An Unforgettable Benchmark For PJ Soon

Story - Courtesy from Petpositive

An Unforgettable Benchmark For PJ Soon

Unanimous thumbs up from everyone

DATELINE: KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIAN WITH DISABILITIES had a rare opportunity yesterday to get a glimpse of "a new Petaling Jaya", in the state of Selangor.

"The new city" will be marked by a brand new 12-acre commercial land development area called the PJ Sentral Garden City.

Located in Section 52 in PJ, and currently being occupied by PKNS, the upcoming purpose-built project will feature state-of-the-art disabled-friendly facilities that have never been seen before.

"Wheelchair users will find it a breeze to move about in the area without any barriers with its universal designs," said Michael Simon Karuppiah, executive director of UniMediaNetwork Sdn Bhd based in KL.

Deep in discussion

"And the blind will be able to easily navigate themselves independently in and around the area," added the
UniMediaNetwork consultant for PJ Sentral Development Sdn Bhd who are responsible for the Garden City.

Michael was speaking as chairman at a special dialogue session at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in KL where PJ Sentral conducted a special briefing of their prized project for members of PETPOSITIVE, the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association.

Nearly three dozen people with disabilities and their caregivers turned up for the afternoon half-day function that began after a sumptuous lunch which was treated by the company.

Whilst the majority of participants were in wheelchairs, others included the blind, people with learning disabilities, stroke and the elderly.

Scrumptious lunch

The talk included a slide show featuring an artist's impression of disabled-friendly features in and around the project.

"We are not here only to tell you what we are doing; but also to get your advice on how we can make it even more user-friendly to all of you," said Michael before opening up the floor for feedback.

Almost everyone who turned up spoke.

Several disabled activists thanked the creators of the PJ Sentral Garden City idea for making the needs of the disabled and the elderly a priority concern.

A participant who is paralysed from his neck down said with a lump in his throat:

"Once PJ's Garden City is completed, I will at last be able to celebrate Merdeka (Malaysia's Independence Day) for the first time".

The discussion room

Another wheelchair-user thanked PJ Sentral for caring enough to seek their views first before going ahead with the project.

"In this way, we are able to give you guys valuable input - no developer had gone this far before to do this!" he remarked.

An elderly woman, however, couldn't stop herself from being cynical.

"Please don't blame me for feeling this way," she told PET+BLOGSPOT after the session.

"Many parties had made promises to improve the handicapped's plight but never kept their word in the end," she pointed out.

"Please don't get me wrong; it's clearly wonderful - but I won't believe it until I truly see it - and only then will I congratulate anyone."

The session which was supposed to end at 4pm lasted an extra hour.

Many refused to go home because they were having such a good time.

Most of them had never had a private session like this with a developer previously.

Furthermore, they told PET+BLOGSPOT the news was too good to go back without sharing their reactions to the other participants.

But it was Michael who finally had the last say.

"We are so moved by all that you have shared with us today so much so that we will now seriously think of adding several key persons from your group into a special committee to help us fine-tune the user-friendly details of the project." He concluded.

Imran at a previous function

Earlier Mohd Imran Salim, the director of Gapurna Group Sdn Bhd which PJ Sentral Development Sdn Bhd is a member of, made a brief appearance during the presentation.

Arriving in Malaysia from Autralia a day earlier, Imran announced that the PJ Sentral Garden City project will incorporate Australia's designs on disability accessibility standards in all of its universal designs.

PJ Gardens will, at the same time, engage with local disabled people in order to get their views on the Aussie standards.

The PJ Sentral Garden City is the first project of the Selangor state government's move towards regeneration, rejuvenation and revitalisation.

Petpositive thanks Garpurna Group Sdn Bhd for organising the special lunch-cum-briefing for our members.

Perak mulling use of tranquilliser darts on strays

Thursday November 11, 2010

Perak mulling use of tranquilliser darts on strays

IPOH: The Perak government has asked all local councils in the state to study the feasibility of using tranquilliser darts to put down strays.

However, Local Government committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon conceded that the high cost of the darts could hamper its use.

"We will look into the technical aspects (of using the darts), whether it is feasible and cost-effective," he said after visiting the century-old Paloh Khoo Miu Temple here yesterday.

Dr Mah was commenting on the call by the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for authorities to use the darts rather than real bullets to put down strays.

The ISPCA said this would cut down the possibility of guns misfiring and hitting innocent bystanders.

The concern surfaced after city council enforcers shot a 10-year-old licensed therapy dog in Taman Merdeka near here, recently.

