Ocean Blue Presents "Causes Around the World": The Whiskers' Syndicate

Our mascot Ocean Blue searches for causes around the world that she thinks are worth barking about!

FEATURED CAUSE: THE WHISKERS' SYNDICATE IN BANDUNG, INDONESIA

Describing founder Josephia Liem as a super woman is an understatement. The Whiskers' Syndicate is a an animal welfare organization in Indonesia whose mission is to rescue the street animals of Bandung.  Even workaholic Ocean Blue is amazed by Josie's relentless efforts to care for street animals everyday and also manage a sanctuary for rescued cats -  even if it means building one with her own hands. Read on and be inspired by the story of Josie and her pussycats!

Whiskers' Syndicate founder Josephia Liem with "Braille"

Tell me about the animal crisis in your country and your vicinity. How does the cause relate to the country's culture?

As the breeder capital of my nation Indonesia, Bandung is overflowing with unwanted animals of all breeds, and the stray management is often, if not always, too gruesome to be true. Sadly, the self appointed "big nation" has no animal welfare laws, and conservation efforts are tainted by fearless corruption. Our country is still behind in terms of animal welfare and nature conservancy. Biodiversity is still considered a mere resources or tools of trade.

Devoid of any protection, animals in Indonesia are victimized by poachers, illegal trade, excessive milling, and all types of abuse. Be they household animals, farm animals, or those in the wild, they are treated as “things”. Breeders take out a kitty-mill cat from inside a motorcycle baggage cabin (that tiny, airless space under the saddle right at the side of gas tank) or they will tie dogs to an open truck and drive them miles away to the vet if the dog is not able to produce a litter. And if the vet discovers the dog is ill, owners are not willing to pay for care.

Share a little background about yourself.

I was born into generations of an animal loving family -  my grandfathers, my parents, and my siblings. I was partially raised by a German shepherd named “Boy” who my grandfather rescued from the streets in the chaotic post-Indonesian war for independence, where there were countless other homeless animals.

When I took a job offer in Bandung 2008, I had no idea of the dark sides of this resort town dubbed “Paris Van Java”. The way humans treated animals, the environment and each other disgusted me, but it also taught me ever so strongly that I needed to be the change for these animals deserving better lives.

I was a full time executive officer in a large company by day and an animal rescuer by night. My passion for animals took over me, and I answered its call without hesitation, leaving behind my material world.  I still look back now and then, but I never regret being where I currently am.

When did you decide to make a difference for animals?

Honestly? I don't remember. I followed my grandfather and my father around rescuing animals and as soon as I start having my own income at 12 years old. I always found myself among paws and tails (and wings, and claws, and what not) - street and tormented wild animals.  Although I grew up to be like the mainstream kids - going to college, then climbing the corporate ladder - going home to me has always been about reuniting with my family that included my animals.

Tell me about your decision to start a rescue and to tackle this cause. What convinced you to do so, and what did it take to actually create the organization?

I lived in a boarding house during my first year in Bandung and my landlord had a pregnant pet cat. Her toddler son was fond of tormenting her. To get away, the cat would run away to my room. She gave birth right beside me on my bed! My life has never the same. I named her Grace.

Amazing Grace and her kittens 

When did you officially start? Tell us about the changes The Whiskers' Syndicate has made in your community, both in the lives of humans and the animals?

I started The Whiskers' Syndicate at the end of 2008, and I have not stopped since. As of today, I have rescued more than 168 cats and a few dogs from the street of Bandung. Some were adopted, some unwillingly threw in the towel as a result of the harshness of street life, most still live on the streets but underwent TNR (Trap Neuter Release), and those who otherwise could not survive the streets stay with me. During the first years, we lived from one rented boarding place to another, until I managed to buy a property in 2012 which is now home to The Whiskers' Syndicate.

98% of Bandung residents are backyard breeders, including the vets.  In terms of the impact we've had towards humans, my natural connections with vets around Bandung has successfully sparked awareness. It goes to show the effect that can be accomplished by a single person. Information about TNR was known only to the younger vets, while vets of the older generation still believe that Spay/Neuter is sinful mutilation, and that breeding is necessary to keep pets healthy (otherwise they turn crazy, get sick or die), and there are many other false myths they still believe. Five years into the establishment of Whiskers' Syndicate, I see more vets suggesting TNR to commoners who pick up stray cats and dogs (out of pity), and recently l learned that more younger vets are offering discounted rates to people who bring in strays to get spayed and neutered.

