molly&conan

molly&conan

Friday, April 30, 2010

Little update on Mort

I went to pick up the Mortster after work yesterday but dr j decided to keep him overnight and put him on an iv drip thingy. Hmmm.. so i guess he's in worse condition than i first thought. That sucks because the last time i fostered a little kitten that had to be put on drip, she died. http://nopedigreejustlove.blogspot.com/2010/02/goodbye-gia.html

Also, dr j had this look on his face like he wasn't feeling too optimistic and confident about mort. well i guess we'll just have to wait and see how things are after i'm done with work today. at least when i saw mort last night, he wasn't unconscious like Gia was when she was sick.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

New foster kitten! Mortimer

i found the little booger a couple of hours ago on my way to work. he was all curled up in a teeny tiny little ball on someone's driveway. there was no gate so i walked in and asked a lady there if the kitten belonged to anyone. she said nope so i carried the emaciated little tyke and brought him to my car. poor thing's so weak he immediately curled up and fell asleep on my lap. i could feel all the sharp angles of his bones through his skin.

it was only 9am and my vet doesn't open till 10am so i wrapped kitty up in a canvas shopping bag from my car and off we went to my office. luckily my new job is in the same neighborhood as my home and the vet!! so super convenient! we went upstairs to wait till 10am and then we went round the corner to the vet. i've decided to call him mortimer. no idea why, it just popped into my head. seems appropriate for such a teeny squirt. dr j checked him out and said he's super duper emaciated, is between 2 and 3 months old but only weighs 460 grams (he should be twice that!), has diarrhea and a cold. mort's going to stay at the clinic all day with dr j and i'll go pick him up after work. he's going to be dewormed, fed hill's prescription a/d, hydrated, frontlined, and put on antibiotics.

mort is a white kitty with marmalade tabby patches, his eyes are brown outlined with blue (unique!), he has a long full-length tail, and is probably about 8 to 10 weeks old. I'll take photos of him when he looks less skeletal and when he gets better i'll bring him to SPCA's adoption drives. There are lots in May! This Saturday and Sunday we'll be at Tropicana City Mall, 2nd Floor, 10am to 7pm. Might be too soon for Mort to take part in this one.. But then he can join the adoption drives on May 15&16 and May 22&23 at Bangsar Shopping Center. Many opportunities for adoption this month! Let's hope Mortimer recovers quickly and finds his forever home :)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Runty & Stubbs - Release Night? EPIC FAIL.

After a lot of procrastinating and excuses and planning and trying to control what i can't control, i finally decided to release Runty and Stubbs last night.. About 2 weeks past their release deadline i think and almost a month since they were spayed.. maybe longer.. I had sort of imagined that they would dash out of the carrier and just run for their lives and freedom when i brought them outside. but they didn't.. so now we sort of have a problem..

these two are too feral and scared of people to be pets.. but at the same time they are not quite feral and independent enough for the outside world i think.. they haven't been outside since they were taken away from their mother.. these two are such a unique case. their siblings were tamed and became sweet adoptable kittens but runty and stubbs just couldn't get used to people no matter what we did. now they're fearful adults who grew up indoors. but because they grew up indoors they are scared of the outdoors. and the reason why they spent so much time indoors is because i was trying to socialize them but failed miserably. fuck fuck fuck. i've got indoor ferals. what the fuck am i going to do.

last night i wrapped my hands in a large towel and put them one by one into the carrier. of course they hated my handling them that's why i needed the towel to protect myself. once in the carrier they started hissing and spitting of course. i brought the carrier outside and placed it on the ledge in the driveway where i feed daisy mama cat everyday. that ledge is a little feeding station i guess and sometimes daisy mama's stray friends romeo and tybalt drop by for a meal too. its high enough that the dogs can't bother cats up there eating and there's a tree next to it for shade and a little shelter. anyway once on the ledge all a cat would have to do to leave my yard is jump through a gap in the wall. i placed the carrier in front of the gap. i put food and water at the carrier entrance. then i opened the door backed off and waited.. and waited.. and waited.. no one came out of the carrier.. the two raging balls of fur i expected never came flying out of the carrier.. after three hours (around 1am already) we decided to call it quits and bring them back in the house. once they were back in the house they were bitchy of course and untouchable.

what should i do now? just keep bringing them out in the carrier every night until one day they want to explore? or continue with the taming process that has produced no results for months?