The dog, which belonged to a 75-year-old retired teacher, was left unattended while she went into her house to get toilet paper to clean it.

In PUTRAJAYA, the Veterinary Services Department expressed concern and frustration over the killing of the dog. Department director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin said the use of firearms continued even after a national seminar in May 2008 and guidelines on the capture of stray animals were issued to all municipal council officers, NGOs and state veterinary officers.

Dr Abdul Aziz said the department had stopped using firearms in 2008 as a means to control strays as it was found to be inhumane.

In SHAH ALAM, the Selangor state assem-bly heard that dog catching contractors engaged by the Sepang Municipal Council had caught 20,000 dogs in one month earlier this year.

"This means they caught an average of 667 dogs a day," said Sungai Pelek assemblyman Yap Ee Wah.

Yap, who was debating Selangor's 2011 budget, said the contractors had earned a hefty RM700,000 for this as they were paid RM35 for every dog caught. He told reporters later the 20,000 dogs were allegedly caught only in the Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi zone.

Veterinary Department Orders An Immediate End To All Dog-Shooting In Malaysia

Story Courtesy from Petpositive

Veterinary Department Orders An Immediate End To All Dog-Shooting In Malaysia

Internet file pix

DATELINE DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SERVICES, PUTRAJAYA:

THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SERVICES (DVS) has called for an immediate ban on dog-shooting in the entire country.

This follows the senseless shooting to death of a senior therapy dog named "Spunk" in Taman Merdeka by the Ipoh City Council or MBI on October 30th, last month.

Internet file pix

The canine belonged to a 75-year-old retired teacher who is a member of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (PETPOSITIVE).

"Not only was it an extremely sad and regrettable incident but the killing of an animal that brought only hope and companionship to a senior citizen is inexcusable and a major embarrassment to Malaysia's image internationally," said Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamalludin, (right) the Director-General of the DVS.

"The DVS views what happened very seriously," he added to a question put by PET+BLOGSPOT at a press conference this afternoon at the Department of Agriculture building here.

Dr Aziz was speaking at the conclusion of a special open dialogue session this morning in which he served as the chair.

Dr Aziz leading the discussion

The event, which was organised by the DVS, brought together about 30 people from government bodies as well as animal rights and welfare NGOs.

Apart from Petpositive, the other representatives came from the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Rawang, Selangor, SPCAs from Selangor and Ipoh, Noah's Ark also from Perak, state and the Malaysian National Animal Welfare Foundation (MNAWF) from Kuala Lumpur.

The MNAWF was represented by its chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Nordin Mohd Nor, a former director-general of the Veterinary Services Department.

Petpositive called for the immediate outlawing of dog-shooting at the meeting. This was echoed by all of the NGOs at the meeting.

Cruel to shoot dogs

"The reason why local councils resort to dog-shooting is to find a quick solution to the problem of strays but this is not an acceptable solution," Dr Aziz pointed out.

"Dog-shooting is not only unnecessary but a cruel practice that is unacceptable in today's world," he added.

"It is also very dangerous as the bullet could strike human beings.

"Councils will no longer be allowed to shoot dogs but only under special situations such as in disease situations; however, it can only be done in very rare cases and under the supervision of qualified veterinarians.

"Councils should instead employ more humane methods to effectively deal with the stray problem by catching them and offering training to their catchers.

"Councils that currently exercise dog-shooting currently should learn from local councils in Selangor, in particular, that have abandoned such practices and now employ humane and more effective methods in stray management.

Dr Aziz says his department will be writing immediately to the MBI to instruct them to cease all dog-shooting.

This will also apply to other local councils in the country that is also engaging in such practices.

A representative of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government who was present at today's meeting said that his department will also do the same.

Speaking to PET+BLOGSPOT after the meeting, Dr Ranjit Kaur from Noah's Ark said she was delighted by the decision of the DVS and the action that will be taken.

"As an advocate who has been actively fighting against canine-shooting in our city for many years, it was truly worth traveling all the way to this meeting."

Beaming also from ear to ear was Dr Goh Hue Lang, the head of SPCA in Ipoh.

"Whilst dog-shooting is going to be a thing of the past, there are still many things to do to solve the problem of stray dogs in the city which we all need to put our heads together in order to find the best solution," she said.

Newcomer to the animal rights movement, Francis Siva, president of ILTC, said he was most impressed with Dr Aziz.

"He came across as a very approachable DG who had an amazing understand of dogs, their behaviour and how best to approach the issue," he noted.

