Noah's Residents

Noah's Residents
Showing posts with label Volunteers Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Volunteers Day. Show all posts

Thursday, September 3, 2015

VetHelp @ Noah's Ark




The ambitious project to spay to spay as many strays we hope too, is no easy feat as each surgical procedure requires a lot of time and concentration to be done properly. As such, Noah’s Ark has opened its doors to both vet students and volunteer veterinarians from Singapore, Malaysia and other countries.  These vet students come in as part of their internship to assist Raymund in diagnosing the daily vet work and cases that pass through the clinic.  

Volunteer veterinarians contribute their free time to assist in more complicated veterinarian procedures. We are very appreciative for both such contributions as their efforts have been most beneficial for our programs and to all our animals. We know that such hard work and dedication by both these groups is due to their common love and compassion for the animals. 

The students appreciate Raymund for demonstrating to them the various spay techniques. He displayed much patience despite their sometimes clumsy attempts, encouraging them to persevere and rewarding their  hard work by cooking delicious meals during their attachment. 

They believe that their experience at Noah’s Ark was extremely rewarding and do hope more people will be inspired to do what they have done. By partaking in the important job of sterilizing the stray population, they have been able to make a difference to the lives of these animals.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Noah's Ark Volunteer Day: 11 October '14





Noah's Ark Volunteer Day is back!

If you have missed the volunteer's day in March, we are organising one on Saturday, 11 October 2014.

We need your help to groom the dogs, cats and the horses - if you do not have grooming experience we will be there to teach and guide you.  A professional pet groomer will be present to give us grooming tips and a helping hand.

Grooming can be therapeutic for both the animals and you.

The benefit of grooming:

  • helps to keep their coat shiny
  • remove under and dead coat
  • keeps the skin healthy 
  • helps to bond and socialize with the animals 
Programme
10.00 a.m.     Depart S'pore from Bishan MRT station for Noah’s Ark
11.30 a.m.     Arrive at Noah’s Ark followed by orientation
12.30 p.m.     Lunch at the Ark (lunch is provided)
1.30 p.m.       Lets groom...
5.00 p.m.      Get ready to go home
5.30 p.m.      Depart Noah’s Ark for home

Fees:  S$50 (includes transport, lunch and tea)

Closing date for registration: 
Friday, 26 September '14 

Seats are limited to 12 paxs

To register, please email to noahsarkcares@gmail.com as well as indicate the following details:


Name:


Email:


Hp:




Q1.
Areas of interest, you would prefer to work with:
(a) Dogs 
(b) Cats 
(c) Horses



Q2.
Have you visited Noah’s Ark before?  Yes / No
If yes – which animal do you know at Noah’s Ark?



Q3.
Do you own a pet/pets? Yes / No
If yes - what do you own?



Q4.
Please let us know if you have dietary needs.



Priority will be given to volunteers who have visited Noah’s Ark before and are familiar with animals.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Volunteers feeling connected with our furry friends

8 March, it was Noah's Ark Volunteer Day at the sanctuary in Johor. 

Nineteen participants took part and they volunteered to groom, play and had fun with the cats, dogs and horses.

It was an eye opening experience for some participants who were not pet owners, their willingness to learn to bath the dogs.  We have to salute these brave souls for their courage to work with the dogs at the sanctuary.

The cats had the privileged of having play time after being groomed by the team of cat volunteers.

The volunteers who helped at the horse stables - did not get enough of their doze of horse therapy.  They are looking forward for their next visit for more horsey time.

Many went home feeling connected with our furry friends.

We would like to thank our friends for making time and for being with the animals.

Please stay tune on Noah's Ark CARES facebook for the next Noah's Ark Volunteer Day.

Meanwhile, lets go behind the scene and check out what happened at Noah's Ark.

On behalf of the doggies at the sanctuary, thank you for the lovely gifts.

At the catteries...


Weisheng and Lynette helping to groom the cats at the Wisma.

One of our cat checking out Lynette's bag as part of the security check.



Audrey giving the cat a good groom.

Amrys helping out with the cats at the open air cattery. 

Siew Luan with the cats at one of our first cattery which was built in 2000.

At Fortune Lodge...


George spending time with Rico

Vivian helping to bath the dogs at Fortune Lodge.

At the Stables...



Le Ying giving Primus @ Sanuk a good scrub.

Final rinse down for Primus @ Sanuk.

