Quote

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man. Mark Twain





Saturday, April 30, 2011

Third Time Lucky?



Why does my heart ache so? Am I so unlovable? Why don’t they want me? Is it because I'm no longer cute… energetic… young? I miss my human family so much, but I knew it was time to go away. I had become a burden to them and they didn't want me around anymore.  I remember that day when I slipped out of my home unnoticed; it was the most difficult decision in my life, the hardest thing for me to do. But I loved them and I wanted them to be happy.  




A kind family saw me wandering the streets and took me home for fear that I’d be knocked down by the passing traffic.  For a while I was happy and felt secure. But my kind guardian soon left to go overseas.  Her parents didn't know what to do with me. And their new helper didn’t like me. Once more, I had become a burden to my new family, and they wanted me out of their home. Is it me? Why? If nobody else would take me in, I was going to be sent away to be ‘put to sleep’.  I know I'm getting old, but I feel it’s not my time to die…not yet. I still have so much love to give. If only somebody would give me a chance. They say, third time lucky – I hope I’ll be lucky to find somebody who will love and want me for who I am.




This is the moment for Goldie, make it happen!

If you are that somebody, please email meltwn@hotmail.com. As Goldie is approximately 10 years old, Zeus will take her for a complete health check before you adopt her. This would include a complete blood count, liver and kidney check, vaccination and microchip.

Written by Michelle Lazar

Friday, April 22, 2011

Jill's Updates




UPDATE (3 May, 10am): Jill saw Dr Dennis Choi the day before. Although there is still some bruising and clotting on her abdomen, Jill is happy and active. Her blood count has gone up to 27. Jill has lost quite some weight and now needs to eat well to put back the weight.

On Saturday at 11am Jill will go back to Mt P Hospital yet again to have another blood test done, to ensure that her blood level is maintained at a safe figure.

We thank friends and animal lovers who have offered to help with Jill's vet bills. We can't pray hard enough that she will find a family of her own soon.

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UPDATE (29 April, 10am): Jill's PCV has improved after the blood transfusion which was done on Wednesday night, thanks to our blood donor hero, Jewel. Jill's PCV is now 24%. However, Jill is not eating and drinking, which is a worrying sign. Volunteers will be bringing home cooked food to Jill to cajole her to eat. As there are no external signs of internal bleeding (swelling of the abdomen, etc), Dr Naan does not think that an ultrasound is necessary at the moment. They have assessed that even if there were to be bleeding internally, another surgery and GA may not be the best course of action as Jill may be too weak to pull through.
Dr Naan is unable to advise when Jill can be discharged. They will continue to monitor for signs that PCV is on a rising trend and stabilised, ensure that she is eating and drinking well and is bright and active before making a decision for the discharge.
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UPDATE (27 April, 11pm): After taking blood samples from both Rex and Jewel, we found a match with Jewel's blood for Jill. Jewel was then sedated, so she would not be unduly stressed, and 375ml of blood was taken from her. Friends and volunteers helped coordinate to bring Rex and Jewel to the clinic and we are extremely grateful to all who helped. When we left late at night, Jill was receiving Jewel's blood and Jewel was resting. We hope with this blood transfusion, Jill's PCV will go up to a normal level and her life will no longer be in danger.
Today Jill will also undergo an ultrasound as doctors have noticed bruising around her stomach region and are concerned with internal bleeding.
We can't tell you how upset and worried we are and we wish we could take her pain and suffering away from her. She has gone through so much in her sad life. We pray that Jill will find a home soon, filled with love and happiness.
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UPDATE (27 April, 8pm): Jill's PCV dropped to 16% and she urgently needs a blood transfusion. Jewel, a rescued dog as well as Rex, a Zeus Blood Donor, are on their way to donate blood to help Jill. Let's hope that their blood matches! Volunteers are very worried for Jill and we are desperate to find her a home. If you know of anyone who can take her in and make her life more worthwhile, please "share" this with them.
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UPDATE (27 April, 10am): Jill was sterilized and had two teeth extracted on Monday, 25 April at Mt Pleasant Animal Clinic (Redhill). During the surgery, her blood could not clot and she almost needed a blood transfusion. She was hospitalized  for one night. The next morning (Tuesday), she was transferred to Mt Pleasant Animal Hospital (Stevens Road) for further blood tests to find out why her blood was not clotting. 


