I Save Stray Animals Abandoned in Singapore’s Industrial Zones | Extraordinary People

Key Concepts

• Stray Animal Welfare: The primary focus is on the well-being of animals living on the streets, particularly those not yet rescued.
• Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR): A core methodology involving trapping stray animals, sterilizing them, and returning them to their original environment to control population growth.
• Humane Trapping: Utilizing safe and effective traps that prioritize animal safety and minimize stress.
• Sterilization Programs: Collaborating with organizations that offer free or subsidized sterilization for stray animals.
• Community Collaboration: Working with factory workers, residents, and businesses in industrial areas to monitor and care for stray animals.
• Rehoming and Adoption: Efforts to find permanent homes for rescued animals, including adoption drives and partnerships with studios.
• Donation and Sponsorship: Mechanisms for public support, such as direct donations for food and medical expenses.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Raising public awareness about the plight of stray animals and advocating for their humane treatment.

Humane Trapping Methodology

The video details a specific humane trapping method for cats. The trap is designed with a gravity-operated door, unlike spring-loaded doors that pose a risk of injuring the animal's tail or hindquarters during closure. The process involves:

1. Setting the Trap: The trap is opened, and the latch is secured in place.
2. Luring the Animal: Food is placed inside the trap to entice the animal. The trappers observe from a distance to see if the animal appears.
3. Triggering the Trap: Once the animal is inside and engaged with the food, the door is triggered to shut. The emphasis is on ensuring the animal is safely inside and eating before closing.
4. Calming the Animal: Once trapped, the trap is covered with a blanket to reduce panic and stress.
5. Transfer to Carrier: The trapped animal is then carefully transferred from the trap to a carrier for easier handling and transport to the clinic.

Key Principle: "During a trapping process, the first thing that we must put before anything else is the animal safety. No matter what, the animal cannot come out more hurt than its current state is in."

Sterilization and Population Control

A significant aspect of the work is the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. The primary goal of sterilization is to control the population of stray animals, preventing further suffering and overpopulation.

• Collaboration with Cat Welfare Society: The video highlights a partnership with the Cat Welfare Society, which provides free sterilization under their program. The volunteers' role is to trap and transport the animals.
• Explaining the Process: Volunteers explain the concept of sterilization to workers in layman's terms, emphasizing its role in population control, even when English is not their first language.
• Benefits of Sterilization: Sterilization prevents unwanted litters, reduces the spread of diseases, and can lead to calmer animal behavior.

Community Engagement in Industrial Areas

The organization actively engages with communities in industrial areas, where many stray animals reside due to factory relocations and the resulting lack of food and shelter.

• Working with Factory Workers: These workers are considered "eyes and ears on the ground." They are crucial for:
  • Monitoring: Informing the organization about injured animals or changes in animal welfare.
  • Direct Care: Many workers provide food and basic care for the animals.
  • Access: Facilitating access to restricted factory areas for trapping and TNR efforts.
• Building Networks: A network is built with these workers, providing them with support (food, medical needs) and relying on their continuous updates.
• Example: Kranji Industrial Area: In Kranji, the organization works to maintain the welfare of animals, which includes trapping, sterilization, and supporting workers who care for the animals.
• Example: Woodlands Industrial Area: Similar efforts are undertaken in Woodlands, where factory owners and workers are supportive of the animals' presence and welfare.

Dog Trapping and Veterinary Care

The video also details the process of trapping a skittish dog. This process is more complex and requires a coordinated effort.

1. Conditioning: The dog is conditioned to trust the trap by leaving it open with food for about a month, allowing it to enter and exit freely.
2. Monitoring: A motion-sensor camera is set up to track the dog's activity within the trap.
3. The Trap: The dog is observed entering the trap. The team has a narrow window (approximately one minute) to shut the door.
4. Rapid Response: Once the door is shut, the team rushes in to secure the dog. This requires a coordinated effort:
   • One person folds down a corral cage to prevent the dog from pushing it.
   • Another person locks the trap door.
   • Someone places a carrier into the corral.
   • The dog is then gently pushed and cornered into the carrier.
   • The dog's head is covered to calm it.
5. Transport to Vet: The dog is immediately transported to a veterinary clinic.
6. Veterinary Procedures:
   • The vet is preemptively informed of the arrival.
   • The dog undergoes a blood test and other necessary examinations.
   • The dog is calmed and reassured by the presence of the team.
   • Sterilization surgery is scheduled.
7. Cost and Sponsorship:
   • The organization works with veterinary partners who offer discounts for charity cases.
   • Initial visits for new rescue dogs can cost between $1,000 to $2,000, with intensive treatment potentially reaching $25,000.
   • Donations are solicited online to cover these costs, with the organization covering any remaining expenses.
8. Post-Surgery Recovery: Dogs are boarded at the clinic for recovery, typically around 3 days, but often longer due to the lack of a dedicated shelter.

