Are you ready for Christmas?

Ivan:

I just got done writing 1/3 of the stack of about twenty over Christmas cards meant for businesses that are giving our members benefits/discounts.  Everyone is feeling the Christmas mood at this time.  Are you and your pets ready for Christmas?  If you are in town, do check out Sundream Pet Land, located at Far East Shopping Centre.  I went there the other day and they have stocked up on some really nice Christmas gifts for pets.  If you are looking for something for kitty, this might be one place to starting looking =)

Meeting and Some Good News

Ivan:

Earlier yesterday, I had a meeting with Li Tin to do a brief monthly committee meeting that focused aspects of our committee work roles that overlapped between mine and her’s.  We had wanted a larger scale meeting but most of the committee members are out of town, busy or on leave.  Thus, our mini meeting.  I also did a handover of my western Singapore referrals and caregiving cases to the Li Tin.  After the end of this month, Li Tin will take over fully as the western zone representative for referral cases.  Meanwhile, I am currently serving my last 16 days with the committee.  In anycase, I was sharing with Li Tin that I will continue to volunteer with CWS but on an ad-hoc basis after my last day.  The same goes for Salina.

At the meeting, Li Tin was sharing that the remaining committee is looking into staff ing matters and this should alleviate the concerns of some of the caregivers and our members.  We might also have a shop that would be helping us design and sell merchandise on a fuller scale.  Watch out for more news about these matters! =)

Tanjong Katong Cat Abuse Case Update

Ivan:

Six hours ago, Salina smsed me to share that the kind-hearted lady and her partner managed to get hold of the abused cat of the above mentioned case.  They managed to grab the kitty and placed it into a carrier with the caregiver’s help (the duo spotted the caregiver in the location). 

We are very glad the lady’s persistence paid off.  What happened was the lady has been staking out at the location for the past two days, and has been keeping in touch with Salina and myself about the progress of her search for the cat. 

Back to the kitty, it was rushed to the vet immediately.  At the clinic, the vet had the tightly bounded rubber bands removed.  Kitty is now recuperating in the home of one of its rescuers. 

According to the caregiver, this is the 2nd time rubber band was tied to the tail of this cat.  I cannot imagine someone so sick to do such a thing, especially to a helpless and friendly cat.  On a brighter note.  It is heartening to know of such kind hearted members of the public who are willing to stake out at a location on repeated days to help a community cat.  Kudos to the lady and her partner, the caregiver and all who helped in one way or another.

Tanjong Katong Cat Abuse Case

Ivan:

Vegancat referred a case to us.  The lady and her partner found a cat near CityPlaza area, with rubber bands tied tightly around its tail.  They tried to cut the rubber bands off the kitty but the latter was evasive (probably due to the pain caused by the tight rubber bands).  Salina or Wiggie would be in touch with them shortly about the loan of a trap to help catch the cat.  Have asked the lady and her partner to try to take some shots to forward to SPCA.  Meanwhile, if you do know the feeder there, could you please help us let him or her know about this?  Thanks!!

Sign up for TNRM Workshop (20 Dec)

We are going to have a TNRM workshop on 20 Dec, 3pm at the NVPC (The Central). If you are interested to sign up for the workshop, please register by filling up this form.

Do encourage your friends/ other interested care-givers to come for the workshop. Thanks!

Straits Times A5: Uncle feeding community cats

Ivan:

Does anyone know the uncle that was featured on the said page of today’s Straits Times?  He was featured on the 7.59am photo news series.  In the photo, hewas throwing food bits on the ground outside the coffeeshop.  In addition, he wearing a plastic glove suggests that whatever he was doing was done regularly.  Such irresponsible feeding casts a negative light on cat feeders and it also puts community cats at this coffeeshop on risk of being culled (since NEA does not condone such activities near food establishments for hygience reasons, e.g. unfinished food scraps on ground can attract roaches).   Can someone staying nearby this Toa Payoh coffeeshop go educate him.  He should be there at 7.59am….

Local Animal Welfare Groups that deal with cats

Ivan:

I have received emails and smses asking for contacts of catteries or local groups that deal with cats.  I thought it would be good for me to leave a compilation of the contacts here.  Their websites are available when you click on the names of the groups.

PawPledge

Mutts & Mitten

Animal Lovers League

Siaping’s Boarding & Cat Sitting

SPCA

Mettacats

Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary (Johore, Malaysia)

P.S. not in order of preference

Update on MUIS case

Ivan:

Regarding the earlier post about MUIS’s stand on keeping and treating pets, Salina has written in to them.  According to her, she decided to write to MUIS directly as a milder approach, rather than addressing them through the press as she felt it might create a fair bit of negative reactions. 

On the same topic, the magazine that I mentioned yesterday has a section on religion and pets too (Pg 63).  However, it did not touch on MUI’s stand: if a pet causes conflict in the family, it is permissible to kill it.  CWS hopes this particular suggestion by MUIS can be changed as it conflicts with responsible pet ownership which is what all the local animal welfare groups are advocating.

Cats in HDB Flats Issue revisited

Ivan:

I went to the vet’s clinic today and was given a free copy of the Pets Magazine (Issue 17, Nov/Dec 2008).  On page 36, there is an article about the ban on pet cats in HDB flats.  You might want to get hold of one copy from your vet clinic or pet store.  Meanwhile, past copies are available here.

For friends who aren’t aware that pet cats are banned in HDB flats, HDB’s link with the relevant information can be found here.  However, the ‘problem’ as I understand from experienced HDB cat owners is ‘avoidable’ if you keep your pet cat(s) indoor, smell free (clear poo bin often), and train kitty (if meowing excessively).  This is because if kitty is roaming, smelly and noisy; there is a higher chance of a neighbor complaining and HDB officer coming to your home to check on the situation.

Other Minor Cases

Salina:

With all the other minor complaints and cases handled, thanks to the help/assistance/networking of the caregivers all around,cases can be resolved.

Solutions /suggestions were given and at the end of the day cases managed to come to a compromise between complainer, caregiver and TCs…at the end of the day everyone is doing something good and we can all live in harmony and peace with love & compassionate for the feline community.

Network of caregivers are truly important and the interaction between TCs officers are extremely important irregardless of any cases for the cause of feline community cats.

Please be united and NEVER EVER GIVE UP