Walk me through a typical day for you.

You will see my head poking from behind my bedroom door at 3 am. Some of the cats are still sleeping by then. When they wake up a few minutes later they will find me cleaning the litter boxes, washing their cage's trays and clean the house. When the sun rise at 6 am the cats will have their breakfast. Then I will be occupied by my various side jobs. If I am not working in day shift, or if I can work at home I will be handling the sanctuary's accounting/finance/banking, replying emails, handling social media, blogging, or tending to our charity shop in Etsy. Other times, I am doing the laundry or rushing cats to the vet. In the afternoon, I roam the streets of Bandung distributing food to the strays. In the evening, I am often visiting the cemeteries where abandoned cats or dogs ghoulishly call grave sites their home. I usually call it a day at 11 pm, but on days when I need to respond to with grant writers or charity givers from abroad, I skip my sleep all together so I can properly handle all the raised issues.

What are the best marketing strategies you employ today?

Be a human being, be yourself. While larger communities or organizations make a deep impact, there's this unseen connection between grass roots animal rescues worldwide. We grass roots people might not have the power of a million dollars, or the spotlight to do so, or the voice of a celebrity, but we are closer to the animals than even the smallest established organization and it is that direct connection to the animals that make us one.

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Our entry for “Artist Exposed” event on Etsy (photo shown above) where we featured what we do for our cause, including the artist in one picture. Our entry featured our best selling organic catnip mouse and our rescued cat Bon Ami :)

As a grass roots animal rescue, people look at you - the person behind the scenes, the face behind the product. They do not look up to the unattainable sky. They look right in front of you - and you'd better be there to meet them eye to eye. They are human, they relate to your pain, the share your vision, they live with the same heartbeat, they have your passion. That also moves us together as one, no matter how much world is between us.

What are your greatest achievements to date?

The Whiskers' Syndicate was chosen the Shelter of The Month in August 2012, awarded by SPCA International. We are also The Charity of The Month for December 2013 by Etsy For Animals, a group of handcrafters who sell their products on Etsy to benefit animal charities around the world.

What would you like to accomplish in 2014?

Flooding as a result of Typhoon Haiyan.

Currently we are home to around 60 cats and kittens inhabiting 1,000 square foot. Following the unfortunate brush with Typhoon Haiyan last November 2013, our sanctuary was flooded and damaged, forcing all 60 cats to crumpled into a tiny 387 square foot space.

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The cattery: Resident "mobsters" attempt to find a dry spot

During our bout with the typhoon, five minutes into the rain, our backyard was already under water. The cattery was completely soaked.

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One small dry spot shared by a few lucky "mobsters"

My biggest goal right now is to repair the sanctuary so that the resident "mobsters" can have better living conditions. We've managed to raise enough funds to start the repair, but we are still in need of replacements for all the toys, cat trees cat towers, and bedding that were damaged in the flood. I am sure the cats would love to have beds and cat trees again!

The second goal, after all the repairs, is to restart our TNR operation. I am using every opportunities to approach communities around to adopt TNR in place of culling. Since animal welfare has not yet exist where we are, we do not have funding from government or communities and have to fund the operation ourselves. I hope to be able to raise enough fund for these TNR in the hope that what we do will be a living example of humane stray management.

What does it mean to you to be an animal rescue advocate?

The world.
My life as animal advocate had shown me the saddest places, the most gruesome practices, the desperation, the negligence... but it also shows me - in the forms of friends and supporters, as well as fellow animal advocates - the shining core of humanity. I cannot be more proud to be part of that shining race, the race that is worthy to hold itself as those created in God's image.

JOIN THE CAUSE!

Animal Rescue Marketing wants to help The Whiskers' Syndicate in a big way. We have been following the plight of the repairs and reconstruction efforts for the sanctuary, and we ask you, fellow rescue advocates, to please use your animal rescue marketing know-how to get more donors and supporters to help Josie and The Whiskers' Syndicate raise more funds to replace the cat trees, bedding, and toys. Are you interested in hosting a Causes or Rally.org page? Or  something clever that can get this message to go viral?  Contact us with your ideas and to let us know that you can help! Thank you!