The required blood tests were carried out and doctors found that Jill's PCV (Packed Cell Volume) dropped dangerously low to 20%. A healthy dog has a PCV percentage of at least 35%. Doctors reckon that the reason behind the drop in Jill's PCV could also be due to the fact that she lost some blood during her sterilization. Jill has been warded at the hospital and this morning, doctors will extract blood and do another test to check if her PCV has increased and if so, she will be discharged.


Jill has been through a lot. Words can't express what a sad and hard life she has had, one setback after another; one health issue after another. She is strong and takes everything that life throws her, in her stride. She holds no grudges and is an extremely happy dog, contented to just spend her days basking in the sun, taking short walks and feeling the grass beneath her feet. We don't want to blame anyone for neglecting or abusing her. 

All we want is to plead for a kind soul to please adopt Jill and give her a 
good, loving home.

If you have heard our pleas, please call 
Lynda 9757 2528 or email Fiona dogs_ink@singnet.com.sg.


__

Having lived in a filthy, loveless environment for years with no proper care, Jill is now suffering from the harsh effects of being an ex-breeding dog. Her nightmare is finally over, but what remains is evident of how irresponsible and selfish some people can be. What irks me the most is that her captors and abusers have gotten away scot free while poor Jill is being hit hard by the aftermath of her past.
Lynda taking Jill to the Vet

Dr Ang snipping off some of Jill's fur to check for ringworms
Jill currently suffers from severe arthritis, a condition where the joints in the body swell badly, causing pain with every movement made. We reckon that Jill's arthritis was caused by having to stand or lie down for long periods, with little movement to exercise her joints, and also the lack of walks and sufficient exercise. The Vets had initially thought she might have bone cancer and Jill’s x-ray results were sent to Australia for a second opinion. Thankfully the results came back normal; that it was not bone cancer.
We brought renowned Animal Communicator, Ms Rosina Arquatito visit Jack and Jill at the kennels when Rosina was in town for a series of workshops. Jill communicated to Rosina that her stomach was painful and uncomfortable from her years of over-breeding. Jill also said thank you for giving her a bigger kennel than what she was previously kept in. Jill limps when she stands after lying down for long periods of time. Jill is scared of thunder; if she is outside in the garden, she panics and tries to dash underneath things to hide. However, she is fine indoors. 

Jill communicated to this Animal Communicator that she felt unwell 
from the years of over-breeding

Jill and Jack with Ms Rosina
Sadly, Jill is also unwell from kidney failure. Jill desperately needs to find a home. She has been losing weight and the damp environment of the kennels are not helping much; she has contracted ringworms and her immunity is low. Jill needs canine massage for her limbs and Natasha will help her just like she previously helped Venus. Jill needs four sessions at $80 per session. 


If you would like to contribute to Jill's massage sessions, please email us at dogs_ink@singnet.com.sg
Ringworm is contagious and as Jill is on medication, we urgently need an experienced dog owner to foster or adopt her. We are running out of time - we do not want Jill's condition to deteriorate. She's come a long way; from the sad, lifeless look in her eyes when she was first rescued, don’t let her joy be short-lived. Where there was darkness, her eyes now shine with hope and gratitude. What she needs most is a home to go to, where she can experience the warmth of being accepted into a family and someone to cook nutritious meals for her. When there is love, miracles can happen. We know what Jill needs most right now and all we can do is to appeal and hope for someone to foster or adopt her.

Jill has lots of itchy spots and scabs all over her body

Her front legs are swollen again
I hope that you will consider giving Jill the hope that she so desperately needs. She doesn’t ask for a lot, just a comfortable bed, sufficient food and loving cuddles. For those who are unable to foster or adopt Jill, you can help by sharing her plight with your friends and family members. You'll never know - they might be able to help.

