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  Straits Times Forum 11 Apr 07
Praise for cat lovers who spend time and effort to care for strays
Letter from Christina Kwan Wee Keng (Ms)

Straits Times Forum 10 Apr 07
Baffled by AVA's response to request for free sterilisation
Letter from Tan Lay Khim (Ms)

Straits Times Forum 19 Mar 07
In support of cat rehabilitation scheme
Letter from Berenice Hickey (Mrs)

Straits Times Forum 19 Mar 07
Teen's cat-rehab effort turned 'pests' into 'pets'
Letter from Rebecca Ho Shu Ling (Miss)

Straits Times Forum 15 Mar 07
Give cat-rehabilitation scheme a chance
Letter from Deirdre Moss (Ms) Executive Officer Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Straits Times Forum 9 Feb 07
Active citizenry? Bring back cat-rehab scheme
Letter from Dr Tan Chek Wee

MY WORK as a doctor in a home-care medical team takes me to many parts of the island. In every estate, I chance up community cats with part of the left ear cut off surgically. This is called a tipped ear and symbolises not only that the cats have been sterilised but, more significantly, also that it is a result of the active citizenry the Government has been trying very hard to inculcate.

It is my impression that the number of tipped-ear community cats is increasing. This is a sign that there are those among us who, instead of complaining, believe so strongly in a cause that they are willing to spend time and their own money trapping community cats to take to the vets for sterilisation.

They strongly believe that killing 13,000 cats every year for more than 20 years - with no decrease in the cat population - is not in keeping with a society that strives also to be spiritually rich in compassion.

I hope the Government will keep this spirit of active citizenry going by reinstating the Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme that was terminated abruptly in 2003.

Dr Lou Ek Hee, head of the Animal Welfare Section at the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), wrote in his article, 'Stray cat sterilisation project at Bukit Merah View' (published on the Singapore Veterinary Association website at http://www.sva.org.sg/papers_full.asp?paperID=9): 'Sterilisation and responsible management has the support of up to 96 per cent of the public. The majority of people want cats controlled but do not want them culled. They are happy to know that AVA's present approach to the stray-cat situation emphasises humane management and is targeted towards achieving long-term results. 'Sterilisation and responsible management is humane and helps to promote a kinder and more caring and gracious society. 'It promotes volunteerism and encourages both animal lovers and the people bothered by cats to be active in a constructive and self-help manner, working with the authorities to deal with the stray-cat situation.'

Instead of ceaselessly killing cats at the AVA, why not sterilise them? It will be more cost-effective in the long run.

Straits Times Forum 15 Mar 07
Give cat-rehabilitation scheme a chance
Letter from Deirdre Moss (Ms) Executive Officer Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

I REFER to the letter, 'Active citizenry? Bring back cat-rehab scheme' (ST, March 9), by Dr Tan Chek Wee.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) agrees wholeheartedly with Dr Tan that the Government should reconsider this approach. In fact, the SPCA had written repeatedly to the Ministry of National Development to ask that this worthwhile scheme be reinstated.

Sterilisation gets to the root cause of the overpopulation problem by eliminating breeding while allowing the cats to live out their lives. For many years now, the SPCA has promoted sterilisation as an effective method of reducing the stray-cat population.

Since 1991, our voucher programme for stray-cat sterilisation has translated into thousands of cases of surgery on stray cats being sponsored by the SPCA. Over the years, our monthly budget has more than doubled.

With the special rates granted to our organisation by participating veterinary clinics (whose kind assistance we are very grateful for), we are able to sponsor the cost of approximately 140 operations every month. We thank our donors whose funding has made this possible.

The contribution by cat caregivers in looking after the cats and arranging transportation to and from the clinics is to be applauded.

We are encouraged to read in Dr Tan's letter that the number of tipped-ear community cats appears to be increasing.

But with 13,000 cats destroyed in Singapore annually, what is yet to be achieved is considerable. And it is only with the Government's help that we can solve the problem satisfactorily.

We encourage citizens to write to the Ministry of National Development in support of sterilisation, the more humane way to reduce our stray population.

For more information on the SPCA's voucher programme for strays, visit http://www.spca.org.sg/help_us/strays.asp

Straits Times Forum 19 Mar 07
Teen's cat-rehab effort turned 'pests' into 'pets'
Letter from Rebecca Ho Shu Ling (Miss)

I REFER to the letter, 'Give cat-rehabilitation scheme a chance' (ST, March 15), by Ms Deirdre Moss, and 'Active citizenry? Bring back cat-rehab scheme' (ST, March 9) by Dr Tan Chek Wee.

I couldn't agree more with both of them on the fruits of sterilisation. This stops the breeding cycle immediately.

Thanks to the help of the Cat Welfare Society and two retired teachers, I was able to start a sterilisation programme in my estate in the east at the age of 14.

With no support or encouragement from my relatives or friends, I followed my burning desire to spread the message of sterilisation. I approached all the cat feeders I met on the street and built up my network.

In 2000, I started out with 28 blocks, zero sterilised cats and a neighbourhood flooded with cats. It started out tough, with weekly trapping of two to three cats. Slowly and steadily, we covered the initial area and expanded to other parts of the neighbourhood.