Ocean Blue wants to lead the way! Check out her Fundraising page on Rally.org for The Whiskers' Syndicate. Ocean wants to raise enough money for new beds and cat trees for the kitties. Click this button and contribute to her cause!

Happy Anniversary To Grouchy Puppy's Sharon & Cleo!

In honor of their big day of e-celebration on November 9th, Ocean Blue and I interviewed our favorite canine and human animal rescue marketing team, Sharon Castellanos and Cleo! Be a part of Cleo's Homecoming Day e-celebration on Facebook. You can also donate in honor of Cleo or the special animal friends in your life while benefiting Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS).

Ok, on with our interview! 

A.R.M.'s Marie Interviews Sharon Castellanos,
Grouchy Puppy Founder & LIFE + DOG Magazine's Editor-At-Large

Marie: Sharon, tell us about that day you decided you were going to adopt a dog.  Did you have an idea of what your future dog would look like?
Sharon: I grew up with Dobermans who were obedience trained, and had even won some dog show trophies. They were beautiful intelligent dogs. When we were ready to adopt, I knew I wanted my first dog to be smart and big too! It was after we bought our house here and settled in, my dream of finally having a big dog came true with Cleo. I had no idea after that what form he or she would come in and that made meeting Cleo all the more exciting.

Marie: What was that moment like when you first laid eyes on Cleo?
Sharon: Mesmerizing. I literally couldn't take my eyes off of her. She was in a room with another dog at the SF/SPCA adoption center. The other dog was barking and bouncing all over the place. Cleo stayed lying on the one bed staring at us. She didn't move or make a sound. We kept staring at her and then looking away. She had this aura of confidence, like she had nothing to proof. I felt like she knew how beautiful and special she was, as if we were the ones needing to convince her to let us adopt her.

Marie: How did you choose her name?
Sharon: We didn't, this is the name she came with. She was an owner surrender to a shelter up north before they contacted the SF/SPCA. In the beginning we accidentally called her Chloe, but she never responded. We laughed because as we got to know Cleo's personality it all made sense. Cleo is regal like Cleopatra, Queen of the Desert, plus there are times that she has cat-like features and curiosity. With that thick neck fur, I tell her that she looks like Elsa the lioness from Born Free.

Marie: Tell us about one of your favorite moments with Cleo.
Sharon: Probably one of my favorite moments was a few years ago at Fort Funston. It was a weirdly warm but foggy morning on the beach. We were alone and it was low tide. Cleo doesn't like to swim but she likes to walk into the water and bite it, or dunk her face in it. Cleo was chasing shore birds into the low surf, and I was checking out the exposed sea glass. All of a sudden during her jumping in the surf, she disappeared. Apparently there was a drop in the sand right past the waterline that you couldn't see. I had two seconds of panic before she bobbed back up like a cork, then she was racing over and shaking all the water off with the biggest happiest face. She was all dog in that moment. I loved experiencing that with her and knowing that I contributed to it by bringing her there that day.

Marie: What is it like living with Cleo?
Sharon: Over the past eight years it has been a roller coaster. At the start, we laughed that it was like we had a third roommate. She made a mess, burped and farted whenever and wherever. She listened when she wanted to. Then our relationship matured and she truly became my best buddy and a working member of the family. Now that she is older, it can seem at times that we're living with a baby dinosaur when she slowly lumbers from one end of the house to other, or we've a grouchy parent when she loudly groans when you tell her it's time to get up in the morning. I tell people that I live with a small pony and I'm her seeing eye buddy.

Marie: Grouchy Puppy was born. Why this name? Why did you start it?
Sharon: We came up with the name after hearing "that's a handsome dog, is he a wolf?" hundreds of times while out walking Cleo. We thought grouchy puppy accurately expressed her personality because she had puppy mannerisms yet also acted quite grouchy at times. We also noticed some people were afraid of her, and we thought it would be impossible to be afraid of a grouchy puppy. Grouchy Puppy was born as a way for me to use 21st century storytelling methods to educate people about important dog-centric topics, and universal topics like the importance of tolerance. When I began most of social media was only sharing sensationalized images and stories of dogs about to die, those who had been treated cruelly by man, or the dogs that had hurt or killed a person. I felt compelled to balance the negative stories and point of view about dogs with positive ones. Today I want to show people how the human-animal bond is demonstrated by both dogs and people.