Monday, April 26, 2010

SPCA Selangor Action Alert

As usual, i'm having a little trouble getting the newsletter to show up perfecly in my blog.. If you can't see this e-newsletter properly, please click here

Animal groups unite on World Day for Animals in Laboratories to stop the construction of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia

24 APRIL 2010, KUALA LUMPUR - To mark World Day for Animals in Laboratories today, a coalition of animal protection groups has launched an international effort to stop the construction of an animal laboratory at the Masjid Tanah Industrial Park in Malacca, Malaysia. The proposal, which has only recently come to light, is a result of collaboration between the Indian contract testing company, Vivo Bio Tech, and the State government-owned Melaka Biotech.

The coalition, which includes the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), which represents animal protection organisations from 17 countries, has written to the Government urging it not to allow this facility to go ahead on humanitarian grounds. Also to be considered is the impact that allowing such a facility will have upon Malaysia’s international image in the world. A meeting to discuss the coalition’s objections in full has been requested.
Disturbingly, Malaysia currently has no legislation governing the use of animals in research. According to the company’s website (www.vivobio.com), Vivo Biotech carries out extensive animal research, including toxicity testing on a variety of species for a number of purposes, including the controversial use for cosmetic products. It has also been reported that primates could be sourced locally in Malaysia. The government of Malaysia made an important stand by re-instating the ban on the export of primates for research in 2008. Should the animal laboratory be allowed to be set up in Malacca, immense suffering, misery and death will be inflicted on thousands of animals, and potentially facilitate the trade in wild-caught macaques within Malaysia.
The coalition opposes the construction of this facility for both ethical reasons and the lack of scientific validity of using animals in testing. It argues that there is a large range of non-animal techniques that, as well as being a more humane approach to science, can also be cheaper, quicker and more effective. These include cell, tissue and organ culture; micro-organisms such as bacteria; molecular research; studies with post-mortem tissues; computer simulations, population studies (epidemiology) and ethical clinical research with human volunteers.
Coalition spokesperson, Christine Chin, SPCA Selangor stated: “We are calling on animal groups and others around the world to join us in urging the Government of Malaysia to dissociate itself from a proposal that will not only involve the suffering and death of thousands of animals every year, but also will undoubtedly have a negative and detrimental impact on Malaysia’s image overseas.”
Action Alert
Please support the international campaign to stop the development of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia

Join with us in opposing the development of an animal testing facility in Malacca, Malaysia. The BUAV (http://www.buav.org/) , the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor (www.spca.org.my) and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) (http://www.eceae.org/) have joined forces to campaign on this issue and we need your help!

The coalition opposes the construction of this facility for both ethical reasons and the lack of scientific validity of using animals in testing. It argues that there is a large range of non-animal techniques that, as well as being a more humane approach to science can also be cheaper, quicker and more effective.

There is still time to take action. We understand that as yet, no notice or applications of permits have been made to the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Wildlife and National Parks, or the Department of Veterinary Services.

Further information and a link to a recent article in the Malay Mail, a leading Malaysian newspaper, can be viewed here:

http://www.buav.org/a/2010/04/02/309

Please support the campaign and urge the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Chief Minister of Malacca to put an end to the negotiations between the Indian biotechnology company and the State government-owned Melaka Biotech. Request that they do not embark on the controversial business of animal research and remind them of the negative impact that the proposed laboratories will have on Malaysia’s international image.

Prime Minister of Malaysia

Datuk Seri Najib Razak

Prime Minister

Office of the Prime Minister

Main Block, Perdana Putra Building

Federal Government Administrative Centre

62502 Putrajaya

Malaysia

Email: ppm@pmo.gov.my (cc. the Prime Ministers Secretary at aziz@pmo.gov.my)

Chief Minister of Malacca

Datuk Seri Hj. Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam

Office of the Chief Minister

The Seri Negari

The State Administrative and Development Centre

Malacca, Malaysia

Email: alirustam@melaka.gov.my

Licensing Authorities

You can also request that the government authorities in Malaysia not issue any permits for the facility.

Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry

Datuk Seri Noh bin Omar

Wisma Tani, No 28, Persiaran Perdana, Precint 4

Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan

62624 Putrajaya

Wilayah Persekutuan

Malaysia

Email: nohomar@moa.gov.my

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment

Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas

Level 1 - 4, Podium 2 & 3, Wisma Sumber Asli

No.25, Persiaran Perdana, Precint 4

Federal Government Administrative Centre

62574 Putrajaya

Malaysia

Email: uggah@nre.gov.my

Department of Veterinary Services

Dato’ Dr. Abd. Aziz b. Jamaluddin

The Director-General of Veterinary Services

Wisma Tani, Block Podium Lot 4G1

Presint 4, Federal Government Administrative Centre

62630 Putrajaya

Malaysia

Email: azizj@dvs.gov.my

Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan)

Dato' Abd. Rashid bin Samsudin

Director-General

Headquarters of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks

Km 10, Jalan Cheras

56100 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Email: rashid@wildlife.gov.my (cc. to Personal Assistant at pakp@wildlife.gov.my)

Embassies

You can also write to the Embassy of Malaysia in your own country. For the contact details of Malaysian Embassies around the world go to:

http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Malaysia

SPCA Animal Shelter || Inspectorate || Humane Education || Klinik Kembiri
Government Lobbying || MissionHELP
SPCA Selangor | Jln Kerja Ayer Lama, 68000 Ampang Jaya, Selangor | T: 42565312/ 42535179
F: 42528382 |
enquiries@spca.org.my

SPCA Selangor 2010, All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Runty & Stubbs- 6 days past release deadline

okayyyyy so today is wednesday. i still haven't released Runty and Stubbs.. Its almost a week past my release deadline. What am i waiting for? I don't know. I just can't let go of them. I'm not emotionally attached to them.. I don't love them like pets.. they hate me anyway.. but i do feel responsible for them and I am still not comfortable with releasing them into the world. Where will they sleep? Where will they go when it rains? How will they know which houses to avoid? How will they know where dogs hang out? How will they know to come back to me everyday for food? What if they get separated? I don't want them to be alone and afraid. Will they know how to look for water sources? ARGHHHHH!!!!!

i suppose i'm still waiting for a miracle.. sometimes when they're eating they let me pet them a little.. of course after a little while they hiss and swipe at me angrily but like, if they let me touch them at all even for a second, does that mean there is even the tiniest possibility that they could one day be tamed? like in another year or so.. i don't know.. but of course i don't want to keep them in that cage for a whole year!! that's too awful. but what if there's a chance they could have a good cozy life if they could be tamed even if it takes long? or should i just release them asap because i'm being unrealistic? so many uncertainties.. damn damn damn

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

The Challenges of Re-homing a Traumatised Pet - Article by Rose Michaels

The Challenges of Re-homing a Traumatised Pet

In the UK today, thousands of homeowners and tenants have a house pet, usually a cat or a dog, in order to have some animal companionship in the home. Unfortunately, many individuals are not the ideal pet owner and do not care for the pets properly. In fact, numerous abuse cases surface every year and many times an animal rescue becomes necessary in order to save the cat or dog’s life. Hundreds of pets are rescued and placed in protective and caring animal shelters all the time.


As a result of the exemplary jobs that these shelters perform day in and day out, many abused cats and dogs now live in good homes where caring and loving owners provide for them properly. Having your pet questions answered free is a rarity, so take advantage and ask as many questions as you can think of prior to re-homing your animal.


Speaking from personal experience, I can safely tell you that bringing home an abused pet from a shelter takes a little more patience and work than bringing one home from a breeder or a pet store. One of the first things that people fail to realise is that even though a cat or dog heals from physical abuse, the emotional and mental scars run deep.


When I brought home Red Dog, my female Lab/Retriever mix, she knew that she had come to a loving home. As I mentioned above, the physical scars were almost gone, but I soon learned that there were emotional and mental issues to deal with. The signs of her having been abused quickly surfaced and I knew that I would have to handle her and care for her differently from other pets that I have had in the home. That is the first thing that I tell every new pet owner when they bring an abused animal home, namely to expect the unexpected where abnormal behaviour is concerned.


In some instances, Red would run in fear if I needed to raise my voice or if a loud noise occurred either inside or outside my home. Another issue to contend with was lightning and thunder during storms. She would literally find a dark corner or hiding place to curl up in and tremble in fear until the storm past. What I learned from this experience was that she found a favourite spot in my bedroom closet where she wasn’t visible, so I would always keep one of the doors open so that she could escape at any time should she feel the need to do so.


