Learning More About Animals

 

One of the few dalmations in Noah's Ark

 

A lovely white Persian Cat abandoned by its owner

 

The cute bulldog which likes to perform the "moonwalk ala Michael Jackson style!"

 

The St. Bernard that had been constantly left in its owner's toilet now finds plenty of space to move about in the lovely sanctuary!

Frankly, it was such a great learning experience at Noah's Ark. I learnt so much from Raymund and his faithful volunteers. Raymund told us that big dogs like the Great Dane and Dalmations are prone to deafness. Some owners are unaware of that, and become disappointed when they realise their dogs have lost all hearing ability.
Some decide to abandon their deaf dogs! It made me tearful when I heard that for I was thinking that it was great that my parents never abandoned me because of my hearing problems! Of course some people may argue that I am a human being, but when people adopt dogs, they should make it a lifetime committment! I still remember a doggy poster given out by the SPCA which read, "To you he is only a dog, but to him, you are everything!" How can any owner abandon his pet? Unless an owner has valid reasons of failing health, financial difficulties, etc. I find it almost cruel for pets to be abandoned.

The beautiful St. Bernard is now so well groomed, and lying contentedly in the clinic. He was constantly put in the toilet, and through years of little mobility, the dog's legs have weakened. It is incomprehensible why some people will go to the extent of paying so much money for a dog, only to give minimal care to their pets. It is about time that something be really done to prevent dogs like huskies, Chow Chows and St. Bernards from coming into our country, for the weather is just too warm for them.

We smiled when we saw a white, almost overweight bulldog which we nicknamed, "Fat Fat". The volunteers told us that the dog is deaf. From afar it looks like a little pig. The bulldog loves to walk backwards and we laugh because his steps are almost like breakdance! The cute little dog never seems to get tired of performing this stunt for us.

There are about 400 cats of different breeds. I particularly like the white Persian cat. The fur is so white and clean. Again a beautiful animal, expensively bought and indifferently abandoned!

Mahatma Gandhi had said, "The progress of a nation is measured by the way her people treat animals."

Gan Chau

Noah's Ark - The Ark of Hope

 

The founder, Raymund Wee, shared about his vision and work.

 

A lovely sanctuary - far away from the madding crowd.

 

Some of the 700 dogs in the Sanctuary. Although there are 10 acres of land, the dogs
like to stay together!

 

The dogs love visitors!

I have wanted to vist Noah's Ark for a long time. Finally I made it a point to participate in the Ark's fund raising dinner. The package included a bus ride to an from Noah's Ark in Pekan Nanas, Johore and back to Singapore as well as a sumptuous seafood dinner.

We waited at the pick up point at Boon Lay MRT Station. There were two busloads of animal lovers. The organisers briefed us on what to expect in the Sanctuary. Wow! What an amazing welcome by so many canines who barked their joy on seeing us. The dogs that were left to run around were sociable. They enjoyed being patted and wagged their tails profusely.

The dogs that are not so sociable are put in cages. Some have just arrived and need time to get used to their new environment. There is a clinic to provide medical attention to sick animals.

There are also 400 cats of different species! These cats are protected by fencing all round. Visitors could enter and play with the cats. There are also 6 horses and some rabbits. A couple of snakes are also placed in huge glass containers.

Raymund has built a lovely shelter which has Balinese design and decor. It is beautiful and cosy. Many of the dogs try to enter as they want attention.

I am amazed by Raymund's passion for his cause. From the Ark's newsletter, I read that fuelled by his love for the strays, Raymund sold off his shop house to set up an animal shelter in Singapore. He transformed Noah's Ark into one of the foremost private animal shelters in Singapore. With increased land rentals, Raymund shifted his operation to Pekan Nanas. Every month, Noah's Ark spends almost $25,000 a month to continue its objectives of reducing the stray population, rescue abandoned, injured and abused animals as well as maintain its 1,100 animals at the Sanctuary. Readers can go into the Ark's Website: www.noahsarkcares.com and www.noahsarklodge.com

Although I was somewhat physically tired when I reached home at night, my spirit was uplifted by all that I had seen .....compassion, kindness and care for our four legged friends. I would definitely like to join the small yet faithful group of volunteers to help out at the Sanctuary in the very near future.

Gan Chau

How Did We Survive Our Childhood?

My friend, Elena Ho, sent me this email. I had edited and added a few more points, for indeed, I also had a great time spending my childhood days in Jelutong Kampong in Penang.

Take a very short walk through our history. How did we survive our childhood?
If you were a kid in the 50's, 60's, 70's or even early 80's ..how did you survive your childhood?

1.- When we were growing up we never wore seatbelts in the car for cars didn't have airbags then.

2.- Riding on the back of a pick up truck was an adventure that we still remember!

3.- Our cribs were painted with bright colors (paint which was full of lead.) Some of us poor ones slept in homemade cradles of sarong and a rope hanging from the ceiling! But we grew up feeling secure and loved!

4.- We didn't have childproof medicine bottles, nor did our parents ever childproof our house.

5.- When we rode our bikes we never wore a helmet. The brother who taught us how to ride a motorbike in the kampong, also probably did not have a licence himself!

6.- We would drink water from the faucet or from a hose in the backyard (not bottled water).

7.- We didn't have cell phones, so our parents were never able to reach us (awesome).

8.- We would get scrapes, bruises, break bones, lose teeth, but we would never sue for these accidents.

9.- We would eat cake, bread and butter, drink sugary drinks,and we weren't overweight because we were always outside playing.

10.- Four of us would share a drink, we would all drink from the same bottle and that wasn't gross nor would anyone get sick.

11.- We didn't have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X boxes, video games,
cable TV with over 100 channels, VCR's, surround sound , cellular phones , computers , online chatrooms , instead we would have tons of FRIENDS.

12.- Toy or Us was not operating yet. There was no shopping for toys, Barbie dolls or games. We created our own stuffed toys made from left over cloths and unwanted cotton or cloths for stuffing. We drew lines on the sand to play hopscotch and dig holes in the sand to play, "Hit ball and run!" For the tougher ones, we played "Robber and Thief" and the village was our hiding place! Climbing trees for coconuts, rambutans, chikus and others fruits was a feat for many of us nimble ones.

13.- Our parents did not send us for tuition. Some of us learnt to play musical instruments, drawing, dancing, swimming and playing badminton and table tennis on our own or from friends and siblings.

14.- Some of us weren't as bright as others but when one would get left back that was no big deal. They would not get taken to a psychologist, nor did they ever suffer from dyslexia, hyperactivity, ADHD, ADD, etc, they would simply repeat the grade until they passed.

15.- We had freedom , mishaps, successes, , responsibilities,
and we would learn to deal with them. The question is...How did we survive? and above all, to become the GREAT people that we are today? . Are you from one of these generations?

If you are, then send this article to others from your same generation or to others who are younger so that they can see how we survived.

They will probably say that we were very boring, but I believe that we were VERY HAPPY CHILDREN...