Darling Jill, sweet as ever‏
To give Jill a loving home, please contact: dogs_ink@singnet.com.sg (Fiona) or 9757 2528 (Lynda)
Written by Jo-Ann
Editor’s Note : Updates on the 8 breeding dogs – Of the 8 dogs rescued, all except Jill have been adopted. We have received quite a few enquiries on adopting Jill but the common conclusion was – “oh, she won’t live very long. Sorry we can’t take her.” WHY? Why do people look at what Jill can do for them? Why don’t they see what they can do for Jill? That even if they adopted her for a few short years, they would have made her the happiest dog on earth and that feeling alone is priceless.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Unspeakable Pain


AS I drove out from the breeding farm tucked away in a quiet part of Singapore, my heart grew heavier as I made the journey to the vet’s.

In a pet carrier on the passenger’s seat of my car, the skinny malnourished male Maltese we rescued started whimpering and broke out into baby-like cries. He was one of the four dogs we rescued from this breeder, perhaps one of the luckier four picked from the lot of some 80 toy-breed dogs who were confined to cages and pens, existing only for the sole purpose of producing puppies fronting the windows of pet shops across the island.

Rescued Chihuahua, looks to be about 3 to 4 years old
I was taken aback by the intensity of what I saw. The stench in the air was a stale mix of pet food and urine. From Poodles and Jack Russell Terriers (JRTs) to Shihtzus, Scottish Terriers and Malteses, dogs of all colours and sizes were reared for the sole purpose of commercial sales in such undesirable living conditions. As to how many of them actually end up in a loving home, I don’t know. What about the fate of those who never get sold? Are they doomed to a life of repetitive breeding?

Your guess is as good as mine.

The crying grew heavier, but this Maltese was already one of the luckier ones. Estimated to be around 5 years of age, Wally the Maltese had no major health issues except for a lack of teeth and undernourishment.

Wally the Maltese, malnourished and extremely thin
Baxter, exhausted and resigned to his fate
Accompanying him was Kit the Chihuahua, a lucky chap around 3 to 4 years old with no health issues and Baxter, a Shihtzu/Maltese Cross estimated 6 to 7 years old, who was suffering from a bout of dry eyes.
Eyes of desperation and hopelessness
Grossly malnourished, neglected and hardly able to stand

Then came Molly.

Sweet Ole Molly
A grand old dame around 8 – 10 years of age, white fur on her face, Molly the Jack Russell Terrier caught our volunteer’s eye because of how she was hobbling around, dragging a right hind leg that somehow looked detached from her body. Yet despite this apparent pain, her white furry face was eager as she wagged her short tail and sniffed her way around us. “That one, her leg broken. No good already,” murmured the breeder. “Accident.” 

No longer able to use her right hind leg
Upon picking Molly up, we gasped in horror as we saw a mesh of stitches slicing through the lower half of her body, which somehow reminded me of the cross-stitch homework I was forced to do as a primary school kid. Bits of thread dangled across the dark purplish flesh that lined her bloated stomach. The cause? A caesarian delivery where she was sloppily stitched up after her puppies were born. The breeder was probably in a hurry to get the puppies out for a quick sale.
A botched up job; her stitches would have been left on for at least 4 months!

Molly's right hip and hind leg was so badly fractured, it can no longer be saved. An amputation is inevitable. I can't begin to imagine the emotional and physical pain and abuse she has gone through.
I shuddered at the thought of this poor old dog having to carry babies, but the real shocker was to come at the vet’s, where an x-ray revealed her leg and hip was fractured in THREE places! Her femoral bone was pushed out of its socket like Venus and she had a broken right leg which resulted from a strong force that struck her. Her knee bone had totally snapped, which explained why her leg was dangling when she walked. The breeder had claimed that Molly had been hit by a car some months back but how could that be possible? She is a small dog and if she had been hit by a car at high speed, she would have been killed. It would not have been possible to have her leg fractured in three places and have no further injury. Could she have been kicked? Flung against the wall? One can only guess.

There was a more horrific discovery at the vet’s. While looking at the x-ray film of her fractured leg, Dr Teo noticed some shadow in Molly’s abdomen and decided to do a stomach x-ray as well. To our shock, Molly had THREE more puppies in her at that moment! We had initially thought that the breeder had not removed all the puppies from the previous C-section and that these could have been dead puppies left in her. However, if that was the case, she could have died of an infection. On further check, we realized that she was pregnant yet again!

Some visible foetuses in Molly's abdomen
Dogs generally come into season every six months or so. Was there a possibility that the stitches have been left on her for MANY months since her last heat and pregnancy? We can’t even begin to imagine.