The thing you want to be aware of is that re-homing a traumatised pet takes work. You have to be patient while giving them as much love as you can muster. Although Red Dog still has her moments, she has adjusted well. She still runs and hides like she used to, just not as frequently as she has integrated into the home rather well.


Author Biography:

Rose Michaels has been writing articles regarding the proper care of pets and working directly with animal shelters for several years now. She has provided advice and tips to thousands of pet owners regarding the care, feeding, and handling of cats and dogs, answering readers’ pet questions on a daily basis. Additionally, she has conducted numerous seminars in order to educate new pet owners throughout the UK.

Monday, April 19, 2010

R & S still with me..

hola people!!
so i still haven't gotten around to releasing runty and stubbs.. its monday now.. i'm officially 4 days past my feral kitty release deadline. i don't know how to start!! what should i do? just bring them outside in the carrier and open the door? seems so abrupt..

Friday, April 16, 2010

The Every Dog Has Its Day - Paws Mission Adoption Drive

Hello everyone!! Please make sure you check out local rescue group Every Dog Has Its Day's adoption drive at the Waterfront Desa Park City this Saturday the 17th of April from 11am to 6pm. Lots of adorable loving puppies and dogs need homes! Remember, adoption is the humane option and every dog no matter what shape, color, and size needs love and can give love too.
Anyways please call these numbers for more details: 0122052906, 0123278060, 0122900215 and also check out the group's blog at http://everydoghasitsday09.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Exporting Cruelty to Malaysia

For some reason, I always assumed that India was a country compassionate towards animals. I suppose this assumption was made based on documentaries I had seen about the temples/sanctuaries for monkeys, rats etc.. where these animals lived in peace, were looked after, and fed by people who thought they were holy sacred beings. I was particularly impressed by the footage I saw of people preparing food for hundreds, possibly thousands of rats in a temple. I thought, wow now THAT's compassion for you. Everywhere else in the world rats are reviled and even a lot of supposedly kind and animal-loving people wouldn't hesitate to kill/poison/trap a rat. Usually it seems kindness is limited only to those who are cute and considered 'clean' so I was touched by the care shown to the rats.

India has a large vegetarian population due to certain widespread religious beliefs about compassion and not taking the lives of living things. I'm a huge consumer of skin and body care products manufactured by an Indian company called Himalaya. Their products are not animal tested and contain no animal derived ingredients. For some reason (i'm sooooo naive and dumb sometimes) this led me to believe that other Indian products would probably be cruelty-free as well. I really thought that vegetarians + compassionate society = cruelty-free capitalism. I must be out of my frickin mind. Gandhi said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated". I hoped his countrymen thought so too.

Well, I suppose that's why I was so surprised when I found out that the animal-testing facility being set up in Malaysia is being done so in partnership with Indian biotech company Vivo Biotech Limited and Malaysian company Malacca Biotech. I wasn't surprised by the Malaysian part, after all its well-known that Malaysia is not a compassionate society and animals have no rights here. I was surprised by the Indian part because I didn't know (again very naive of me) that there was actually an industry for animal-testing research over there. It never occurred to me that societal beliefs have nothing to do with economics and there are always going to be some fuckers in every country that will exploit anyone and anything for a buck. I had even assumed that there were laws protecting animals from the cruelties and agony of vivisection. My ignorance and idealism amaze me. ugh. Its as if I thought everyone would be like Gandhi. Yes, laugh. Go ahead laugh at me.

Anyhoozers I did some reading and it turns out that yes of course India uses animals for their drugs and cosmetics industries. Duh. In fact more and more Indian companies are churning out pharmaceuticals and cosmetics all the time. Hundreds of billions of rupees worth get exported around the world every year. Animal testing is a HUGE industry in India pushed on by humanity's constant desire for new and innovative products, but it was barely regulated. There were no rules or laws dictating what could or could not be done to the animals. The researchers and scientists could do whatever they wanted.. until 1998. That's when the first animal testing regulations first went into effect. Now, pharmaceutical companies in India must deal with a lot of angry animal rights groups. Animal testing has become a huge religious and political issue over there. They can no longer test on canines or primates and other small animal testing is extremely limited and strictly regulated. Did i mention that the facility they are setting up in Malaysia will include canine and primate testing facilities? ooohhhhhh what a co-inky-dink!!

