October Awesomeness

We are now officially in the final quarter of the year. October is a month full of delightful things to look forward to -- World Animal Day, Malaysian Nature Society's Festival of Wings, Oktoberfest, Navrathri, Halloween and some of my best friends' birthdays.

October started off with a bang with the visit of my buddy Sumita. We were best friends in college but somehow we drifted apart after graduation and being called to the Bar. She made a special trip down to KL for the World Animal Day festivities.

The funny ones do their bit for the furry ones! We attended the Stand Up for Animals charity comedy show at the PJ Live Arts Centre on October 4, World Animal Day. It featured some of our country's best comedians. All proceeds would go towards community animal spaying and neutering efforts.

My three best friends -- Aravind, Sumita and Nicole -- waiting for the show to start at the PJ Live Arts Centre. We know we're in for a good time!

Here I am now, with the girls, before the show started. What a riot it was!

Kuah Jenhan was the best comedian by far. That's a name we're not going to forget in a hurry! We love his politically incorrect jokes about the differences between men and women and his funny anecdotes about his family. There's just something so spontaneous, endearing and relatable about his jokes.

The five stars of the evening, (L-R) Jit Murad with Winter (Richard and Chae Lian's lovely dog), Harith Iskandar, Kuah Jenhan and Douglas Lim, came out to take a bow at the end of the charity performance. In my opinion, Kuah Jenhan and Douglas Lim did a sterling job of taking the mickey out of themselves and Malaysians and having us in stitches. I can tell Douglas has never really given up teaching (he used to be an English teacher before he ventured into acting and stand-up comedy) because his lessons on Malaysian English were outrageously funny and accurate.

My friends and I couldn't stop talking about Jenhan and Douglas for days, and continue to crack up each time we repeat the jokes to one another. Jit Murad was off-form and really quite pitiably unfunny. Maybe it's just not his day, or maybe he is going through some issues. Harith Iskandar is overrated as usual and nowhere near as funny as his younger and more charming counterparts. You can only reveal so much about your personal and family life before you start boring the audience and making us feel uncomfortable. I thought his performance was the weakest of the lot during Kings and Queen of Comedy Asia 2011 as well. Perhaps it is time for Harith to consider another career if he is going to continue recycling the same jokes.

Remember how I mentioned wanting to try the Bhut Jolokia in my Bucket List? Well, we sampled it and survived! In fact, it wasn't as painful an experience as others would have me believe! It really is very tasty and addictive if cooked right. You can see the Scoville Heat Unit chart here in Chilli Rush, one of my favourite restaurants, in Jaya One, also one of our favourite shopping complexes due to the fact that it is pet-friendly. The Bhut Jolokia (also known as Naga Jolokia) is estimated to be over ten times hotter than Chili Padi. Which suits us just fine because Aravind and I are the kind of people who eat Chili Padi for dessert.

Here's Aravind reacting to his Bhut Jolokia chili wings. How I laughed at my funny, goofy boyfriend and his stomach of steel! He did find it scrumptious, though. Nothing would mar the experience of paying a lot for a dish for the sake of the novelty and bragging rights of having sampled Bhut Jolokia more than to find that the dish was unpalatable. I've always loved the food here, and they have quite a wide vegetarian selection.

I had a vegetarian burger with Chilli Rush's special chilli gravy. Their food, as always, is full of flavour and texture. I've had soggy and crumbly vegetarian burgers before but Chilli Rush's veg burger is not one of them. The vegetables are fresh and crunchy, the bun and patty remained firm and tasty and the whole experience was a treat. This is the sort of place you want to come to for a celebration.

Approaching the Bhut Jolokia gravy with eyes wide open, for more reasons than one. I touched my eye by mistake after handling the chilli and was in pain for a few agonising moments.

My fellow vegetarian Sumita with her veg fried rice. She was sensible enough to stay away from the spicier dishes. Nicole joined us later and had bangers and mash. We finished off our feast by sharing a slice of lychee cheesecake and one of carrot cake. The cheesecake was exquisite and silky, while the carrot cake was moist, dense, delicious and not too sweet.

I took the afternoon off on Friday to spend time with Sumita. We had lunch at Vegelife Cafe, one of my favourite eateries, and then moseyed around Sunway Pyramid for a few hours. Aravind called up to say that he was at the Oktoberfest event in One Utama with his colleagues, and asked us if we wanted to come over to join in the fun. As if we needed an excuse for beer, good music and a party! Some people hate crowds, but I love people and being among others, and was soon a part of the sweaty, smiley mass of humanity.

