Pet-lovers To Meet In Malaysia's First Petpositive Therapy Centre This Afternoon

PETPOSITIVE NEWS!

DATELINE PETALING JAYA: Animal-lovers will be convening later this afternoon in Malaysia's very first animal-assisted therapy centre in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

Called the Petpositive Therapy Centre, members of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive will be holding their fourth Annual General Meeting since they were registered in June of 2006.

The meeting held in Section 1 of PJ is expected to bring together a mix of medical doctors, veterinarians and other professionals together. There will also be Malaysians with disabilities and the elderly who actively receive therapy from their pets.

It will not be unusual to see some of them arriving with their pets for the special meeting in the pet-friendly building.

Today will be the first time when most of the members of Petpositive will be able to view the centre which is equipped with disabled-friendly features.

Elderly members will be pleasantly greeted with an elaborate ramp that has been designed according to international standards. Disabled members with their caregivers will also be delighted to discover that the Petpositive Therapy Centre's restrooms are built spaciously enough to accommodate them when they have to care for their handicapped family members.

"For a non-profit Society that never had a centre last year, we somehow managed to do remarkably well to make an impression on everyone with our activities for 2008," said Anthony SB Thanasayan, President of Petpositive to PET+BLOGSPOT.

"We will study carefully all that we have done in the past in order to plan our activities wisely in the future," he added before pointing out that the most important thing for Petpositive now is to make sure we have funds to meet our monthly rentals of RM1,500.

To anyone out there who is able to help us, please call us at 012 220 3146, or mailto:petpositive.yahoo.com

PET+BLOGSPOT

PET+BLOGSPOT is the online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) You may also visit our homepage which is www.petpositive.com.my

Shocking Press Statement From SPCA On Harassment of SPCA Worker

Press Statement From SPCA Selangor

For Release on May 29^th 2009

SPCA’s message to all animal rescuers, animal lovers and the public

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the rescue of abandoned animals, who have no voice but suffer miserable lives as strays, is indeed a noble cause and develops kindness and compassion in people and in turn this creates a better society that is caring, humane and protective of the vulnerable. In all good causes there will be transgressions by extremist groups who take things into their own hands, violating the privacy of people and not adhering to proper procedures in their efforts.

SPCA urges all animal rescuers to respect the privacy of all in their cause and to put an end to bickering that often stem from unwarranted sources. Sensationalising and distorting an issue, discourteous slandering of characters and general misinformation without finding out the truth are appearing in unchecked blogs and toxic forums.

Visit At Midnight To SPCA Volunteers House

SPCA is extremely distressed that Furry Friends Farm (FFF) supporter and volunteer, Daniel together with YB Edward Lee of MBPJ and his son Simon and Mark (from MBPJ) went to an SPCA volunteer Jorg Bandlow’s house at almost midnight on Wednesday, 27^th of May 2009.

The group harassed Jorg, and his wife SPCA employee, Education Officer, Shahrul Baharin. The couple are dedicated animal rescuers and have rescued 13 dogs and several cats that share their humble home. Living this life to help dogs and working for SPCA to educate the new generation to be kind to animals has brought them so much distress that Shahrul, who is 3 months pregnant, is suffering from the trauma of this intimidation. Shahrul has lodged a police report (attached) that they harassed her and her husband, alleging that Jorg had stolen a dog called Kuning from Pulau Selat Kering, where the SPCA rescue and relief team were rescuing abandoned dogs. Jorg had told them that he did not take the dog, and the visitors were allowed to take a tour of the house to search for him – he was not there as stated.

SPCA Chairperson receives call at midnight

SPCA Chairperson, Christine Chin, received a call around midnight on 27^th May 2009 urging me to call Jorg to “let us in to look for Kuning”. Despite my pleas that it’s almost midnight and why this witch-hunt is on, the caller says ‘ask him to open and let us in if he does not have the dog”. I said it was so late and it’s the house-owners prerogative but he would not listen. I was afraid that anything untoward may have happened and I called Jorg immediately who said the 4 men just left and they have their names and were going to make a police report straightaway.

Clarifying rumours that have appeared in blogs and frums

1. Rumors About FFF Eviction

Many rumors are circulating that SPCA is trying to influence the owner of the Furry Friends Farm land to evict them. However, to the contrary – The owner has been contacting SPCA since late last year to help her, as she had been trying unsuccessfully to get FFF to move away. The owner of the property said she was only worried about the welfare of the 80 plus dogs there, and asked SPCA if they could take the dogs in. However, SPCA declined as our shelter is really full, and we are constantly overwhelmed with the amount of animals being surrendered here. We leave it to the owner to decide how she wants to proceed.

