My First Visit to Noah's Ark

It was a lazy Thursday afternoon when my mother told me that we were going to  Noah's Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary (NANAS) the following Monday, 8 December ‘14.  Feeling curious and excited, I looked up on the internet about NANAS.

The most eye-opening fact about Noah’s Ark was the dogs were all free roaming. They take in abandoned, abused or injured animals such as dogs (some of them are 3 legged), cats, rabbits, monkeys and horses.  Still not believing it, I waited till Monday to see it for myself.

Monday morning arrived!  I hopped into the car in the late morning and went into Johor Bahru with my mother and her friends.  Reaching there, a few dogs greeted me as we drove into the compound.  I was surprised and so was my mother.  As we walked in, more loud barks greeted us.  I could see 3 legged dogs hoping around greeting us and the dogs were all very happy.

Excited to see the cattery, I made it through all the dogs that were barking and headed for the cattery. On the way, we saw some macaques and a gibbon in their enclosures.  We were told these monkeys were rescued from the wild as they were physically injured and not capable of surviving on their own in the wild.

In the cattery, the friendly cats brushed against me as if they were welcoming me!  I had a whale of a time in there just stroking the cats and feeding them. Heading out of the door of the cattery, we went to the stable where the horses are. 

I rode on a horse called Prisma which had participated in the 2010 YOG (Youth Olympic Games).  The horses at Noah’s Ark were ex racing horses that have outlived their 'career'.  If not for Noak's Ark, they would have been put to sleep already!  

On reflection, it is so sad and inhuman that they are used by their owners to generate income only. Once their economic useful life is over, the owners do not hesitate to end their lives.

I also visited the quiet rabbit hutch and petted the rabbits as they hopped around happily.

Looking at my watch, I noticed it was getting late. We donated some money as part of our contribution to support the effort of Noah's Ark.

 

That day, I went home exhausted but jubilant. It is a place I would recommend to animal lovers. When I mean 'animal lovers", I mean people who love animals no matter whether they are 3 legged, old or blind.

By Tan Mae-Vy, 10 years old

Friendship with the Animals

A meaningful one word summary to describe my Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary (NANAS) experience would be “Wonderful”. The word alludes to the fact of the presence of nature and animals, all living in one place in harmony which elicits the feelings of wonder, astonishment and extra ordinariness. 

That is  me with Princess taken in 2009.

As an animal lover, it is an unforgettable experience and my most memorable experience previously was bonding with Princess, the German Shepherd who has sadly passed on.

I felt the sense of freedom that the animals were entitled to at Noah's Ark as the animals were allowed to run free with the horses across the sprawling grounds of the sanctuary. I observed that they engage in various fun activities such as rolling in the mud for a refreshing afternoon spa and playing among themselves. Judging from the animals, I can tell that Princess was happy throughout the days she spent at the sanctuary.

My sanctuary experience begun on 29 September 2014 when my cousins and I visited the Noah's Ark as we love animals very much.  Other than just having cats and dogs, the sanctuary also have ex-race horses which have the privilege to retire amidst the love and care that are shown to them daily.

When I saw the horses, I was afraid and intimidated as horses were huge and they towered over me like giants. Uncle Clement, a Noah's Ark volunteer showed me the proper way to approach the horses and to feed them. He showed me Canto-Pop, a small and energetic dog that was chasing the horses without hesitation. Despite my apprehension, he patiently encouraged me to feed the horses and pet them to gain their trust. Soon I started to have more courage to interact with them and to me; they were gentle giants with a renewed personality that came with their freedom.

My cousins and I are grateful to Uncle Raymund and the volunteers for making our stay a memorable and learning experience in teaching us to care for animals, big or small and to connect with them on a personal level which is with our hearts.

I was elated that I made friends with Prisma and even tried horse-riding.  My cousins and I enjoyed interacting with the sanctuary’s many animals and were grateful for the opportunity to see the animals.  

We would definitely visit again if we could!