How could the breeder have the heart to continue mating her despite her old age (imagine your grandmother giving birth time and time again!), broken right leg and raw Caesarian wound… I shudder at the thought of her puppies’ health, having been produced from such a frail, old mother dog plagued with issues of her own.


At such an age, dogs like Molly should not be giving birth as their bodies and legs are no longer able to take the weight of the full pregnancy. The decision by the vets and volunteers was to spare her the pain of yet another birth and one that would hopefully turn her life for the better. In other words, Molly would have to undergo:


1) An abortion of the puppies she was carrying because of her frail health, infected wound, badly fractured leg and hip; not to mention, old age.


2) Amputation of her right hind leg a month later as her leg can no longer be saved


With wicked breeders who treat dogs like Molly as puppy-churning machines, the onus really lies on the consumer to be discerning and alert when buying puppies from a pet store. Not only should breeders be subjected to regulations that encourage a certain humane breeding standard, proper medical living and quality of life for their dogs, consumers MUST do their homework and find out more about the puppy and its parents before committing to a lifetime of responsibility. Instead of creating more demand for such puppies and more suffering for dogs like Molly, why not adopt and save a life?
No hope in his eyes

Taking turns to have their ears checked

A society’s quality of living can in some ways, be reflected from the way we treat the animals around us. Before you fall in love with that puppy in the window, let the countless of dogs in Singapore’s many shelters and foster homes waiting for love have a chance at joining your family and turning their lives for the better.

If you would like to help with :

1) Molly’s vet bills
2) Boarding fees while they wait to be adopted
3) Adopting / fostering any of these four dogs who are looking for a good home

For contribution to vet bills, please email Fiona at dogs_ink@singnet.com.sg
To adopt Baxter (Shihtzu cross), please sms Irene at 8298 8129
To adopt Wally (Maltese) and Kit (Chihuahua), please sms Lynda at 9757 2528.

Story and pictures by Jean Loo

Editor's Note - We would like to thank Jean for helping us with the photography and story contribution.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Zeus Makes A Difference

The New Paper, 24 March 2011
Click to enlarge

Caught up with pet rescues, spaying of animals and feeding of strays on a daily basis, little did we realise that it has been exactly a year since Zeus Communications was founded. Looking back, we have come a long way. On our journey thus far, we hope we have made a difference in the lives of those animals we managed to touch - whether by rescuing them from a harsh and unforgiving environment, or simply ensuring that they have at least one regular meal a day. We are fortunate to have the support of loving vets and fellow animal lovers, and we hope that the work we do will help to increase awareness of the plight of abandoned animals and the lifelong responsibility that comes with having a pet.


"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being." - Abraham Lincoln

Written by Sue Ann

Saturday, April 9, 2011

I Want My Mommy

My name is Little Princess. I heard my rescuers calling me that when they were cuddling me and kissing my tiny head, despite being flea infested! I’m all of 2 months old.


A song for the street animals - click here.

My mommy gave birth to us in a filthy worksite amidst glass and metal shards. There were six of us. I heard the rescuers saying that it is impossible to catch my mommy for sterilization because despite feeding my mommy for years, she won’t even go near them and they feel sorry for my mommy who has given birth to so many litters before us.

Scavenging for food
The six of us spend our days sleeping under the containers in the worksite and scavenging for food. My mommy is a good mommy; despite not always having enough food for herself, she nurses us and gives us what little milk she has. Many times we were almost hurt when the humans were working and driving big noisy vehicles around, so we have learnt to hide under containers and wait till they stop work. We only come out when it’s quiet and cooler.

Our home under the container


Workers helping to catch my brothers and sisters

During the day, it’s sometimes so hot that our mouth and throats are parched. And when it rains, we huddle together; freezing in the cold and wet from the storm. There have been days that we have been so hungry, as soon as the rain stops, we run out to lap up the mud to fill out little tummies. After lapping it up, our tummies feel so heavy and swollen from the mud, but that keeps us going.

Like little puppies, we play rough and tumble in the mud and amidst rubbish, without a care in the world, without the faintest idea how bleak our futures are, or if we even have one. Many of us stray puppies don’t live past the age of 4 or 5 months because that’s when we grow a little bigger, braver and we start to wander out of our “homes”, out of our comfort zone and onto the streets in search of food. We get flattened by vehicles driven by people who are quite happy to get rid of us so that there are lesser strays. They call us a nuisance.