2. Trespassers to FFF

There are also allegations that SPCA is involved in trespassing into the FFF compound in the last few weeks, but this is completely untrue. We have no idea who has been going in, they allege that someone has gone in and released all the dogs from their cages.

Note To Editors:

· The Society For Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (SPCA) Selangor is an NGO which serves Selangor and The Federal Territory.

· SPCA Selangor was established in 1958, with the aim of protecting defenseless animals and alleviating their suffering.

· The SPCA does not receive any government funding, relying entirely on donations from the public to support its services & activities.

· The SPCA Animal Shelter & Adoption Centre at Ampang Jaya temporarily homes 300-350 unwanted animals at any one time while seeking new homes for them. The animals are made up of surrendered pets, rescued cruelty case animals and stray or abandoned animals brought in by Good Samaritans.

· The SPCA would like to work closely with the people of Malaysia to elevate the welfare standards for our Malaysian animals – ensuring they responsibly neuter their pets, provide adequate food, space, exercise, care and medical attention, as well as encouraging them to be responsible neighbours.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) You may also visit our homepage which is www.petpositive.com.my

Tribute To Rescue Dogs' Work on PJ Jaya Supermarket Tragedy

PETPOSITIVE SAYS:

Friends, I was there nearly two hours after the building collapsed yesterday afternoon. As MBPJ Councillor, I was able to access through the police and MBPJ blocks to get near to the area.

However, I wasn't able to get close to where my able-bodied Councillors and other VIPs were because PJ Police Inspector stopped me.

He advised that it would be much too dangerous for me in my wheelchair should more parts of the building collapse when I was there.

I decided to take his advice and joined the crowd who were cordoned away at a safe distance from the rubble and building.

I wanted to take pictures for this blog but decided against it in respect for the victims of the disaster, especially the dead.

I could sense the relief most of us had that we were not under the rubble. And just as the police inspector warned, another section at that moment cascaded with a loud crash on the ground.

There were soot on some of the rescue vehicles that were parked and awaiting to speed off the victims to the nearest hospitals.

Earlier whilst rushing to the scene in our MBPJ van, I was disgusted at the general traffic's lethargy on the road to move away to let the rescue vehicles through.

Even if they didn't know of a disaster just yet, the vehicles had their siren on and that obviously meant that something was amiss.

Although at blog time it appears as if all the casualties were only foreign workers, let's not forget that they are people too - with wives, children, fathers and mothers and also friends.

The Selangor Government as done the right thing to issue an immediate stop work order.

Petpositive applauds all the rescue dogs and their trainers that were called in to search and find the victims trapped under the rubble.

The canines's job is the most important one of all in all disaster situations of this kind and yet we often fail to appreciate their work and role in rescue work in Malaysia

Let's hope for more survivors - and that the Selangor Govt will help in the finances of the victims and their families.

Below the the MB's statement on the issue.

aNthoNy sb thaNasayaN
PET+BLOGSPOT


PRESS STATEMENT by the Selangor Government:
May 29, 2009
Stop work order on the Demolition of Jaya supermarket building
SHAH ALAM: The State Government here today issued a stop-work order for the demolition of Jaya
Shopping Centre to allow investigations to find out the cause of the collapse which cost two lives while five
others are still missing. Until the causes of the collapse are determined, only search and rescue work is
allowed to continue.
The decision was made following a briefing on the tragedy by Petaling Jaya City Hall engineering unit,
Institute Kerja Raya Malaysia (IKRAM), Department of Occupational Safety and Hazard (DOSH) at the
Selangor Economic Action Council meeting (MTES) this morning.
The State has ordered MBPJ’s engineering unit and IKRAM to conduct the investigations and submit a
detailed report for the MTES on next Friday. MBPJ has been instructed to monitor the area round the clock to
ensure that no machinery or equipment used for the demolition of the building be taken out of the site. The
area will also be cordoned off for public safety.
The state has also ordered MBPJ to treat all the deceased with dignity in accordance to their religious belief
and ensure that their next-of-kin are kept well-informed on the development of the tragedy. The city hall will
also be working closely with the Indonesian Embassy on this matter.
An information centre will be set up near the tragedy site so that the victims’ families and nearby residents
can monitor the development of the search and rescue work.
The city hall will be sending flyers to nearby residents to inform them of the actions taken by the state
authorities to ensure their safety. We appeal to residents to cooperate with the relevant authorities to avoid any
further mishaps and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SEKRETARIAT AKHBAR, PEJABAT MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR, TINGKAT 20, BANGUNAN SULTAN SALAHUDDIN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH,
40502 SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA. TEL: 603-554470032 FAX: 603-55109686
Today’s briefing by MBPJ, IKRAM and DOSH has revealed a serious lack of proper guidelines in monitoring
demolition of buildings. The State Government intends to rectify to ensure that such tragedy does not recur
and affect future development plans in Selangor.
THANK YOU.
TAN SRI ABDUL KHALID IBRAHIM
DATO MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR


