An Abandoned Couple

On 15.4.2011, I received a call from my fosterer that a pair of Chihuahuas were found squeezing in a corner under the hot sun outside a house along Surin Ave around 2pm, a male and female. I asked him to bring them to safety while I rushed down. Nobody was in the house and neighbours claimed that the dogs don't belong there.

A very tired and sad dog

Checking to see if their eyes were alright

Both were dying of thirst and the stench was horrible. Pus was oozing out from Girl's wound and Boy's eyes. Their nails were horribly long and they had very bad yeast infection in the ears. Both were taken immediately to the vet for check-up and blood test. The male has severe conjunctivitis and severe heartworm, while the female has a badly infection wound on her stomach, possibly from a Caesarean wound that might have burst open and did not heal well. Both have microchips but are not registered and they are estimated to be about 4 to 6 years old.

Ears were filthy but we always expect that. Usually, dirty ears are the least of our worries

Girl's cesarean wound was infected and oozing pus. Apparently, it is a rather old wound.

Girl Girl, who is suspected to having had multiple C-sections, had her surgery on 21.4.11 by Dr Dennis Choi at Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital, Whitley Road. "Girl Girl, presented with a discharging sinus and nodular, lumpy lesion of the ventral abdomen. Surgical exploration revealed severe fibrotic mass lesion with purulent discharge of subcutaneous tissue of ventral abdomen extending all the way into abdominal muscles and linea alba. Entire abnormal appearing portion was excised en-bloc and sent for histopathological examination. Culture and sensitivity performed and came back as negative for bacteria growth. Girl Girl's surgical wound is healing well and currently recovering well under surgery." She will need another surgery in about 2-3 months’ time as her infection was so bad that vet can only treat what's beneath the skin and not further at time of surgery. She was hospitalised for a day. She’s now on heat. Thank God that she is now safe else she likely be pregnant again...

Female's Caesarian wound might have opened and she was not brought to the vet. The wound healed on its own but it did not heal well, with some insides healed on the outside!

Girl - long uncut nails. They had probably never left their cages and were terrified being at the vet.

Drawing blood and doing a thorough check to ensure they were well



Boy, eyes all red from tiredness and severe conjunctivitis

Boy Boy's eyes are getting better and there's a small ulcer on one of the eye. Vet has put him on medication for 5 days prior to treatment, to be on the safe side. He had his first heartworm jab on Tuesday, 26.04.11. The jab will put his life at risk because his heartworm is very severe and the jab may cause his heart to stop or trigger a heart attack but there's no choice. If he is not treated, he will die. He needs 3 jabs over a period of two months. The 2nd and 3rd jab will be done on the second month.

Long, unclipped nails

Getting his nails clipped. He tired to snap as he was so tired, stressed and confused.

Both are of very good temperament and Boy is very quiet and had not barked a single time since they were found, while Girl is always cheerful and active. She has a very high pain threshold despite all the sufferings she has been through. Both have separation anxiety but this will go away with time and care.

To Adopt/Foster

SMS: Alycia 9689 0777 or email yee.alycia@gmail.com

To contribute to the vet bills, please email dogstalk@starhub.net.sg

Written by Alycia Yee

The total bill as of now is about $1,600 and it is likely to increase. Please help in any way possible, it would be much appreciated.

Dreams are Made of These...

It has been exactly a month since Venus was discharged from her “Redhill Suite” and brought to her new factory as we felt it was safer for her. At this new factory, hopefully there would be lesser heavy traffic, fewer strays dogs and the workers there would feed and care for her.


During her stay at the vet, she was together with Little Joe who was there for severe tick fever.  They were together at the vet for about two weeks. Initially Venus would always growl at poor Little Joe each time he even went near her or accidentally bumped into her. Staff at the clinic had to keep a constant watch over the both of them lest Venus took a chunk out of Little Joe. Both Joe and Venus have quite opposite personalities. While Joe is sociable, easy going and loves humans; Venus is wary of people and keeps her distance. This probably stems from all that she has been through. Joe is an extremely fussy eater while Venus simply loves her food. Don’t they sound like true opposites that would attract? It sure wasn’t love at first sight but by the end of two weeks, Venus became more tolerant of Joe and slowly gave in to him.

Lynda decided we should bring both to the new factory together since they had gradually become good friends during their stay at the vet, and also being in an entirely new environment, having a familiar face would make it easier for them to cope and settle in.

Venus’ story touched many readers’ hearts and gave us many learning experiences. She not only fought to live, she gave back by donating blood  to save a little Chihuahua. Just a few days back, Venus’ story was featured in an American Animal Welfare newsletter and we’re extremely proud of her.

Baby Venus when she was just 2 mths old and living on the streets

Watch a short clip on Venus taking her first few steps a few days after her surgery.

Venus arriving at her new factory.



They never have to worry about food.

