in danger. Here are his reasons for why to adopt a cat.

Today (25-6-08)

Good letter in Today. Thanks to Chinky and Eslina for sending me the link.

Scout and Cat Toy

Scout and Cat Toy, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

I realise the irony about all the talk about obsessive pet owners who spoil their pets and then posting this photo, but I swear this wasn't an expensive toy! I actually bought it in a supermarket which goes to show it can't have cost too much :)

Scout loved it when we opened it for her.

Man in Japan robs pet stores

Why is it that the minute there's an animal mentioned, that the person involved usually becomes an 'animal lover' no matter how crazy their behaviour? This is a person who used stolen cash to buy a dog - and then supported his 'habit' by robbing pet stores. It sounds more like he has issues - and less to do with the fact that he 'loves' animals.

Say you had a person who liked children so much that they decided to go out and say kidnap a few. Would that person described as someone who loves children? Chances are that person would be locked up. When it comes to animals however, any behaviour is explained because the person is an 'animal lover'. It seems that there is a bias that if you like animals then you're probably not too sane to begin with. Tell that to the 71.1 million households that have animals living with them in the US alone - I don't know of an equivalent study in Singapore.

Pet detective

Nice article about a pet detective - wonder if someone will ever do something similar here at some point. There are some useful pointers in this article though, that most lost and found websites will tell you. For one thing, small posters may look prettier but you want something loud and eye catching. Also you want to make sure your number is big enough so that passing cars and pedestrians can see it from far away.

Moscow Cat Theatre

I treat my cats with tenderness and love - but they're not starting a performing circus for me :) Seriously though, I wouldn't want them to either. One wonders if the cats are unhappy performing and what sort of techniques are used to make them do so.

Orang Utans on the Singapore Flyer

Putting Orang Utans on the Singapore Flyer seems like a stupid idea - and now it seems that the orang utans were actually very frightened. Considering that there are people who have a fear of heights, one wonders why this was thought to be a good publicity stunt and how exactly it was to have drawn attention to the plight of orang utans. Someone also wrote in to protest in today's online forum.

Do Not feed Pigeons, Cats and Dogs

Do Not feed Pigeons, Cats and Dogs, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

Here's another poster care of Yskat. Thanks for sending this in. I am wondering why there is a spate of anti-feeding posters of late.

FYI

Aminah has written in to let me know that a programme called FYI, which is to air on Suria tonight at 8:30 pm will feature segments on the SPCA, ACRES and on Aminah's cat Lucky. Do tune in.

ST (19-6-08)

Nice letter in the Forum today on Louis and ACRES.

Feeding of Stray Cats and Birds Poster

Placing of Food Poster, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

Thanks to Chinky for sending in this poster. I believe that the section that the poster may be referring to is Section 17 of the Environmental Public Health Act. You can look it up at Singapore Statutes Online. However that section refers to 'throw or leave behind' food or food containers. Caregivers aren't doing that - they are feeding the cats but are going back to clean up afterward.

ACA flyer

ACA Flyer, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

I helped to put up some flyers for Alley Cat Allies over the last few days. People were really nice and willing to put the flyers up and several people said they were happy to help with a good cause!

Bad Poster

No feeding of Stray Cats, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

Again thank you Chinky for this.

Here on the other hand, is an example of a bad poster. This came from a bigger poster on feeding pigeons as well. This poster also makes no sense - if the cats are fed, they are LESS likely to go into garbage bins. Hungry cats do that - but well fed cats are far LESS likely to do that.

Good Advertisement

Advertisement, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

Thanks to Chinky for sending this in. This is a nice advertisement because it features a lovely, healthy, NON-pedigree cat.

Hit and run with an animal

Thanks to Chinky for sending this in - apparently the same law applies if you hit an animal and drive off as it would if you hit a person.

Cats blamed

Articles like this one make me upset. I understand that these are endangered iguanas and need protection but it's the fact that the cats again get blamed, and then killed, that makes me angry.