PET+BLOGSPOT is the online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) You may also visit our homepage which is www.petpositive.com.my

Rooks reveal their brains - BBC Online

Rooks reveal remarkable tool use

By Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC News

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Rooks select the appropriate stones to retrieve a tasty snack (Footage: Christopher Bird)

Rooks have a remarkable aptitude for using tools, scientists have found.

Tests on captive birds revealed that they could craft and employ tools to solve a number of different problems.

The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, came as a surprise as rooks do not use tools in the wild.

Despite this, the UK team said the birds' skills rivalled those of well-known tool users such as chimpanzees and New Caledonian crows.

Dr Nathan Emery, from Queen Mary, University of London, an author of the paper, said: "The study shows the creativity and insight that rooks have when they solve problems."

The scientists focused on four captive rooks: Cook, Fry, Connelly and Monroe, and discovered that the birds were able to use tools in a number of ways to solve a variety of problems.

Meet the brains of the animal world

For example, the birds were presented with a vertical tube, running down to a trap-door with an out-of-reach worm perched upon it, as well as a number of different-sized stones placed nearby.

The scientists discovered that the rooks would select the largest stone, which was heavy enough to push open the trap-door when dropped and release the snack.

And when given a selection of different-shaped stones, some of which could fit into the tube some of which could not, the rooks opted for a tool that would give them access to the treat.

Lead author Christopher Bird, from Cambridge University, said: "We have found that they can select the appropriate tools out of a choice of tools and they show flexibility in the types of tools they use."

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The test revealed that rooks can use two tools in succession to get the worm

The researchers also found the rooks could use two tools in succession - something that is described as metatool use.

They gave the birds a large stone, as well as two vertical tubes, one wide, with a small stone perched at the bottom on a trap-door, and another thin, this time containing a worm.

They found that the rooks would first drop the large stone into the wide tube, releasing the smaller stone, and subsequently drop this stone into the thin tube to free the tasty treat.

Until now, metatool use has only been seen in great apes and New Caledonian crows.

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The rooks were able to fashion wire into a hook to fish out the bucket of food

Perhaps most surprisingly, the team also revealed that rooks could modify and create new tools.

They found that the rooks would bend a piece of straight wire into a hook so that they could retrieve a retrieve a bucket laden with food from the bottom of the vertical well.

Until now, this novel tool-fashioning behaviour has only been reported for a single New Caledonian crow called Betty. But in this study, three of the four rooks spontaneously created the hook in their first trial.

Bird brains?

Mr Bird told BBC News: "It was a big surprise to find out that rooks could use tools.

"We've seen this kind of tool use in New Caledonian crows, but the interesting thing about the rooks is that they do not use tools in the wild."

Both rooks and New Caledonian crows belong to the corvids, a bird group that is renowned for intelligent behaviour.

Rooks are a member of the corvid family

However, until now, it was thought that sophisticated tool-use was limited to New Caledonian crows, a species found on the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific, which create tools to pluck grubs from holes.

Mr Bird said: "Tool use is probably very important for these crows because of their ecology - they may get a large proportion of the protein they need from these grubs.

"And it has been suggested that tool-use is a trait unique to that species that might have evolved because of ecological pressures."

But the finding that rooks can use tools now raises questions about how this special ability might have come about.

Mr Bird said: "Rooks don't have the same pressures [as New Caledonian crows]. In the wild they don't need tools - they have lots of access to other sources of food, like carrion, human rubbish, and seeds from agriculture, things like that."

