Slow down, please cats and dogs crossing

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

 

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.