Russell. Abandoned By The Only People He Ever Loved

A Shih Tzu was tied at a HDB void deck at Bedok. A family saw the dog in the morning on the way to work, but thinking that the dog's owner was probably nearby, they left. However, to their horror, they saw the poor dog still tied up at the exact same spot that evening. He was hungry, tired and thirsty, looking forlorn and confused. The family brought the dog to Mt Pleasant Animal Medical Center (Bedok) and handed the dog over to the vet as they did not want to take him home. That was 8pm and the poor dog had been tied up from early morning.

Russell at our fosters' home

Good-natured Russell

Why are some pet owners so irresponsible, giving up a member of their family who has been loyal to them all his life? Why didn't they bring the dog to SPCA or an animal shelter instead? If they wanted a kind person to take over their dog, it worked. Thank God for Zeus Communications and concerned people. Pet ownership is a responsibility; the animal is part of your life, your family. Why all of a sudden give it up when it dedicated its whole life to loving and protecting you? This Shih Tzu had been crying at the vet, longing for its family and wondering what it did wrong to be left alone and abandoned. Animals have feelings and emotions too; they feel sad when you leave them out in the lurch. Imgaine what would have happened if the kind family had not rescued the dog - it would have died of hunger, thirst and a broken heart.

Russell at the playground 

The Shih Tzu is estimated to be around 6 to 7 years old. Zeus Communications has vaccinated and microchipped the dog, given it a full medical check up and paid to board him at the vet while we looked for a foster. The dog is now with one of our volunteers but urgently needs a home. Our foster says that he has a very sweet and gentle temperament; eager to please and shows lots of affection. He cooperates very well during bath-time and is good with other pets. He is also intelligent and learns fast. He'll be a perfect companion!


By accepting this dog into your home, you're giving him new hope and a fresh start. See Russell's adoption page here.

Email dogs_ink@singnet.com.sg or SMS 9757 2528.

Written by Jo-Ann 

Editor's Note : Because Russell has been recently abandoned, he has severe separation anxiety. He sticks to the foster like super glue and will not let her out of his sight. He is extremely sweet and well-behaved. To adopt him, all you need is some love, time, patience and understanding and you would have made one of the best decisions in your life!

Ida's Babies

I have been following Ida's case for 3 years now. Her current rented flat has always posed a lot of problems. It all started when the owner of the flat handed over the keys at the start of her tenancy. When she first moved in, Ida realized to great surprise that they had left behind 2 dogs, and one of them was heavily pregnant. Though she had little money (barely enough to buy food for them) Ida didn’t have the heart to turn them out. Over the years, she also took in more and more animals that needed help.

Their living space

Ida’s situation got from bad to worse, and it was a huge challenge for her just to make the rent each month. As she struggled to keep her finances afloat, she started finding it impossible to manage all the animals on her own. It was time she sought outside help.


So some friends and I stepped in and took in a few dogs. 5 came with me, an elderly one named Monica @ Baby is with my friend, and another found a new owner as well. Sadly, 2 of the dogs were too sick and have passed away.

Darling - hoping for a better future.

Oktober - worried about his fate.

However, Ida’s flat remains overcrowded with animals. Despite having helped her rehome so many dogs, there are still 4 dogs and about 12 cats in her home. It was a difficult decision, but she has made up her mind to find new homes for the dogs. She will also pay 50% of their boarding fees at a kennel in the meantime, even though she hardly has enough money for herself. She really loves all her animals, but sometimes the best thing for the ones you love is to let them go.


Without the responsibility of cleaning up after all the animals at home, she could find a stable job with a better income. Right now, we’re also trying to find better living arrangements for Ida. Not only was she having problems with her rent, but her neighbuors had been giving her a lot of problems too. She would be moving back to her dad’s place with some of the kittens. She’s thinking about finding new homes for the older ones, but it will be difficult, as few people would adopt older animals.

Nelly, estimated to be 5 yrs old

Baby Boy, estimated to be about 3 yrs old and yearning for care and a brighter future.

