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Hi all. Today I will be sharing a little something about what I've been quite involved in of late, especially since a passing of a very beloved furkid. And that is, the adoption and rehoming of stray dogs in Singapore. To those who are already dog owners out there but still have space at home, in your heart and abundance of love for another furkid, to those whose furkids have crossed the rainbow bridge but are now ready to love again... I appeal to you! I will be posting from time to time, dogs that are up for adoption here from various rescue groups, and also appeals for fosterers while the rescue groups find forever homes for them. If you are able to help, please do. If not, sharing the post to those who might be able to help would be very appreciated! What's Singapore Specials? This may be a term familiar to some, but unfamiliar to many. Singapore Special is a dog that is bred on the streets, a product of generations of varieties of different breeds of dogs. The Singapore Specials are the street dogs, free breeding dogs, the dogs we loosely call 'Mongrels' before 'Singapore Specials' came about. The stigma against these pups are real. Most people are afraid of them, mainly because of their size. They're mistakenly portrayed to the public as "ferocious", untrained, and with the tendency to attack humans. The 'uneducated' and 'prejudiced' will shun these mongrels, and only fancy the pedigree dogs. What happens to the strays then? Due to discrimination faced by these dogs (low adoption rate), our shelters are overwhelmed with them. Some of these dogs never made it out of shelters their entire lives and spend almost all their time confined to tiny spaces. They are grateful and excited when volunteers come in each week to bring them out - the only time they may spend outside of the shelter which they now call home. Some are taken in by kind fosterers because a shelter is not exactly a very good environment to grow up in. Many of these fosterers will eventually become their adopters as they grow older and chances of getting adopted gets lower and lower. Due to the size of these pups, most of them are also not eligible to stay in HDB flats hence making their adoption rate even lower. TEMPERAMENTS & TRAITS of the Singapore Specials Since most of them have been rescued off the streets, industrial parks, and are not domesticated, they may have trust issues or certain personality traits that are genetic. They are smart, can be house trained, but will require lots of time, patience and a forgiving heart. Most importantly, lots of love to give. Many of these rescue dogs also comes with separation anxiety (sometimes aggression as they are not used to humans) and may be prone to barking, whining, all of which will need time to condition and overcome with training. HEALTH Now, since they are of mixed heritage, usually the Singapore Specials are a healthy bunch of dogs and may require lesser veterinary attention than the expensive purebreeds. PROJECT ADORE (ADOption and REhoming of dogs) Project ADORE was started in April 2012, as a pilot by the Ministry of National Development (MND), Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and Housing and Development Board (HDB) to assess the acceptance of mixed-breed dogs in HDB estates if proper safeguards were in place. Taken from: https://www.mnd.gov.sg/our-work/engaging-our-communities/project-adore Today, Project ADORE is supported by Animal Welfare Groups (AWGs) – Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD), Save our Street Dogs (SOSD), Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Exclusively Mongrels (EM) and Causes for Animals (CAS). Under Project ADORE, HDB flat owners can adopt local mixed breed dogs, also known as Singapore Specials, which are up to 15 kg in weight and 50 cm in height. These limits are comparable to the size of toy breeds allowed in HDB flats. Interested adopters are allowed to keep only one dog per flat and have to abide by stringent ownership conditions, including the sterilisation, routine vaccination and micro-chipping of the adopted dog. New owners must also apply for an AVA dog licence for the adopted dog. In addition, new owners will have to enrol their dogs for obedience training courses at the point of adoption, and sign a Code of Responsible Behaviour (CORB) which includes requirements to ensure that their dogs do not cause nuisances to the neighbours. To qualify under Project ADORE, your dog will have to: Be a local medium-sized mixed-breed or “Singapore Special” Be at least 6 months old and sterilised Have a maximum weight of 15kg and shoulder height up to 50cm Undergo compulsory basic obedience training by AVA-accredited trainers Places you can adopt from: These are just some of the shelters/rescue groups that I am aware of and can remember at this point. There are also many individual stray feeders etc who feed strays on a daily basis and even rescue+rehome pups. When I say pups I mean dogs in general, not just puppies. All puppies grow up really fast anyway. Don't adopt puppies just because they're cute. I'm sure you've heard this very often but we can't remind enough. For some, once the novelty of having a pup or new dog dies down, they don't receive as much love anymore. So before you adopt, please make sure you're ready for a lifetime commitment! Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD) Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) Exclusively Mongrels Causes for Animals (CAS) Animal Lovers League (ALL) Purely Adoptions Chained Dog Awareness Singapore Hope Dog Singapore Mercy Light Adoption Voices for Furbabies A Stray's Life Paws Angels This thread is getting too long and I'll have to end off abruptly here for now. To be continued...