The researchers said that this could mean that an ancient ancestor of the corvids might have evolved the capacity to use tools as well as a complex understanding of the physical properties of materials.

Dr Emery told BBC News: "Because they don't use tools in the wild, the question is why should they have evolved the ability to use tools in the lab and understand the properties of those objects as tools?

"Is this a form of general intelligence that has been co-opted for tool use?"

The researchers say the finding raises the possibility that other corvid species may also have possess an innate ability to use tools.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) You may also visit our homepage which is www.petpositive.com.my

Therapy Cats Brighten Up Patients' Lives

Therapy cats bring light to patients' lives

Jim Hannon/TimesDaily photos

Sharron True holds up Jak while Terry True holds Bare in the background. The two cats are Sphynxes that are used as therapy animals for patients at J.W. Sommer Rehabilitation Unit at Shoals Hospital.

By Michelle Rupe Eubanks
Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 22, 2009 at 10:42 p.m.

MUSCLE SHOALS - Jak and Bare draw a crowd wherever they go.

More Photos:

• Sphynx Therapy Cats

Every other Friday afternoon, at the J.W. Sommer Rehabilitation Unit at Shoals Hospital in Muscle Shoals, they cuddle up to patients or have their photos snapped by employees who want a first look at an American sphynx, the rarest of cat breeds.

"You can see a light come on in the patients' eyes," said Dr. Terry True, Jak and Bare's owner and one of the doctors on staff at the facility. "There are three sides to patient treatment: physical, spiritual and emotional. We're treating the physical side, but (the cats) allow us to treat their emotional side, too."

Vaccinated family pets have long been welcome as part of the recovery process at the rehabilitation center, according to Cathy Holmes, nurse manager. Jak and Bare, whose name is a play on the hairless nature of the breed, provide something no medicine can: affection.

"The number one question we're asked by our accrediting agency is if we use animal-assisted therapy," she said. "Most facilities use dogs; we were so lucky to get these cats to come be a regular part of patient care."

Shoals Hospital is the only health care organization in the Shoals to incorporate animal-assisted therapy into its treatment regimen.

True's wife, Sharron, accompanies 5-year-old Jak and 1-year-old Bare on their trips to Sommer, and she takes them into the patients' rooms.

She went through the Delta training process to get Jak, the cream and white sphynx, certified.

The Delta Society, based in Bellevue, Wash., is a national organization that trains pets to provide service in medical settings. Jak is the first and only sphynx certified as a therapy cat.

A registered nurse by trade, Sharron True said this particular cat breed is especially suited to animal-assisted therapy. The breed is good natured, with characteristics that are more dog- than cat-like.

"Through Delta, Jak learned not to be scared of wheelchairs or walkers," she said. "But the number one thing is that they can't be aggressive. This is a great thing for patients because they get homesick or lonely for the pets they've had to leave at home."

The pair certainly brought a smile to Lonnie Briley's face. At the center for a week, he perked up when he got a visit from Jak and Bare.

"I've got seven cats at home; one just had her a litter of kittens," he said as he rubbed Jak. "They sure are something, aren't they? I don't think I've ever seen cats like them."

There are just 7,000 American sphynx cats worldwide. The Trues own seven.

In addition to their velvety nap of fur, sphinxes are also known for pot bellies, webbed feet and good

temperaments.

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@TimesDaily.com.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) You may also visit our homepage which is www.petpositive.com.my

The Blind Speak About Animal-Assisted Therapy

Here's a report PET+BLOGSPOT found only recently written by the Malaysian Association of the Blind in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, regarding our very first animal-assisted therapy outing to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia or FRIM in Kepong, Selangor:

"PETPOSITIVE WORKSHOP AT FRIM: MAB was happy to be able to join in with various NGO’s and animal lovers to participate in a very unique and first ever workshop on animal therapy and love of nature and the environment.

The workshop was held at the new extended open area of FRIM on October 30, 2007. All the
different disabled categories were in attendance and so were quite a number of animals, including dogs, cats, a rabbit, a tortoise and even a few frogs.

For the first part of the workshop, the disabled and volunteers together with their animals had
a very pleasant walk through a jungle track. The paved road made it easy to walk and there were railings to help the wheelchair-users.

The walk is named after the former director of FRIM and it is called the Razak walk. Along the way we were able to see and touch all sorts of exotic plants which had been collected from all over Malaysia in order to save them from extinction.