NEXT: DVS TO SET UP AN ANIMAL WELFARE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

Dusty Dies Leaving Disabled Centre To Pine For His Loss

Story courtesy from Petpositive

Dusty Dies Leaving Disabled Centre To Pine For His Loss

Dusty & Francis

PETPOSITIVE NEWSFLASH!

(Story by aNt. Pix courtesy of ILTC)

THE PASSING AWAY OF A STERLING MALAYSIAN SERVICE DOG

DATELINE RAWANG SELANGOR:

ONE OF THE FEW working service dogs in Malaysia named Dusty died this morning leaving more than half a dozen residents of the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Taman Garing here to mourn for his loss.

Final goodbye to a hero

The Golden Retriever came to the self-help group in 2001 as a puppy under a programme run by Bivai Special Dogs, an assistance dog training programme run by service dog trainer Anthony SB Thanasayan who is also President of PETPOSITIVE.

Dusty was the first dog trained by the service dog outreach programme run by Bivai Special Dogs to help empower the lives of disabled people.

Rina & ILTC member fulfilling last rites

"We are feeling his loss tremendously," said an emotional Francis Siva to PET+BLOGSPOT this afternoon.

"All of us at the ILTC have lost a truly best and loyal friend who gave us nothing but his unconditional love for almost a decade," added the president of the ILTC.

"Despite being paralysed from my neck down, Dusty helped me stay on top of my life. He helped me stay focused in my job of helping other disabled people like myself."

Francis who has been disabled for 25 years said Dusty was also hugely popular with everyone who visited the centre - both the disabled and the able-bodied.

"Walking around and greeting the residents first thing in the morning would almost at once bring a warm smile in everyone's faces," Francis pointed out, smiling briefly as he recollected his memory.

"Dusty would sleep next to me each night. His breakfast each morning was a couple of slices of bread with cheese whilst his main meal was dog kibble in the evening.

"He was also spoilt silly: his favourite food was Bak Kut Teh (Chinese soup with pork) and Char Siew Pau (roast pork steamed buns).

Looking back Siva feels that he could have spent more time with Dusty who always sits next to his wheelchair when he is working on his computer.

Another activity that Dusty used to enjoy with his master was during inspection time of the centre's rooms.

"Dusty would follow me closely with his nose in the air sniffing diligently as if some stranger was going to suddenly pop out of one of the rooms," said Francis with a smile.

"But his best game of all was playing ball in the evenings," said Francis.

"It was a game that none of us could win or take away his focus from.

"He would even ignore the neighbourhood dogs and cats whenever there was a ball in his mouth which he enjoyed retrieving.

"Sometimes, he would cheekily run away with it and expect us to chase after him in our wheelchairs!"

ILTC secretary Gurdip Kaur, or Rina as she is best known, says she will miss Dusty most when she returns to the centre after a hard day of work.

"Dusty would always be there," said the former Selayang Municipality Councillor.

"He would run to my car and before I could get into my wheelchair, I will have to pat him first and explain to him why I'm late for home from work," she added.

"Sometimes when my husband (Francis) and I are very late in returning home, Dusty will refuse to eat until we were both safely home and having our dinner ourselves before he will take his food."

Dusty was bathed regular and even used to go to the groomer during happier days.


He never failed to get his yearly shots and regular checkups at the veterinarian.

The animal doctor would even make house-calls when necessary.

Dusty even took part in a couple of major outdoor events such as at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia in Kepong when Petpositive conducted an animal-assisted therapy session there and at a Dogathon event at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Dusty became sick four days ago when his appetite significantly decreased. He also had blood in his urine.

He was promptly treated by his vet who put his illness to old age.

Last night, however, Dusty's appetite returned and he was even walking about.

This morning, however, he had trouble breathing.

Francis and Rina wasted no time to rush him to the vet.

They called for help from a resident in Taman Garing and got Dusty into their van.

But the sterling Golden breathed his last and slipped away in the arms of Rina.

Dusty passed away at 10.30am. He was nine years old.

He was buried an hour later in the compound of the ILTC.

The Golden Retriever got his name from the late Mr HRM Storey, the former political secretary for the late General Templer.

Mr Storey is also known as the father of the physically disabled in Malaysia.

He became disabled later in his life and used his situation to help many other disabled people in Malaysia.

Mr Storey was also adviser to Bivai Special Dogs.

Said Dusty's former trainer Thanasayan to PET+BLOGSPOT:

"Dusty was truly a loyal service dog and companion to the disabled couple activists. He was like their very own son and they his mum and dad."

Please tell us what you think about this story as well as take this opportunity to offer your tributes to the great Dusty.

For more pictures of Dusty during his final moments, go HERE