 |
PET FARM : Tending to over 200 dogs and about 200 cats is no easy business. Several times a day, a worker at the compound has to scout the whole place for dogs' droppings and scoop the poo up. Here, Mr Wee himself does the dirty job - accompanied by his faithful friends, of course. |
 |
PET FARM : Tending to over 200 dogs and about 200 cats is no easy business. Several times a day, a worker at the compound has to scout the whole place for dogs' droppings and scoop the poo up. Here, Mr Wee himself does the dirty job - accompanied by his faithful friends, of course. |
 |
| BATH PUP : All the animals at Noah's would be clean, fresh-smelling and ready to meet the animal-lovers the next day. Sundays are open house at the then. |
 |
DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE : On Mondays, Dr Heng Yee Ling, a vet, and Ms Roseline Ng, a vet nurse, will drop by the shelter to sterilise the cats and dogs. Mr Wee's house rule is that dogs and cats that are brought to his shelter must be sterilised as he believes this will help to reduce the number of strays. |
PICTURES BY LANCE LEE
About 500 animals will get the chip implants, so the AVA can keep track of
them and ensure their well-being
ABOUT 500 dogs and cats at the Noah's Ark Lodge animal shelter will have
microchips attached to them, so that they can be identified and accounted for
when a new tenant takes over the shelter next month.
To allay the fear of volunteers at the shelter - who were worried about the
animals being put down - the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's chief
executive officer Ngiam Tong Tau said yesterday that the microchips, inserted
below the skin around the animal's neck, will help AVA keep track of the
animals.
And the incoming tenant, Mr Thierry Lim, said that he would open the place to
the public, seven days a week, and allow owners who have placed their animals
at the shelter to continue to pay the same fees as they do now.
About 50 volunteers and animal lovers met AVA officials and Mr Lim at the
AVA's Sembawang Field Experimental Station to discuss the welfare of the
animals at Noah's Ark.
The animal shelter at Seletar West was started by Mr Raymund Wee seven years
ago, to take in stray and abandoned animals.
Currently, Noah's
Mr Lim outbid Mr Wee, when the 2-ha site was put up for tender by AVA in
March. But volunteers at the Ark
animals with the change of management.
Yesterday, Dr Ngiam reiterated AVA's stand that all the animals at Noah's
would be taken care of, and that the welfare of the animals would not be
compromised.
"Mr Lim has also given us his assurance that he has no intention of putting
down any of the animals at Noah's Ark.
care for the animals there."
Ms Eve Toh, a member of the Cat Welfare Society, said that some cat owners
were concerned that the structures built to house the cats would be
demolished.
Dr Ngiam reassured them that if the structures were essential to house the
animals, they would not be razed.
Meanwhile, Dr Jean-Paul Ly, veterinary consultant to the
continue providing veterinary services for the animals.
Volunteers and animal lovers also had suggestions on caring for the animals.
Bank officer Kathy Ong, 31, a volunteer, suggested a committee should be
formed to play a consultative role, to advise on standards for the care of the
animals.
Animal-lover Cathy Strong proposed: "Maybe well-wishers could 'foster' an
animal, and pay $10 to $20 each month for its upkeep," she said.
Ms Celin Leung, 32, suggested that the AVA work with schools to increase the
pool of volunteers.
"Perhaps university and secondary-school students could do work at the
part of their volunteer projects."
Dr Ngiam said the AVA would take all suggestions into consideration.
He also revealed that there would be two plots of land in
be open for tender this year.
Dr Ngiam urged animal owners, volunteers and members of the public to call
the AVA hotline on 1800-226-2250 if they have further queries on the matter.
Source: The Straits Times
Date: 14 May 2000
Source: The Straits Times
Date: 14 May 2000
No comments:
Post a Comment