Back at the workshop, we had a discussion on how to make the Razak path more accessible to the disabled. We then had a look at five kinds of frogs caught from the jungle in the night and which were released after the workshop.

Towards the end of the workshop, we were astounded to learn that not only dogs and cats but, in fact, all kinds of animals could be used in helping to bring about healing to a person. The animals could be even a rabbit, a lizard, a snake, a tortoise or a fish.

We were informed by the President of Petpositive, En. Anthony Sivabalan, that any disabled
person who is in need of an animal could email him at athanasayan@yahoo.com.

End

Woof at first sight - Malay Mail

Woof at first sight

• adopt
• christina chin
• dogs
• Pulau Ketam
• SPCA
• Life

SPCA chairman Chin adopts two rejected ‘island’ canines

NADIRAH H. RODZI

Friday, May 22nd, 2009 06:05:00

EAT UP: Chin feeding her adopted dog from Pulau Ketam

WHEN Christina Chin set eyes on two dogs rescued from an island off Pulau Ketam, she knew she had to own them.

"They are just adorable," said Chin, who named the two female dogs Piccola and Piccolo.

Piccola is a two-year-old bitch and Piccolo, believed to be Piccola's baby, is only a few months old.

Asked why she decided to adopt the dogs, Chin, who is the chairman of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said: "Piccola and Piccolo touched me in a way I can't describe. When I laid my eyes on them I was possessed. Maybe it was their eyes and the way they looked at me."

She said usually, when there was a problem regarding animals, the SPCA would help to find places for them to stay.

"Once in a while I would adopt a dog, but never two at the same time," she said.
She added that Piccolo was in a slightly better condition than her mother who had a bad skin condition
when first rescued.

"Picollo was traumatised and depressed while Piccola was nervous and fierce.

"It was understandable because on the island they were fighting for survival. They looked very sad.

"Both dogs were scared of my presence and subdued. But now, they're becoming a little more active.

Although they are still traumatised, they have opened up a bit," she said.

What happened to the dogs of Pulau Ketam recently touched a lot of people, even those who do not have pets.
Chin said the people felt the pain and agony of the 300 dogs abandoned on an uninhabited island off Pulau Ketam without food and water and left to fend for themselves.

Since then, efforts have been made to find and bring the dogs back. Some have already been brought back and are being cared for by SPCA and other animal welfare organisations.

"It's sad to see these lovable animals suffer. You can actually hear them cry from far away," said Chin.
While many are furious with the action taken by the villagers of the island for abandoning man's best friend on the deserted island, many are now lending a hand.

Two dogs were rescued on May 11 and another 10 dogs were rescued a few days later.

They are currently being treated mostly by the SPCA for dehydration, food deprivation and depression.

YB Rodziah's Goodies for the Disabled

All New All Malaysia
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Selangor a cyber state by end-2010
By JADE CHAN

BY the end of next year, Selangor will become a full cyber state, with Internet connection available and accessible throughout the state via the broadband wireless system.

According to Selangor state welfare, women affairs, science, technology and innovation committee chairman Rodziah Ismail, the state government wants to create an Internet-savvy community.

“The Selangor government wants the residents to use ICT (information, communications and technology) as a medium, for bill payment, information search and other transactions,” Rodziah said.

“Everyone will be part of a connected community, whether those residing in urban or rural areas. This plan is part of the state’s new economic plan to stimulate the economy,” she said.

“We want to make the Internet the fourth form of utility in Selangor, after water, electricity and telephone. The Internet set-up will be done by four service providers in different areas,” Rodziah said.

She said the state government would be implementing a welfare pro­­gramme based on a “work-fare” (from welfare to work) concept this year.

“We’re targeting those in the low-income group, particularly the single mothers, the disabled and the school dropouts to encourage them to earn a living of at least RM1,500 a month. We want them to be independent, not rely on welfare aid and have the courage to prove that they can and must work,” she said.

According to Rodziah, the state government will provide the assistance like sending participants for training or providing micro-credit loans for them to start their own business or join the workforce.

She said getting the school dropouts involved in the scheme was to provide them an avenue to learn some skills and to prevent them from getting involved in social problems.

“The programme started in February has been implemented in each assemblyman’s constituency. We will evaluate its progress after six months,” Rodziah said.

She said she would also focus on improving and enhancing the well-being of the disabled.