First, the cats on this island were killed because supposedly they were killing the iguanas. Here's an article on the various things that are killing the iguanas - if you look at it, it seems that the iguanas went extinct after an army base went up during World War II and several of the iguanas have been killed by cars (20 out of a population of 220 or so at the time). So my question is - why cats? It seems odd again to me that cats are singled out. Why not ban cars on the island, or aircraft since they seem to be a significant factor in why the iguanas are dying? I also wonder what percentage of the iguanas dying can be linked to the cats? Also is it not possible that it's just greater human activity (with all its attendant issues) that has led to the population of iguanas dropping?

Secondly, there was an increase apparently in the iguana population, but at the same time this may well have been due to the fact that iguanas were introduced or other factors. If you introduce say X number of iguanas and they are old enough to reproduce, then it's not a surprise really that the population would increase. So why were cats killed as a first result before taking all these other issues into consideration?

Fortunately a group called Animal Balance was started to deal with this and to do TNR on the islands. They are working with the local authorities to get all the cats and dogs sterilised. I saw a presentation that the founder did at a conference a few years ago and now have a renewed appreciation of the work she is doing.

It seems that one of the problems is importation of animals - which is supposedly not allowed. While it seems that Sea Shepherd has a problem with the cats and dogs being there as well, they do not want the cats to be killed and are working with Animal Balance though they want the law on dogs and cats to be strictly enforced. What I did find interesting in the editorial as well was that it seems that many birds were seen killed by traffic - and the presence of cats was noted. I am not sure however that this correlates with the cats killing the birds or lizards - just because the cat was there doesn't mean the cat necessarily killed the lizard or bird.

At the same time, having a group like Animal Balance working there means that the animals are in better health and less likely to have disease. It would be almost impossible to stop people owning cats and dogs as well, so it's best to ensure that they know how to do it responsibly.

Marine expelled

Some of you may remember the puppy thrown off a cliff in a youtube video a while ago. The marine in question as expelled.

TNP (12-6-08)

A great letter on the importance of speaking with complainants first. Thanks Chinky for sending it in.

Kitten rescued by vacuum cleaner

Thanks to Tasiergirl for sending in this article. It's also nice to know that the fire department would go to such lengths to save a little stuck kitten.

ST (11-6-08)

Interesting letter in the forum about speaking up against the exploitation of animals in advertisements.

Town Council Poster

Town Council Poster, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

Thanks to Chinky for sending this in. This is a very worrying - not to mention misleading - poster. Has anyone else seen it?

Cat Hook

Barffie sent this over. In case you guys would like to help a good cause, here's a link to get a limited edition hook!

ACRES

Nice to see this article about ACRES and Louis. Also amazing that it's already been seven years!

Tree

Thanks to Chinky for sending in this article. Interestingly, I've been to a house in the vicinity - someone there is feeding and not sterilising and there have been complaints as well. It's sad that a complaint could result in a tree being felled.

Hitting an animal

I'm doing my driver's license here in Maryland and the interesting thing is that there is actually an obligation to notify the police here if you happen to knock down a domestic pet. I was quite impressed by this till I read this article. Poor horse.

ST (4-6-08)

Sound familiar? It may be that this isn't just about cats as we suspected but a lack of efficiency within some TCs.

Be a responsible Owner Poster

Be a responsible Owner Poster, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

Having some problems with my internet connection so my blog entries may be a bit more sporadic.

Here's a poster Chinky sent in. Thanks Chinky.

Closeup of poster

Be a Responsible Owner closeup, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

Again thanks to Chinky for this photo.

The concern about this poster is what 'under his charge' means. Could this possibly be extended to caregivers as well?

Be a Responsible Owner closeup

Be a Responsible Owner closeup, originally uploaded by dawnkua.

The concern about this poster is what 'under his charge' means. Could this possibly be extended to caregivers as well?

Grants

Thanks to Chinky for sending me the newspaper writeup on the Animal welfare symposium. Unfortunately I can't link to it because it's a subscription only area - but there was mention of grants being given and you guys might be interested. Here's the link from the website.