News from Noah's Ark - 23 September 2013

To view eNewsletter please click here

What should parents know about children and animal cruelty?

As natural explorers, don't all children sometimes harm animals?
Yes but this should not be encouraged or tolerated. Some children kill insects, while a few torture pets or other  small creatures.  But if allowed to harm animals, children are more likely to become more violent as they grow up. Animal cruelty, like any other violence, should never be attributed to a stage of development.

What kind of children display cruelty to animals?
Serious or repeated animal cruelty is seen more often in boys than girls.  Children as young as four years old may have the tendency to harm animals, although such behavior is more common during adolescence.  Cruelty is often associated with children who do poorly in school, have low self-esteem and few friends.  Children who are cruel to animals are often characterized as bullies and may have a history of truancy, vandalism and other antisocial behaviors.



Xiao Mei Mei lost the use of her front right leg because someone tied a rubber band round her leg and caused the flood to stop circulating.

What does animal cruelty indicate about family dynamics?
Researchers say that a child's violence against animals  often represents displaced hostility and aggression which stems from neglect or abused of the child or of another family member.  Animal cruelty committed by any member of a family, whether parent of child, often means that child abuse has a high chance of occurring in that family.

What should I do if my child or neighbour's child has harmed an animal?
If you suspect your child has deliberately harmed an animal, talk to your child. Try to discover  what caused the cruelty.  Communicate with your child, your  child's teachers and your child's friends.  The more you know about your child's activities, you will be better equipped to guide your child in understanding and making compassionate and humane choices.

Something as serious as animal cruelty, however, should not be handled alone.  Seek help from a family counselor or school counselor.  If you know another child who has harmed an animal, report what you know immediately to your local welfare organization or police department. Also alert the child's school principal.

What should I tell my child about the other child's behavior?
Explain that animal abuse is often a sign of other serious problem and should be addressed by the proper authorities.  Knowing that a friend has serious problems can be quite troubling for a child, as well as witnessing animal cruelty.  Your child may need your guidance and patience  to sort out their feelings.  As parents, you need to be there for your child.

What should I do if an otherwise "good" child harms an animal one time?
Though innocent exploration may be corrected simply by talking with the child, you should be concerned any time a child causes an animal pain or suffering.

What is the difference between innocent exploration and calculated animal cruelty?
Innocent exploration may come from simple curiosity, but intentional animal cruelty is motivated by a desire to harm. While even innocent acts of cruelty should be addressed, it is particularly important to intervene when a child is insensitive to the obvious distress of an animal, repeats a harmful behavior or derives pleasure from causing an animal pain.

How should I teach my child to respect animal life?
Teach by  example.  Use real-life situations to instill a sense of respect for all living things.  Invite your child to help you feed strays or rescue an animal from danger. With other children, discuss animal cruelty cases publicized in the news.  Encourage children to respect and speak up for the animals.

Be their voice

WARNING - some of the pictures may not be suitable for some viewers

One Saturday evening, Stanley was having dinner with his friends at a coffee shop in Bukit Indah and while eating, they could smell something rotten which made them lost their appetite.

Was there a dead rat some where?

The smell was getting unbearable.

They turned a round and saw a dog with a massive wound on its head - it was starting to rot and causing a bad smell. Looking at the wound, it was probably caused by a dog fight and it was left unattended for a couple of days.

Stanley approached the stall owner to ask if the dog belonged to anyone and the stall owner said that dog use to hang around the area. Stanley advised the stall owner to take the dog to the vet as soon possible and get it treated.  The stall owner agreed to get in touch with Noah's Ark ABC Clinic to make the necessary arrangements.

The next morning, our volunteer Tye went to Bukit Indah to look for the dog and to transport it the clinic.

It wasn't an easy dog to handle, it was aggressive but Tye managed to get hold of him with a rope and placed him in a pet carrier.

Punctured wounds caused by a dog fight around his face and ear.



Maggots crawling out off his ear.

When the dog arrived at the clinic, the dog was aggressive and tried to bite our worker.  We had no choice but to attend to his wound immediately by cleaning and flushing the maggots out of his ear. 

In 20 minutes, while cleaning the dog's ear, we picked up close to over 100 maggots.

We are now treating his wound, once he recovers, the vet will arrange to get him neutered and we will return him to wear he hangs out.

We would like to thank Stanley for taking the initiative to help the dog and to educate the stall owner about giving medical treatment to the dog and sterilisation.

We need more people like Stanley to be the voices for the animals and to educate the general public on the importance of sterilisation.

Noah's Ark can't house every rescued dog we help at the sanctuary, we can assist with low cost medical aid for the street dogs and street cats.

This dog fight could have been avoided, if the male dog was sterilised - reasons for them to fight was due to territorial.

Noah's Ark main focus is animal birth control - we need to control the animal population and to reduce unwanted puppies on the streets.