“We will launch a scheme offering free parking stickers for the disabled in a week. There will be two types of stickers — a permanent sticker for those who have their own cars, and a transferable type for caregivers of the disabled,” she said.

“To qualify for a sticker, an applicant must be registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and go to his or her local council to obtain it,” Rodziah said.

“Each sticker has its own safety code to ensure that it is not abused. We will also work with the local councils to step up enforcement and increase the fines on those who abuse parking spots for the disabled,” she said.

“We have also instructed all local councils in Selangor, especially those in the urban areas like Shah Alam, Klang, Subang Jaya, Selayang and Ampang, to provide two adequately-equipped vans in their municipalities as transport for the disabled by the end of this year,” Rodziah said.

She also said the barrier-free concept would be highlighted to provide the disabled better accessibility to government and private buildings, shopping complexes, religious institutions and recreation centres.

“We have appointed a consultant to audit all buildings, especially those in the urban areas, on their accessibility, and to create awareness for all contractors and building developers for the concept to be implemented in new and existing buildings,” Rodziah said.

“The interesting part is that the disabled who are professionals like town planners and lecturers will be doing the auditing themselves. They will begin their auditing in the Shah Alam city centre in mid-June and move on to other areas. I will assess their reports every two months,” she said.

According to Rodziah, the state government is targeting to have at least 1% disabled and 30% women in the workforce at government agencies by the end of this year.

“We want a higher female representation, especially those at senior management or decision-making levels,” she said.

Rodziah said her plans for women included setting up female community centres at each state constituency and promoting the one-stop crisis centres (OSCCs).

“The community centre will be a place where women can have skills training, conduct their own activities, network and share issues,” she said.

Rodziah said OSCCs had been set up at the Hospital Ampang, Hospital Serdang, Hospital Selayang, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang and Hospital Kajang to offer protection to women who had been abused, raped or experienced domestic violence.

“Women in trouble can go to the OSCCs at these hospitals to seek protection and get help. We want women to be more empowered, be aware their rights, and to know where to go to get protection,” Rodziah said.

The programme was launched in 1997 by the federal government.

A FAIR PICTURE?

I was delighted to read in The Star last Friday about the comments made by our Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

He called on television and radio stations to provide fair coverage of the various communities in Malaysia.

The good minister, referring to on-air shows such as sitcoms, serials and local films, urged those who produce them to ensure that they reflect the culture and true aspirations of Malaysians.

I couldn’t agree more with the honourable Minister.

And although Dr Rais didn’t specifically mention it, I have no doubt that he would feel the same for broadcast shows that depict the marginalised communities, namely the disabled, in our country as well.

Do our shows that we watch on TV, for instance, about handicapped people truly represent how the disabled themselves wish to be portrayed?

Not long ago, for instance, I caught a local show where “a tragedy” occurs in a family.

A mother and father rush to a hospital when they hear that their son was involved in a car crash.

After hours of waiting at the surgery and fearing the worst, a grim-faced surgeon finally emerges from the operation theatre.

The distraught and trembling parents look at the doctor who shakes his head before announcing: “I’m sorry, but although your son has survived, he will be paralysed for the rest of his life.”

The parents hug each other and weep, as if to show that it would have been better for their child if he had not survived at all than to face the future for the rest of his life as a handicapped person.

Such a portrayal of the disabled by the media is not at all helpful nor is it accurate about the disabled community in Malaysia.

When someone becomes crippled, the most important thing to do is to give them hope and show them that life is worth living – because it really is.

I can confidently say this because I have been disabled for nearly 50 years, which is all my life.

What is tragic is not that one becomes disabled but rather that we still live in a society that has still ways to go yet before becoming fully inclusive of all types of persons.

Inclusivity means building ramps for wheelchairs, guiding blocks for the blind, providing special education for the learning disabled and electronic signboards for the Deaf.

(Note that the word “Deaf” today is spelt with a capital “D”. This is to describe a certain way of life or culture of Deaf people rather than the old-fashioned and limited medical definition of “deafness” which only means the “inability to hear.”)

The trouble with our world is that many of us (especially the non disabled) are so fixated and place too much emphasis with one’s ability to be able to walk, see, hear or think in a certain way.

By doing this we end up marginalising others that do not fit in such a picture.

The fact is I happen to know quite a few non disabled people with all of the above so-called “positive abilities” quality. And yet, they are sadly not content with their lives. Some are depressed and others even suicidal.

So why is walking so important in life?

