weekend view: PETPOSITIVE AT SPCA

Pictures by Sivaraman Kannan. Story by aNt

SAY the word “disabled” and “volunteers” – and most of us would likely conjure up images of able-bodied people all helping the handicapped.

But what if the roles were reversed for a change?

Could people with disabilities themselves be volunteers?

Or would their handicapping conditions make it impossible for such a dream to ever come true for them?

This was exactly what about 30-people and I attempted to find out last week.

We were at the most unlikely of places to make the discovery: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Selangor.

In its 50 years of existence, the SPCA in Jalan Ampang had never experienced anything quite like what happened in the morning of Tuesday, June 24.

The event was organised by the animal shelter – as well as Petpositive – the animal-assisted therapy for the disabled and elderly society where I am a volunteer.

Nearly a dozen of the participants who turned up were made up of persons with disabilities, their families or caregivers.

Getting there was not as easy as we had thought.

A blind participant who had applied for leave from his office waited for more than an hour outside his flat for a taxi before giving up.

Unable to see cabs approaching his residence, he had to rely on his mobile phone for a call to inform him. And it was difficult to tell if the cab company had finally refused to take him because of the traffic jam or because of his condition.

Refusals from taxis are not uncommon when it involves customers with disabilities.

The visually-impaired chap was so looking forward to do something he never done before in his life since being a blind child. We had planned to get him to bathe one of the abandoned puppies in the SPCA.

Another participant in a wheelchair shrieked in delight when a tiny puppy was placed on her lap. “My heart almost stopped when that happened,” the woman with brittle bones told me later.

“I was suddenly entrusted with the huge responsibility of ensuring that the tiny creature did not fall off my lap,” she added.

I could understand her excitement over her task perfectly.

It is not often when responsibilities are given to people with disabilities. This is sad because people still see us as “incapable” or “helpless”.

Looking after the puppy even if it was only for a brief period; helped my friend to feel useful and needed with the rest of the crowd.

The participant who benefited the most from the session I thought was a young man with cerebral palsy. The 26-year old resides with his single mother at the other end of Selangor.

With no transport, he rarely has a chance to go out and meet other people in wheelchairs like himself.

Our session was an excellent opportunity for him to do just that.

Despite his limited social opportunities, it was remarkable to see how friendly and easygoing he was in exploring the SPCA – from the office to the puppies and kitten areas.

In fact, one of the SPCA volunteers was so taken up by him that she offered to anonymously sponsor a brand new computer for the young man. This includes a teacher to arm him with basic computer knowledge.

His only pal, a mongrel also got lucky that day.

After learning that the mutt had come down with skin problems, the SPCA graciously decided to treat his four-footed friend for free in his home.

This includes sending a veterinarian over to inspect the dog. And also bring it to the SPCA if needed.

The young man is, not surprisingly, jobless.

On our part Petpositive will take up his case with the Welfare department so that he can qualify for the RM300 disability monthly allowance.

What is so unfortunate is that the allowance is given only to those who have jobs – whose income does not exceed RM1200 a month.

From what I understand (it is regretful that these things are never made clear) is that allowances for unemployed handicapped persons are decided on a case by case basis.

This is terribly unfair. How can persons who have no transport find jobs? What about bedridden persons?

They are that way not because they are lazy or deliberately want to be that way. But simply because the disabled in Malaysia unfortunately still live in a society that is very disabling and apathetic to their special needs.

The visit to the SPCA was also eye-opening for the non disabled.

Remarked SPCA Chairman Christine Chin after the event:

“We have held countless events at the SPCA but never anything quite like this!

“We not only thoroughly enjoyed the visit but felt particularly touched and healed that morning.

“The pleasure and smiles expressed on everyone’s faces coupled with the tail wags of our shelter’s residents said a thousand million words!”

The End

DISABLED & ELDERY TO VOLUNTEER AT SPCA SELANGOR

PETPOSITIVE NEWS:

It is confirmed! And plans are underway at this moment to make it happen.

Early next week, five disabled and elderly members will be taking a trip to the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Selangor to volunteer their time and learn more about what this well-known non governmental organisation is doing to help animals in our society.

The event, organised by PETPOSITIVE will include the blind and the physically handicapped.