Baby Boy needs to be on a proper healthy diet.

In all the time we’ve worked with her, Ida has never asked me for money. She is a fiercely independent woman, and will not call to ask for help unless she has really exhausted all her means. For the sake of her animals, she juggles two jobs; during the day, she works as a pub cleaner, and after sunset, a lady of the night. Frankly, we are happy with her decision to move and to let her animals go. Now we only need to find a shelter or a new home for her “babies”, as she always calls them.


DOGS


Oktober About 5 years old. Very gentle and shy.

Nelly About 5 years old. Black and tan. Bright, sweet, and full of life. She was Oktober’s best friend until Baby Boy came along.


Baby Boy Around 3 years old. Ida found him at the Changi coffee shop when he was just a puppy. The stall owners there considered him a pest, and would throw chairs at him when he walked around looking for food. Since Ida has to work in the day, she would keep him shut up in the flat most of the time. As Baby Boy is naturally a very active and playful boy, this has led to some behavioral issues. When he feels stressed, he chews on the walls and barks a lot. Once in a while, when Ida gets too overwhelmed by the lack of money, the cleaning up, and all the barking, she would yell at them, but unfortunately, that only makes matters worse.


Baby Boy also has a weight problem. Since Ida didn’t have enough money to feed the dogs well, she often mixed lots of rice in with their food, causing them to balloon and get really fat. While Oktober and Nelly have managed to lose all the unhealthy weight, BB seems to just be getting fatter and fatter.

Darling About 1-2 years old. A very calm and gentle girl. She was abandoned by her previous owner. She has been through a full health check and is very healthy. 

Give these dogs hope for a better life!

CATS
There are about 12 cats remaining. Most of them have been sterilized. However, it was difficult for Ida to take care of so many cats, so they do have fleas.

Please help us to help Ida and the dogs and cats that live with her. We need immediate help with fostering, adoption and sponsorship of boarding kennels.

We’ve had several volunteers that have helped out with taking care of the animals once or twice, but it is definitely not a long-term solution. Several kind animal lovers have also donated food and pet supplies and we thank them for their generosity.

The four dogs need to be out of the house by March 30 as that is the last day of the lease. If you can help, please contact Natasha immediately (HP 81830180)

Written by Natasha

They Call Me Angel (A Rescued Breeding Sheltie)

I ask myself sometimes, what did I do to deserve this? Was I a bad dog? Did I do something wrong to upset the Tall Ones? I look around me and see that all the other dogs around me are in cages. Is this the kind of life all dogs live? We never get to play together, we never get to run on that green stuff called grass, we never leave these cages. Ever. This is home for me.

This was me when I was first rescued

Day in and day out, I sit in my little prison and do nothing. Nothing but count the minutes away until the Tall Ones come and force a male dog on me. Then my belly becomes full with my babies. Puppies that are born and which I care for only for a short while before they are taken from me. I don't know where they all go. I never see them again.

Then one day, I find myself outside. On the roads, all alone and wandering around, free of my cage. Free! I'm free! But as I try to run, to stretch my legs for the first time, I find that I could not. I take a step and stumble. My back foot was bleeding from a gaping hole around my nail. I had forgotten about that. I had numbed myself to the constant pain I had been feeling for more than a week. Where am I going to go now? How am I going to move fast enough not to be run over by these large scary metal things rumbling past me? Resigned to my fate I curl up near a shadeless tree and lick at my wound. If I could cry, I would. If I could scream for help, I would. Many times I have wanted to take my own life, to end my miserable existence; too bad dogs can't commit suicide. I would have been free from all the pain, suffering and cruelty.

Dirty ears

"Hi sweetie, are you ok? It's alright girl. I'm not going to hurt you." I look up and see a kindly old man with a smile on his face and love in his eyes. He patted me and stroked my dirty matted fur. His was the first kind touch I've felt in my life, the first kind words I've heard. I placed all my trust in him and prayed and hoped that my life would change.


