Vegan & Meowies

Feb 19, '08 5:53 AM
for everyone

A mother cat from Tampines is being held at AVA for more than a week now because TC refuse to issue a letter to the caregiver who wants to sterilise the cat and board her at a cattery. All her kittens have already died at AVA.

Can someone please tell me why there is a need for such a letter in the first place when the caregiver is willing to home the cat in a cattery and is paying for all the expenses?

More closer to home, the Town Council Manager informed Penny that the (sterilised) cats will still be rounded up after end of this month because there is a complaint from a resident at Blk 172 about too many cats and that they are making noise. She refused to reveal which unit the complaint came from.

So all the families that we spoke to at Blk 165, which is even closer to the bin center must be deaf....because we asked them and they said there was no noise! Also it doesn't matter that none of the residents we spoke to wanted the cats to be killed.

All that matters is that that the one complainant and one property officer want them removed. I wonder if the complainant is actually aware that the cats will be killed and that there is a better and humane way of controlling the cat population... probably not!

There are around 10 cats at the bin center now, 2 have been removed. A caregiver has adopted the one that had one eye removed. Another cat gave birth at a caregiver's home, while waiting to be sterilised and she is now nursing her 6 kittens there untill they are ready to be adopted.

We actually came to know about this problem because a resident feeder named Caren contacted me... but in the end she was not willing to do anything at all. Penny then took over as it is quite close to her area... then another 2 caregivers and some sponsors came in. I am quite encouraged by such community spirit... what a shame to have such an unsupportive TC.

Tags: bin-center-cats, town-council, complaints, pest-control

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julesnsp wrote on Feb 20

Will it help if this is brought up to the MP? If not, at least just to stall for time? It is frustrating to have TCs which are so "blind". Ask the TC to justify how they decide what number is too many cats and do they actually check if the cats are really making noises? Why is there only one complainant if the cats are getting out of hand? We are taxpayers too and have every right to question the TC and make them serve our purposes.

eslina wrote on Feb 20, edited on Feb 20

We recently had trouble getting a letter from my TC to save an unsterilised mother cat. I called AVA and fortunately the AVA officer agreed to keep the cat while I try my best to get the letter from TC. The TC officer was not keen to help me and the reason being that the cat is not sterilised. Luckily a caregiver I know spoke to another TC manager to ask if my TC officer could write us the letter. We actually managed to get a letter in the end and I managed to claim the cat and her 4 kittens. We promised AVA we will sterilise the cat and the kittens and rehome them at a cattery. I guess if someone the feeder/caregiver knows the TC GM well and have a good relationship with the TC GM it's possible to get the letter. I think TC officers are scared to make decisions so it is better to talk to TC GM or if the GM is not helpful then talking to the MP will be better. The officers seem to only listen to their GM or MP.

meowies wrote on Feb 20

Penny went alone today to speak to residents of Blk 172. There was only one young Malay couple that complained about too many cats, the rest of the lower floor residents didn't have a problem. Penny is convinced that they were they are the complainants. They complained about people feeding the cats at the next block...and they want the cats removed. They were quite nasty to Penny and she is so upset that wants to give up...

I will try to convince her to see the MP.

vegancatsg wrote on Feb 20, edited on Feb 20

Start a public petition and name the Town Council officer with her contact number and let her hear "noise" from protesters island-wide! Tell the unreasonable town council officers there are resident who complaint "too few cats" and what is she going to do about that!

It is ironic that it was a Malay couple who complaint about cats! Wonder if they are aware who create the most cat problems! Same in my estate when we found out a Malay family complaint of "too many cats" and cats getting into her flat. The lady in the family was nasty too when we spoke to her that her complaint has resulted in two "wrong" cats caught and they would have been killed if no one intervened! "Fortunately" the cats that jumped into her flat came from a Malay neighbour who didn't keep their cats indoor and who did not pay caregivers for sterilizing their cats!

Write a letter to the MP, besides seeing him or her and "cc" to PM and state what an ungracious society we remain,thanks to officers like this one! Most officers would have some "fear" with such email.

moavellous wrote on Feb 21

Some one commented why we only care for these cats (Tampines) and not the others... It's very hard to pretend you cant do anything if you are aware of it esp. when no one is coming forward. Action speaks louder than words, what the point of reasoning who is right and who is wrong when the cat/cats are dying in AVA?

I fully understand Penny's feeling like what I've said, if only we could "shut off" but I know no matter how low she need to go, she will still do it, for cat sake! I'm sure many of us do too... I remember once you got so upset that TC is rounding your sterilized cats that you lament what's the point of trapping them and sterilized. Thank God you did not stop today, many cats had been blessed by you and I dont think we could simply drop everything one day and say to ourselves "forget it, I'm getting out of this..."

Some times seeing MP helps and some time dont. Depending on the involvement of the MP. Mine wasnt very helpful, he didnt even reply my email. The best is still maintain a friendly relationship with TC or cleaners. Again if TC is not willing to work with you, it's also a big headache.

meowies wrote on Feb 21

Went with Rashida to speak to the Malay couple this evening but no one was at home. However we had a good talk with their immediate neighbour, who complained that one or two cats will come up and defecate in their flowerpots. They will try the various methods of solving the problem (moth balls, chop sticks, vinegar, water spray) because they also do not want the cats killed.

I Have also asked CWS for help... and we will see the MP if necessary. Still hope that I don't have to write more letters...but I will if necessary!

Some good news, the cat at AVA has finally been released with the help of SPCA.

moavellous wrote on Feb 21

Wow, indeed that is good news. Even if we only save one. Thanks for making my day. :)

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