(MY) animal crossings

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Slow down, please cats and dogs crossing By *amir azree*

Created *Friday, September 25th - Malay Mail

*

 

Furry Friends Farm wants animal crossing signs put up

Masami Mustaza <http://www.mmail.com.my/source/masami-mustaza> [1]

Friday, September 25th, 2009 10:33:00

[image: dog] <http://www.mmail.com.my/content/14149-dog> [2]

 

HIT AND RUN: Jasper the dog was what set the wheels in motion for Furry

Friends Farm to call for animal crossing signs on roads

 

IN Australia, it’s not uncommon to find kangaroo crossing signages along the

roads.

 

At one time, roads in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam, even had signages alerting

motorists to watch out for road-crossing tapirs!

 

 

 

In conjunction with World Animal Day on Oct 4, Furry Friends Farm founder

Sabrina Yeap hopes that the local authorities will support her idea to

promote animal welfare on the road and put up animal crossing signs.

 

It is an idea that is yet to be brought up with any ofthe local authorities

but Yeap hopes that if the public agrees with her, this will nudge the

authorities into taking action.

 

The push factor came to Yeap when Jasper the dog, a victim of a hit and run

accident, was brought in by a group of contractors to Furry Friends Farm.

 

“He was injured with a ruptured skull showing part of his brain. When I went

to see Jasper, in spite of the

unimaginable amount of pain he must have been in, Jasper still wagged his

tail, as if in anticipation of some help,” said Yeap.

 

She said that from the countless number of accidents that involved dogs and

cats, it's high time that signages saying, (Beware! Slow down! Cats and dogs

crossing) are put up.

 

“It will not just save the lives of our feline and canine friends, but also

the lives of people as hopefully, they will become more careful, considerate

and compassionate drivers,” explained Yeap.

 

She also said that if the local authorities were agreeable with her idea,

she would assist them by suggesting locations for placement of the signages.

 

“I am sure the public will also be supportive of this. Finding an injured or

dead animal that had been knocked down by cars is a distressing experience

for many. We’ve had plenty of calls from those who want to help but are

unsure how to deal in removing the injured animals on the road. Many also

are not aware of our animal rescue unit. Members of the public can assist us

in identifying animal accidentprone areas in residential sites,” said Yeap.

 

“A few signages are enough. It will create an awareness among motorists to

be more compassionate towards our road-using animal friends.”

*Celebrate World Animal Day*

 

 

[image: cat n dog] <http://www.mmail.com.my/content/14150-cat-n-dog> [3]

WORLD Animal Day, which falls on Oct 4 every year, was started in Florence,

Italy, in 1931 at a convention of ecologists.

 

 

 

On this day, special events are planned on locations all over the globe. Oct

4 was originally chosen for World Animal Day because it is the feast day of

Francis of Assisi, a nature lover and patron saint of animals and the

environment.

 

Numerous churches throughout the world observe the Sunday closest to Oct 4

with a blessing for the animals.

 

However, World Animal Day has now gone beyond being the celebration of a

Christian saint and is today observed by animal-lovers of all beliefs,

nationalities and backgrounds.

 

Animal rescue shelters hold fundraising events and open days, wildlife

groups organise information displays, schools undertake animal-related

project work and individuals and groups of friends or co-workers donate to

animal charities or pledge to sponsor an shelter.