I was taken to a vet and examined. My foot was swollen and I heard the vet say that my nail may have to be amputated if the infection doesn't go away. She prodded at my wound and I was praised for being a brave little girl, never once did I wince or snap. "Oh my goodness!" I heard someone exclaim. "Look at all the maggots in her wound! And she's also covered in ticks!" I think someone gagged at this point. The vet cleaned out the hole around my nail and removed all the maggots. The vet also commented that the hole in the wound was too deep and they could not reach the maggots inside. They had to patiently wait and clean the wound daily.

I looked so malnourished and old beyond my age

Holes in my paw

Maggots from the wound on my paw

The nurses at the vet shaved me down and did her best to remove all the ticks, leaving only the scars from their bites on my skin. "She'll also need to be sterilized and her womb removed as soon as possible - she's got pyometra. Her uterus is infected and filled with pus." Pyo-what? In the flurry of activity around me, I managed to grasp that I was in a terrible condition. I am what is known as "breeding stock" for a puppy mill. The Tall Ones probably realised my uterus was sick and I couldn't make puppies anymore and left me out to die. I was nothing but a puppy making machine, churning out stuff they could sell until I was broken and couldn't make anything anymore, then I was conveniently disposed.

My very first human touch

The darker shadow portion shows the deep open wounds in my paw

All cleaned and bandaged up!

I am currently at the home of a very kind lady. She has 3 great kids and they all helped to take the pain and suffering of my earlier years away. They introduced me to the inside of a home, to tables, sofas, the sounds and smells of a kitchen, to grass! They showed me what I had been missing all my life; what I had been deprived of by the wicked Tall Ones. They helped to heal my foot wound (no need for amputation!) and are helping to make me strong and healthy with each passing day. They gave me a glimpse of what it was like to have a home, a family, a real life.

They named me Angel.

A much happier me at a Sheltie gathering! Can you see my smile?

Sadly, the kind lady cannot keep me for much longer. I don't want to go back to my old life. I'm begging for someone out there who will want to love me and keep me safe, to let me lead the life that dogs are supposed to live, to play and be content lying nearby. I just need someone to be patient with me while I learn about the world I never saw or knew before. I really won't be much trouble. Rescued dogs are usually very well-behaved and grateful for being given a new lease of life. I don't understand language so you would need to teach me like you would, a young child. No one has ever spoken to me. Despite all that the Tall Ones have done, I still love people and am always happy when I meet kind souls. I really hope someone will want me. I really hope someone will give me a new place to call home. I really hope someone will be my family. Please.


To foster or adopt Angel the rescued Sheltie, please contact Michelle at 9339 9889


(Update 5 April 2011: Angel the Sheltie has been adopted!)

Written by Michelle Chan

Hope for Hubble

In an animal welfare organization, we cross paths with many animals who suffer from neglect and abuse, often through the hands of humans. We try to take such animals from the hands of their abusers and give them hope and a bright future, away from their agonizing past. Today, we bring to you something different; a story of a family who's great love and courage helped save their dog's life.

Hubble, a miniature Schnauzer, belongs to a loving and caring family. They shower her with everything a dog could ask for; protection, nourishing food and endless love and cuddles. One morning, the family was going about doing their usual activities when something bad happened - Hubble had a seizure. Initially, the owners thought that Hubble was misbehaving by acting funny, but when it became evident that there was something seriously wrong with their dog, reality hit them and everyone was in frenzy with worry, confusion and sheer terror. Because they love Hubble dearly, the owners were terrified as they couldn't understand what was happening to their beloved dog. They had never experienced this before! The family acted quickly and rushed the dog to the vet. By then, she was paralysed and could neither walk nor stand. All she could do was lie on her side and move her eyes. She could not even lift her head. She was only 4 years old.

Hubble being carried by her Mommy

The vet carried out some tests and assessed Hubble's condition and concluded that she had a stroke caused by stomach cancer and advised the owners to euthanize her. Instantly, they crumbled inside and couldn't bear to consent – Hubble was a young dog and despite not being able to move, they could see the life in her eyes, her will to live. Fortunately for the couple, the husband's colleague had heard of Zeus and asked them to contact us for help and advice.