Even though I stopped doing that long, long ago, I consider myself as very gifted in where I am today.

However, I must note that the road that brought me here was never easy.

It was a journey that was fraught with daily struggles and refusing to say die or defeat to the very end.

In addition to being a columnist for this newspaper for many years, I am happy that my part-time job as a Petaling Jaya City Councillor (MBPJ) is paying off.

I am gifted with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help others like myself in PJ.

We in MBPJ are doing lots of things to make a lasting difference for the disabled: providing user-friendly facilities like wheelchair accessible restrooms, car parks, pavements and buildings – new and old – and even some form of public transportation.

All these features, done bit by bit, in the long run will offer tremendous hope and help to the present disabled as well as the slowly but surely increasing handicapped and elderly citizens in our country.

And then I had quite a shock last week.

A private TV station that wanted to do a story on my life suddenly gave up on me even after having set the dates and times to do the filming on my life in a wheelchair.

They turned me down because they wanted me to – wait for it - cry on public television. The editor apparently thought that a good sob was the best way for someone in a wheelchair to get sympathy from the public.

I simply refused to shed a tear in front of the camera.

As a result, I lost a splendid chance to be famous on national TV.

But hey, I managed to keep my dignity at the end.

And that to me is worth much, much more than anything this world can offer.

HELP PETPOSITIVE AND WE'LL HELP OTHERS

There are many ways in which YOU can help Petpositive - The Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association.

We are a national non profit Society that's out to promote animal-assisted therapy among disabled and elderly Malaysians.

We want to do this because we are convinced that animals have the magic to empower and offer comfort to such people.

We just started our Petpositive Therapy Centre which is in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It is the only place where, as far as we are concerned, pets are welcome.

Our Therapy Centre offers an opportunity for people with disabilities to come and interact with animals - either their own or ones that we provide in the centre.

If you support such a project, you might want to help us help others.

We are currently looking for people to help pay for our monthly rentals which is RM1,500. Please note that Petpositive is tax exempted. For more details on your funding help, please call us at 012 220 3146.

Thank You!

MPK STRAY DOG ISLAND UPDATE

PETPOSTIVE UPDATE:

It's hard to say for sure what really went on in today's meeting in Klang which was called by the Majlis Perbandaran Kelang on the abandoned and dying stray dogs on the islands off Pulau Ketam.

One feedback received said that the meeting went on for about five hours or more. This must surely augur a good sign as it obviously shows that the dying dogs on the island is am important issue for the Klang council members and the animal NGOs that attended.

One animal NGO head said that the meeting was fruitful and that many important issues were successfully ironed out.

Apparently the collection of funds by non registered animal welfare groups was a hot issue at the meeting. It was suggested that a special fund be set up for the public to donate by the MPK to be used purely for the abandoned stray dogs in the island.

Whilst that sounded like a good suggestion, another voice was cynical and thought that it would not work very well.

The person, also another animal NGO head, was even doubtful about the seriousness of the MPK to try and resolve the situation.

Is this a too pessimistic view about the MPK towards the plight of the hapless dog? We'll just have to wait and see for now.
PET+BLOGSPOT!

Keep working 'to avoid dementia'

Keeping mentally active is key

Keeping the brain active by working later in life may be an effective way to ward off Alzheimer's disease, research suggests.

Researchers analysed data from 1,320 dementia patients, including 382 men.

They found that for the men, continuing to work late in life helped keep the brain sharp enough to delay dementia taking hold.

The study was carried out by the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London.

It features in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

More people than ever retire later in life to avert financial hardship, but there may be a silver lining - lower dementia risk Rebecca Wood Alzheimer's Research Trust

Around 700,000 people in the UK currently have dementia and experts have estimated that by 2051, the number could stand at 1.7m.

It is estimated that the condition already costs the UK economy £17bn a year.

Brain connections

Dementia is caused by the mass loss of cells in the brain, and experts believe one way to guard against it is to build up as many connections between cells as possible by being mentally active throughout life. This is known as a "cognitive reserve".

There is evidence to suggest a good education is associated with a reduced dementia risk.

And the latest study suggests there can also be a positive effect of mental stimulation continued into our later years.

Those people who retired late developed Alzheimer's at a later stage than those who opted not to work on.

Each additional year of employment was associated with around a six week later age of onset.