Am very delighted when Nan Hua Pri Sch (NHPS) accepted my application as PV for my daughter's enrolment for P1 in 2012. However, me now staying >2km (at CCK)...thus am contemplating very hard on whether to shift house. Have checked the property prices (both HDB and pte) in Clementi area (especially within 1 km of NHPS) and it is quite high...or should I enrol in a decent neighbourhood sch within my resident vicinity and then enrol her for tuition and enrichment classes instead?? At CCK, I am considering South View Pri (within 1km to 2km from where I stay) and Yew Tee Pri (within 1km from where I stay)...however, for both 2008 and 2009, South View Pri has balloting even in Phase 2B for those residing within 1km, while for Yew Tee Pri, balloting was applicable for phase 2C only. Thus far, NHPS only has balloting for phase 2B in 2008. For 2009 and a few years before 2008, there was no balloting in phase 2B. Haiz...really in a dilemma...any advice from gurus here?? Many thks!! Back to top

Just heard this news - I think will make some here very happy

Proven pretty much here in MCF, that no money no talk! Singaporeans more likely to give money than volunteer, help a stranger: Study TODAY reports: The Republic moved up again to 34th on World Giving Index, where Myanmar is ranked the highest. However, Singapore placed 89th for how often they help strangers and 42nd for how often they volunteer. POSTED: 11 Nov 2015 07:50 A volunteer helping an elderly man put on a N95 mask at the Haze Shelter at Tanjong Pagar Community Club on Oct 3, 2015. (Photo: Jaslin Goh / TODAY) SINGAPORE: When it comes to giving to charity, Singaporeans are more likely to give from the pocket, than give up their time to volunteer or help out a stranger. The World Giving Index, compiled by UK-based non-profit Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), showed that nearly six in 10 in Singapore gave money to charity in the month before when polled last year, but less than three in 10 volunteered at a charity, and about four in ten had helped a stranger. Based on these factors, the CAF ranked Singapore 34th on the index, well behind neighbouring countries like Myanmar, which was ranked first, and Malaysia, which placed tenth. But this is a significant improvement from 114th place in the 2012 index and 64th place in the 2013 index. The index ranked 145 countries using 2014 data from Gallup’s World View World Poll, an ongoing research project carried out in more than 140 countries. In most countries surveyed, 1,000 questionnaires are completed by a representative sample of individuals, with larger samples for big countries like China and Russia. Respondents were asked how often they donate to charity, how often they volunteer and how often they help strangers. Singapore ranked 18th for how often residents gave money to charity, but placed 89th for how often they help strangers and 42nd for how often they volunteer. Nonetheless, the Republic was among the top five most improved country over time, improving 11 percentage points over five years. In 2012, for example, only 29 per cent of the respondents gave money to charity, 8 per cent volunteered, and 24 per cent helped a stranger. The report, released on Tuesday (Nov 10), attributed the high levels of giving in Myanmar - where nine out of 10 gave money to charity - and Thailand to high levels of Theravada Buddhism, where many devotees regularly give money and time to ordained monks and nuns, as well as to the upkeep of temples. The country also came in top for volunteering, with half the population doing so, followed by Sri Lanka, Liberia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. “However the achievement will be contrasted with the continuing plight of the Rohingya people within the country,” the report stated, referring to the violent persecution of the Rohingyas, a Muslim minority group who are not allowed to vote and have been driven from their homes to neighbouring countries or into camps. The report also observed that across the world, people responded to those in need. For example, the proportion of people donating money in Ukraine more than quadrupled last year compared with the previous year, probably due to fundraising efforts for those affected by the conflict. Also, Iraq emerged top in helping a stranger despite the security situation in the country. At a global level, the study found that more people are donating money to charity, with almost a third of the world (or 31.5 per cent) giving money to charity in the month before - a rise of 3.2 percentage points from 2013. However, the global proportion of people who said they volunteered time fell slightly, to 21 per cent from 21.3 per cent. And almost half of the world’s adult population said they helped a stranger last year according to the poll, a slight increase on the previous year. i would say that we have to look after ourselves first and if we even struggle to put $$$ on the table for ourselves, hardly can we find the time to volunteer I was in that state, but now tt I am more comfy, I find myself volunteering more with those in need. @little_prince do your pitch here, as how we discussed offline