Halim explaining to the volunteers about caring the horse's hoof.

At the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Clinic...


Lui Ping is a visitor from USA and she came with her friends
to help to clean the dogs' ears after their bath.

George and Jessica helping to dry the dogs.

Luke (left) is a visitor from USA - he came to help us too!
Joanne (in orange tee) helping to clean the dog's eyes while
Esther helped to hold the dog still.

Luke and Esther drying a poodle.

When asked about their experience at the sanctuary - this is what they have to say:
"It was my first experience with  horses and I enjoyed working and being with them very much.  I thank Noah's Ark very much for this experience!  I enjoyed meeting and interacting with many of the dogs as well. (I have always loved dogs!) And even had the opportunity to pat 2 cats and of course see the gibbon.  So a very wholesome and amazing day.  And the Noah's Ark building  itself is very homely and at 'peace'with the environment. Great work and thanks for giving all these lovely animals a sanctuary.  God continue to bless your work!"- Michelle 
"The day was awesome! Can't wait to visit again as a volunteer to help look after the horses." - Le Ying
"Thank you for the eye opening and deeply moving experience. I found a great sense of joy, peace and calm working with the horses. Thank you for the opportunity to interact with cats and dogs who lit up my heart and soul.  I can't stop beaming."- Nadia
"Today's session is great exposure, especially for new comers. Would love to be more involved to our capabilities."- George & Jessica 
"Enriching experience.  Feel good to interact with many calm dogs."











Monday, March 10, 2014

A day with the horses at Noah's Ark

From left: Li Ting, Le Ying and Nadia

Life tends to bring us in straight lines, passing through each period of our lives that we can relive only through our memories. But once in a while, we come full circle to where we started from. It’s been a good 14 years, but here I am again, at Noah’s Ark. A different place, a different time, but the feelings remain the same.

I was just a little kid then, when my Father rented a space to keep his birds in the farm next door on Seletar West Farmway 5.  I used to go there with him on weekends and while he was busy with his birds, I was often next door at Noah’s Ark Lodge. I’d spend long hours there just watching the animals and playing with some of them, and that was when my weekly affair with Noah’s Ark started. Memories are hazy as I was so young then, but I remember one friend I had there very well – a little grey pony named Melody. She was always out in the paddock at the front and was the first one I’d see each time I visited. You can bet how happy I was to see that she’s still around after such a long time!

All these time, I’d known that Noah’s Ark relocated to JB, but I never got to visit as my parents wouldn’t allow me to travel there on my own. As I grew up, those sweet memories of my childhood moved further and further to the back of my mind, and though my love for animals continued, I stopped thinking about Noah’s Ark. It was only when my friend shared the link for a Volunteer’s Day to Noah’s Ark that I finally took notice again.

I was so excited for the trip that I barely slept the night before and was so chatty in the morning on the car ride there (sorry to Joanne, Nadia and Audrey, who had to listen to me talk and talk non-stop!)  It was a little overwhelming when we first walked into the sanctuary, seeing so many dogs I didn’t know, and getting pushed around and stepped on by the larger ones while going up the stairs, but I quickly settled in. And the day proved to be one of the best days I’ve had in a long time!



Of course, I chose to volunteer with the horses and after a quick tour of the property and lunch, it was HORSEY TIME! My first task for the day was to groom and bathe Primus @ Sanuk, the grey pony who likes to roll on everything and he was practically brown on some areas. Brushing all that caked mud off him was no joke and with the weather so scorching hot, I was all ready for a rest by the time I was done. 


But… Nope, not done yet. I still had to give him his bath! A lot of scrubbing and shampooing soon followed and I swear my arms felt like they were going to fall out of their sockets. He wasn’t the most cooperative either, trying to squish me against the wall and neighing very loudly in my ear.





Guess he was cranky about not being able to get to Melody (I’m told they’re a couple). When I was finally done and the brown parts were light beige, I let him free and he cantered all the way to the end of the paddock to look for Melody. I would have liked a little more appreciation on his part, but I guess his girlfriend’s a lot more important than me!

Prisma was next to be showered and with 4 pairs of hands instead of one, it was so much easier! And yes, we all got a free shower as well but it was a welcome change from the crazy heat. The last we bathed was Apache, and boy was he the loveliest ever! He just stood there quietly and let the 4 ladies work on him and at one point, he was enjoying it so much that he even closed his eyes!