Lovely and obliging Oktoberfest lasses promoting the beer and the festivities.

Prost, prost! We drink to your good health! Aravind got us a giant souvenir mug with a litre of Franziskaner beer each. Sumita and I found the beer refreshingly smooth and sweet to the tastebuds. Definitely a class above the rest!

Some brave souls volunteered to be the victims at the Dunking Station. Considering the amount of beer the guys had, most of them had deadly accurate aim.

Drinking responsibly to me also entails being cheerful and happy revellers, and none exemplified the spirit of Oktoberfest so well as these Malaysian celebrants who formed an impromptu Conga line. The musicians were as enchanted with the sporting crowd as we were with them.

Give a group of people enough beer and time on their hands, and they will find their architects within! This was not part of the official activities, but the revellers at this table decided to build a tower of boxes.

Not to be outdone, the guys at the next table commenced building their box tower as well. Unconventional building materials were added and amazingly enough, the tower managed to remain standing for a significant amount of time.

Oktoberfest turns into a bit of a Burning Man Festival with everyone outdoing the other in making towers and sculptures out of anything they could find. As my friend Pat said: "To think they managed this with beer inside!"

Friday's pleasures necessitated a detoxification regimen on Saturday. We had lunch at BMS Organics. It was like dining on the set of The Biggest Loser. They made us take spirulina tablets before our meal and the lunch sets came with a hair-raisingly strong-tasting enzyme drink (think full-strength apple cider vinegar).

My curry laksa is made with soy milk instead of coconut cream. The meal was unequivocally healthy to the point that we had to compensate with french fries and soda later.


I spent Saturday afternoon at the SPCA as usual after seeing Sumita off.  I will miss Sumita very much -- we had so much fun over the last 3 days that it was like our undergraduate days all over again.

The dogs and I were just chillin' at the Maternity Kennels after I gave them their baths and tickwash. I know our animal shelter could do with a new coat of paint and some new cages. Perhaps some kind organisation would like to help us out as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility project?

Isn't she precious? This doggie had a little cut above her eye, and I dabbed Beprogent ointment from my animal First Aid Kit on it after I gave her a bath and tickwash. The dab of ointment just makes her look more comical and vulnerable. I wish I could bring them all home. I finished cleaning and disinfecting the shelter only around 8.00 p.m.as I had arrived late.

World Animal Day treats for my Rowdies, for they have made my life complete.

 ~May your October be as filled with joy, meaning and friendship.~ 

To learn more about the PJ Live Arts Centre, follow this link.

To learn more about Malaysia's Own Oktoberfest, follow this link.

To learn more about volunteering at the SPCA animal shelter in Ampang Jaya, follow this link.

To learn more about Chilli Rush Restaurant, follow this link.

To learn more about BMS Organics, follow this link.

World Animal Day Celebrations at Desa Parkcity

SPCA Selangor decided to conduct its annual World Animal Day celebrations a week early this year to avoid the unpredictable monsoon weather commonly associated with the final three months of the year. Since 2011, we have been offered the use of the pet-friendly Central Park at Desa ParkCity for our event, thanks to the goodwill and generosity of the management of the said township. As my services are usually needed more frequently in the animal shelter or in advocacy and policy work, I rendered only minimal assistance for this event, since the Inspectorate and Marketing/Communications Team informed me that we have sufficient volunteers from the boy scouts and various schools and colleges helping out. I did, however, plan and prepare materials for an Animal Welfare Spot Quiz and a Photo Puzzle for the event as part of SPCA's education and awareness efforts.

This delightful little poster was created by Pyo to raise awareness about the event.

Good canine citizens taking their humans for a walk along the jogging track in the beautifully-landscaped park.

Being afforded the use of a park is a privilege. Let us not abuse this privilege. Remember to clean up after your companion animals, and leave each site better than when you found it.

Hero Dog Attila was given an award for her bravery in protecting her family members during a robbery. Hill's Science Plan supplied her with 3 months' worth of dog food as part of her award. Well done, Attila!

Folksy-looking handpainted bookmarks, produced by volunteer artist Felicia, on sale at the SPCA booth.

Visitors and volunteers gather around a playpen of puppies at the SPCA's Rent-A-Dog booth, to raise funds for the SPCA and for an introduction to hands-on responsible pet parenting. 