Besides manning the telephones for a while, Our Society's members will also help bathe, groom and feed the puppies at the SPCA. There will also be an opportunity to play with some of the resident kittens of the animal shelter.

The purpose of the trip is to educate the disabled and elderly about animal welfare and rights and also to promote animal-assisted therapy for them.

This will be the first time that PETPOSITIVE is having a project in the SPCA. It is also the first time that the SPCA is doing something like this with disabled and elderly people.

The last time the venue had several disabled people was when SPCA had invited Bivai Special Dogs to their shelter to help a disabled man have a pet.

A dog (not from the SPCA) was trained for almost a year under Bivai Special Dogs for the wheelchair user as a service dog.

The human candidate unfortunately however, passed away a year later - just when his service dog was about to graduate. The training was sponsored by the Lion's Club.

On another note, scroll below for a special feature - just for laughs - that was submitted to us recently by PETPOSITIVE volunteer Sally Addington.

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT

HERE ARE FIVE SITUATIONS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE REALLY IN DEEP TROUBLE:

Weekend View: Animal Therapists In Action

Story by aNt. Pictures by Ruwaidy Mat Rasul.
AS president of Petpositive - our national, non profit society which was set up to provide animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for disabled and elderly Malaysians for positive living – it is no secret that I am a die-hard believer in the power of pets.

One, because of how my own three canines empower me daily in my wheelchair through their active presence.

And two, how pets make a significant difference in the lives of almost every handicapped and elderly persons that come in contact with them.

Ever since Petpositive was formed two years ago (we just, by the way, celebrated our anniversary last Saturday); we are pleased to say that at least a 110 of our members have personally benefited in some way or another through our animal-related activities.

This was accomplished either through close encounters with them or actually stroking and bonding with animals.

The pets that we have “enlisted” so far to help us in our projects and events have been common domesticated animals. They include rabbits, cats, dogs, fishes and horses.

Some unconventional animals have also made “guest appearances” as our very able therapists from nature. They were several wild frogs, one monkey and even a pride of peafowl!

Petpositive has not had the opportunity yet to work with exotic animals like non poisonous spiders and snakes.

Whilst the thought of such creatures may send shivers down some of our spines, they are often in reality much better suited for certain disabled and elderly persons.

People with more profound disabilities and mobility restrictions, for example, may find such slithering and crawling companions much easier to handle and care for than rabbits or birds.

Having said that, dogs are by far and large still one of the best pets for AAT work. Provided, of course, that the AAT recipient-to-be is not unduly intimidated or fearful of their presence.

We had the wonderful opportunity to watch the canine therapists in all their glory again at our last AAT-cum-nature-therapy session. It was held at the Botanical Gardens in Kepong, Selangor, a fortnight ago.

This time, rather than to invite a large group as we did before, we decided to keep the numbers small. Our invitation went out to only five participants – instead of the 25 disabled and elderly members that we had in the previous occasion.

The smaller number of our special guests proved to be a big hit with everyone. There was more time for all of us to get to know each other – including our pets – in a meaningful way.

There was no cause for having to rush through a tight programme schedule as before.

What was also distinct about this session was that almost all of our participants brought their pets along. The last time, we provided the pets.

One participant with a muscle-weakening condition said she couldn’t bring her dog along because she feared that he would not behave well in a new environment.

This became an excellent ice-breaking topic for everyone during the AAT session.

Another participant, who suddenly and tragically became blind in both eyes a few months ago, related his personal account of how everyone in his family was trying their best to cope with his sudden handicap.

This included his pet dog, which after sensing his blindness, now amazingly goes over to him and gives him a lick on his hand to let him know that she is around. No one taught his dog to do this!

A participant in a wheelchair suddenly stretched out his hand. He was eager to pat an Alsatian lying down next to him. The dog was owned by someone else.

Looking at all of us he said that he too would like to have a dog one day. However, he could not as some people in his house did not like pets.

He asked us, with a smile, if Petpositive would help him find a pet when he moved out to his own home.

We nodded enthusiastically.

In addition to talking about their pets, they also started sharing about their disabilities. Some of them choked with tears as they opened up and shared about their struggles.

And it was unanimous. All who had pet companions testified that it was their pets that really and truly understood and appreciated what they were going through daily.

