Living in Singapore with my 2 fur kids

"The world would be a nicer place if everyone had

the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog."

『倘若每個人都能像狗狗一樣地無條件去愛，世界會變得更美好。』

- M. K. Clinton (author, The Returns)

- 摘自《 The Returns 》作者 M. K. Clinton

Living in Singapore with my 2 furkids 

 和我的兩個毛孩住在新加坡

A small country? Heat and humidity? Not so clean beaches and sea?....... but let me tell you, Singapore is getting more and more a dog friendly place. The dog community is growing and even dog-friendly places are popping up......... yes there is now hotel staycation. Dogs need to have their leash off, run and play and there are quite a few 'dog runs', in fact we have 7 'dog run places, 3 dog friendly parks (without dog runs) 3 dog friendly open spaces.

地狹人稠？炎熱潮濕？海水沙灘不太乾淨？雖說如此，新加坡對狗狗卻是越來越友善：狗狗社群的擴展、寵物友善場所興起，甚至是帶著寵物一起入住酒店。狗需要放繩玩耍奔跑，新加坡有七個犬隻不需繫繩的區域、三個寵物友善公園（不含放繩區）及三個寵物友善開放空間。

I have two dogs (a 13 years old miniature bull terrier and a 2 years old mixed breed bull terrier). I lived in an apartment, so I do walk my dogs several times a day as they need exercise and so do I. I am mindful of the heat and humidity. In the day, it is usually a shorter walk (pee breaks) and the longer walks are for the mornings and nights. Like most of you reading this, I have many dog lovers' / owner friends and we arrange casual meet-up sessions ending with a long dog walk.
我有兩隻狗，一隻十三歲的迷你牛頭㹴，另一隻是兩歲的混種牛頭㹴。因為公寓的活動空間小，我們也都需要運動，所以我每天都會帶他們散步幾次。由於新加坡天氣炎熱潮溼，早晚天氣較涼爽，散步的距離也比較遠，兩次散步之間則會讓他們在附近小解。和大部份的讀者一樣，我有許多愛狗、養狗的朋友，我們常辦聚會，帶毛孩們一起散步。

Most things related to dogs are expensive particularly in the areas of therapy. I am fortunate to learn pet massage and energy healing which in turn my dogs are benefiting from them. For me, just touching them and taking them out are bonding sessions which both me and my dogs enjoy.

與狗狗相關的事物大多都不便宜，在治療方面更是要價不菲。我有幸學習了寵物按摩及能量治療，而我的兩個毛孩也都從中獲益。我喜歡撫摸他們、帶他們一起去散步，這都是讓我們關係更親密的方式。

Living in Singapore, I do say, Singapore has a fairly good and powerful law that protects all animals. One section of the law says cruelty and abandonment of animals is a crime.

Also, through the good work of the authorities, dog welfare groups, animal shelters, people nowadays don't scatter away quickly when they see owners and their dogs. Indeed, we have come a long way. Dogs are indeed part of our lives and I wish Singapore would one day allow our dogs to travel on trains, dine with their owners, shop in a mall etc etc.

新加坡的動物保護法令相當嚴格，明文規定虐待、棄養寵物都屬違法。由於政府、動保團體及收容所的共同努力，大眾對狗狗的接受度已經提高許多，我們能走到這一步，的確不容易。毛孩是我們生活的一部份，我也希望在未來，毛孩可以和主人一起搭捷運、到餐廳用餐、一起逛街。

A little about my two dogs; 我的毛孩兩三事：

Scuba

..... enjoy the journey but stay in the present 享受旅程、把握當下

Two things Scuba love most; Eat and Sleep. He keeps telling me "I will sleep well if I dined well". Seriously he thinks I am his treat-dispenser and my bed 'companion' and he is not wrong.

史酷巴最愛吃飯和睡覺，他的名言：『吃得好就睡得香』。他真的把我當零食機，而且把自己當成我的床伴，但他一點也沒錯。

He sleeps all the time but I choose to say, he is constantly in Zen meditation. Being a companion for many years, and at age 13, he gets 3-4 massages a week to help him resolve and support his mobility (musculoskeletal circulatory) and have a positive influence on his immune system by flushing out waste and toxins (lymphatic system).
史酷巴老是在睡覺，不過我會說他只是持續在禪的境界冥想。當了我的夥伴這麼多年來，每週我都幫他按摩三至四次，不但可以增加肌肉骨骼的行動力，對免疫系統的淋巴排毒也有幫助。

Brutus

A shelter dog can only do so much to give himself a second chance at finding a forever home. He can wait for weeks, months....... 

收容所的狗狗可以等上數週、幾個月的時間，只為了有個永遠的新家，而他們能做的，也只有等待...

A dog welfare group saved 2 little puppies at the 11th hour from being put down by the authority and kindly put them in a shelter.

兩隻幼犬在被安樂死的11小時之前，被一間動保機構拯救出來，送到收容所。

Brutus waited for several weeks at the shelter before he came to his forever home when he was 8 months old. Unfortunately, we found out he is deaf. During a lion dance this year at home, Brutus slept through the whole event.

魯特在那裡待了幾個星期，我們去領養他的時候，他只有八個月大。但之後我們發現，布魯特完全聽不到聲音。今年家裡剛好有舞獅的表演，但他從頭到尾都睡得很熟。

He is also high energy and very exuberant and wants to play all the time. He goes crazy with tennis balls so finding a 'stray' tennis ball outside the tennis court is like finding a treasure.

布魯特非常精力旺盛，無時無刻想玩耍，他對網球極度瘋狂，每次在網球場外總是在尋寶『流浪』的網球。

Below is the official dog runs, dogs friendly parks and dog friendly spaces for reference;

這裡有幾個帶毛孩的好去處，推薦給大家：

Official Dog Runs: 放繩奔跑區：

Bishan Park Dog Run, Katong Park Dog Run, West Coast Dog Run, Jurong Lake Park, Sunny Heights, Pet Mover's Dog Run, The Animal Resort off-leash Park

Dog friendly parks (without dog runs) 寵物友善公園（不含放繩區）：

East Coast Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, Botanic Gardens

Dog friendly open spaces 寵物友善開放空間

Tanjong Beach, Coastes, The Green Corridor

Author 作者 : Vivian Choo
Translator 譯者 : Tommy Lin

Source:  Animal Talk Ltd August Newsletter 2016