That night, after our work, we immediately rushed down to the vet where, together with the family, we met the Dr, who again advised them that Hubble had a stroke, was paralyzed and had stomach cancer. He didn’t think that she would recover and again, advised the family to put her down. The family was shattered and tears welled up in their eyes.

Hopeful Hubble

We told the family that we would have a word with them outside. We then told them that we did not agree with the Dr’s prognosis and recommendations. We told them to seek a second opinion and we recommended them our regular vets, the Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Centre group. The family is Chinese educated and could not thoroughly understand what the Dr was saying. All they knew was that he was saying that their dog was unwell and should be put down and they were terribly distressed by that.

As the clinic was closing, we said good bye to Hubble and told her we would be back for her the next day. We then told the family to discharge her from this clinic in the morning and seek a second opinion with our regular vets. They agreed and seemed a little less worried. Hubble’s eyes followed us out of the clinic as we left, pleading with us to take her home.

In our volunteer effort to counsel and facilitate pet owners, we have often come across owners who, in a state of distress or confusion, make a rash decision that they regret for years to come and as facilitators, albeit voluntary ones, we often offer advice and provide solutions to pet owners. The decisions are not for us to make, but we would gladly share our experience with them.

The next day, the couple discharged Hubble from the vet and took her to see Dr Anthony Goh of Mt Pleasant Animal Medical Centre. He looked at her diagnosis and recommended acupuncture, in the hope that it would help with her nerves and told the couple not to make any decisions yet, but to give Hubble two months to recover and monitor if she makes any progress. Everyone was elated and thrilled that there was hope for Hubble. We knew in an instant that their love overwhelmed the thought of putting Hubble down; they would do whatever it takes to save their furry companion.

The prognosis given by the first and second vet were poles apart.

During her stay at the vet, we gave Hubble Reiki healing sessions a few times and continued even when she went home. We showed Hubble's owners how to massage and exercise her too! Now, almost two months later, Hubble is able to kick her legs (as if she were swimming) to propel herself forward. She can now stand up on rough, non-slip surfaces and can even lift and turn her head to look around for short periods of time! Little by little, slowly but surely, Hubble is getting better. The life in her eyes and great will to live gives us all the fighting spirit to go on. When she first stood up all by herself, her owners cried tears of pride and joy, like parents of a child taking his first steps. The human-animal bond seen here is amazing as they encourage each other. We applaud Hubble's owners for their patience and courage in walking this rocky path alongside their dog and we hope that others will be inspired by their story.

The owners are from a working-class family with young kids to support. However, they want the best for Hubble and have done what they can to pay for her vet bills. Zeus Communications has offered to help them financially by raising funds so that they can give Hubble acupuncture sessions and a wheelchair! Doggon' Wheels are specially designed for dogs who have difficulty in walking and will provide Hubble with some mobility. With this wheelchair, hopefully it will also help retrain and build up her muscles.

The wheelchair costs USD$300 (USD$235 + USD$65 shipping charges)

We'd like to appeal to all our readers to give Hubble a chance of a bright future. She wants to be like other dogs - running around and playing like she used to.


We also hope to be able to sponsor 3 sessions of acupuncture and 3 sessions of massage therapy for Hubble. The acupuncture costs $85 per session at Mount Pleasant Hospital, while the massage therapy costs $65 with Natasha, who specializes in Canine Massage Therapy and has also helped with our stray animals such as Venus. 

If you would like to donate to Hubble's special wheelchair or contribute to her treatment, do drop us an email at dogs_ink@singnet.com.sg. By doing so, you're giving this young dog the hope that she needs, to be normal again.

That's what our work is all about - we facilitate and offer help to people who genuinely love their pets. This is an essential part of our job as animal welfare volunteers. Animals come to us hurt and broken; we try our best to usher them into a happier, more promising future, together with human companions who love them dearly.