I was simply astounded. I have been to scores of meetings and events involving the disabled and never once have I seen people opening up so easily and readily than when their pets were by their side!

Petpositive wishes to create more of such opportunities.

Whilst we are still looking for a centre in the PJ/KL/Klang area, we are also looking for an immediate location to provide AAT to small groups of disabled and elderly persons on a monthly basis for a start. The venue will be a place where our members can come with their pets or be exposed to them there.

If you can help, kindly contact us: 012 220 3146. Mailto:petpositive@yahoo.com or visit www.petpositive.blogspot.com

PET+BLOGSPOT

WEEKEND VIEW: A TRUE MALAYSIAN HERO

NOTHING lifts my spirits quite as much as coming across amazing true-life tales of animals doing wonderful things for human beings.

I saw on TV once how a family pet dog – a Golden Retriever – had suddenly turned vicious when it was confronted by burglars in the house.

The Golden (frequently known for its gentle behaviour with children) had no qualms when it came to fulfilling its paramount duty in protecting its human family.

I have also read of incredible stories about much smaller creatures doing similar things.

Cats and even birds, for instance, have astoundingly saved their owners by alerting them – often in the nick of time – to gas leaks; and even fires at home through their constant meowing or screeching.

However, it always seems that such stories on animal heroism only take place outside our country.

Until a fortnight ago.

A most extraordinary news item appeared in most of the English dailies that left me stunned and speechless!

A woman from Seremban was reported to have been miraculously saved from a watery grave in her village by her pet dog.

This was after her wooden home had been struck by flash floods from the heavy rains we have been experiencing lately.

How was she saved? Her dog’s nonstop barking apparently had drawn the attention of the fire and rescue team nearby who rushed to her aid.

The other villages who managed to escape had not noticed her. When the rescue team found the woman, she was said to be “shivering, helpless and barely able to keep her head above the flood waters.”

And it was only after the firemen had rescued the victim, did her dog swim to safety. According to the report, until then, the dog simply refused to leave her side, despite the rising waters.

There were many significant points about the woman that made her particularly vulnerable in the situation.

First of all, she was a woman and not a man. Thus, she was in a more disadvantaged position in being able to help herself out of the crisis.

Second, she was an elderly person said to be in her 60s. And third; she suffered from chronic asthma.

All this made her three times more handicapped.

It is not uncommon for elderly people to get unnoticed in rescue missions.

They can get trapped and separated from crowds more easily because of their conditions.

And had her canine companion not been with her throughout her ordeal, she would not have clung on to life and hope for as long as she did.

The account makes me recall my own harrowing experience when I was caught in a flash flood situation a few years ago.

I was in stuck in a traffic jam in the city with my three dogs in my car. We were all headed home after a routine visit to the veterinarian.

Suddenly all hell broke loose. I could see muddy waters gushing in my direction from all sides.

The able-bodied drivers abandoned their vehicles and ran for cover in the nearby high rise buildings.

The waters swallowed several cars. I had to think fast.

If I was alone in my car, I would have probably been a nervous wreck.

However, because I had three large animals under my care, I had to think of their safety above my own.

Although my pets seemed to completely understand the seriousness of the situation by the way they kept looking around the surroundings, they amazingly remained calm.

They even offered me a lick every now and then as if to calm me down too.

Taking their cue, I realised that there was no time to panic. What I needed to do instead was to quickly and carefully think of ways to make our escape.

One way was to open the doors and let them swim out to safety as dogs are naturally excellent swimmers.

As for me, I could swim too.

However, there was no way to say how strong the water currents were and the possibility of it dragging me to further danger.

In any case, as service dogs, I had full confidence that my dogs would come back for me. One of them did exactly that during his training in a pool.

Fortunately for all of us, the reckoning moment did not materialise. Where I was parked, the water levels did not rise to a crisis level.

Back to the elderly woman and her pet, they are apparently both safe now.

However it seems to me that such an outstanding act of derring-do on the part of the canine for its disabled and elderly owner should never go unnoticed.

The Seremban Municipal Council, for instance, should seriously consider bestowing a bravery award for the exemplary canine for its heroic and selfless deed.

Don’t you agree?