By Jacqueline Loo

Visit by Ngee Ann Polytechnic final year veterinary students

As final year veterinary bioscience students, when we heard that we would be visiting Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary (NANAS), we knew that hopes for a normal day would be replaced with an exciting learning journey for us.  Upon arrival to the sanctuary, we were greeted with a warm welcome by Lynda and Clement who are Noah’s Ark CARES Singapore volunteers.

Alas, it was pouring heavily and we were not able to explore the sanctuary and that was when Lynda invited us to visit their in-house Animal Birth Control (ABC) Clinic to have a first-hand viewing experience on a quick feline neutering procedure done on a street cat. 

This was where we met Raymund Wee, the founder of Noah's Ark.  The clinic conducts surgeries which range from eye inoculation and leg amputations. Raymund explained to us that many veterinarians from Singapore and overseas volunteer at NANAS. The sanctuary does give aspiring veterinarians and technicians a chance to have practical scenarios where we can hone our skills.

We were definitely in luck as it was by chance that we got to witness several surgical procedures including the neutering of a large canine and it was really an eye opener for us. The reason was that some of us have not witnessed a shelter surgery up close before. With the assistance of the volunteer veterinarians, Noah's Ark is able to sterilise 20 to 30 street animals a day. Sterilisation is the only humane solution to control the street dogs and cats population from getting out of hand.

“Standing beside the operating table and watching the procedure being done reminded me of why I wanted to be a veterinarian back then. Listening to Raymund sharing his passion and witnessing the love he has for the animals was an inspiring moment and that, reminded me of my initial aspirations. Even though the journey towards being a veterinarian may seem daunting and long, just standing there in the sanctuary surrounded by the animals living out their second chance is proof that with determination and perseverance, one can make a difference. It was a great trip, a good experience and a newfound inspiration for me. I would be glad if there was another opportunity to go to Noah's Ark and perhaps maybe a chance to volunteer and be exposed to a learning experience.”

We headed around the sanctuary for a short tour after the rain had subsided. We visited Huggy boy, a rescued Gibbon and the horses at the stables before spending a lot of time in the cat wisma. Everywhere we went there would always be a welcoming party of several of the 600 dogs that call Noah's Ark their forever home. Seeing a 3-legged dog run as if he had 4 legs was really something, we found out his name was Blade! It made us realised that the sanctuary accepts all sorts of animals and that they are all entitled to their own form of freedom.

At the stables, we were introduced to Melody, a 31 year old rescued pony from Tang Dynasty in Singapore when it closed its doors in 1999. She has remarkably exceeded the usual 20 -30 years lifespan of a horse. Although she has difficulty biting the carrots, we fed her like any other seniors by cutting it into smaller pieces for her. Melody still ages gracefully and beautifully for a white mare! Unfortunately, not many horses are as lucky as her, those deemed incapable as a riding horse would be deleted (put down) as they are of no use to the riding facilities. 

Noah's Ark has stepped in to rescue some of these lovely horses and from what I observe, they have settled down happily in their retirement home. Each horse at the stable has a story of its own and it is definitely worth visiting the sanctuary to relive those childhood memories of being up close with horses! 

If you want to learn more about the horses, do visit the Noah's Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary blog to get to know more about the 10 horses residing in the sanctuary.

Amongst the dogs, cats, rabbits and primates were a wild boar and two ball pythons which intrigued us to the variety of animals that call the sanctuary home. The cat wisma was a two storey bungalow located by a quiet lily pond where the felines would just relax and look at the greenery to watch time pass by. There was also a dog named Jasmine that spends her whole life amongst cats as their protector! 

Towards the end of our visit, Clement showed us how to handle the 2 ball pythons and allowed us to have a feel of the 2 ball pythons.  We took some last pictures with the ball pythons before heading back.

 

In our eyes, the sanctuary is seen as a safe and peaceful haven for animals to live out the rest of their lives with dignity. It is a sad reality that many dogs and cats are abandoned, abused or neglected on a daily basis. Some suffer the fate of waiting in a shelter for the right owner and most will not know the true meaning of freedom and love. 

