Remembering Sheena

Stop Animal Abuse in Malaysia.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Lantern Books Festival Winners 2006

Lantern Books are publishers committed to producing literature to create awareness about the proper and ethical treatment of animals.

They held an essay writing contest and I think everyone should read the winning entries. Kao Kalia Yang a Hmong who has settled down in the US won the first prize with her story 'To The Men In My Family Who Love Chickens'. You may read her essay here http://www.lanternbooks.com/blog/entry.php?id=169

It's pretty amazing. You may read the other entries too at http://lanternbooks.com/blog/

Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Can You Help With Bahasa Melayu Tagline?

Peta is coming up with an advert to promote vegetarianism. The advertisement is a visual one with Jorja Fox (from the hit t.v. show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) looking at the camera with the chalk outline of a cow in the background.

The English tagline is "Investigate Vegetarianism". PETA wants to release the a Malay version in Malaysia and need a Bahasa Melayu tagline. It does not necessary need to be a translation of the English tagline. Just something that will match the visual.

If you can help please send in your ideas by clicking the comment below. Or you can also email your ideas to remembersheena@gmail.com

Need it by Thursday March 21, 2006.

Shoba Mano.

Friday, March 10, 2006

Dog in Similar Case As Sheena Rescued

Hi folks,

I received a phone call from Cynthia Hassan to say that her friend's neighbours were keeping their dog tied up all day and night without any food to eat. The dogs ribs were sticking out just like Sheena's.

The friend who called Cynthia is a Malay and Sheena's neighbour who never gave up calling for help for Sheena, even though the DVS ignored her calls according to newspaper reports, is also a Malay.

We are so encouraged to see and hear that despite the "taboo" over dogs and what society perceives in this country as an anti-dog culture among Malays we are touched that we have come across so many Malays who are compassionate towards dogs. We find these people have an overall compassionate nature towards all God's creatures, including human beings. This is what a truly great heart means.

As a result of Cynthia and her friend's act of kindness, Sabrina, an angel managed to persuade the abusive owners to give the dog to her which she promptly named SHAM. Well done, Sabrina! God's angels will forever watch over you for being a true angel for so many animals.

But Sabrina seeks your help now to place SHAM who is a one year old male, in a wonderful, caring home. SHAM was kept without food or water and chained all day and night. He is only a year old. If you are the person who can provide SHAM who has been through hell, a home where he can learn to trust humans again, please write to remembersheena@gmail.com giving us your contact details. Or call Sabrina at 016 631 9018

Here is SHAM's photo below:

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Update on our meetings with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government

Dear RSC supporters,

Here is an up-date on our discussions with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government on the issue of Dog Control Guidelines (not our choice of title, but theirs).

In early February RSC, along with representatives from NGOs were invited by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Dr S. Subramaniam, to discuss issues pertaining to the responsible ownership of dogs (again, our choice of words would be "reponsible guardianship" not "ownership")

Subsequently I was invited to meet Dr Subramaniam again on March 1, to discuss the proposals RSC had put forward entitled Welfare and Humane Treatment of Domestic Pets. (You may read our full proposal on the link on the right).

At the first meeting I brought up the issue of the poor response from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to the public's phone calls reporting animal abuse. I cited newspaper reports of the Sheena case where a neighbour had to telephone the DVS three times before they bothered to investigate.

There was a representative from the DVS present and she denied the DVS was complacent about reports of animal abuse.

So I cited my own experience in calling and was told by their Senior Enforcement Officer that they had "no time" to deal with such complaints as they had "other more important things to do".

Shockingly, this representative agreed and said they had other things like bird flu to attend to and that it is perfectly fine for them not to act on reports of abuse.

Since there were about 30 other people in the room who witnessed that statement I have since written a letter of complaint to Dr Subramaniam, the Director-General of the Department of Veterinary Services and the Minister of Agriculture.

In the second meeting Dr Subramaniam cited the overlapping jurisdictions of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government with the Department of Veterinary Services in handling these issues concerning domestic pets.

To be fair, he is right in saying that the expertise and knowledge on animals lies in the hands of the DVS, but he has very kindly agreed to liaise with them so that they can mutually resolve these issues.

He is also considering RSC’s appeal that any drafting of laws involving animals take into account their (the animals’) point of view as well, and not just what is convenient for humans.

At my latest meeting with Dr Subramaniam, I also reiterated the RSC's relentless cry for high penalties against animal abusers, and not to leave the impositions of fines at the discretion of the courts.

I argued that giving the courts discretionary powers to impose fines will result in only the minimum fines being imposed – something that’s as good as writing the laws on thin air.

As can be seen from the Animal Ordinance Act 1953, the courts mete out token fines and rarely ever impose a jail sentence worthy of the heinous acts of cruelty inflicted on abused animals. Worse the courts have been returning the abused animals to their owners.

We await the outcome of our discussions and pray that God will direct our lawmakers to draft with wisdom and compassion.

Shoba Mano

Monday, March 06, 2006

Bird Flu A Result Of Our Disrespect For Natural Laws

Below is a letter that appeared in the Star today, Monday March 6th, 2006. Well done, Dr. Rajeswary! We need more people like you to speak up.

BE MORE HUMANE TO CHICKENS

WE need to realise that we are part of an ecosystem where each part depends on another for survival, if not success. There is thus a need for mutual respect between these components.

If we are facing pandemic dangers such as Japanese Encephalitis (JE), SARS or the avian flu, it is because we have not followed the relevant rules.

One just has to see what we are doing to chickens in order to realise this.

First, we breed them in farms, then we give them modified foods to accelerate their growth and mutate their body parts, before they are slaughtered to satisfy our palates. We also make them lay their eggs double fast for us. The list is endless.

