A continuation from this: https://animalcare.my/2023/01/12/the-press-release-by-the-kuala-langat-council/
I was discussing with a friend who is very experienced in the field of rescue and animal issues. He opines that feeders should keep it small and sustainable. Do 2-3 animals, look after them well, and then just repeat the cycle. This is true. That is why we have always promoted One-Street CNRM. Keep it small, manageable and sustainable. Then the animals will be well looked after.
On the subject of changing people’s mindset so that there will be less complaints, he also thinks that it is very, very difficult to change adult mindsets. It has to start with education, from young. Animal protection, caring and being kind to animals must start from young, it has to be incorporated into the school curriculum.
We agree, totally. That is why we wrote to the new Education Minister and her deputy regarding incorporating animal protection as part of humane education in our school curriculum. But there was no response from the minister or her deputy. This was our letter, sent on 14th December and also circulated as an open letter. However, there was one positive response, though. Someone read it and forwarded it to a private (international) school teacher. There was some interest to incorporate it into their curriculum. For teachers who are interested, there is so much teaching-learning material available online.
And here’s where parents, grandparents and everyone has to play a role. Education begins from home. It also continues from home, throughout a child’s life. If the school does not teach it, then let them learn it from home. And as always, the best way is to learn from example.
My friend said through example, he has taught his own children, nieces and nephews to be kind to animals. They now do their own rescue, caring, neutering and rehoming of street animals, from their own pockets.
There is actually no use complaining that schools aren’t doing it or that the government isn’t interested. We all know this and nothing is going to change.
So, BE the change you want to see. Do it ourselves.
More caring, compassion and acceptance of street animals, less complaints. Less complaints, less capture. Then, we shall hopefully see less of cases akin to this Kuala Langat issue.
How many shelters can we build? How many pound rescues can we make? When we started way back, we also did three pound rescues (Puchong in 2006 (before I started AnimalCare), Klang in 2009 and Selayang in 2010). We also did various smaller pound rescues through the years when we had a friend who could take in the animals into their shelter. But we cannot anymore now because there is no shelter that we know that can take in animals. Many shelters are also in dire needs. Many are full to the brim.
In fact, we always receive emails from people asking for help to surrender animals to shelters. We ask if they are willing to get their animals neutered through our Neutering Aid, and continue looking after their animals, but some are just not willing to do it due to their own personal circumstances. Some have too many animals and simply cannot cope anymore.
That is why we keep saying: Please, please keep it small and sustainable. An animal is a living, thinking, feeling being. They can feel pain and sadness. Taking in an animal as a pet is the same as having children.
So, what is the solution then?
- Neuter, neuter, neuter.
- Be kind to animals and be an example for others to follow, especially the younger generation.
- Keep your colony sustainable for the long term. To many of us, this means keeping it small.
