By Brittany Nawaqatabu
A new children’s book launched in Suva last week wants to educate children in Fiji and the Pacific about animal welfare.
Author Balvant Singh set Tender Paws against the backdrop of rural Fiji in the 1960s. The story is told entirely from the perspective of a young puppy named Moti.
Moti was inspired by Singh’s own pet, who was tragically poisoned, an experience that became one of the most emotional moments of his life.
“This book began with a simple, painful truth: across our beautiful world, thousands of dogs and cats are abandoned every year. Some are lost, some are forgotten, and some are left behind without understanding why,” Singh said.
“In every one of those dogs, there is hope. There is courage. There is a small heartbeat waiting for kindness.”
Singh shared how he wanted to give those heartbeats a voice.
Tender Paws is targeted at readers aged 10 to 18 with 40% of the story based on Singh’s personal experiences and 60% fiction.
Singh calls it a practical fiction book.
“I grew up on a farm in Fiji, surrounded by animals who taught me more about loyalty and love than any textbook ever could,” he shared.
Having witnessed many abandoned puppies and kittens growing up, Singh did not fully understand their plight at the time, only later realising that animal welfare and kindness were not values that were being taught.
“Throughout my life in Fiji and New Zealand, in community service, I have seen again and again that kindness is the quiet force that changes everything. It is the thread that holds communities together and the lesson we must pass on to our children,” he stated.
Singh continued to say that the book is his small contribution to that lesson.
“Animal welfare education should start very early in life,” he said.
In New Zealand, Tender Paws is distributed by Wheelers, while Baka Books in Suva has also come on board as a local stockist. Singh hopes the University of the South Pacific Library will be next to take on the book.
“My earnest request is to the education providers, to see if they could make this a recommended reading in schools in Fiji,” he said.
Singh has started this process by donating 100 books to the SPCA.
“My hope is simple: That this story inspires kindness and helps young readers find empathy and develop kindness to other creatures sharing our world.”
Community outreach and education drive
Beyond its narrative arc, the book serves as an educational story designed to promote animal welfare, cultivate empathy, and highlight the deep capacity animals possess for loyalty, love, and emotional connection.
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA Fiji) Manager, Shaneel Narayan said that they decided to support the launch of Tender Paws because they realised that the storytelling reflects the situation in the farming community.
“It is very relatable to what is going on in Fiji and we thought a book with this messaging will help us create education and awareness.”
The SPCA’s mission is to continue to raise concern around animal welfare issues in Fiji.
“The book touches on these topics; how the animals in the farming community including Suva, urban, rural and maritime areas are treated.”
The SPCA’s aims to educate communities on the basics of responsible pet ownership, whether they are first-time owners, seasoned pet owners or those who may not fully understand the responsibilities involved in caring for an animal, particularly when children are involved.
“The book helps us put this message out there; for the younger or older generation or anyone reading,”
He says some people may not realise their behaviour can harm animals.
“An example is a dog could be tied up for 12 hours a day out in the hot sun or teaching children to throw stones, sticks or boiling water on purpose that will cause harm to the animal. SPCA is working tirelessly to educate the communities on how wrong this is,” he stated.
On the legal front, Narayan said the government is looking at existing animal welfare laws.
“SPCA and other NGOs have been lobbying for a long time for a change; some of the laws are so outdated that anyone can get away with a $50 fine with some of these serious animal abuse,” he said.
“The Fiji police force is looking into this now as well. We have had reports where people have been taken to task with the current legislation which wasn’t a usual thing before.”
The SPCA has seen an improvement in responsible pet ownership in recent years, with more people seeking help for their animals and recognising when their furbabies are sick and need to see a vet.
“The younger generation are more involved as they tend to bring their pets in for routine checkups.”
Narayan shared how the major arm for SPCA is education and awareness where the team visits schools or excursion trips for the students are planned to the shelter.
“We will use all our platforms to get Tender Paws out there with the aim to have the book in all the villages and school libraries so children can read and understand.”
Narayan said that plans are in the pipeline to have Tender Paws converted into an animated movie and translated in the local languages.
“We want to do an animated movie in the iTaukei and Hindi language so we are able to roll it out on the various mediums.”
Naryan hopes that the Ministry of Education comes on board and has the book as part of its curriculum.
“We are hoping legislation becomes a law, where animal welfare is taught in schools,” he said.
Tender Paws can be purchased at SPCA for $15 and will be available at Baka Books soon.
Funds raised from book sales will contribute to SPCA’s outreach work in rural and maritime areas.