Mommy and my 5 siblings while I was hiding away in pain

That's me hiding underneath. I was afraid people would hurt me more.

My siblings often play catch and we chase each other round our compound. They can climb the steps real fast as they are bigger and stronger. It took me many days to finally master the steps and I was real proud of myself when I made it to the top of one flight of steps. I am the smallest of the lot and my siblings often bully me. They growl and attack me when I try to share their food. I know it’s not their fault, they don’t mean to be selfish to me. We sometimes go on for days without food or water. 
Mommy always says not to play with our food!

One day while playing, two of my siblings ran up the flight of steps and I chased after them, wanting to be a part of their game. I finally caught up with them at the top of the steps but I didn’t know that it was an unfinished flight of steps. Before I realized, it was too late and I fell off the flight of steps. I landed on my right side and I cried and cried but no one came to help me. My head hurt. My body ached and my legs hurt. My mommy came to lick me but she didn’t know what to do. It was so painful. My right eye was bleeding and I hit my head and I had broken some toes in my front paw. I lay on the ground for what felt like eternity. I must have fallen asleep or suffered a concussion. When I awoke, it was in the early hours of the morning and I felt a man lift my limp body and carry me to the side of the compound so that come daylight, I would not be in the way of their work.

In the morning I tried to walk but I couldn’t even stand. Each move sent painful shockwaves through my tiny frame. I dragged myself to hide under the containers, so my siblings would not pick on me. The lesser I moved, the better it was. I hid there for 2 days before a kind worker pushed a packet of left over Indian rice under the container for me to eat. I ate it all up even though it was really sour and foul smelling. I know he meant well and I was really hungry.
Me with my broken paw (right)

Then I heard two new voices coming closer, asking the workers if they want food to feed the dogs. Food?? Did they say food? I lay still under the container, not wanting to feel more pain, yet straining my ears to listen if they did indeed bring food. I heard a worker tell the ladies, “many baby dog have. One broken leg. Accident 3 days”. I felt a sense of hope; God had sent my guardian angels. The ladies asked where I was and the workers came to where I was hiding and slowly pulled me out. I screamed and yelped in fear and pain but they just took me out. They helped me to stand and opened some dog canned food for me. It was paradise. I never smelled real fresh food in my entire life. Balancing on my three good legs, I wolfed down the food in seconds. The ladies had a discussion about the vet being closed and that they would come back for me the next day. They gave me another can of dog food and waited while I finished Round Two, then they lifted me up and pushed me back under the container, to rest, away from the dangers of machines and vehicles.

The next day, the same ladies came in the evening with 3 pet carriers and told the workers to help them gather all six of us. They said that there was no way they would take only me and leave my siblings behind; that it wasn’t fair. I felt so proud of myself. Did you know I sacrificed myself and my pain so that they would come and take my siblings and I away from this place? I was the little heroine. Maybe now my siblings will like me more and stop picking on me.

Soon all six of us were in the carriers and me being the smallest, cried the loudest to be let out! I was scared. I didn’t know where they were taking me to. I have never been in such a small space. They seemed kind and genuine but strays don’t always trust humans, it’s just in us to be cautious.

The ladies tried calling my mommy and luring her with food but she stood and watched from a distance, while all of us sat in the carriers waiting. She refused to come near. She was sad. She was worried that we were taken away from her, yet her instinct was to protect herself too. The vet was closing and the ladies had to leave. They left my mommy behind . . . . .

We threw up our Indian rice in the van and we salivated throughout the journey. Not a very polite way to repay human kindness.
Sorry I threw up my Indian rice :(

At the vet, all of us had our weights taken, microchipped, vaccinated and Frontlined because they could see the fleas playing hop scotch on us.
All of us were microchipped and we were all very brave about it

Blood tests for all of us and look at the fleas on our necks and body!

