(MY) use of service dogs by the disabled; response to the article; more on dogs and cruelty

[Guest guest]

The Star - Thursday, September 12, 2002

 

Those dog days are almost gone

 

By ANTHONY THANASAYAN

 

A TOTAL revolution is probably the best way to describe my life, as a person in

a wheelchair, and how it has been magically transformed almost five years ago

when my three faithful canine companions came to share my life with me.

 

Today, my dogs help me achieve a deep and fulfilling sense of personal

independence that I had never thought possible.

 

Apart from the physical and practical daily assistance I receive from them -

such as collecting my dirty laundry, propelling my wheelchair up slopes with

sheer mutt-power, or retrieving objects from hard-to-reach places such as under

beds and tables - by far, the most valued assistance I get from them is my

improved health, coupled with a fighting frame of mind they've helped develop.

 

My hospital visits and pill-popping days have steadily declined through dog

power and my pressure sores have all miraculously healed.

 

New ones that sprout up go as quickly as they come - thanks to my expert canines

that draw my attention to them so that I can have them treated immediately. And

my bouts of depression - I'm pleased to say - are at an all-time low in years

and virtually on their way out.

 

With so much affirmation and positivism surrounding animal therapy and its huge

benefits today for people with all types of conditions and disabilities, it's

most surprising, and saddening at times, when the very people whom we think

need a little education about the issue turn out to be the ones who might

actually need it the most.

 

Twice, my service dog (SD) and I were denied access when I was invited to give

a talk on disability awareness to a large group of student doctors at the

Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

 

Although the professor who extended the invitation to me fully support service

animals for the disabled, sadly, his boss was more concerned about " some

people " who might be " offended " at having a dog in the lecture hall.

 

What the good boss unfortunately failed to understand was that this wasn't any

ordinary dog or pet but one trained with a specific purpose in mind, much like

a police or rescue dog: to render aid to the disabled where human beings

cannot.

 

More recently, the SD concept in Malaysia suffered a major blow when my SD and I

were, once again, denied access into a seminar put together by the Malaysian

National Animal Welfare Foundation at the Sheraton Hotel in Subang Jaya,

Selangor. The topic, of all things, was Human-Animal Bond, and SDs were the

chief feature. Ironically, my SD and I couldn't be present, which was indeed a

pity, as a display of the both of us in action would've had a far greater

impact on the participants than any talk or Power Point presentation.

 

The animal group, however, tried to speak with the hotel personnel who

initially saw no problems with it. But they changed their minds at the

eleventh hour citing " the sensitivities of some Malays " who may not be

comfortable with the situation which could cause the hotel to " lose business "

in the process.

 

When the hotel folk said they would provide staff to assist me as an

alternative, I'm not sure if they realised what they were saying. They might as

well have told me not to bring my wheelchair with me and have people

carry me around from place to place in the seminar hall!

 

Besides, I certainly wouldn't want to incur the indignity of having a stranger

- other than my trained SD - to help me in the privacy of restrooms. But

this is not to suggest in any way that I don't support human assistance when

there is a true need for it.

 

The incident kept me in the doldrums for days until I wrote to fellow columnist

Marina Mahathir who launched my SD programme, Bivai Special Dogs, in August

last year.

 

Marina replied: " I'm really sorry about that hotel. It's silly to say that

Malays won't go somewhere dog has been; how do they know wherever they go, no

dog has been there anyway? " Honestly, I hope there aren't any disabled Malays

who keep themselves marginalised and isolated because they refused to use

service dogs.

 

" God helps those who help themselves. Besides, there are provisions in Islam

for emergency situations - and disability could be classified as one. "

 

Apart from these extreme cases, Bivai Special Dogs have had victories.

 

My assistance dogs, in recent times, have been to the United Nations building

in Kuala Lumpur to attend a press conference for the organisation's 50th

birthday. In addition, they have been to several churches, a local

supermarket, a Japanese restaurant and the Sunway College lecture hall in

Petaling Jaya.

 

They've also attended scores of disabled meetings and been to Bukit Jalil's

Putra stadium and even the famed Penang International Sports Arena.

 

Marina herself had invited my SD and I to present a talk with the Malaysian Aids

Council where after the discussions, all of us, including Soo my Golden

Retriever, gathered for a group photo - with Soo woofing away in approval of

his newfound friends.

 

(Incidentally, all the abovementioned events had many Malays actively

participating in them - many of whom are Bivai's biggest supporters.)

 

I plan on doing more awareness talks in future in schools, in particular, to

sensitise children - our leaders of tomorrow - about the role of animal

therapy and service dogs in the community and homes.

 

Even as I write this, I've just been invited to attend a national consultation

meeting with Suhakam organised by ERA Consumer in Ipoh and my SD is also

invited.

 

Also, the Malaysian Institute of Management in Kuala Lumpur has me down for a

talk about a caring society at a leading hotel later this month.

