Injections

The decision on whether to vaccinate yearly - and how often to vaccinate your cat rages on. However this is an interesting article about injection site sarcomas. One of our cats used to get a lump after his annual vaccination. It's worth asking your vet to consider this when they inject your cats.

Rat loves cat

Redemption offer

Redemption is a fantastic book - and I've passed my copy around to several people. Here's an excellent offer - now all you have to do is try and get your TC officers to ask for it AND read it :) Easier said than done I know, but I was just reading an email from someone with a sympathetic TC officer who is putting up animal welfare posters. Perhaps those are the people we should try and target first.

Pet issues can't be legislated away

Very good letter in today about legislation and whether it has been effective in helping with animal welfare problems.

Blinders

I was just sent this video about horses that are used for carriage rides in New York City. Incidentally, I went by a horse show today and saw some horse rescue groups. Some of the horses were kept in such horrific conditions that they are now blind. One was tied to a stall for so long that even though it is no longer tied by its neck, apparently it doesn't know it. You can visit the Horse rescue group at Horsenet They also have a bunch of cats on the premises, almost all of which are already sterilised..

Extreme Sheep LED Art

This was sent by Vicenzo from the Viral Factory who produced this video.

Smalley in the Hedge

Thanks to Chinky for sending this gorgeous story - go to myanimalfamily's blog to read Smalley in the Hedge.

Less cats sent in, more dogs

Thanks eslina for sending this in! The good news - the number of cats surrendered to the SPCA seems to have dropped. 600 less cats are coming through their doors, according to the article. It is fantastic to think TNRM is having an effect.

The bad news - that more dogs are being surrendered. I think most people involved in animal welfare were to the contrary, worried about dogs being dumped once the new rules on licensing came into effect. Once the penalties are greater, the irresponsible owners are more likely to get rid of the dogs, not to license them.

Free Hamster giveaway

Thank you Chinky for sending this article in - it is a writeup about the free hamster giveaway.

What happens to your animals after you die?

Here is an interesting story about a man stated in his will that he wanted his house sold after his death. The money raised is to go to a charity to look after dogs whose owners have died. That's one of the issues facing older pet owners - they may want to have dogs or cats with them but worry what happens if they should die before the animals.

Free Hamster?

I was sent this by Chinky - and I have to say I was shocked. Here is the coupon. Thanks Chinky for bringing this to my attention so I can post it here. This is terrible - when you buy accessories, you get a free hamster? Apparently you normally get a free hamster for $35, but now you can get one for only $25 if you are a Passion Card member at their Tiong Bahru Atrium sale later this month.

Please write in to Pets' Station at this email address and tell them to stop giving out free hamsters. You can also write to them at their feedback form.

Please also do write to Peoples' Association to tell them that they should not be supporting this under their Passion Card. Passion Card's contact details are here.

Update : Pet Station just wrote back to say that they are canceling the promotion. The PA also wrote back to say the promotion is off. Thanks to everyone who did write in!

Change in AVA leadership

Interesting - there's going to be a change in the CEO at AVA. Hopefully the new CEO and Director-General will be more open to TNRM.

ST (10-3-09)

Thanks to Chinky for sending me this - as always, the same question is asked about why dogs are allowed but cats aren't. I'm sure we'll get a variation of the 'cats are nomadic' argument as a reply.

Cats along Seletar road

Thank you to Calsifer for letting me know about this article. I had heard that someone had gone into the SPCA and confessed to burying the cats. Odd - perhaps, but if this is indeed the case, then hopefully it's harmless. It is true though that it is hard to tell how the woman came to the conclusion that the cats had died of cat flu, etc.

Bat Cat

This cat really is a very unusual mix!

"People got a lot of Nerve"

I love Neko Case and am only sorry I didn't see this earlier so I could post this on the blog to benefit Best Friend's Animal Sanctuary! You can still download the song for free though - it's apparently about the double standard of people treat animals.

"Cat Matters"

This is a video about a responsible caregiver demonstrating how she practises TNRM. There's also a part 2 and 3. I liked that the caregiver was very responsible in her feeding practices, and she spoke about the need for sterilisation and mediation.

Cat Wedding

A cat wedding on Valentine's Day - more really an ingenious way of getting both attention and donations for the shelter.