SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT: PETS TEACH US TO CARE BY CHAN MEE LENG

We start a new feature on Saturdays called "Saturday Spotlight" in which you get to read about a specific topic from a variety or writers on the issues involved with PETPOSITIVE.

The views shared in this section can be an official viewpoint of PETPOSITIVE or views just expressed by the writer.

Today, we have the privilege of sharing with you one of Our Society's most active volunteer Miss Chan Mee Leng (BOTTOM, RIGHT). When she isn't helping around with PETPOSITIVE, she is busy as an advocate and solicitor managing her own firm in Kuala Lumpur.

Take it away, Mee Leng!

SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT

NURTURING A CARING SOCIETY THROUGH THE POWER OF PETS By Chan Mee Leng.

I share my law office with three resident cats who have all arrived here by quite different paths.

Admitting the pioneer resident Kombillitom (ABOVE) in 2003 was not a decision which came easily even though I already had Indie (PICTURED WITH MEE LENG AT BOTTOM RIGHT), our mongrel at home.

The next addition was almost 2 years later when I was to babysit Puss Puss, albeit permanently now and 2 ½ years later, Gali the pseudo Bengal cat joined us.

Through these indoor cats, many have come my way, in the form children and adults of all ages. The young ones would take turns to knock at the office door to play with the cats. There are also the two vagrants who have befriended my visiting puppy Mojo (RIGHT). One of them would always be at hand to offer Mojo some table scraps on Mojo’s daily walks.

Joining Petpositive as a member last year was a natural progression. I have had the chance to learn and work with the disabled and elderly and to affirm my belief that caring for or even spending time with these animals allow us to express our innate caring nature.

I have also had the chance to include my three nieces who are turning eight this year to join in the activities organised by Petpositive.

Nurturing a sense of responsibility in these young minds will only help in building confident and caring individuals who have a sense of their environment and being part of a society.

In coming together with other pet lovers to work with the disabled and the elderly, I am motivated by the challenge of offering ourselves a chance to be a better person and to help others who are less privileged to enjoy the very simple joys in life.

THE END

NEXT WEEK: MASTER MARINER CAPTAIN ABDUL KARIM STUART RUSSELL - PETPOSITIVE'S ADVISER AND VOLUNTEER - SHARES SOME OF HIS THOUGHTS ON NEXT WEEKEND'S TWELFTH GENERAL ELECTIONS AND THE DISABLED.

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