Researcher Dr John Powell said: "The possibility that a person's cognitive reserve could still be modified later in life adds weight to the "use it or lose it" concept where keeping active later in life has important health benefits, including reducing dementia risk."

The researchers also admit that the nature of retirement is changing, and that for some people it may now be as intellectually stimulating as work.

Key threshold

Researcher Professor Simon Lovestone said: "The intellectual stimulation that older people gain from the workplace may prevent a decline in mental abilities, thus keeping people above the threshold for dementia for longer."

However, he added: "Much more research is needed if we are to understand how to effectively delay, or even prevent, dementia."

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, which funded the study, said: "More people than ever retire later in life to avert financial hardship, but there may be a silver lining - lower dementia risk."

However, Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said the small sample size of the study made it difficult to draw firm conclusions.

She said: "There could be a number of reasons why later retirement in men is linked with later onset of dementia.

"Men who retire early often do so because of health conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes, which increase your risk of dementia.

"It could also be that working helps keep your mind and body active, which we know reduces risk of dementia."

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said it had carried out work showing that working beyond pension age had many positive effects.

"Not only can it mean more income, but also social networking and increased activity.

"We also find that many of today's older workers are choosing rejecting the cliff edge between work and retirement in favour of a gradual step down. And employers should help them to do this."

A LISTENING EAR IN PETPOSITIVE THERAPY CENTRE SOON

PETPOSTIVE NEWSFLASH!

Petpositive, Malaysia's first animal-assisted therapy centre for the disabled and elderly in Petaling Jaya will be accomplishing another first very soon.

Petpositive Therapy Centre will soon provide peer counselling for disabled Malaysians who are looking for a listening ear to their problems.

In his presidential address at a regular committee meeting in the Society's office yesterday, Anthony Thanasayan said that that the therapy centre - once when it is fully operational - will be not like any other disabled centre in the country.

"The handicapped and the elderly who visit our premises will feel loved and accepted at our centre," he said.

"They will have a unique opportunity to meet and discuss their problems with like-minded persons as a form of disability empowerment."

"During the peer-counselling sessions, the handicapped will also have to opportunity of being introduced to pets of all kinds that include cats, dogs, birds and fish," pointed out Anthony who also heads the Disability Technical Committee of the Petaling Jaya City Council.

Stay tuned to more Petpositive news on PET+BLOGSPOT

FOLLOW UP MPK MEETING TOMORROW

PETPOSITIVE NEWSFLASH:

The first follow-up meeting between the Majlis Perbandaran Kelang (MPK) and animal NGOs is scheduled to take place on Monday afternoon.

Petpositive has learnt that the discussion will not be a brainstorming session but rather a meeting to set up a permanent committee to look into the stray dog situation in Klang town.

The MPK will be calling all the local relevant government bodies that deals with dog issues plus several animal NGOs to sit in the committee.

Representatives of the Fire Brigade are also expected to be called for the meeting.

The idea to set up the permanent dog committee in MPK was first suggested by Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya Councillor Anthony SB Thanasayan who was present at last Monday's inaugural meeting to discuss the Pulau Ketam stray dogs issue after it was prominently highlighted in the media.

Meanwhile, SPCA Chairman Christine Chin told PET+BLOGSPOT that the visit yesterday of Director General Datuk Dr Aziz Jamaluddin of the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) went ahead quite successfully.

Plans are underway to start the sterilisation of stray dogs in Pulau Ketam with the help of DVS, she said.

According to reports, more dogs are being rescued from the islands of Pulau Ketam and being treated by veterinarians in various clinics.

PET+BLOGSPOT

DG of Department of Veterinary Services to Visit Death Dog Islands Shortly

PETPOSTIVE QUICK UPDATES:

1. The Director-General of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Dato' Dr Abdul Aziz bin Jamaluddin is expected to visit the islands off Pulau Ketam where many of the stray dogs are stranded. The exercise is apparently being coordinated by the Selangor SPCA. Petpositive will also be represented by Christine Chin who is the Chairman of SPCA. The animal NGOs are expected to accompany Dr Aziz as early as 7am. The visit will probably last two hours. According to last Monday's meeting at the Majlis Perbandaran Kelang in Klang, the DVS are to coordinate the spay and neuter campaigns of the rescued dogs from the islands as well as Pulau Ketam.
   
2. The Selangor Government is expected to come up with special car stickers by next week. The stickers will allow the disabled the right to park their cars anywhere in Selangor where there is a disabled parking sticker.