Dr Lesley Teo said she would see me last because she needed to do an x-ray on my leg and check my bloodshot eye. I was taken to the x-ray room and the results showed I had 3 broken “fingers” on my front right paw. My eyes had stopped bleeding but it was still bloodshot. She said she could give me eye drops for my eye and bandaged my entire front leg. Dr Teo said I was a really sweet girl because I was the only silly one that wagged my tail non-stop throughout the vet visit. I was just so happy to be saved. Dr Teo said I needed “bed rest” for a month and to visit her every week to have my bandage changed. The ladies needed to feel my tiny toes every day to ensure there was circulation and that my toes were still warm. I was young so my bones would fuse back together in no time at all. I didn’t need a surgery!

Getting the X-ray done

The broken bones in my paw

They said they would put my five siblings in the kennels and because we were all so small, all five would fit into one kennel. Save money, they said. I was kept in a super large carrier with nowhere to go because they said the kennel floors would be wet and dirty and I had to keep my bandage clean and dry. Fortunately they found a friend who would take me for a few weeks until my bones fused together.

The ladies also ordered blood tests for all six of us because having been flea infested, all of us had terribly pale gums. They wanted to ensure we were healthy and well. Fleas sucked our blood. Again, I am always the special little Princess, I was anemic when no one else was. Oh, and my older brother has a pretty bad hernia that needs to be operated on when he is older.
Getting my broken paw bandaged up - I was such an angel!

 Do you think my arm is as heavy as my entire body?


Puppy with a hernia

I have not seen my siblings for a few days because I am in a foster home while they are all five together in a kennel.

Would you please take one of us home? If you take us home, we will make room for the ladies to be able to rescue and help more dogs. For every happy ending, there are thousands of tragic endings of death and disposal of strays. 
All set with nowhere to go
We are now available for fostering / adoption. I can’t wait to walk and run again. My bandage is really uncomfortable. I want toys. I miss my mommy. I want my mommy.

Life has been RUFF!

To adopt or foster any one of the puppies, please email Fiona at dogs_ink@singnet.com.sg

Adoption drive for these 6 puppies is on April 16 (Sat) from 3pm to 5pm at Pasir Ris. Pls email us for more details. The pups are not HDB approved.

Written by Fiona

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Puppies Aren't Products

Puppy mills exist for one reason -  to make a profit by selling puppies.

Some puppy mills are worse than others but most puppy mills treat our companion animals like commodities. The goal of puppy mills is always the same - to make a profit. Puppy mill owners must cut corners to boost profits, always at the expense of these poor dogs; stinging on their food, and having almost no medical aid when the dogs need it. The only time they take the dogs to the vet is when the dogs need a Caesarian section because the sale of the puppies would cover their cost of the vet bill.

Dogs are kept in cages all the time, never ever experiencing love, let alone being taken out for walks and feeling the grass on their feet or sunshine on their backs. Female dogs are bred as often as possible, and on every heat from the time they are mere puppies. When they are no longer able to “produce” or make profits for their breeders, they are conveniently discarded, often on the streets, in the hope that either a kind soul would pick them up, or they would be hit by traffic. This is not the life for man’s best friend.
Though cruel and inhumane, puppy mills are legal and regulated by AVA.
AVA does not always ensure a humane life for these dogs. Many a times we have informed AVA of these poor breeding standards, only to be asked if we have proof. Are the conditions of these breeding dogs insufficient proof? What more do they require? All we ask is that these breeding dogs have a better quality of life.

Puppy mills exist to feed your fancy, because you want to buy a cute branded puppy from the pet store. If only you knew and saw what goes on behind caged bars.
Once again, we bring you a story of breeding dogs being rescued from their mercenary captors. Despite having written so many similar stories, we feel it is important to document each and every one of them, for a simple reason - each tale speaks of freedom and hope; salvation for the precious lives of these dogs. Every rescue story is different, but the people behind the rescue efforts have the same goal - to take our furry friends away from torment and cruelty, giving them happy lives that they should have experienced right from the start.
It all started when a passionate animal welfare volunteer, Glenda, heard about the sad plight of a dog from a friend. Glenda knew little about Dashy; she only knew that he was a young breeding dog who was left to die. Glenda knew she just couldn't sit back and do nothing, so she decided to try to adopt Dashy. Probing further, she got the contact of a lady named Candy, who works in the boarding house next to the puppy mill. Candy told Glenda that Dashy had scratched his eye so badly till it became infected. Had he received some medical care, his eye would have recovered; but needless to say, to "avoid unnecessary costs" for the owner, Dashy was left to become blind. Soon after, Dashy started to refuse his food and it was evident that he was unwell. Candy alerted the breeding farm owner but the owner refused to do anything - for her, it was so much easier to let Dashy die.
R.I.P Dashy