Key Challenge: "The dog is very skittish, very scared. So we had to stay far far away." and "They do not know what's our intention. We know for ourselves the intention is good. So it's not easy on the rescue."

Rehoming and Adoption Efforts

While TNR focuses on managing the existing stray population, rehoming is also a critical component.

• Limited Adopters: A significant challenge is the lack of sufficient adopters for the number of stray cats and dogs needing homes.
• Partnership with Wildflower: The organization collaborates with Wildflower, an art studio that hosts rescue cats for adoption. This studio serves as a platform for:
  • Rehoming: Facilitating adoptions.
  • Socialization: Helping cats become more comfortable with human interaction.
  • Building Connections: Allowing potential adopters to connect with cats, increasing the likelihood of adoption.
• Adoption Drive Success: WSOR Studio has successfully adopted out approximately 250 cats and fostered around 320, with some originating from "Stray Affairs."
• Adoption Drives: Participation in adoption drives is crucial for increasing publicity and interaction opportunities for rescue cats, thereby enhancing their chances of adoption.
• Challenges with Age: Older cats, even if friendly, face difficulties in adoption, as seen with two 10-year-old cats rescued from Kranji who have been in foster care for nine years.

Funding and Support

The organization relies on various sources for funding and resources.

• Donations for Food: A friend at the Animal Human Alliance has set up a page for public donations, allowing people to purchase kibble directly for the organization. This operates on a "pay it forward" system, with one bag of kibble provided per cat per month.
• Quality of Food: The importance of providing complete and nutritious food is emphasized, contrasting it with brands that may be less beneficial for the animals' health.
• Personal Contribution: Volunteers often contribute financially from their own pockets to cover expenses not met by donations, especially for veterinary care.
• Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers dedicate their Saturdays to this work, viewing it as a habit and a core part of their lives. The motivation stems from a strong belief in being a voice for voiceless animals.

Volunteer Motivation and Vision

The volunteers are driven by a deep sense of responsibility and compassion for stray animals.

• Voiceless Advocates: The core motivation is that animals cannot speak for themselves, necessitating human intervention.
• Personal Connection: Many volunteers, like Yen, started with community service requirements but developed a strong connection with the animals, leading to long-term commitment.
• Long-Term Vision: The ultimate goal is to reach a point where their work is no longer needed. This vision includes a society where stray animals are safe, rehomed, treated equally, and where people understand their needs without the constant intervention of welfare groups.
• Feeling Responsible: "I feel responsible to the animals. I feel like you know if they are suffering I can sit by and watch it feels like I will I will be suffering too."

Specific Examples and Case Studies

• Kranji Industrial Area: Focus on maintaining animal welfare amidst factory relocations, involving TNR and supporting resident workers.
• Sungei Kadut Industrial Area: Similar efforts to manage stray populations and support workers who care for animals.
• The Skittish Dog: A detailed account of the challenging but successful trapping and veterinary care process for a fearful dog.
• The Two 10-Year-Old Cats: An example of older cats struggling to find homes despite being friendly, highlighting a common adoption barrier.
• Wildflower Art Studio: A unique partnership for rehoming and socializing cats through art jamming.

Conclusion

The video showcases the dedicated efforts of "Stray Affairs" in addressing the welfare of stray animals, particularly those in industrial and factory areas. Their approach is multi-faceted, encompassing humane trapping, sterilization for population control, community engagement with workers, veterinary care, and rehoming initiatives. The volunteers are driven by a profound sense of responsibility and a vision for a future where stray animals are no longer a marginalized population. Despite challenges like limited adopters and the complexities of rescuing fearful animals, their commitment to being a voice for the voiceless remains unwavering.