The Rent-A-Dog initiative was the brainchild of an advertising agency which had provided its services to the SPCA free of charge. I would say it is an effective idea, because one of our Rent-A-Dog shelter puppies was adopted at the end of 30 minutes. 

Tête-à-tête with puppies at the Rent-A-Dog tent. 

Aravind and I babysitting one of the shelter puppies who was brought here for the Rent-A-Dog initiative. 

My friends VJ and Sara, with my godson Aadhavan, turned up with their canine children, Aristocles (schnauzer) and Thangam (poodle) to demonstrate their support for our little event. 

Humans and dogs alike find the appeal of the clean little stream that runs through the park too much to resist. 

Escaped balloons (From the Waterfront Mall, not from our event site). I hope they won't end up in the sea or rainforest. Let's hope they land in an urban area and get swept up and disposed of properly.

 

We also met this lovely and brave kitty cat, who came here with her human. The kitty's name is Mimi and she is seen here reading our 2011 Annual Review. I didn't ask what happened to poor Mimi's other eye, but I can tell Mimi is very well cared for.

The Waterfront Mall, all decorated for the Mid-Autumn Festival. 

DOG PARK ETIQUETTE:

 Here are some basic rules to be considered when taking your dog out in public or to a pet-friendly park:

 1. ALWAYS clean up after your dog. Bring your own newspaper, waste bags, scooper, and hand sanitiser (optional). Desa ParkCity Central Park provides patrons with pet waste bags, but this is not an excuse not to come prepared with your own.

 2. Don't ever let your dog off-leash in an unfenced dog park if he/she is not responsive to your verbal commands.

3. Do not let your dog bully or harass other dogs or humans.

4. Do not allow dogs to form packs.

5. Do not bring unvaccinated or unneutered dogs to a park or to socialise with other dogs in public places.

6. Do not let your dog roam unsupervised while you talk on your phone. Do give your dog your full attention and be on the alert for potential trouble (e.g. unneutered male dogs, aggressive dogs, squirrels, cats, another human holding pet treats etc).


As with the previous years, even if you haven't made any plans for World Animal Day or do not have any companion animals, please consider taking the following pledge to improve the lives of animals:

1. I pledge to look after, protect and provide for all animals under my care; to arrange for alternative caregivers whenever I am away and to find solutions for boarding and rehoming should I find myself unable to care for my companion animals any longer. 

 2. I pledge to vaccinate and neuter my companion cats, dogs and and small animals (e.g. rabbits and hamsters) and to educate my family, friends and co-workers on the importance of vaccination, neutering and obtaining necessary licenses for one's companion animals. 

3. I pledge to gently advise neighbours who fail to provide proper care for their companion animals, and write to zoos, circuses, theme parks and other facilities that keep animals, in the event I witness any acts of neglect, ill-treatment or cruelty. If my advice should fail to bring about positive change in the treatment of the animals, I pledge to report the matter to the SPCA or relevant authorities such as the Wildlife and National Parks Department. 

 4. I pledge to assist the SPCA and animal welfare groups in finding homes for the animals under their care and advise my family and friends to spay/neuter their existing pets and adopt from shelters and pounds, rather than purchase from pet stores.

5. I pledge to live simply that animals may simply live. I will reduce, reuse and recycle more and use less fossil fuels and chemicals. I will dispose of hazardous materials such as paint, needles and cans with sharp edges carefully. I will use fewer plastics bags, polystyrene products and other materials that may pose a danger to stray animals and wildlife. 

6. I pledge to be a more careful driver that I may avoid harm to animals that share our roads and neighbourhoods. I will provide all the assistance I can to animals harmed by traffic and people. 

7. I pledge to vote against animal cruelty with my money. I will purchase and use only products that are cruelty-free and which do not cause animal suffering. I will avoid products that are known to have been tested on animals. 

8. I pledge not to give animals as gifts unless specifically requested and chosen by the recipient. If I do get an animal as a gift, I will ensure that it will be vaccinated, neutered and given proper care. I will adopt from shelters, pounds and animal rehomers rather than purchase from pet stores and breeders. 

9. I pledge to join or support wildlife protection programmes, animal welfare organisations and environmental organisations to educate myself on ways to reduce harm to animals and protect wildlife that are vulnerable to exploitation. Our collective voice and votes can help to change harmful governmental and corporate policies.  

10. I pledge to opt for vegetarian food whenever I can. I will go vegetarian at least once a week. I will also actively look for alternatives to leather, suede, fur, honey, silk and ivory.