If you would like to support our Spay and Neuter programme for the community dogs and cats, please contact Raymund at Hp: 019 - 715 9199.

I may be disabled, I still can enjoy life like any other cat



Xiao Mei Mei when she was rescued in Melaka.

My name is

“Xiao Mei Mei”

and I am a handicap cat.

My forearm has been amputated.

They tell me someone tied a rubber band on my forearm when I was a little kitten and it cut off the blood supply.

The nice people at the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Clinic Melaka said I was a stray kitten, I was small and could fit into my rescuer’s palm. 

I was found in a half dead state in a narrow alley. They nursed me back to health and I recovered quickly. My disability is no disability at all.

I grew up on 3 legs longer than with 4 legs so I truly don’t know any difference.  Animals learn to adapt with what they have, I am sure you have seen it many times.

When I was older and stronger, my rescuer arranged for me to be sterilised.



Xiao Mei Mei learning to adapt with three legs.

I was hoping to be adopted when I was staying at ABC Clinic Melaka. But alas, that was not to be.

It is hard enough for "perfect" cats to find homes because of the overwhelming numbers in shelters and rescues, just imagine how much harder it is for a cat that is slightly less than perfect.

I believe that every cat deserves a chance to have a happy life.  They should have a safe environment where they are adequately fed, receive lots of love and good medical care.  That is not the reality for many cats though.

Xiao Mei Mei sitting on her favourite spot at the Wisma Kuching.

Eventually, good fortune smiled upon me and I came to my beloved home at Wisma Kucing in Noah's Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary (NANAS).   

Xiao Mei Mei adapting very well with the cats at the sanctuary.

The feline folks here at Wisma Kucing really like me; I am very cheerful, loving and playful. I enjoy a game of catching as I have strong hind legs which propel me like a lightning bolt. But don’t step on my tail, ‘cos I can give a good left hook (with my good arm).  

These days, I  go about my day just like any other cat at Noah's Ark – I sunbathe and laze around.  

I am enjoying life in this Purr-adise.

A video of Xiao Mei Mei at Wisma Kuching.

Lots of licks and purrs.
Xiao Mei Mei

Contributed by Siah Li Mei, Melaka

The Virtues of Older Dogs

A Bull Mastiff was given up because of his old age.

We are often called upon to rescue old dogs and many a time we find ourselves with a fair number of Senior Citizens.  Many people tell us they are not interested in them because they are too  old. 

It is not surprising that shelters consider these animals virtually unadoptable if they are over five years old.  We find these attitudes senseless  and unacceptable.  There are many virtues in older dogs.  Having been through a fair bit, they are  typically calm, gentle and easy-going.

Beethoven was given up when he was 5 years old
because he started to misbehaved.

Many older dogs have at least half of their lives ahead of them if they receive proper care. These can be very special, loving and productive years, if human companions open their minds and hearts to welcome them.

It is apparent most people want puppies, and therefore puppies are easy to adopt.  In many cases, people do not realise what they are getting into when they get a puppy.  When they realize how much work and attention a puppy requires, many wish they had adopted an older dog that isn't as energetic and is comparatively easier to care for.




Abigail was from SPCA Selangor,
she given up because of her skin problems
and it was difficult to rehome.
After tender  loving care (TLC), Abigail
is a pretty lady.

If you could adopt one of them, you would be giving an older dog a second chance at the life he or she deserves.  Please remember they are in need of homes through no fault of their own.  It is certainly not their fault that they have gotten older.  It happens to all of us. You may be surprised how little age matters when you see some of these great dogs.

In fact, if we didn't tell you how old some of them are, you would probably have a hard time guessing. These dogs are the ones who really need special people to come forward.

I am Bond

Hi! My name is Bond.

I arrived at Noah's Ark on Tuesday  evening. Thanks to Noah's Ark for giving me a second chance to be alive.

My ex-owner brought me to the vet to be put down because I met with a road accident and injured my left mid femur which had to be amputated. 

The ex-owner refused to pay for my surgery - what an owner he was.

This would not have happened if he had allowed me to pee and poo in the garden.  He made me do my business outside the house - till one day a car hit  me.  Can you feel the pain that I went through for a few days with no treatment? 

I am only 1.5 years old and I have so much to live for.

 
Such owners are super irresponsible and a miser, they have no heart or compassion for their pet that bring them love,  joy and companionship.
 
You took me in when I was a cute puppy.  I still have my looks. Now that I am no longer a perfect dog, you have conveniently wanted to end my life.
 
I will be receiving medical treatment to amputate my left hind leg soon at Noah's Ark ABC Clinic* and I will soon be able to walk like my friends.

If you visit me at the sanctuary, remember  to say "Hi" to me.
 
Licks from
Bond

Footnote:

 * Noah's Ark ABC Clinic (ABC = Animal Birth Control)