Sunday, April 13, 2014
The Best Day Ever
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Get Tested, Get Treated
Thursday, April 10, 2014
A Time For Self-Reflection
APPEAL FOR COMPASSION: The Johor Baru Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wants to work with local councils to control the stray dog population in the city
JOHOR BAHRU: THE Johor Baru Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JBSPCA) hopes to work with local councils to control the stray dog population in the city.
Its chairman Ranjit Singh said this after receiving complaints from the public that dogs were being killed and dumped in refuse bins in their neighbourhoods.
"We can understand that the local councils have to do something about the stray dog population, as canines in a pack can turn hostile.
"JBSPCA is appealing to the authorities to use a humane euthanisation method. We are also willing to assist the local authority in a spay programme," Ranjit said.
He said it was unethical to clobber or shoot an animal, and then put it into a plastic bag for it to die from its injuries or from lack of oxygen.
"That is a very cruel way to die," he added.
Streets checked out two garbage disposal centres -- one at Taman Universiti and another at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah -- and found that stray dogs were indeed dumped in black plastic bags.
A Taman Ungku Tun Aminah resident, who only wanted to be known as Pei, said she often heard dogs wailing in the garbage dumpster near the area's market.
"Being an animal lover, the dreadful sound of a dog crying as it breathes its last really disturbs me. I can't sleep at night," she said.
Pei claimed that the dogs were brought there in a truck and dumped.
Traders at the market in Taman Universiti, near Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, said there was a strong stench when the rubbish was not picked up on time.
"The men would come in a truck two or three times a week and dump the plastic bags containing dogs into the dumpster.
"Sometimes, some of the dogs are still alive when they dumped there," said one of the traders who declined to be named.
It is learnt that this inhumane practice has been going on for several years.
JBSPCA vice-chairman Joseph Chia said stray dogs should be put down humanely and the carcasses disposed off properly.
SWM Environment Sdn Bhd corporate communications head Shahrul Amir Abdul Rahim said the company would look into the matter. The company is in charge of waste management in the two areas.
Johor Baru Central municipal council could not be reached for comment.
Read more: 'Cull stray dogs humanely' - Johor - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/cull-stray-dogs-humanely-1.560512#ixzz2yXAyKEvt
Empathy and Compassion
The dumpster in Taman Universiti where the carcasses of stray dogs were put into plastic bags and dumped. Some of the dogs were not dead yet but would eventually succumb to their injuries or die from lack of oxygen.
Starting the Day
Monday, April 7, 2014
Springtime In The Tropics
Tabebuia rosea blossoming all over Malaysia. Pic by Esther Teo |
I didn't know much about this flower species until yesterday.
After doing some research, I learnt that the Tabebuia rosea aka trumpet rose tree is a tropical tree that is widely planted along city and residential streets all over Malaysia.
Johor Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) chairman Vincent Chow, in his FB site, said the tree is native to Central and South America and is popularly planted along roadsides and as a garden ornamental plant.
In Malaysia, Tabebuia is also known as the “Cherry Blossoms of Penang” after its pink flowers which are much like the cherry blossoms of Japan.
Other local nicknames for the plant include “tissue paper tree”, referring to its thin petals.
The tree is also known as ipĂȘ rosa in South American countries.
"When the wind blows, the falling white blooms give one a feeling that it is snowing,"says Vincent.
However, the time to enjoy the blooms is limited. See it before it's over!