Oh - did I mention that Dashy was just 3 years old? Not only had he lost a puppyhood he never enjoyed, and now life was to be heartlessly stolen away from him. Glenda panicked at that thought, and desperately tried to do something. Sadly, she was too late - Dashy was too ill to hold on and he passed away. We can't blame him for not holding on and fighting for his life; there was no one to hold on to and there was nothing to fight for. The poor boy never EVER got the chance to love and be loved by anyone at all. Like all other breeding dogs, right from the start he was a tool used to generate litter after litter to be sold for money. He probably never would have had a bright future ahead of him. We reckon and hope that Dashy is finally happy across the Rainbow Bridge, enjoying freedom with no boundaries.
Scotty with eyes showing years of misery

Not too long after, Candy called to say that the puppy mill owner had more dogs to "throw away". Though Glenda's heart was heavy from Dashy's demise, she jumped at the opportunity to save the lives of more dogs on death row. After all, she couldn't have let Dashy die in vain. She couldn't turn her back to the other dogs and leave them to die. Glenda and her friends managed to save 4 dogs. The fifth dog was a Chihuahua who was to be let go too, but the puppy mill owner found that she was pregnant and held her back.
Prior to this series of events, the puppy mill owner had strewn a Jack Russell Terrier out onto the roads. As usual, she was a breeding dog who had outlived her usefulness, and was left susceptible to death by heavy traffic. Fortunately, this JRT was spotted by a kind family who adopted her.

The Rescued Dogs:
1. Black Poodle, Male, estimated 9 months-1 year old (FOSTERED WITH THE INTENTION TO ADOPT)
He has a slight yeast infection of his skin and is grossly underweight. What was sad was we noticed he was limping as he walked. We asked the vet to do an x-ray on his legs and found out that this poor little puppy had a hip fracture. We don’t know how long he has had this injury for but we do know how much pain he has been enduring.
Being examined at the Vets

He has a fractured hip bone

His hip injury is similar to what Venus endured and it would have been caused by a hard blow; similar to being hit by a moving vehicle. How did he sustain this injury in a small cage? We won’t speculate.

He needs a surgery sometime next week and Drs estimate this to cost about $800 - $1000. No heartworm detected and no medication required. He is very sociable and affectionate.
2. SCOTTY: Black Scottish Terrier, Male, estimated 2-3 years old (PENDING ADOPTION)

What a few days of love can do to brighten their lives

Scotty also suffers from yeast infection of the skin. He has been shaven down and on oral medication (short-term). No heartworm detected. He is active but extremely insecure and wary of people. This is likely due to the lack of human interaction and with lots of love in a secured environment, we are sure he will feel safe once again.
He was a good boy and stayed very calm throughout the Vet’s examination. Gets along fine with children.
3. White Poodle, Male, 1 year old (ADOPTED)
Severe yeast infection. This was how he looked when we first rescued him

A sorry sight


We had his fur shaved off to make him feel more comfortable
Suffers from severe yeast infection of the skin. Vet assures us that he will definitely recover. His fur has all been shaven off and he is on oral and topical medication. He needs attention for his daily medical needs until his skin recovers. He is extremely intelligent, calm and good with kids.

4. Maltese, Female, estimated 5 years old and above (FOSTERED. Available for adoption)

It is obvious that she was used solely for breeding purposes all these years. She is in good health, apart from dry eyes and decaying teeth. Her fur has been shaven off and she needs daily eye drops and oral medication for slight yeast infection of her skin. She has a superb temperament and is eager to please. Great with children and other dogs.
All the dogs have been taken to the vet and had thorough health checks. Most in need of medical aid are :

1) Black poodle who requires a femoral head removal like Venus and Faith.
2)  White poodle who suffers from severe yeast infection.
If you would like to contribute to the vet bills, please email us at dogs_ink@singnet.com.sg
If you would like to foster or adopt any of the dogs, please contact Glenda at 81256827
Written by Fiona

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"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."- Unknown