In the past, parents will eagerly volunteer at schools to get priority placing for their children going into P1. Based on this year's stats, and because of the new ruling to keep 40 spaces for Phase 2B and 2C, there is one school so popular that there may not be any vacancies at all for Phase 2A(2)! Guess which school? http://edumatters.sg/p1-registration-phase-2a1-closed-stats-update/

SAF Volunteer Corps to open applications tomorrow Only Permanent Residents (PR) and Singaporeans who are not liable for National Service are eligible to join the SAFVC as volunteers. This includes women, first generation PRs and new citizens. They are also required to between 18 to 45 years of age. http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/saf-volunteer-corps-open-applications-tomorrow SINGAPORE – Applications for the new SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) will open tomorrow, announced the Singapore Armed Forces today (Oct 12). Prospective volunteers can apply via the SAFVC website or through hard copy forms at the Central Manpower Base. The first batch of trainees will then undergo three to four weeks of training session starting next March. New volunteers are given options to take the training continuously on weekdays or in modular form over a series of weekends. Upon completing the training, volunteers will be deployed to active units to serve alongside national servicemen. They will also be liable to call-ups and deployments of around seven days of service annually. Speaking to reporters at Maju Camp, where the unit is headquartered, SAFVC commander Colonel (COL) Mike Tan stressed that volunteering is an important commitment, even as efforts has been made allow the broader community to contribute to defence. “The moment you put on your uniform, and you proclaim that you are ready to be deployed, and you are deployed indeed, we will expect you to uphold our ethos and our military professionalism,” said COL Tan. The SAF plans to recruit 100 to 150 volunteers over a year through three recruitment drives. Volunteer trainees for the first intake in March will be trained on weekdays and be required to stay-in inside camps. The second intake, which will commerce after the first intake, will train volunteers on weekends. For the third intake, its nature will depend on demand. The training consists at least two phases. The first, a two-week training programme, enables volunteers to develop a basic understanding of defence. Trainees then progress to a one-week qualification training where volunteers will be prepared for their specific future roles. Lastly, for volunteers slated for more demanding roles, such as the auxiliary security trooper, they will undergo one more week of advanced training, making it a total of four weeks. A variety of roles in the land, sea and air forces, ranging from combat to non-combat, are available for volunteers. The auxiliary security trooper, for example, will be armed with rifles and accompany SAF soldiers protecting key installations such as Changi Airport. Also available are specialist roles such as engineers, legal specialist staff, medical trainers, infomedia staff and defence psychologists. Volunteers could be deployed to sea as naval operations officers on Landing Ship Tanks. Only Permanent Residents (PR) and Singaporeans who are not liable for National Service are eligible to join the SAFVC as volunteers. This includes women, first generation PRs and new citizens. They are also required to between 18 to 45 years of age. Applicants will have to fulfil pre-requisites for the role applied, as well as go through an interview and medical screening. Successful applicants will receive a letter of enlistment, a SAF card and will be required to take an Oath of Allegiance.