That's why India's Vivo Biotech Limited is EXPORTING their cruelty to Malaysia. Smart move on their part. Bastards. They are setting up their crap here because animal protection laws are seriously lacking over here. They can go back to being cruel, barbaric, archaic, and they can use all kinds of disgusting methods and procedures outlawed elsewhere in the world. They don't have to worry about legal issues... there aren't as many activists over here. Its a vivisection lover's dream come true. They can avoid their own animal welfare laws. How convenient.

What does Malaysia get out of this? A piece of the bloody RM170 billion (US 50 billion) pie of course. Yay for Malacca state. I think we should all boycott the Malaysian state of Malacca and any products produced by Vivo Biotech and Malacca Biotech. Remember, always do your research so you can find cruelty-free cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. There are lots. When the petitions and protests begin, take part! Don't let cruelty be shoved down your throat. Don't consume it, don't encourage it.

Here are some great animal-testing reads:
http://www.petaindia.com/campaigns/vivisection.asp

http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2006/11/25/outsourcing_animal_testing/

http://www.calcuttanews.net/story/226032

http://www.stopanimaltests.com/

And for those who don't care where the crap they buy comes from. Don't care about the suffering that comes with the purchase.. Well just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. And if you do buy cruelty, you're GUILTY of the cruelty as well. You might as well have held the poor critters down and sliced them open yourself, after all you are paying the salaries of the people who put them there.

So here, take a look you bastards.. http://www.animalsvoice.com/gallery/cosmetic.html

Monday, April 12, 2010

Runty & Stubbs' upcoming release..

I think I will be releasing Runty and Stubbs this Thursday or Friday. They have recovered from their spay surgeries already. I don't feel good about it. I've never had to do this before. All previous fosters became tame and adoptable eventually. I know I can't control what they do once I have released them but I hope that even though they are still afraid of humans, they will know to come back to my house everyday for food. If anything happens to them while they're out there, I won't be able to forgive myself but I can't keep the terrified little kitties in my house anymore. It's too stressful for them, its been too long without any progress, and they don't want to be around people. this is one situation that i've got to let go of but its just so difficult to do so. i keep worrying that i'll find them dead in the neighborhood one day. omg why am i so bloody paranoid and neurotic.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Malaysia's spanking new animal cruelty project.

Ugh.. Coming soon to Malaysia... An animal testing facility. Don't really know what to say about this that I haven't already said before.. I think everyone knows how i feel about this. i'm just very disappointed, upset, defeated. i feel like we are going nowhere. society here will never be more compassionate and more aware. we are fighting a losing battle. If you haven't already, click here to read my 2003 college paper about animal testing.. its an old article but the information is still relevant.


And below, the article in The Malay Mail that announced this upcoming atrocity.

Animal-testing centre to be set up in Malaysia
MoU signed to set up full-fledged animal experiment centre in Malacca
Friday, April 2nd, 2010 11:02:00
monkey

FULLY INTEGRATED: The new multi-million biotechnology centre in Malacca will feature several animal testing laboratories — Filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: A RM450 million deal has been signed between a large Indian biotechnology company and State government-owned Melaka Biotech Holdings Sdn Bhd this year. The State will soon see three animal-experimentation laboratories set up in Rembia in Alor Gajah.

The primate, small animals and canine-testing laboratories will be part of a one-stop fully-integrated biotechnology centre for the development, testing and manufacturing of medicines.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Malacca Biotech, Indian Biotechnology firm Vivo BioTech Limited and Vanguard Creative Technologies Sdn Bhd on Jan 21 in India. A joint-venture company, Vivo Bio Tech (M) Sdn Bhd was set up to facilitate this multi billion ringgit project, in which India's Vivo BioTech would hold majority equity, followed by Vanguard Creative and Melaka Biotech.

The MoU was inked in New Delhi by representatives of Vivo BioTech and Vanguard as well as by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, witnessed by Najib.

But as yet, no notice or application of permit has been made with the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS).

Mohd Ali told The Malay Mail that the company was in the process of submitting building plans for the facilities to the Alor Gajah Municipal Council.