 Happy World Animal Day, to all creatures great and small!

A Cosy World Animal Day at the SPCA Selangor Shelter

As indicated in an earlier post, SPCA Selangor observed World Animal Day on Sunday, 17th October 2010 with a candlelight vigil and educational activities at our shelter premises.

We did not expect a huge turnout, as it was not a high-budget or heavily promoted event, but we did hope to be able to attract some potential adopters and new volunteers, which would of course be of greater value to us than a turnout of thousands of youths who come for the refreshments and entertainment, as we had at the World Animal Day celebrations at the KL Tower in 2008.

I was not disappointed by the turnout. Our World Animal Day celebration was a cosy affair which attracted volunteers old and new, potential adopters, actual adopters and first-time visitors to the shelter, including my friends Louis and Anthony and their children.




Cheery banners outside our Shelter's back entrance invite visitors to celebrate World Animal Day with us.
(Photo credits: Amelie)



Tealight candles for our vigil are available for a donation of RM1.00 each, while animal-shaped pledge cards, which I designed, are given out to those who donate pet food to the Shelter, purchase merchandise or make a donation on the said day.
(Photo credit: Leonard)



Clinic assistant Murugan (in goofy-looking dalmation headgear), Shelter staff Thim and Animal Inspector Danny help to set up the educational exhibition board on the morning of the event.
(Photo credits: Leonard)




We usually tickwash dogs in this HDPE water tank, but just for today, it's a Pet Food Donation Bin. I scrubbed the tank clean, dried it with a towel and brought it to the front area to collect donated pet food in. I was in good spirits even after scrubbing and cleaning the shelter for the past 2-3 hours in anticipation of visitors.
(Photo credits: Leonard)




This one goes out to little Ralf. May you be reunited with the Mama of Kitties-In-Sydney at the Rainbow Bridge.



This one goes out to Selena, Sonja and Sasha, for Pat, who had loved them and continue to do so.




This one goes out to Scoop, who brought his human servants Ellen and Tom many years of joy.




Reve may not have been an animal, but I think she would have been pleased to find a candle lit for her on World Animal Day.




If I look sombre in this photo, it is because I was thinking of all the animals I have loved and lost.
(Photo credits: Leonard)




Flickering flames of hope, for our dear departed animal companions. For they are gone from our touch, but never our hearts.




The visitors we received on that day were mostly interested in either adopting a shelter animal or volunteering at the SPCA. We almost fell over ourselves trying to persuade them to do either or both.




My friend Sasha came over to help me prepare for and tidy up after the World Animal Day celebrations. The afternoon was a warm and calm one, and we had the opportunity to bathe and tickwash all the Sick Bay Dogs, while Leonard and several new volunteers bathed and tickwashed the dogs in the Maternity and Mummy Kennels.




Kenny is a new volunteer and is passionate about helping animals. I hope he comes to the Shelter more often.
(Photo credits: Leonard)



An enthusiastic little man signs one of our pledge cards to hang on our wish tree to express support for animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
(Photo credits: Leonard)




My friend Louis watches his animal-loving daughter as she hangs her animal-shaped pledge card on the wish tree.
(Photo credits: Amelie)




My cat-shaped pledge card affirms companion animals' rights to medical treatment when necessary.




A young family takes the time to learn more about animal cruelty, the five freedoms of animals and the advantages of a vegetarian diet at our exhibition corner.
(Photo credits: MingChien)



I think I may have found the perfect co-coordinator for my Junior Animal Rangers Summer Camp next year! Leonard is a natural with children and animals.
(Photo credits: MingChien)




"Here's lookin' at you, kid!"
A cheeky dog winks at Leonard, while her companion on the left asks to be let out to play.
(Photo credits: Leonard)



It's time for refreshments. A friendly cat meowed for some cake, and I broke large chunks off my cupcake and shared them with him.
(Photo credits: Leonard)



They like it! Who says cats can't taste sugar? These lovely kitties want to have their cake and eat it too!
(Photo credits: Leonard)



It's time to clear up and call it a day. In the midst of cleaning, Nicole and I strike a pose to show support for animal rights and protection.
(Photo credits: MingChien)

Come do your bit for animal welfare, or take some time to get acquainted with our adorable adoptables at the SPCA animal shelter any day of the week! We are open daily from 9.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.!



SPCA Selangor Animal Shelter,
Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama,
68000 Ampang Jaya,
Selangor