Now that they have got a flu (naturally), we dispose of them by the thousands by burying them alive, throwing them in incinerators and suffocating them in plastic bags.

To top it all, these events are proudly broadcast on national TV.

The killing can be done in a kinder manner. Our children are watching. What are we telling them?

Remember, the development of a nation is largely measured by the way in which the people of that nation treat their animals.

DR RAJESWARY A. SARGUNAN,

Kuala Lumpur.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Let's Scrap The Zoo and Set Up Animal Sanctuaries Instead

Mita K's letter entitled 'Shocked Over Bear Treatment' was published in the Star newspaper dated Feb 4, 2006 (Please read our blog entry dated Feb 4, 2006).

We have since telephoned the Star newspaper in Johor and spoken to their journalist Marsha Tan who was very supportive and assured us that the Star is already investigating Mita's complaint and have posed questions to the Director and several other senior officials of the Johor zoo. Marsha told us they were waiting for them to reply.

A week ago RSC called again and Marsha told us she will follow up and let RSC know of the outcome.

We will keep you all posted as well. But if you guys can also call Marsha Tan at the Star in Johor it will help as more voices make us a stronger force. This is the telephone number for the Star Johor : (07) 331 5666

For those who still think that zoos are a good place to take your kids to, think again. Please read Kitty McCue's award winning short story at the Writer's Digest at : http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/McCue.asp

Well done, Kitty! We need more soul writers in the world like you.

Shoba Mano

Report of Abuse at D-Paradise in Alor Gajah

Dear RSC Supporters

Below is a letter we received from someone complaining about the conditions of D-Paradise in Alor Gajah http://www.d-paradise.com.my/index.asp:

"I wonder if you have heard of D- Paradise in Alor Gajah which recently opened 3 to 4 months ago...reputedly to have vast species of plants and trees...So i made a trip there during the chinese new year holidays to have a paradisical experience ....this vast area of forest cleared to plant different types of plants and trees from all over the world.... and to spice up the place ......animals are placed here and there to maks thing lively.

At the entrance i was greeted by a poor monkey chained to a pole under the hot sun.(this i don't understand)..and forest all around it. Just when i thought things can't get worse...came to the rabbits farm where children are allowed to go in and play with the rabbits without a caretaker..thery were swinging the rabbits by the ears and throwing them around and onlooker just having a good laugh.I questioned my guide as to why there isn't a caretaker to prevent abuse to the animals he just laughed and said there is a shortage of staff, and to my horror he said there has been worse cases, where children have pulled the ears off the rabbits.

We passed the ostrich farm -3 pathetic ostriches and one, half the body without feathers and finally to top up my nightmare passed the horse shed , 2 miserable looking horses, one lying down on its side and upon enquiry the guide told me that they are ill...some bone problem and not able to stand...and might shoot them next month...and until then it will be suffering.It was not a pradisical trip but rather a nightmare.

My question is who is checking on the abuse...who do i ask to check this up.


HR/Admin Executive
Lycée Français de Kuala Lumpur
34,Jln 1/38B off Jalan Segambut
51200 Kuala Lumpur
"

The actions RSC have taken:
1. Called the NST and STAR journalists in Melaka to ask them to please investigate this matter. We also forwarded this mail to them. I have not received any response from the NST correspondent but the STAR correspondent would like the person who had been to D-Paradise to call her personally as she is the one who witnessed the abuse.

2. We wrote to the person who sent us this letter to ask her to call the correspondents giving her their telephone numbers. We have not heard from this person.

The actions you can take:

1. Please let us know if you have been there and seen anything similar and give us your contact details so that we can get in touch with you.

2. If anyone is planning to go there please take photographs of any abuse you witness and let us know about it.

Thank you.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Australian Animals Desperately Need Your Help

Hi guys,

Can you help our friends in PETA Australia to put a stop to this animal abuse. They've done all the hard work in going undercover and recording this abuse as evidence. Now they just need the help of their Malaysian friends to please write letters that will help them to stop this abuse. Trust me your letters go a long long way. Just through hundreds of letters they were able to release some exotic animals held in deplorable conditions in the North of Vietnam, late last year.

Your letters do make a difference.

Please read on and write to the addresses PETA has given below.

NOTICE FROM PETA

This weekend, as a result of an investigation conducted by PETA and Animals Australia, Australia’s most popular news show “60 Minutes” aired a shocking expose of Australia’s live export industry and the fate of cows and sheep who are shipped to Egypt for slaughter. The investigation report confirm animal advocates’ claims that the government and industry have been paying lip service to the idea of animal welfare and have allowed animals to suffer in countries with no animal welfare standards whatsoever. In response to the investigation, the Australian government has suspended live animal exports to Egypt.

We found appalling abuses – workers stabbing animals in the eyes, slashing their tendons, and cutting off their tails – without any painkillers – before their throats are slit while they are fully conscious. The Australian government and the live export industry have previously claimed that this slaughterhouse is a model and have held it up as a success story. Watch the footage that aired on 60 minutes and see the “success” for yourself (http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?f=39&g=f3a5c252-e0a8-470b-b56e-8a0bede84638&p=aunews_au60minutes&t=s29).

Please write to the Australian government right away and demand that they permanently ban the live export trade and let them know that all Australian animals must be slaughtered in Australia, under the protection of Australian laws. Please forward this email to family, friends, and co-workers and urge them to write, as well:

Prime Minister John Howard

Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
Ph: (02) 6277 7700 Fax: (02) 6273 4100
Email thru: http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm



The Hon Peter McGauran MP

Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600

Ph: (02) 6277 7520 Fax: (02) 62734120

Email: Peter.McGauran.MP@aph.gov.au