A FEW images come to mind when it comes to
people championing animal causes - for cats,
there'll always be one linked to batty old women.
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'Working with animals has made me more
compassionate, and more complete. It's not
just about animals, but about human issues as
well.'
- Lynn Yeo, eye surgeon and president of
Singapore's Cat Welfare Society
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'Well, that's not a very PC (politically
correct) description today, but yes,' agrees Lynn
Yeo, president of Singapore's Cat Welfare Society
(CWS), who couldn't be more different from that
stereotype as a 39-year old eye surgeon in private
practice.
More important, the underlying assumption
linked to that stereotype is that animal lovers
are an emotional, and not always rational lot, she
points out. 'But most of us are sensible and
reasonable people,' she adds, quickly clarifying
that she knows this interview isn't a platform to
talk about cat causes. Aware of the current
controversy, Dr Yeo's determined not to be seen as
'exploiting' the moment for her pet cause.
Dr Yeo, a medical graduate from the National
University of Singapore, founded the Society with
a few like-minded friends in 1999; spurred into
action after reading a news report about five
kittens burnt to death in a box. Since then, their
main tasks have been 'rescuing' injured or abused
cats by giving them medical attention and also
working with authorities to control the cat
population in a humane way. The Society also does
a lot of education programmes about cats,
mediating when there's a complaint, and adoption
drives for homeless cats.
From 2000 onwards, they've spent an average of
$60,000 a year on the work. The membership too has
grown, largely by word of mouth and personal
interest on the part of the now 600-strong members
and 200 active volunteers. They even have their
own 'theme' song - It's Their World Too - written
by local pop singer/composer Wendi Koh when the
CWS organised a concert two years ago on World
Animal Day.
When they were interviewed four years ago, Dr
Yeo was quoted as saying that it's not just about
animals, but also about human issues of tolerance
and understanding. This, she continues to echo
today. 'Working with animals has made me more
compassionate, and more complete,' she notes.
'It's not just about animals, but about human
issues as well.'
In the waiting area of her clinic, there's a
poster which says 'People who are violent to
animals rarely stop there'. But other than a few
cutesy pictures of cats in the
kitchenette/personal waiting room area behind her
office, there are no prominent signs that Dr Yeo's
a cat lover. On her desk, there are only plastic
models of the eye - detachable structures and
illustrated in detail.
What's it like, being a full-time professional
running a voluntary organisation?
'My typical week is working for five and a half
days, and I guess the rest of the time, my
voluntary work keeps me busy,' says the former
competitive tennis player in school who only plays
socially now. Of course, it's one thing to get
enthusiastic volunteers, but another to channel
their enthusiasm into something productive and to
keep them motivated.
An Aikido enthusiast who recently picked up
yoga, her family had pets - a cat and a dog at
various times - while she was growing up in the
East Coast area. Now living in the town area, Dr
Yeo herself has eight cats - strays picked up off
the streets which she's homed. Five years ago,
there was perhaps only the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to speak up on
behalf of animals. Today, it's evident that more
citizens are getting mobilised on their pet causes
through non-profit organisations such as the CWS.
At the time it was set up, the CWS was the only
registered one here which focused on the welfare
of cats. Dr Yeo is quite glad to note that since
then, several other organisations for animal
welfare have sprung up such as AnimalWatch, Action
for Singapore Dogs, House Rabbit Society of
Singapore, Acres (Animal Concerns, Research and
Education Society), and MettaCats. 'I won't be
arrogant and say we inspired others, but maybe we
did get the ball rolling,' she says.
The CWS may not welcome being in the limelight
of the cat culling controversy, but Dr Yeo has
this to say about the voice of citizenry in
Singapore. 'It's good for people to get involved
and speak up for the things they believe, and to
be involved in some thing other than work. I think
it makes them better people . . . and more
responsible citizens, if you will.'
People