 

Not only am I going to talk about caring animals in a caring society, the good

news is that my SD is also welcome.

 

Early next month, the SPCA KL and Bivai Special Dogs will be launching in a big

way a special tribute to SDs and their contributions to disabled people on

World Animal Day.

 

A few weeks ago, a group of disabled activists and representatives from other

NGOs were at a dialogue session put together by the Health Ministry, which

was hosted by minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng himself.

 

We managed to impress on everyone present - many of them top doctors and

hospital authorities - about the need, amongst others, for them to go

seriously into animal therapy as another aspect of medicine and rehabilitation

for people with disabilities.

 

Many of them listened in utter silence. Later, my disabled pals and I were

swamped with many of the participants and top brass offering support for the

need of service dogs in Malaysia to help disabled Malaysians gain

independence.

 

Afterwards, during a light moment, Chua came over and gave us his autograph

before getting his staff to have their pictures taken with us.

 

Just before the flashlights popped, Chua bent over to me and whispered: " It

would be nice if your Golden Retriever was with you right here for the

picture. Say, can I borrow him one day? "

 

We all laughed. Indeed, what a pretty picture that would make for all of us

some day.

 

The columnist welcomes feedback from readers, so drop him a line at

athanasayan@ hotmail.com .

 

 

 

The Star- Tuesday, September 17, 2002

 

Taboo contact

 

I REFER to Anthony Thanasayan's Wheel Power article titled Those dog days are

almost gone (Section 2, Sept 12). We live in a multiracial and multireligious

country. We have to respect each other's beliefs. Muslims don't hate dogs per

se, for dogs are also God's creation.

 

I have been to the SPCA, and because the place has dogs, I took precaution not

to venture too near the dogs or touch anything there.

 

I have even saved a dog from its cruel master once. Muslims can keep dogs to

protect their home or farm, but not as pets. This is because any contact with

the dog or its saliva or dropping is taboo, because the saliva or dropping is

considered najis (faeces).

 

In order for Muslims to perform prayers, they must be free from najis.

Otherwise, their prayer is useless and will not be accepted by the Almighty.

 

There are three types of najis, one of which is najis mughallazah, from pigs

or dogs. We can touch dogs or pigs with our bare hands or with any part

of our body but all surfaces - man and creature's - must be dry. When one or

both are wet, then it is considered najis.

 

A Muslim may not know whether a place has been frequented by a dog before,

and if you don't know, it is not a sin.

 

But if it is publicised that dogs have been to a particular place, Muslims

would avoid going there - unless the Muslim is certain that the dogs did not

leave anything behind or lick anything that he/she may be in contact with

later.

 

I hope Anthony would consider a Muslim's sensitivities when he takes his dogs

out. Anthony can first check with the administrator of the place that he

intends to visit. In this case, it would be a matter of asking " what people

want from you and not what you want from others. "

 

I hope this little explanation from a humble Muslim can give Anthony an insight

into Muslims' reaction to dogs.

 

Noraini Ujang, Kuala Lumpur

 

 

 

The Star - Tuesday, September 17, 2002

 

Remembering sweet Lady

 

NO longer will I hear her enthusiastic bark in the morning. No longer will I

be greeted with her wagging tail when I come home from work.

 

She loved me with all her heart, as I do her. She was like a daughter to me.

She was a great friend who always knew when I was happy and when I was sad. She

would cheer for me in good times.

 

She would feel the pain I felt in the bad times and would always try her very

best to cheer me up with her consoling bark and loving lick.

 

Now, although I am feeling intense pain and sadness, she will no longer be able

to cheer me up. I know that even though she is gone, she is still trying her

best to cheer me up; she still does that in my dreams.

 

She was one of a kind. Although I have only had one wonderful year with her,

nothing in this world could describe the love I have for her. Now, God has

called her back to heaven. I miss her dearly but I know she is in a better

place. May she rest in peace.

 

Many people do not understand the love one could have for a pet, because many

people are incapable of it. It was hard enough to cope with the fact that she

is gone forever, but while I was mourning her death, people kept on making

insensitive remarks like, " Why don't you get a new dog? " or " It has been a few

days. Are you feeling better now? She's only a dog, you can get a new one. "

 

Why can they not understand that Lady, like any other person, deserves more

respect than that?

 

If you were to lose a person you love dearly, a child perhaps, would you feel

immensely hurt if someone were to say that you could conceive a new baby in

time? You would feel indescribable pain, would you not? That is exactly how I

feel.

 

I do not understand why people think that humans are the only significant

species on Earth. Just because animals do not have the intelligence to

learn to speak our languages, to invent machines, to read or write, does that

make them less worthy, that they do not feel happiness, sadness, joy or

pain?