As students, we hope that people’s mindset will change for the better to be more socially accepting of animals. We are also glad that Noah's Ark has made so much difference in the lives of many animals that have pass through the gates of the sanctuary. We will definitely be back at Noah's Ark to help out!

Contributed by:  Dennis,Esther,YuLin and the rest of group!

SPCA Singapore Volunteers at Noah's Ark

SPCA Singapore @ work in Noah's Ark! 

SPCA volunteers are important to the organization, and we show our appreciation of their time and effort in volunteering with us, by organizing activities for them; one such activity was a visit to Bollywood Veggies in appreciation for our volunteer fosterers. SPCA volunteers are also encouraged to give their time to help with other causes so we spent a day at Noah's Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary in Johor Bahru, Malaysia .

14 of us made a trip to Noah's Ark on 2 August as part of our volunteer outreach programme with other non-profit groups.

We were greeted by the resident dogs upon our arrival, after which Noah's Ark volunteers led us into the premises. After a quick breakfast and a personal, warm greeting by Raymund Wee, the founder of Noah's Ark who gave an impassioned talk on the work he and his volunteers undertake to care for the animals, we headed out to work.

As was arranged prior to the trip, the volunteers were assigned in teams to work with Noah's Ark volunteers at the various sections like the monkey's enclosure, horse stables, catteries, kennels, quarantine, and the clinic.

The first stop was to visit the monkeys’ enclosure where some of us had the chance to feed them with bananas!  After visiting the monkeys, we were led to the stables where 10 horses were looked after by Noah's Ark volunteers and workers.  A volunteer in charge of the horses provided insightful tips and information about caring for them, including what the horses liked and disliked. We even had the rare opportunity of feeding them with carrot sticks! 

After horsing around (no pun intended!) we were led to two large kennels and catteries as well.The volunteers at the catteries got busy with cleaning and grooming the cats, most scuttling away when our volunteers approached with cotton buds and cleaning solution, but did not shy away when food was placed for them. Other volunteers spent time at the open areas mingling with the dogs grooming, cleaning ears, and even made attempts to bathe some.

Soon it was time to say goodbye, but we hope to return soon. We hope our volunteers had a fruitful day trip and enjoyed the experience of mingling with the wonderful animals at Noah's Ark.

Heartfelt thanks to Raymund and the volunteers for a great day, they were gracious hosts indeed. 

Submitted by SPCA Singapore

My experience volunteering at the Ark

When I renewed my passport, I made a promise to myself that my first passport stamp would be to a meaningful and memorable destination which turns out to be Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary (NANAS). 

Since then, I always find a chance to return to Noah's Ark whenever the opportunity arises, to relive the good old memories and to seek new ones. The ark has been my respite away from the hectic city life, a soul invigorator and I look forward to these volunteer visits where I can spend an entire day just being free and contributing to the ark.  Noah’s Ark is a rare place as it is where the animals outnumber humans. 

I did not know what to expect during my first visit to the ark. I stepped out gingerly, in awe of the many plantations surrounding the ark. Before I knew it, many canine residents came up happily to greet me. I was slightly overwhelmed by this reception of that many dogs in one place. I had to navigate my way through the many furry bodies to ascend the stairs to the main area for visitors.  Do dress very casually during the visit to the ark. I would discover later on that human speech is not all that necessary within the sprawling grounds of the sanctuary given that majority of its residents are dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and monkeys. The main house, reminds me of being in a villa, somewhere in Bali perhaps due to its rustic feel.

Raymund the founder and official ‘pack leader’ is chirpy and wise, the person that you know can easily swing from light-hearted chatter to serious talk. He peppers his conversations with tales about animals with plenty of humorous quips. He is very actively dedicated and emotionally connected to his cause that I envisioned him to be, having spread awareness on animal rescue and welfare for years. His belief that every animal has a right to a happy and healthy life has helped save thousands from euthanasia, though it has been no easy feat.  