Written by Jo-Ann

A Broken Life

We were in Tuas on one of our usual rounds bringing stray dogs in for sterilization as part of our S.D.S (Street Dog Sterilization) program. A worker was helping us to catch a black female dog who lived there. He pointed out that her leg seemed to be injured, and indeed she walked with a slight limp but nothing seemed to be terribly wrong with her. We told him not to worry, and that we would get it checked at the vet while she was sterilized.

That evening, we took her to the vet and arranged for her to get an X-ray done the following day.

When we got the results back, we were shocked. We discovered that her hip bone had been hit with tremendous force. Her femur bone had been pushed completely out of its socket! The doctor said that the injury was already several months old, and would never have healed on its own.

Trying her best to stand, despite the pain

She was likely the victim of a high-speed hit and run. We could only imagine the blinding explosion of pain in her small body as the speeding vehicle hit her, and her terror and confusion as she tried to drag herself off the road to safety in a daze after the collision. She had to deal with the agony for months, with every movement sending sharp pains shooting up her spine and down her leg. Because she is a stray, she never had the opportunity to rest. She had to continue to fight for food every day, and to try to defend herself when other dogs attacked her, for food or from fighting to mate with her. We are so glad that we had found her when we did, so that we could help her get better and end the pain she must have been living with for a long time.

 Not wanting to look at us

Her long wound - reminding us so much of what Venus had gone through

The doctor informed us that she would definitely need surgery. It would not be possible to put her popped joint back into its socket as the injury was too old. Instead, she would need to have parts of her femoral head bone. The head and neck of the femoral bone would be completely removed, so that the head of the bone would stop pressing against the socket. After the surgery, her leg muscles would hold her femur bone in place, as most of the hip joint would have been removed. She should be able to move almost as well as before once she gets used to it. Her situation is actually very much like that of Venus.

Although amputation was not necessary, the surgery she underwent was a very long one. There was not sufficient time for her to be sterilized in the same surgery, thus the poor doggy needs to undergo another separate operation, for sterilization, when she recovers from the first one.

 Fear and uncertainty in her eyes

The following day, Dr Simon Quek performed the FHNE (femoral head and neck excision) operation on her hip. Fortunately, everything went smoothly and now she's finally getting the rest that she needs. In fact, the doctor had ordered 10 days of "bed rest" for this dog! So, we have put her up in a kennel to let her recover from her hip surgery. Once she's better, we will be bringing her back to the vet to be sterilized before taking her back to the factory in Tuas.

Her FHNE surgery was billed at approximately $1800. To contribute to her vet bills, please email dogs_ink@singnet.com.sg or call Lynda at 9757 2528.

Thank you for helping a stray.

Written by Elena Lin

A Union of Angels

The New Paper (21 March 2011)
Click to enlarge

We’ve all seen homeless people on the streets. Many think it is terrible that a man or woman without a home should allow an animal to suffer with them. 

Considering the amount of animals at overfilled animal shelters and the number of cases of animal neglect and starvation we see every day, do you think these homeless dogs have it pretty good?

Angel spends her days snoozing on the sun deck

We met Angel 3 months back when she wandered into a shopping mall along Orchard Road, in search of help for her owner, Salma. That was when we realized what an intelligent dog she was and that angels do really exist. I have said it many times in our blog, animals enter our lives for a reason.

Angel entered Salma’s life when Salma needed a friend and had nothing in her life. Angel was Salma’s guardian angel, her guiding light, her buddy and the best friend Salma ever had. After many years of living a vagabond life, Angel had finally decided that Salma needed help and that’s when she found us. 

Angel and her family helper, Emi

We had initially thought that Angel was a young dog, maybe 3 or 4 years old, and that she merely looked old because she had led a vagrant life with her owner. However last month when we sent her for a health check, Dr Heng had noted that Angel would be at least 10 years old, or more, because her eyes had become cloudy due to old age. Her teeth was in excellent condition – in fact had you told us she had doggie false teeth, we would have believed you. Her teeth looked sparkling white and now on hindsight, we attribute that to the years of sharing chicken wings with Salma. Salma did tell us Angel loved chicken wings and Viola will vouch for that too!