 

All living creatures, animals and humans alike, deserve to be loved, respected

and most importantly, to live. Their lives deserve to be remembered. Their

deaths deserve to be mourned. Ironically, of all the living creatures on Earth,

the one most capable of committing the most inhumane of acts is humans.

 

With this, I plea to all of you, love thy pet and appreciate every precious

moment you have with it. If you do not have one, at the very least, show

compassion towards animals and empathy towards people who have lost their

beloved man's best friend.

 

In loving memory of Lady (July 23, 2001 - July 31, 2002), beloved pet and best

friend.

 

Karynn Tan Yee Huey, Selangor

 

 

 

 

 

New Straits Times » Letters

 

Have compassion for these dogs

 

Sept 15: I HAVE been feeding four dogs for the past 18 months in the Batu Caves

area. These are friendly dogs and live within the compound of a factory.

 

Last week, dog catchers came and took two, one a female puppy, away. I had

already made an appointment to have the puppy and two other female dogs spayed

under the Kembiri Campaign organised by the SPCA.

 

On Sept 11, I visited the dog pound in Rawang, Setapak and Puchong but had no

success in finding the dogs.

 

Most of the dogs in all these centres are in good physical condition and appear

to be pets, with some having collar chains.

 

Why are dogs with licences caught? Is it to punish the owners or the dogs? The

authorities and privatised dog catchers are causing great distress to dog owners

who have lost their pets and are not able to find them. Eventually, these dogs

are put down.

 

With the ruling of one dog per house, I cannot do more than feed these poor

dogs, send them to be spayed and neutered and then release them where I found

them.

 

There is no point in sending them to the SPCA and PAWS as their adoption rate is

less than 10 per cent. I wish the authorities would be more compassionate

instead of enforcing their rules as a vendetta against all dogs/dog owners.

 

JACQUELINE NG Kuala Lumpur

 

 

 

New Straits Times » Letters

 

Animals in Malaysia certainly deserve to be treated more kindly

 

Sept 15: I AM a visitor to your country.

 

And while I appreciate Malaysia for the beauty of its landscapes, its modern

cities and the friendliness of its people, the attitude and apathy towards the

animal kingdom leaves a lot to be desired.

 

For example, the other day when I left my host's house for a morning stroll, I

was horrified to see a stray dog being shot. This unfortunate animal had been

shot in the side of the chest and was still alive and trying to run away from

its pursuants, who were chasing the dog in their vehicle while laughing.

 

On a trip to the wet market with my friend and his wife, in order to buy

provisions for the day I was appalled to see chickens crammed tightly into

wooden crates, until they were to be sold.

 

They were then removed and thrown alive into a vat of boiling water and from

there placed into a large spinning device. Does it not occur to anyone the

suffering that these unfortunate creatures endure? Pet shop animals are kept in

miserable conditions under hot sunlight and in cages hardly big enough to

contain the animal.

 

And now there is the rather preposterous method of sorting out the problem of

errant tigers and panthers - shoot them all or imprison them all.

 

We should give thought to this quote from Mahatma Gandhi: " The greatness of a

nation depends on the way its animals are treated. "

 

TERRY CLARKE Dublin

 

 

 

The Star Online

 

Wednesday, September 25, 2002

 

Bangkok plans strict rules to keep pet dogs under tight leash

 

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Pet dogs in Bangkok will be implanted with

microchips, issued ID cards and muzzled if deemed aggressive under new

rules aimed at keeping the capital's mutts under a tight leash, The Nation

newspaper reported Wednesday.

 

Bangkok Gov. Samak Sundaravej has approved the regulations, which are to come

into force in December, the newspaper said.

 

Municipal officials were not immediately available to confirm the report.

 

The rules aim to bring order to the pet dog population and make owners

responsible for their animals.

 

" The regulations will require owners to feed their dogs, clean up their

droppings and ensure their pets neither offend neighbors nor adversely

affect their local environment,'' the Nation quoted Bangkok Deputy Gov. Praphan

Kitsin as saying.

 

The rules also will serve to distinguish pets from stray dogs, which have

become a major nuisance and danger to the public with their incessant barking

at night and frequently violent behavior.

 

Bangkok municipal authorities launched a program in June to sterilize stray dogs

and hope to neuter all of the estimated 120,000 strays in Bangkok by

September 2003.

 

The Nation said that pets would be implanted with microchips containing their

information before being registered and issued ID cards. It gave

no other details about the microchips.

 

It said all dog owners will be required to carry their pet's identity cards

when taking them out. Owners will have one year to register the dogs after

which they face a fine of up to 5,000 baht ($120) for violating the rules.

 

Certain breeds of dogs that show aggressive behavior would have to wear muzzles

and be kept on a leash no longer than 50 centimeters (20 inches),

Praphan was quoted as saying.

 

The new rules will also require vaccinating the dogs, and prohibit children

younger than 15 from buying pet dogs without their parents' permission, the

Nation said. - AP