Marie: A few years after Grouchy Puppy’s name became known, you started to prominently advocate senior dog adoption. How did that come about?
Sharon: I love all dogs. I believe they make us human. As Cleo became elderly, it squeezed my heart to read the numbers of senior dogs who are surrendered every month, and that they are also the least likely to be adopted. I believe that for many people, they would choose a senior dog if they only knew more. I love telling people how old Cleo is and how she's my first adopted dog. They see first hand how happy an old dog can be, and how much fun they are. Also since Cleo moved into her golden years, I've become much more empathetic to my own aging parents and their infirmities. There are parallels between senior dogs and senior people that we can learn compassion from.

Marie: How did you come up with this idea to throw on online party to celebrate your anniversary with Cleo?
Sharon: The number eight is significant in many cultures and in science, and for a big dog who was already more than three when we met, that's a long life. Cleo has played a significant role in my life and over the years, positively influenced the lives of so many and I thought eight is the one to celebrate.

A.R.M.'s Ocean Blue Interviews Cleo,
the Grouchy Puppy Muse

ocean: cleo, what’s your story? how did you end up at the sfscpa?
cleo: My owner surrendered me to a shelter in northern california when i was a few years old. No one knows why. The shelter folks saw right away that i had a winning personality and deserved another chance, and that maybe i was more a city girl. They called the sfspca who drove up and agreed.

ocean: i like to work. and so does my mom. do you two like to work together too?
cleo: Yes! we work together every day! I inspired my mom to create Grouchy Puppy! I'm what they call a muse. Four years I've been helping her write funny and educational stories, we collaborate on everything dog-centric! I love working with her because she learns something new because of me, and I reap the benefit of what she learned! Win-win.

ocean: so i know you are senior like me. it’s pretty cool being a senior, isn’t it? what’s senior life like for you?
cleo: You know, my life is good. My senior life includes some health issues like diabetes and blindness but because my mom and I work so closely together, they are just another pair of topics for her to learn about. She makes it so they never hold me back from enjoying our life together. Having arthritis isn't so bad either because my mom is constantly giving me massages. I also often get a treat after I successfully navigate my way down the hallway without bumping into anything!

ocean: do you like vegetables?
cleo: I do! My favorites are long green beans, peas and edamame. The long green beans are nice because they don't fall out of my mouth. I still love peas and edamame though and will eat them one at a time, like the lady I am.

ocean: is life with your mom all that you could ever dream?
It sure is and then some! My mom is attentive, and I think kind of worships me. She says I'm like a giant teddy bear that has come to life, she's always smelling my fur. I let her but usually when no one is watching. What is great is that my mom says I'm the perfect fit in the family, like I was a missing puzzle piece. I like that a lot. It means our lives together were meant to be.

ocean: anything you have left to accomplish, cleo?
cleo:  I would love to help my mom reach her fundraising goal for Pets Are Wonderful Support. We know how much PAWS clients rely on them to help care for their animal companions. Seeing how much my mom relies on me for friendship and getting her out of the house, supporting PAWS mission is important to us. It's the same for our wanting also help Muttville. Both organizations focus on simple but oh-so important missions.

ocean: it is so cool that your mom is having an online party to celebrate your anniversary together. what would you like to say to your mom on this wonderful day?
cleo: I love my mom, and since we spend so much time together every day, I know she knows it. I would tell her 'thank you' for being as loyal to me as I am to her. I would tell her that she is smart for figuring out that dogs give fearlessly and not mercenary or slavish. I would tell her that after eight years together, I'm so glad that she loves big smart dogs!

Congrats to Sharon and Cleo - 8 years together! If you feel like giving a gift in honor of the occasion, donations are always welcome on Sharon and Cleo's  FirstGiving Fundraising page.

Thank you to Cleo and Sharon for taking time to chat with A.R.M.!

And CONGRATS on your wonderful anniversary!