On the unease of animal welfare groups over the use of animals for experiments, the chief minister gave the assurance the State government would monitor the situation once the centre is set up and operational.

Meanwhile, Vivo Bio Tech (Malaysia) director Datuk Kuna Sittampalam stated that the proposed fully integrated biotechnology centre was still in its "early days" as the company has yet to submit building plans to the local council.

"There will be three phases in the construction. Phase one will be the animal-testing facilities while the second and third phases will encompass the biotech facilities," said Sittampalam.

He said the company will be importing Beagles from Holland for tests requiring canines, and most probably white mice for the small animal laboratory. He wasn’t sure where they will get the primates from, "Most will be obtained locally, but if we are not allowed, then we will look overseas.

"This is a US$50 billion (RM170 billion) industry and Malaysia wants to be a part of this," said Sittampalam.

Not all tests can be replicated using human tissue culture in place of animals, he said, and explained that animal-testing is a small segment of the whole biotechnology process and people must look at the "bigger picture".

Unfortunately, he added, a biotechnology centre must have testing in order to be deemed fully-integrated. There must be the full sequence of drug development, testing and manufacturing, "so the picture is complete".

Growing protest of welfare groups

KUALA LUMPUR: News that a new biotechnology facility equipped with canine, primate and small animal testing laboratories would soon be set up in Malacca has received opposition from local and international animal welfare NGOs who urge the government to step away from animal experimentation and testing.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) chairman, Christine Chin said SPCA opposes the construction of any animaltesting laboratory.

"There are so many duplication of tests in many areas, in which scientists use human tissue or stem cell tissue instead of using animals," she said, adding that animal-testing does not even provide complete and accurate data or results.

She feels Malaysia should concentrate on refining testing using human tissue from stem cell initiatives instead of embarking on controversial businesses that use animals for tests.

"I understand that certain pharmaceutical testing requires animals and we must accept a certain amount of animal-testing unfortunately. But we must begin to move towards alternative techniques," she said.

"Malaysia should not open the economy to businesses like this as it promotes cruelty."

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Sam) was also disappointed with the news of the laboratories, stating that no animal-testing in any form should be allowed in this country.

Its president S.M. Mohamed Idris also urged the use of human tissue cultures in place of "animals specially bred and killed for this purpose".

"They need to assess the justification for using animals in experiments and carry out a meaningful evaluation on the harm these animals will endure," said Idris.

He also questioned whether the biotechnology company gave any thought to the welfare of the animals it was bringing in, such as how they will be housed and destroyed after the experiments were carried out.

"Is there an ethics committee set up to look into this and ensure the animals do not suffer before and during the experiments?" he asked.

UK-based British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (Buav) has also expressed concern over the news of the planned laboratories.

Its special projects director Sarah Kite told The Malay Mail: "The outsourcing of animal-testing to countries where restrictions may be more lax is a worrying development. This appears to be the case in Malaysia as we understand there is no legislation governing the use of animals in research or testing. Even with legislation, however, the suffering that will be inflicted on the animals used is immoral and unacceptable."

She said Buav was also concerned as to the source of the primates to be used in tests at this facility, questioning whether the facility will be allowed to use Malaysia's own indigenous population of long-tailed macaques.

"We urge the people of Malaysia to not allow itself to be part of an industry that inflicts such great pain and suffering on animals," said Kite.

Perhilitan and DVS in the dark

KUALA LUMPUR: Neither the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) nor the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) have officially heard about the planned biotechnology centre in Rembia, Malacca.

Perhilitan deputy directorgeneral Misliah Mohamad Basir said this was the first time she had heard of such a deal and that she can, to date, "confirm" that no one has approached Perhilitan to obtain a license for bringing in primates to the laboratory.

"They must refer to us (Perhilitan) for licensing as primates are a protected species. This is a big issue. We will have to refer the matter to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment," she said.

Misliah also said that since there are no guidelines or policy on animal testing, Perhilitan will draft new guidelines for the of testing on animals under Perhilitan's jurisdiction if the Ministry were to approve such applications.

DVS deputy director-general (veterinary health) Datuk Dr Ahmad Suhaimi Omar also stated he was not aware of the biotechnology centre in Rembia.

Currently, only a permit from DVS is needed if it involves the import of animals.

