Pardoned turkeys

It's Thanksgiving in the US today and here's a funny tradition that is celebrated every year - a turkey gets pardoned and not eaten!

Animal conflicts

Here's an interesting article about trying to get birds (starlings) and people to live together. I really like what Mr Albarella says right at the end of the article.

MUIS' view on animals

Thank you to Aminah for sending this link about MUIS' views on animals. It was very enlightening.

I am very glad to see that MUIS is supportive of sterilisation of animals, and promotes kindness to animals. However I was disappointed to see that they mentioned that if an animal causes conflict in the family, it is permissible to kill it. Aminah, who is Muslim herself, was quite disturbed by this and sent in the link, urging everyone to write to MUIS.

Money put to better use?

More information about funds that were invested by the TCs in investments that lost money. Certainly one can imagine that it is important to have capital for long term investment, but if the rationale behind it is to change lifts every twenty-eight years, then perhaps it might have been better to pick something lower risk? This seems to be especially so when the investment gave a return of over 3% but government securities gave an average of 2.9%

I am not disputing that in any investment there is risk, but this isn't money that an investor is investing on his or her own behalf. This is taxpayers' money that has been entrusted to TCs.

A while ago some of you may remember seeing my post about how much TCs have in reserves. How does this relate to cats? Obviously because if there seems to be not much public feedback/insight into how this money is being spent, then money is being spent on things that people don't want or agree with - point in case, higher risk investments and also on things like spending money on pest control costs. Instead, if residents had a say in it, perhaps this money could be put to better use in sterilising cats - it seems arguable that it would have cost less in Holland-Bukit Panjang's case then the amount they may have potentially lost. As an aside, Teo Ho Pin is also the MP we met who told us that there should be 'zero stray policy' in TCs.

Conflicts arising

This is a very interesting video and article - it's not only cats and people that sometimes meet and result in conflict, but also other animals. I like the solutions that were proposed and hope that some resolution can be reached.

Cat quiz

According to this quiz, at least one of my cats is plotting to kill me! :)

Ninja Kittens

Just a funny video :)

"Relocating cat"

A good post sent in by Chinky - thanks Chinky. It refers to a letter sent in today apparently by the HDB saying that the cat would be 'relocated'. Relocation doesn't work as the blog writer noted - the problem is that it doesn't stop the owner from being irresponsible if that is the case. It does mean that there's another quick band-aid solution, without solving the inherent problem.

I think the main problem is that no wants to take on the cat issue because it means more work for them - the TCs don't want it. HDB doesn't want it. Just because it's unpleasant or means more work doesn't mean that it should be ignored - regulation of cat ownership, not a ban is probably going to result in LESS work overall, because there are likely to be less complaints. This is because (1) cat owners who have guidelines now are more likely to follow them as opposed to now, where anything goes and (2) people will stop complaining for frivolous reasons - or at least these complaints can be ignored if there is no good reason for them. Right now HDB deals with repeat complaints with no merit just because a cat is present.

Compulsive behaviour in animals

Just the other day I posted an article about how animal welfare guidelines that are suggesting that some animals are bored at home and how stimulation might be needed. Whether you agree with that or not, here is an article about how some animals show compulsive behaviour, not all of it due, of course, to boredom. I am sure some of you are familiar with animals you live with, or your community cats exhibiting this behaviour - and fortunately there are some treatments available.

Rescue dog for first family?

Imp sent me this - great to read the first family is thinking about getting a rescue dog!

AVA Roadshow

Found this on Otterman's blog in case - the AVA Roadshow starts today if anyone wants to go!

Choosing a pet

For those of you who saw or read President-Elect Barak Obama's victory speech the other night, he promised his daughters a new puppy. Here's a video that is about that, but which I think gives good advice on what to look for when adopting in general.

I was speaking with someone the other day who was worried about shelter animals because she felt buying an animal would ensure some sort of assurance on the temperament of the animal. Really however as this video points out, it is the animal, not the breed, or where the animal comes from, that is important.

Animal welfare guidelines

New animal welfare guidelines in the UK. It will be interesting to see what the guidelines actually say, though I do know that if I had a litterbox for each cat, there would be more litterboxes than space! :)

ST (5-11-08)

Thanks Chinky for sending this in! Great letter.

Cats and machines

I have to admit being a big fan of the Roomba (it's amazing when picking up animal hair - and human hair too). When I saw this article, I had to laugh - it's almost akin to introducing a new member of the family. My own cats weren't too upset with the Roomba though. One of our cats even occasionally goes for a ride on it.

Willa Catter

I met this lovely cat, Will Catter at a bookstore. She is the official bookstore cat. I bent down to speak with her (and she was appropriately enough in the animal section) and she jumped right into my lap! So lovely to see stores with animals.