(MY) Pets can help prevent some deaths

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Pets can help prevent some deaths

Malaysiakini

Anthony Thanasayan

Jul 28, 06

 

The Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly

Association (Petpositive) welcomes the recent open discussions in the media

on suicide, its causes and how to prevent it. We believe that one of the

best ways to address this usually taboo topic in our society is for more

people talk about it and bring it out in the open.

 

As a newly-registered society which firmly believes in the power of

meaningful companionship with animals for a higher quality of life and

positive living, we would like to suggest animal - assisted therapy (AAT) as

a stress and depression buster.

 

The bond between humans and other animals has untold benefits especially

among the disabled and elderly populations. Animals have assisted human

persons in profound ways such as improving a patient's cognitive or physical

functioning (usually from a one-on-one relationship) to enhancing a person’s

sense of well-being and reducing loneliness.

 

Proximity with animals such as touching and caring for them helps to bring

about positive reinforcement in people’s lives. We know of elderly and

disabled people and others in Malaysia who, through their successful

partnerships with animals, now have less need for medication, have much

calmer personalities and have cut down on suicide attempts.

 

Bonding with pets has also helped pet-lovers achieve other goals such as

improving communication, building trust, decreasing stress and anxiety and

perhaps most important of all, motivating themselves. All of which are some

of the negative factors that drive people to suicide. Pets are also

inexpensive and more accessible to everyone.

 

Having said all these, those considering taking on a pet must realise that

keeping an animal is a lifetime responsibility to the pet, neighbours and

the laws that govern pet-keeping.

 

On a related matter, PetPositive strongly regrets the opinions expressed by

Jason Baker, Director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,

Asia-Pacific, Hong Kong in his letter Eng may be an ‘animal hoarder’ .

 

We are disappointed to note that whilst Peta was quick to point its finger

at Eng, the organisation, which professes to champion the ‘ethical treatment

of animals’ did not equally take to task the extreme action of the Seremban

local council to turn Eng’s home compound and living room into a bloody orgy

of destruction when its officers entered and gunned down his 13 canines

instead of finding a kind, humane and non-violent way out of the problem.

 

To imply that Eng Her Sun was the cause of the death of his dogs as a result

of an underlying ‘animal hoarding’ problem is to further add salt to his

wounds. The shooting has shell-shocked and outraged many Malaysians and the

world.

 

(Incidentally, Petpositive’s veterinarian had met up with Eng as well as his

own animal doctor to confirm that the victim’s dogs were kept in the best of

health and and not abused as Peta tried to insinuate.)

 

It is a pity that Baker’s observation, from his high chair in Hong Kong,

chose to only see a negative side in Eng and his animals rather than a

positive one. We refer to the therapeutic role and symbiotic relationship in

which he and his sister shared with their animals.

 

Eng, and his sister whom he lives with, are almost in their sixties. As

people age, issues such as loneliness, lack of self-esteem and the fear of

disability and death become an unavoidable factor.

 

However with the Engs, it was obvious that caring for their pets - which

they describe as their children - gave them a sense of usefulness, purpose

and satisfaction in their lives by giving a home to unwanted animals,

nursing and caring for them.

 

With such sensitivities at play, one can only imagine the state of shock and

utter devastation they suffered in having to watch the animals - their

children - that they worked so hard raise die a gruesome death in front of

the gunmen.

 

Petpositive calls for an immediate ban on dog shooting throughout the

nation.

 

The writer is president, Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled

and Elderly Association (PetPositive).

 

http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/54576

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[The letter Mr. Thanasayan refers to]

 

Eng may be an ‘animal hoarder’

Jason Baker

Jul 10, 06

 

I refer to your report Animal welfare groups outraged over dog slaughter.

 

It is tragic that 13 of Eng Her Sun’s dogs were shot when officials went to

his home to investigate complaints about the noise and smell. While the SPCA

is right to encourage the government to properly train city officers in

handling animals, this horrible occurrence may have been prevented if Eng

had not kept so many animals.

 

It appears that Eng may be an ‘animal hoarder’ - someone who compulsively

accumulates animals and fails to realise when the situation becomes abusive

and a threat to human and animal health.

 

Hoarders are often well-intentioned people who, faced with the tragic dog

and cat overpopulation problem, try to ‘rescue’ homeless animals, but

inevitably get in way over their heads and wind up abusing the animals

instead.

 

We can help prevent abuses like hoarding in our own communities by spaying

and neutering our animals and encouraging others to do the same. For

information on ways you can help animals, please visit this website.

 

The writer is director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

(Peta), Asia-Pacific.

 

http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/53645