“For us, it is only the import of animals that will be of concern to us, but who has the authority to say yes or no to testing?" he asked, adding that the law (Animal Act 1953) contains legislation only on cruelty towards animals.

Tests a benefit to mankind

KUALA LUMPUR: On the other side of the spectrum, Laboratory Animal Science Association of Malaysia (Lasam) said animal-testing or experiment facilities in Malaysia had been around for a long time.

Lasam president Dr Abdul Rahim Mutalib said: "Animal-testing or experiments are part and parcel of research and development in medical, veterinary and biomedical sciences. Animals are used as living models in studies to answer pertinent questions regarding a problem or problems that affect man (or other animals species).

"We cannot use human subjects anyway. The results will eventually benefit humans in the end.

"The animal is a complete living system in which many types of responses can be elicited either simultaneously or in a series over a period of time. No in-vitro system, be it computer simulation, cell or organ culture system, can replace the animal."

He said once a researcher has developed a product meant for humans, he or she must also prove that it will not have any deleterious effect on humans.

As soon as a product is created, he said, the progression of testing would be first in an in-vitro system such as tissue, cell or organ culture, followed by in an in-vivo system such as in small mammals including rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and even fish.

Lastly, testing would be conducted on higher mammals such as dogs, and monkeys which are models for humans.

"The best type of animals that they should use are those that are purpose-bred. You must not use pet dogs or pound dogs or those caught from the wild, as in the case of monkeys, as these animals' health status are not defined," said Dr Abdul Rahim.

"If you use these types of animals, it is likely that your results will not be valid because there are so many variables. Just like when we do experiments in the laboratory, we must use the highest-quality chemicals and the cleanest of glassware so that our results will be true results."

Dr Abdul Rahim, however, stressed that experiments conducted on the animals must take into account their welfare before, during and after the procedures, and if there is pain, it must be minimised.

"The research must be ethical and the benefit must outweigh the pain or suffering the animals undergo," he said.

Thus, he suggested that a local committee called the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) or the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) must be set up to screen or evaluate any research proposal that needs to use animals.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better urgently needs donations!!

Hello all.. Here is the update from MDDB's website. They really really really need help right now. Please try to help in any way you can. They are swamped. Please click on the link to see photos of the dogs they need help for. For some reason i couldn't get them to appear here like i usually do. GRRRRRR.
Update taken from http://malaysiandogsdeservebetter.blogspot.com/2010/04/need-help.html

Dear people,

our finances are in the red again - and when we say red - we mean dark dark red. We owe a lot of vets money and have also used up our resources to pay for medicines and vitamins for our rescued puppies and dogs. We also need to pay our rental, utilities as well as helpers' allowance. The Klang and Selayang puppies, especially, took-up most of our resources as most of them had been very very ill.

Here what we need money for.

1) This old girl, now named Shriya, was found wailing and crying, in a car park in Subang Jaya. She was rescued by a motorist who had parked her car there and handed over to us. She is under the care of one of our fosterers and was recently diagnosed with failing kidneys. We need to put her on prescription food and kidney supplements which are both very expensive. Shriya is about 8 years old.


2) Senior White, Ms Husky and Forrest are still at the vets because they are not completely well. They have been there from the day of the rescue and we reckon their treatment and boarding is going to cost us. We have already paid the vet partially for the other pups admitted there including Ebony who had to undergo a blood transfusion.

3) Rolex too is at the same vet and he apparently has other healh issues including veneral disease. The treatment for that is quite expensive and we have to raise money for that as well.

3) Remember Lester? He too is still admitted at the vet's for various other problems and we reckon that he is going to cost us thousands as his treatment was extensive. The vet says he is having tick fever and cannot put on weight eventhough he eats a lot.
4) We have no picture here but a old male dog was rescued in Section 19, Subang Jaya and admitted at Mayo Clinic in Taipan. We owe the vet about RM1,400 for heartworm treatment, vaccination, castration and boarding. He has since been sent to the Furry Friend's Farm.

5) We still have our pups who have either been rescued from the pounds or off the streets that are suffering from either distemper, parvo or demodex that are still with us. In addition to that we also have several mother dogs awaiting neutering.
Please help us raise some funds. Details are as follows:


Cheques in favour of:

Community Development and Integration Initiative Bhd (654290-T)

and mail it to:

c/o No 48, Jalan Jeriji U8/75C, Bukit Jelutong, 40150, Shah Alam, Selangor.