On another note, Angel's eyes have gotten clearer since we last saw her. Viola takes excellent care of Angel and applies eye drops on her eyes regularly.

A rags to riches story, you say? To us, we're just delighted she now has a home and no longer has to roam the streets.

Today, Salma is in a Home for the Aged. She hardly calls these days and the last Angel visited was about a month back. After that visit, we had decided to have them stop seeing each other as we realized the visits were distressing to Angel. She would cry and not eat for days. Perhaps she didn’t cry as much as the initial visits, but nevertheless, she was still visibly upset.

Angel lazing by the pool in her new home

Angel has been living with a foster for slightly more than a month and seeing how much Angel loves her, Viola has decided to keep her for good. Words can't express our gratitude for Viola wanting to adopt a senior dog because most people would shun the thought of adopting a pet above the age of 3 or 4 years.

Age has indeed caught up with Angel – she spends most of her days sleeping and lazing around the house. When it rains, she suffers from severe arthritis and her joints hurt. She then has problems walking and starts to limp. Perhaps this stems from years of sleeping on the pavements with her previous owner. What if our paths with Angel had not crossed? She may still be living on the streets, in pain and hunger; getting cold and wet from the rain and with her eyesight failing, we can’t imagine what would have happened to her.

Contented with just simply doing nothing

Through animal communication, we found out that Angel is most happy with her bed and HER car. She communicated with us that she is grateful to Viola for giving her a bed and that she has never had a bed before. She also loves HER car - this stems from the fact that her new Mommy takes her for car rides! 

Viola tells us that  Angel still prefers eating leftovers instead of proper cooked food – guess old habits die hard. She behaves like a spoilt child these days, eating breakfast in bed, whining and refusing to take her supplements. Viola bathes Angel in her sunken bath tub and Angel gets to sleep on the bed with her. Angel loves the aircon and sleeping in late, getting grumpy if she is woken up before 10am!

Silk and satin sheets for a true Angel

After many years living a hard life, we are happy for Angel to move on, to live her own life now, and not to live for Salma. She is now living a life she truly deserves. Gone are the days of sleeping on the cold hard pavements or sitting in the park under the pouring rain.


Angel's eyes now light up when she sees her new mommy, Viola

Today, Angel has an angel in her life; caring and providing for her, loving her and being the guiding light in her life. At last, a union of Angels.


Written by Fiona

Life Unleashed (Updates on the rescued breeding dogs)

These defenseless dogs had their lives snatched away from them when they were mere puppies. They lived lives of suffering and misery, living a pathetic existence they thought was normal, all because inhumane breeders were ruthless and only interested in making money.

Our volunteer, Irene, carrying June

This is June!

If you had the opportunity to meet any of the 8 dogs we rescued, we know you would have told us they were the sweetest and most trusting dogs you had ever seen. Why is it that despite being abused all their lives by humans, that these dogs still trust us? This is a lesson that I often believe animals were put on earth for – to teach humans how to trust, love and forgive. 

Look what a little love can do! Isn't June gorgeous?

Jack, a Labrador Retriever, is available for adoption

If you look into the eyes of these 8 dogs, you will see that there is life and hope in them again and this time, they know it’s a real life that they will be living.

We thank everyone who have contributed to the vet bills, who came to visit the dogs, buy them treats, cook for them, walk them, send them to the vets for follow up visits etc – we couldn’t have done it on our own. To those who came down for the adoption drive – glad you chose to adopt and not buy a pet.

Our adoption drive

The people who adopted the dogs did have some common feedback and it was sad to know that most (of the dogs) were terrified of walking on grass or walking on leash. These poor dogs were caged up for the most part of their lives and walking on grass or having the sun shine on their backs is something they never imagined they would ever experience. Raising them is like raising a puppy – the patience, the paper training, the input of language – because they had none. No one ever cared for them, talked to them or ever cared how they feel. That is why we are so very grateful to the overwhelming response from members of the public who wanted to adopt these dogs, despite being told they had tick fever, dry eyes, only half a set of teeth, etc


Cute little Jan has only half a set of teeth and has been adopted too!

