Probably the last one tomorrow morning as Mama Girl and Flippy go separate ways.There is still no confirmed home for Mama Girl. Both she and Flippy could be released back to their farms tomorrow, which was the firmer plan for Flippy when she was picked up to treat her open, maggot-infested wound.
In the perfect world of Catch-Neuter-Release, there will be no qualms about freeing Mama Girl back to her farm after she is healed, and she is looking good as new now. There will also be no deep concerns about releasing Flippy back to her family, as rehoming has never been our priority.
However, in reality, Catch-Neuter-Release can be boldly undertaken if there is agreement from the authorities that dogs under the CNR programme will be set apart, that they will be safe. The situation now is they are not.
However, in reality, Catch-Neuter-Release can be boldly undertaken if there is agreement from the authorities that dogs under the CNR programme will be set apart, that they will be safe. The situation now is they are not.
The authorities are already aware of Mama Girl's farm. In the event that she has to be released back tomorrow, the only way to keep them safe is to write in officially to the AVA to request that this family of sterilised dogs be legally allowed to stay on at the farm. But if we choose to bring this up openly to the management this way, we must be prepared that they issue a directive to remove the dogs in excess of 3 as only 3 are legally allowed. For the 4th dog on, approval must be given by AVA. If we discuss this openly with AVA, what do we do if they order the removal? Or do we just stay low and take it one day at a time?
But this is not the only area of concern.
Project JK evolved to largely help one elderly stray feeder ease her burden of feeding these strays day after day after day. An elderly lady who has given up on her own personal life, creature comforts, a peaceful retirement ... just to tend to the many strays along her route. Everyday without fail.
As we got to know her more way back when we started, our main intention is to HELP HER by helping her animals, at least I find myself sometimes making some decisions largely for her, not exactly for the animals. The plan then was to relocate all the strays under her care, thereby alleviating her 'burden' of love, giving her back the days she has given to the animals.
However, the plan was a bit too naive and we stopped after relocating 18 dogs.
We need to ask ourselves at some points: WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? WHO ARE WE HELPING? WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN THIS WHOLE SCHEME OF ANIMAL WELFARE?
There are lots of questions. Questions like: do we bring new big litters of pups to SPCA to be put down humanely? Or do we choose a no-kill principle and leave the pups there as they are? Or maybe just wait for someone else to take them to SPCA instead? And who is to watch what happens to them? Who is to take on the responsibility to get more food to feed them? Who is to watch them run over by large vehicles when they are old enough to emerge from the bushes but not old enough to be street smart? What about those who are taken by other people, one by one, and to where we won't know? Out of sight, out of mind?
We are beyond debating on the rights and wrongs of feeding the strays now. Feeding must be accompanied by sterilising. But being on the streets, we have seen that it is impossible to achieve good results without an organised effort, namely, without support from an entity like the authorities for manpower and resources. We will not be able to catch and sterilise as fast as the pups are being born. Not when litters can be as big as 9 pups from 1 mother.
1 elderly lady cannot work wonders. Neither can 2 or 3 who choose to help along the way. Many things can be started out with good intentions but at the end of the road, you will start to see the dilemmas.
My question now is: Who are we helping here?
But this is not the only area of concern.
Project JK evolved to largely help one elderly stray feeder ease her burden of feeding these strays day after day after day. An elderly lady who has given up on her own personal life, creature comforts, a peaceful retirement ... just to tend to the many strays along her route. Everyday without fail.
As we got to know her more way back when we started, our main intention is to HELP HER by helping her animals, at least I find myself sometimes making some decisions largely for her, not exactly for the animals. The plan then was to relocate all the strays under her care, thereby alleviating her 'burden' of love, giving her back the days she has given to the animals.
However, the plan was a bit too naive and we stopped after relocating 18 dogs.
We need to ask ourselves at some points: WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? WHO ARE WE HELPING? WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN THIS WHOLE SCHEME OF ANIMAL WELFARE?
There are lots of questions. Questions like: do we bring new big litters of pups to SPCA to be put down humanely? Or do we choose a no-kill principle and leave the pups there as they are? Or maybe just wait for someone else to take them to SPCA instead? And who is to watch what happens to them? Who is to take on the responsibility to get more food to feed them? Who is to watch them run over by large vehicles when they are old enough to emerge from the bushes but not old enough to be street smart? What about those who are taken by other people, one by one, and to where we won't know? Out of sight, out of mind?
We are beyond debating on the rights and wrongs of feeding the strays now. Feeding must be accompanied by sterilising. But being on the streets, we have seen that it is impossible to achieve good results without an organised effort, namely, without support from an entity like the authorities for manpower and resources. We will not be able to catch and sterilise as fast as the pups are being born. Not when litters can be as big as 9 pups from 1 mother.
1 elderly lady cannot work wonders. Neither can 2 or 3 who choose to help along the way. Many things can be started out with good intentions but at the end of the road, you will start to see the dilemmas.
My question now is: Who are we helping here?
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