Or bank into:

Community Development and Integration Initiative Bhd

Public Bank Account Number: 3151793708.

Details: 019-3576477, 012-3739007

Read more: http://malaysiandogsdeservebetter.blogspot.com/2010/04/need-help.html#ixzz0kTJIDtH9

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Runty & Stubbs in recovery at home

So it turns out that at one point before the spay surgery, Runty managed to give the vets the slip.. It took like 5 people to get her back.. She had literally flung herself out of the carrier when they opened the door and shot off into hiding. Thank god they managed to get her back with towels and much military style planning.. She really is a wild one. You wouldn't think so if you just looked at her sweet pretty face though. She looks so precious.. All lies though.. all lies.. hahahahaha. Don't be deceived!

Since Runty and Stubbs are both still so feral, the vet Dr S decided that it would be best if i took them home right after surgery, instead of having them spend the night at the clinic and be fully awake and recharged and evil the next day. So after work i went to pick them up. They were both awake but still very stoned so it was easy for me to gently lift their little bodies from the carriers and place them back inside their cage on a clean fluffy towel. That was the first time i have ever handled them and probably the last.. While they continued to enjoy their drug stupor i pet them, stroked their heads, rubbed their chins and they fell back asleep. That was so nice but so sad too because I knew it would end soon and sure enough, by this morning, they were fully alert and back to their bitchy ways. I admit i had hoped that maybe a little part of them would remember that I had been so gentle and loving with them while they were helpless. oh well... all part of animal rescue right.. *sigh*

Stubbs yesterday evening, still feeling woozy and stoned..

Stubbs this morning.. back on high alert.


Runty half stoned, half awake.. wedged herself between the cage bars and the litter box yesterday.

Runty this morning.. back to her wary, suspicious self.

Oh and in case any of you haven't guessed.. Runty's name is Runty because she was the runt of the litter.. Tiny compared to the rest and with a limp. Stubbs has a stubby tail.. yeah i know, veryyyyy original..

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Runty & Stubbs' Big Spay Day

Sri Murni Condo's super feral felines Runty and Stubbs will be spayed today.. It took FOREVER to get both of them into the carrier this morning and by the time they were both in, I was drenched in sweat and super cranky and running late for work.. arghhh...

Let's all send them positive vibes and hope they will be calm during their overnight stay at the clinic and have a speedy recovery. Let's also hope that they are less aggressive after they are spayed. It would be much easier to look after them if I could go near them.

Fat Fat & Sparks.. Feline love

Permanent residents Fat Fat and Sparks are in love.. 3 years ago, Sparks was found in a bathroom as a little baby.. I was only supposed to foster him until he found a permanent home..
But since he and Fat Fat became so close, I couldn't bear the thought of separating them.
I don't regret keeping Sparks for a second! These two boys have never ever had a fight and they are incredibly close to this day.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Molly and Conan's Sunday afternoon

Conan staying away from Molly. He finds her pretty darn annoying sometimes.

A friend told me about a Japanese store that sells everything at 5 ringgit. I went and found great dog toys.. all at 5 buckaroos of course! how cool is that? normally dog toys are imported and sold at 20 to 30 ringgit at pet stores.. molly was very pleased and howled enthusiastically ;)
Here she is with her new soft plush boomerang.. its got a squeaker inside but she can't figure out how to make it squeak herself and she gets really annoyed when it squeaks for me!
Hard at work, destroying her new toys.. I give them about 1 week to live.. but oh well, at least they were cheap this time.. Tony and Spike have also set about destroying their new toys.. Tony, by killing them the way i have seen him kill rodents.. and Spike with his love of shredding.. toys never last do they? sighhhh

SPCA Selangor's "Take a Leash, Give a Life" Campaign Launch & Billboard at 1utama

One of the fabulous leashes for members of the public to take home..

The booth..

The dogs featured on the billboard are some of SPCA Selangor's current residents.



The fabulous 30ft billboard at 1Utama shopping center.. Designed and donated by Young & Rubicam advertising agency. The leashes are for the public to take home and they signify the removal of bars from a cage and freedom and life for animals at the shelter once they are adopted. A total of 500 leashes were produced and donated.