Wow, what a couple of weeks it has been. Before I begin I would like to state my sincerest apologies for the lack of updates. With new blood injected into our team in this new semester, I hope to be able to have more contributors to the blog. But more on the new additions later.
Our registration booth set up early
As you might have read earlier, we held our annual Animal Welfare Symposium on the 25 August to reach out to individuals keen on making a difference in the lives of animals. Some 40 over participants attended and gained alot from the event, which was divided into three broad segments – Rescue, Rehabilitation and Responsibility.
The session on Rescue Work kickstarted the programme. The speakers – Ms Elaine Chiam of the Love Kuching Project, Ms Peh Sue Ann and Ms Ashley Sim from Say No to Animal Cruelty, and Dr Grace Heng, a veterinary surgeon – highlighted the importance of foster homes in the course of rescue work. They also elaborated on how foster homes are important in developing the emotional and physical status of an abandoned or abused animal.
Ms Elaine Chiam of the Love Kuching Project taking a question
The next session on Rehabilitation saw the appearance of dogs led in by the speakers, eliciting delighted squeals from the audience. Dr Siew Tuck Wah from Save Our Street Dogs, Ms Lynda Goh from Zeus Communications and veterinary surgeon Dr Liang Xutian concurred that in rescuing dogs which have been abused, such as those used as breeding dogs in puppy mills or dogs living on the streets, patience and positive reinforcement are key determiners of success.
Ms Lynda Goh with Lady Emerald taking the audience’s questions
The session on Responsible Pet Ownership highlighted how human-animal conflicts are mediated on campus. Mr Muhammad Zahari, a guest speaker from the Nanyang Technological University’s Cat Management Network, shared the experiences of his team in resolving such conflicts. Ms Corinne Fong from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals concluded the talks by revealing cases of neglect in Singapore such as terrapins kept in tiny glass containers, and dogs tied to poles or abandoned in soccer fields.
Ms Corinne Fong of SPCA
The symposium enabled us as the younger generation to taking a proactive stand in the lives of the voiceless creatures around us. As the saying goes, saving the life of one animal may not change the world, but the world will surely change for that one animal.
In all it was a great success for our humble team. And we definitely gained so much, not just by organising the symposium, but also networking and learning from our esteemed speakers and our guests.
For more information and pictures, do head on down to our facebook group (link)
The Team!