He employs a hands-on approach towards the care and maintenance of the animals at the Ark. The last we spoke while gazing at the horses grazing, he told me that how he spends time treating rain scalds on some of the horses. The horses are allowed to roam freely on the grounds at certain times of the day. They make quite the impression tottering amidst the tall trees that Raymund takes charge of maintaining and trimming off the excess or overgrown bits. A total of 10 horses call the Ark home, with a new member, DJ joining them 5 months ago. 

On my first volunteer trip, I signed up to help groom and bathe the horses. I remember the walk there was accompanied by the ‘free-ranging’ dogs. I met a couple of three-legged ones, eager for affection and attention, which I gladly reciprocated. Being three legged does not diminished a dog’s eagerness to connect with visitors.  On arrival at the stables, I was told by one of the regular volunteers that to get acquainted to a horse, it is essential to let it know you in depth.

Hold out your hand to signal that you pose no threat. Alternatively, do it the Native American Indian way – blow your breath in a calm and casual stream right into a horse’s face. I can safely say that none of those methods have landed me in trouble. The horses are of friendly temperament, save for the occasional ‘love bites’ they plant on each other, and on the odd human or two. I wonder if any of the dogs has been love-bitten, considering some eagerly drink from their horses’ share of water and some even confidently enter the stables to nibble on poop. Yes, to my amusement and wonder, I learnt that horse poop is good for canine digestive health.

I am not the best groomer around so I was grateful for the horses’ patience. With several of my newfound volunteer friends, we managed to bathe a few even. It can be disarming at first to get so close to a gigantic beast, which could easily paralyse me with a swift kick.

Yet, as I went on, I realised how delicate these creatures are. It amazes me that something so elegant and majestic, several hundreds of kilos heavier than I am, can be more of a flight than a fight animal.

I am not horse person to begin with, having never kept a horse for a pet and being brought up in a country which does not allow you easy access to one, so upfront contact was a whole new experience for me. 

I guess you could say that my interest in horses stemmed from the curiosity of wanting to understand their sensitivity to human emotions and feelings better. Hearing about the atrocities that racehorses are subject to once their ‘prime time’ is up further moved me to pay a visit to the horses at the Ark, where most of them are former racing champions.

That being said, I was just as besotted with the other animals. The cats at the Wisma Kuching gave me an oddly calming sensation of euphoria –it is the feeling of being surrounded by so many contented felines that it sends you into a peaceful Zen-like state. Of course, you can imagine that when you see so many around you stretching their lithe frames with smiles etched across their faces, you would feel inclined to do the same.  Upon entry, you will be greeted by the few dogs who consider themselves cats deep down inside as they stay with the cats at the Wisma Kuching.

At the sanctuary, no ailment appears to diminish or compromise the quality of the lives of the animal residents because of Raymund’s determination. I cannot reiterate enough how often I thought I have caught the dogs actually smiling. I brought my partner here for the first time on my third visit. He was evidently charmed and observed that each animal there seemed to have its own unique personality.                 

Starbuck the one-armed macaque.

My partner getting his dose of animal loving.

                                           

Before you embark on a trip to the Ark, please do note that the Ark is not like a farm commercialised for tourism, or a generic piece of land to showcase the generosity of some humans. It is not just all fun and play. A huge amount of energy, resilience and finances are needed to ensure its smooth operation on a daily basis. Every animal has their previous histories and plights, but remember that they underwent trauma and abandonment before finding their second chance through the ark.

The animals at the sanctuary, though seemingly numerous, are just a handful of the many more out there who lead lives curtailed by cruelty and harsh treatment. Do visit the ark with an open mind and think of an idea of how you can contribute to a more widespread campaign of animal welfare. Make sure you talk to Raymund and the regular volunteers, who are some of the warmest people I have ever met on how you can consciously help. 

Get involved by being a volunteer and stay updated through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/noahsarkcares

by Nadia AR