It was truly a day where I recharged and rested my soul. The connection we can have with animals is the most wondrous thing in the world and I am glad to be back. I can’t wait to be back again!

Contributed by Soon Le Ying

Friday, January 31, 2014

News from Noah's Ark - January 2014


Dear Friends of Noah's Ark,

On 31 January, we will be  galloping into the Year of the Horse but before we do that, we would like to thank you for being our loyal friend and faithful supporter of Noah's Ark. It is because of your belief in us that we are able to continue our work with the animals at the sanctuary.

Noah's Ark will be turning 19 this year and like everything and everyone, it is beginning to feel the ravages of age. Many of the original inhabitants that made the trek from Singapore have crossed over to Rainbow Bridge. But for every resident that leaves there is always another one waiting anxiously to take its place.

We, at the sanctuary, will always have our work cut out for us. Animals are continually being abandoned for various reasons - many, sadly frivolous.  The tasks and responsibilities that face Raymund, the workers and our volunteers are heavy and ongoing. Compared to the fulfillment of rescuing and rehoming, there is little glamour in maintaining the sanctuary. However if the sanctuary did not exist, where would our rescued animals go?

The sad truth is that after the initial euphoria of "rescuing an animal", the rescuer sometimes forgets that there is a lifetime of caring to be undertaken.  This is the unglamorous part - maintenance of the rescued pack at the sanctuary. Nevertheless, it is our commitment to each and every animal that comes to stay with us that we want it to live out its life in the manner it ought to be able to - surrounded with love and care.

We are always mindful that limited resources do not allow us to rescue every animal in need. Hence, we have worked very hard to establish our spay and neuter campaigns both in Singapore and Malaysia, to reduce the number of unwanted litters - the only humane way to rescue our animals from needless killing. We believe that this work has made a difference.

Nevertheless, for 2014, we would like very much to appeal to you to help us "Build Noah's Ark brick by brick" - many of the buildings are now more than 14 years old and are in need of repairs. All of our funds have always been channeled to feeding and caring for the animals and neutering our strays, with repair work at the sanctuary, relegated to the lowest priority.

The "Buy-a-Brick" campaign will be launched at $10 per brick, which we hope you will support.  With your generosity, we will be able to undertake some much needed repairs and rebuilding of Noah's Ark so that our sanctuary will always be the place that our animals can call home. For more details, please click here.

We thank you all once again in advance for your generous and heartfelt support - Noah's Ark exists because of all of you.

Best wishes,

Chew Gek Hiang
President

Noah's Ark Cares



 
Buy-a-Brick
For 13.5 years, we relied on the generator and diesel to provide electricity for the sanctuary.  Electricity is a luxury to many of us and sometimes we take it for granted that we are able to enjoy light and air-conditioning any time we want - not for Noah's Ark.  We have to plan and use our generator wisely when we need electricity.  Electricity is used only in the afternoon and evening when Raymund needs to operate the clinic to attend to our sick animals or for the vets to perform surgeries.

With the developments around our area and having to operate the ABC Clinic, it is time that we have electricity.  Its costs an estimate S$16,000 to bring in the power cables to Noah's Ark.

The "Buy-a-Brick" programme will also go towards the repair and painting at Noah's Ark - some of the kennel and cattery doors, handles have given way and its needs to be replaced due to wear and tear.

For $10 you can help to buy a brick to provide light for the animals. 

For more details, please click here



Events at Noah's Ark
 

 
Noah's Ark Tour: 22 February
We will be organizing our first tour to Noah's Ark on 22 February - come and gallop into the new year with us and have a photo opportunity with our rescued horses from Singapore.

We have 6 new residents from the riding facilities in Singapore namely: Cinzano & Prisma (ex dressage horse from the Youth Olympic Games 2010), Boom Boom and Primus (ex riding horse/pony), Chung Dong and Warrior (ex race horse) these are the Lucky 6 that were spared from being put down. Come and say "Hi" to these gorgeous gentle giants and learn more about horses.

Date: Saturday, 22 February  
Time: 2.00 p.m.

For more details please click here  
  

 
Noah's Ark Photography Retreat:
8 February
If you love animal photography,  you want to learn and get tips from C.S. Ling - she will be organizing a photography retreat at Noah's Ark on 8 February.
  
Seats are limited, for more details about the workshop, please click here to register.

It's a good getaway to escape from the city and to be with mother nature in the wilderness.


