Silent Cries started out as the SAVE ANIMALS book project, and its objective is to promote animals’ rights awareness and responsible pet ownership in Malaysia through education.
It now comes in a form of a handy book that not only contains true stories from the animals’ perspective, but also contains valuable information about caring for a pet, fun quizzes, interesting facts and recipes, and also interviews with real people and celebrities who have pets. There are also real case pictures of abused animals and many more. For the first publication, I am concentrating on issues that are faced by two most popular household pets in Malaysia, cats and dogs.
Animals’ rights awareness in Malaysia is still very much at its infancy level, Malaysians tend to have pets these days out of fashion or short term interest to have them around while they are still cute, but what they lack is knowledge on how to become a responsible pet owner. The growing trend to be seen with pedigree animal only is also worrisome, as this would also contribute to the lack of interest to adopt a mongrel.
Some people have pets just
to protect their house but hardly ever wonder that animals have feelings too
and they do feel lonely. This will only lead the animal into depression and
mood disorder. When an animal attacks to defend themselves, society always blamed
them and in the end, the animal has to pay the price. Little do they realize
that most of the time it was human who provoked them which causes them to retaliate,
or due to lack of social skills as a result of being chained 24/7 (lack of interaction
with humans).
In order to educate, we need the society to understand the meaning of animal rights and how animals can bring joy into our lives if we let them. Most of us are not willing to open up our hearts and minds to accept that animals have feelings too. Some people abuse animals for fun because they think it is ok to do so, could be due to upbringing or simply out of selfishness and ignorance. In order to correct this, we need to educate the society.
We also need the government and the relevant authorities’ full support to revise the existing penalty law in Animal Act Ordinance 1953, to deter people from abusing animals and to implement the necessary educational programs in schools. If we can have stiffer laws on open burning, not paying our taxes on time, abusing children and women, why can’t we have stiffer laws on animal abuse?
From March 2007 until March 2008, Ms Angeline Chin has
generously offered to donate 30% of the purchase price of 500 books ordered
through SPCA Selangor! SPCA will also be joining Ms Chin for book talks and
other promotional events, so watch out for those !
You can buy the book at a special price of RM35 by placing your order at the SPCA animal shelter & outreach events, or via e-mail. (Note: Delivery within the Klang Valley is free of charge, and an additional RM7 will be charged for delivery outside this area.)
Book
can also be purchased online via MPH and Kinokuniya, or you can also get it
from any MPH, BORDERS, Kinokuniya and Popular bookstores in Malaysia at RM39.90.
Book is also sold in Singapore.