Poor little Jan had many teeth extracted

Little Jan and her new family who loves her tremendously!

Junior (Japanese Spitz), now named Sammie, is enjoying his new life with his new family. He is still scared of walking on grass but we are quite sure that with lots of love and patience, he will eventually overcome that fear.

Junior in his new home

Comments from Junior's owner, May Young - 

Sammie (his new name) came to us  about two weeks ago. When he first came, he was reticent, reserved, passive and withdrawn. He didn't know what was play, good food, affection... didn't respond when he was called, and didn't look you in the eye. He stayed in one spot for the first week. I guessed he had never been on any surface except concrete, because when we put him on the grass, his steps were very tentative and nervous, and he was even afraid of steps... till this day he is afraid of going down steps, and we had to help him negotiate one step at a time, as in front legs then back legs on one step, and then repeat again for the next.

What a difference two weeks made.

Now he prances around the whole garden, seeking doors and openings where he can see us, waiting for the pats and strokes and treats we give him. When we are with him, he laps up all the attention and physical affection he can get, pressing his body against ours and even climbing up on our laps. He is no longer reserved and passive, but tears down the garden barking at dogs or people walking by. He is cheeky and full of life, enjoys the different kinds of food like liver, fish, and meat, whereas when he first came, he was only interested in rice. Sammie is a changed dog, we can see he is happy,  with hope in the glitter of his eye. 

I am glad I made a difference in Sammie's life.

Junior (Sammie) being loved by his new family

Jamie (Japanese Spitz), is the apple of the family’s eye. Jamie has a great fear of walking on leash and we have advised the family to leave the leash on her and let her walk at home, dragging the leash and just getting used to the fact that the leash is harmless.

Jade and June will go to their new homes at the end of February, while Jan and Ace are still settling in with their new families.

Remember Jill, who almost lost her life to money? Jill is getting stronger by the day. Although still underweight, you can see in her the will to live. She now loves her treats and enjoys her walks when we take her out. We know we can never erase her painful memories of being bred in captivity, but we’re trying our best to make up for lost time.

Jill

 Would you like to give Jill a home and the love she deserves?

We took Jill to the beach. The way her eyes shone, no money in the world can buy. It was a whole new world to her! She sniffed the air when we got out of the car. Jill is good with her walks; she doesn’t drag at all. She sniffed the grass before walking on it and we let her take her time, stopping to smell the roses. We had lunch at the beach and Jill ate a hamburger, vegetables and all. Then we took her to walk on sand and she showed no fear at all, occasionally stopping to sniff the sand, probably trying to figure out what this soft texture was. Then we headed back to the kennels for yet another meal that our volunteers had lovingly cooked for her and the other dogs.

Jill, loving life!

Jill at the beach and having the time of her life!



A few days back, Jill had to go to Mount Pleasant at Sunset Way for a digital x-ray. Both her front legs are not as swollen as it was initially when we first rescued her. Her legs seem more normal sized now, but we wanted to do the x-ray, for Jill, to be assured that there is nothing seriously wrong with her and to rule out the fact that she has bone cancer. Her x-ray results have been sent to Melbourne for a second opinion.

Jill looking sooo happy

Jack, weighing all of 38 kg, is a handsome lad or Lab now. A far cry from the scrawny dog we first laid eyes on. Walking Jack is a whole new ball game – he’ll take you for a roller coaster ride, for all of 3 minutes and then he needs a rest! Not because he is old, but simply because he has never ever left his kennel. Like us, he would need time to build up his stamina.

Jack the handsome lad? Handsome Lab?

We’re still hoping for Jack and Jill to find true love. For now, they are still staying at the boarding kennels and we understand that most people live in HDB apartments and thus cannot adopt a medium sized dog. However, if you have space in your backyard or driveway, won’t you please give Jack or Jill your yard? We assure you that they are undemanding and would be most grateful to you for renewing their faith in mankind.




Written by Fiona