 
Volunteers Day: 8 March 
For all those who had thought of volunteering at Noah's Ark Sanctuary but are unable to drive - this is our first ever "Volunteers Day"!

We will be organizing this at Noah's Ark Sanctuary on Saturday, 8 March.

What many people do not realize that the animals at the Sanctuary want most from us (after food and shelter) is to be touched and played with. This is our time to bond with them.

On this special day, these volunteers will get a chance to work with dogs, cats or horses whichever animal catches your fancy. Part of this bonding time would require you to groom the animals and spend time socializing with them.

All this will be briefed and discussed further at the sanctuary with a short orientation tour prior to the session. Our regular volunteers will be present so that they will be able to help or assist you if required,.

Priority will be given to volunteers who have visited Noah's Ark before and are used to working with animals.

For more details about the programme, please click here.


Happenings at the Ark


Vets Across the Border  
January was a busy month at the ABC Clinic - we had vets from Singapore and vet interns from Australia attached to Noah's Ark and together they have sterilized close to 120 dogs and cats within 10 days.

Noah's Ark provides low cost sterilization for the community - the animals that are brought to the clinic must be street dogs or cats.  Our objective is to sterilized as many street dogs and cats to prevent unwanted kittens and puppies on the streets - because the street is not their home.

It is not possible to rescue or to bring everyone back home - it is important that that we practice Animal Birth Control.


Moses loves durians.
Moses the Macaque
After being with us for 8 months and Raymund nursed Moses back to health, we have returned Moses into the wild to be with his troop. 

It is sad to see him go but we know in Moses' heart - he is internally grateful for the care given to him during his stay at Noah's Ark.  We would like to than Mona and her family for contributing towards Moses medical aid.

To read about Moses' rescue please click here.



Huggy Boy giving Raymund
his hand.
Huggy Boy's Enclosure
We would like to thank our generous sponsors for sponsoring Huggy Boy's enclosure - due to the bad weather season in December, we had to put the construction on hold.  We will start the construction of Huggy Boy's enclosure after Chinese New Year - please stay tune for the development of his new home.



Pepi our poster boy.


Thank you for the Christmas Cookies
We would like to thank our friends for bringing Christmas cheers to our dogs by donating Christmas Cookies - the dogs loved the cookies and wished it was Christmas every weekend.  Thank you for granting their Christmas wishes.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Be a volunteer and spend the day with the animals at the Ark on 8 March '14




For all those who had thought of volunteering at Noah’s Ark Sanctuary but are unable to drive to JB – this is our first ever 'Volunteers Day'! We will be organizing this at Noah’s Ark Sanctuary on Saturday, 8 March.

What many people do not realize that the animals at the Sanctuary want most from us (after food and shelter) is to be touched and played with. This is our time to bond with them. 

On this special day, these volunteers will get a chance to work with dogs, cats or horses whichever animal catches your fancy. Part of this bonding time would require you to groom the animals and spend time socializing with them. 

All this will be briefed and discussed further at the sanctuary with a short orientation tour prior to the session. Our regular volunteers will be present so that they will be able to help or assist you if required,.

Programme
9.00 a.m.     Depart S'pore from Marymount MRT station for Noah’s Ark
10.30 a.m.   Arrive at Noah’s Ark followed by orientation tour
11.00 a.m.   The fun part begins
12.30 p.m.   Lunch at the Ark (lunch is provided)
2.00  p.m.    Second half of fun continues
5.00 p.m.     Get ready to go home
5.30 p.m.     Depart Noah’s Ark for home

Fees:  S$50 covers transport, lunch and tea

Closing date for registration: Friday, 28 February '14 

Seats are limited to 10 paxs per session.

To register, please email to noahsarkcares@gmail.com as well as indicate the following details:

Name:
Email:
Hp:


Q1.  Areas of interest, would prefer to work with 
        (a) Dogs 
        (b) Cats 
        (c) Horses
        (d) Gardening

Q2.  Have you visited Noah’s Ark before? Yes / No
         If yes – which animal do you know at Noah’s Ark?

Q3.  Do you own a pet/pets? Yes / No
         If yes - what do you own?

Q4.  Please let us know if you have dietary needs.

Priority will be given to volunteers who have visited Noah’s Ark before and are used to working with animals.

Volunteers socialising with the dogs under the durian tree, 

More human touch which is what the dogs need.