This year, in 52 blocks (about two-thirds of the neighbourhood), the cat population is decreasing. The expanded network of responsible cat caregivers is required to sterilise newcomers only once every one to two months.

The mortality rate for well-cared community cats is rather high. Those blocks with a high density of cats in the past are left with one or two survivors. Some blocks have even achieved cat-free status.

If I had chosen to be a idol-chasing teenager seven years ago, the residents here would still be putting up with scrawny sickly 'pests'. However, today, many are living with beautiful, healthy 'pets' which are part of the community.

Hence, I strongly urge the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority to resume the Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme, which was terminated in 2003.

It is a pity that such precious resources are put into cold storage. Nevertheless, it is never too late to realise the goodness that can be derived from it.

Straits Times Forum 19 Mar 07
In support of cat rehabilitation scheme
Letter from Berenice Hickey (Mrs)

I AM writing in support of the letter, 'Give cat rehabilitation scheme a chance' by Ms Deirdre Moss of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ST, March 15).

I am a permanent resident and have lived in Singapore for the past 14 years. I have regularly caught stray cats and paid to have them sterilised in whichever area I have lived over the years (I have moved four times).

In each case, my efforts and money have effectively stabilised the cat population in the area, resulting in no more kittens. As the group of feral cats is stabilised and in residence in the area, no others move in to breed. The result is no more kittens, a healthier and much smaller population.

In economic terms, it must be evident that this is the best, easiest, most humane and financially viable way to deal with Singapore's stray cats.

When we first moved here, I remember well the posters and adverts depicting Kucinta, the Singapore love cat. This endearing image gave many visitors a warm feeling about Singapore.

Singapore even has its own special breed of cat, the Singapura whose beauty and wonderful character are a valuable envoy for this little country. The pedigree is recognised internationally. There was even a display of the beautiful creatures at the zoo.

I wonder that this asset is not used more to advertise Singapore's uniqueness, a little cat, with a big personality, just like its country of origin. Yet the number of these cats actually in Singapore can be counted on two hands.

Straits Times 10 Apr 07
Baffled by AVA's response to request for free sterilisation
Letter from Tan Lay Khim (Ms)

I REFER to the letter, 'Active citizenry? Bring back cat-rehab scheme' by Dr Tan Chek Wee (ST, March 9) and 'Give cat-rehabilitation scheme a chance' by Ms Deirdre Moss (ST, March 15).

Through the Cat Welfare Society, my friends and I were actively involved in the Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme (SCRS) before it was abruptly terminated in 2003, amid the panic of the outbreak of Sars Virus. Despite this, we have continued with our own private effort, time and precious monies in this volunteer work.

We know we cannot effectively solvethe compounding population problem without help from the Government.

In January this year, through MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Ms Indranee Rajah, I requested AVA to support our private effort by granting us a monthly fixed number of free sterilisation of stray cats at AVA. Our request was declined.

The reply on Jan 22 from Mr Madhavan Kannan, head of animal control and pet licensing branch, AVA, stated that SCRS did not work well and there were more complaints from the public on the nuisance of stray cats.

This, however, contradicts the article by the head of the animal welfare section at AVA, Dr Lou Ek Hee, 'Stray cat sterilisation project at Bukit Merah View' (published on the Singapore Veterinary Association website). It stated that 'greater than 80 per cent felt that sterilisation had worked to control the cat population and reduced nuisance problems', although it was still early days and 'real effect can only be seen over the long term'.

Mr Kannan also stated: 'AVA sees the culling and sterilisation as necessary parts of a stray cat population management strategy. AVA also believes that education is a vital component to a long-term solution to the management of strays'.

If AVA truly sees sterilisation as a necessary part of a three-pronged solution to the stray cat population management strategy, then why not bring back SCRS and give it a chance to work?

It's a fact that animal welfare organisations worldwide consider it to be an effective long-term method of control.

Why is culling, an ineffective method for the past 20 odd years in Singapore, still the primary method of choice, supported only by education, in the current strategy used?

An apathetic attitude to the killing of 13,000 lives every year, when a humane and just as effective method through sterilisation can be implemented as part of, if not the main, solution, leaves many proud citizens of Singapore like me baffled and ashamed.

Straits Times Forum 11 Apr 07
Praise for cat lovers who spend time and effort to care for strays
Letter from Christina Kwan Wee Keng (Ms)

MANY writers have been writing to the forum pages to address the issues of irresponsible cat feeders/owners who do not make an attempt to clean up the mess after feeding the cats or lack the willingness to sterilise their domestic cats due to various reasons.

Instead of condemning these groups of people, why don't we take a good look from another perspective and constructive angle to showcase good responsible cat feeders and owners who took the extra steps in helping and caring for the strays and give due credit to them?

I know of friends who keep cats and also play an active role in their estates where their daily routine involves feeding the cats, applying the humane approach of Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage to sterilise the felines, bringing the cats to the vets when sick and working in collaboration with the relevant town councils and Cat Welfare Society to advocate the importance of sterilisation.

This group of people are the unknown minorities in our estates who come from all walks of lives and despite their hectic and busy work schedules, are willing to make a sacrifice by doing so much for our community cats, and yet keeping low profiles.

May I applaud this group for a job well done. It is heartening to know that there are still animal lovers who continue to care for our felines.
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