SQ pai tan liao... Will this lead to another clash between the pilots association & the management? From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp...1246152/1/.html SIA asks pilots to volunteer for unpaid leave Posted:05 January 20131305 hrs SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines has asked its captains to volunteer for unpaid leave amid a global economic slowdown that has dented long-haul travel demand, the airline said Saturday. The move came nearly ayear after the company -- considered a bellwether for the full-service airline industry -- made asimilar offer to its first officers. The airline has also frozen its intake of cadet pilots as part of a slew of cost-cutting measures. "Singapore Airlines (SIA) began offering voluntary no-pay leave to first officers in March last year and subsequently to captains who expressed interest," company spokesman Nicholas Ionides said in a statement emailed to AFP. SIA has "a temporary surplus of pilots and are managing it through this scheme, which is entirely voluntary", Ionides said. He added that "the surplus of captains is limited and we regard it as temporary". SIA has more than 2,400 pilots -- mostly captains and first officers. The global financial crisis had led to excess capacity and slower growth that anticipated, Ionides said. "This voluntary scheme will enable us to address the short-term surplus, while at the same time provide staff with the opportunity to take leave for personal reasons should they wish to do so," he said. SIA saw its net profit in the first-half of the current fiscal year ending March fall by 30 per cent year-on-year, weigheddown by high fuel prices and weak demand in the travel and cargo markets. This followed a 69 per cent plunge in net profit in the carrier's financial year ended March 2012. - AFP/fa

can anyone tell me, other than that lee teng hui of Taiwan, which president in the world can be so proud of his past working for the invaders? [:|]

From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_763717.html Primary 1 registration 'By allowing parents who live farther away to volunteer, schools lower the chances of those who live nearer.' MS CECILIA TEO: 'I signed up as a parent volunteer at a popular school in my area to increase the chances of my first child's enrolment in Primary 1. I did so although we live less than 2km from the school. But I was told that children of parent volunteers are not guaranteed a place and that balloting is required. I know it is not possible to abolish the parent volunteer system because schools need volunteers. But at least restrict it to families living nearby. By allowing parents who live farther away to volunteer, schools lower the chances of those who live nearer. I hope the Ministry of Education will review the arrangement. There are many parents like me who want to enrol their children in schools nearby, because of the convenience rather than because the schools are top schools or popular choices.' [/color]

Wow some serious allegations. Apparently MOE has replied but it had not satisfy this YOG parent volunteer: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sg...s_but_gave.html STOMPer KHS is out to get justice for her lost hours spent accompanying her child to YOG practices that the school asked parents to attend with their children. She says that the family members of the teachers received tickets to visit Universal Studios while the parents didn't. KHS tells her story: "I am sharing this story with you as I have already approached MOE reagrding this. The reply given was not satisfactory. "I was a parent volunteer at my child

Hi all, Anyone been through parent volunteer interview for primary school? what question usually they ask? thanks for any info

Anyone joined as volunteer police with the Singapore Police Force before ? I understand the work involves road blocks, patrolling in police car around neighbourhood, anti-vice operation etc. Anyone done before can share the experience ? Is there any training in fire arms ? Anyone wants to join together ?

Hi all, Despite the news of Honda exiting F1 for the 2009 season, all other teams are still go !!! So if you are interested in volunteering for the F1 event in Sep 2009, do sign-up and experience a once-in-a-lifetime exp and the best tickets in the house !! http://raceofficials.singaporegp.sg -- Registration closes on 23rd Jan 09 --

hi all Some weeks ago i joined my brother on his very simple volunteering task. About 10.30pm, we picked up unsold bread/pastry from a shop, and sent it to a nearby charity organisation. My brother is only an adhoc volunteer, i.e. they'll only contact him on adhoc basis. I'm signing up as one as well, as a way of trying it out and also becos i expect to travel later in my work. The great thing is that it's late in the evening, and takes about only 30min-1 hr to complete the task. It's run by Food From The Heart : http://www.foodheart.org/index.php As most if not all the bros/sis here drive, i thought it would be an interesting proposition for you to consider. I hear they're short of regular volunteers. Do consider signing up... cheers