Once again we’d like to thank everyone for your contributions, volunteering, care and concern. Everyone helped in whatever way you could and we truly are blessed to have such wonderful friends and readers. Without your belief, we would not have been able to help Venus and provide her with the care and support she required to heal.


Venus and Little Joe are now the best of friends. Little Joe is still picky with food and Venus gives in to him. She allows him to eat before her and will only eat when he is done. Perhaps she knows there will always be food for them. They spend their days lazing under the sun, or rough and tumbling on the safe compounds of their new factory. Venus still tires easily and after a few rounds of running and playing, will need to rest. She is extremely attached to Little Joe and will always seek him out. She runs almost as good as new and Drs say this is as good as it gets.


A picture paints a thousand words. Look how happy and healthy Venus is today. Gorgeous isn't she? It’s all thanks to all you animal lovers out there who gave her a reason for living.

Venus Our True Inspiration.

Watch Venus run like the wind in her new factory.

These are what dreams are made of and what makes all our sleepless nights worthwhile.

If you would like to support our work, please buy a ticket to our inaugural dinner on Saturday, 18 December where we will present a slide show of Venus, Tiger, Little Joe, Angel and all the other animals that have made a difference in OUR lives.


Written by Fiona




Little Joe

Remember Little Joe, the sickly dog that we rescued a few months ago in August? He had been put on treatment for tick fever and a wound on his neck, had healed completely and was returned to the factory. However, some weeks back while on their regular feeding rounds, volunteers found him in skin and bones once again. It was a heart-breaking sight for these volunteers who had hoped that Little Joe could lead a healthy life after recovering. Such is the life of a street animal; anything ranging from illnesses to even death can happen at any time.

Joe getting a blood test.

The volunteers took him back to the vet where he was checked and diagnosed with another two strains of tick fever. The tick fever could have made Little Joe very sick or even be fatal. This time round, Little Joe was also found to have an auto immune-related problem which meant that he could no longer live in dirty factory conditions. His two-week stay at the vet had not only cost volunteers a huge amount of money, but they now also needed to source for an alternate home for Little Joe.



During the time Little Joe stayed at the vet for treatment for his second bout of illnesses, he met Venus, who was recovering from her injured limb. Initially, Venus would try to attack Little Joe and would growl each time he walked in front of her but in a few days, Venus and Little Joe had learnt to live with each other. By the time Venus was ready to be discharged, they were best friends, playing and running around the clinic with each other.

They did not start off as the best of friends.

Joe and Venus at their Redhill Suite

Volunteers saw the friendship that was forged between the two and decided that they would go to a new factory together, since they could have each other's company. It seemed the most feasible decision as Little Joe was two and Venus had just turned one. They would be able to take care of each other and explore the new compound together. Animals need friends and companions too!

Little Joe leaving the vet for his new home at the factory.



Little Joe already found a new best friend.  Venus is a little cautious as always.

Joe and Venus exploring their new home.

The work of rescue volunteers is an on-going cycle that will never be complete, due to the innumerable number of animals out there who need their help. It may be taxing and tiring at times, but they still go the extra mile with the best interests of those dogs and cats in their minds. In the end, it is all worth the while.


Written by Jo-Ann Teo, 16 yrs old

Venus - Dare To Live

Every once in a while, an animal touches our lives and shows us what they are really made of – true courage, strength, love, compassion and determination. It has been said many times that animals enter our lives for a reason. We may not see the reason at that particular moment but some time down life's journey, when we sit and reflect, we often realize why they came into our lives. Nothing in life is coincidental, everything happens for a reason. Often, a very valid reason, that makes us better humans.

Strong and determined. Venus gave us many lessons in life.

For Venus, she taught us many lessons. She showed us how strong she was, fighting to live, getting out of her pain and depression from having lost her babies in a miscarriage and living in pain with a broken hipbone. Enduring surgery after surgery to rectify her broken hip, to be sterilized and then having to go through sessions upon sessions of massage and walks with Cary or Dawn (staff at the Vet) to build up her leg muscles again. The physical and emotional pain. She taught us to never give up, no matter how life gets us down. 

Bigger and stronger, Venus is slowly using her injured leg again.

For those who have been faithfully following Venus’ route to recovery, silently cheering her on, you would know that she has been at the Vet for more than two months – this would, of course mean that her bills have amounted to no small amount too. A whopping $3000+ to be exact. However, the thought of the escalating bills never discouraged us from helping her; never once did we think of releasing her back to the streets when she had not fully recovered. Just like Venus’ faith in us that we would care for her and see it through, our faith in all our friends and fellow animal lovers have not waned – we know that somehow, some way, friends will continue to contribute and help us out with her vet bills. We never doubted that, just as Venus had entrusted her life in our hands. She taught us Faith.

Venus also taught us to use our skills as Animal Communicators, to understand her fears, her pain, and her gratitude. Yes, despite the fact that she tries to snap at us when we pat her, we know she is grateful to us for helping her.

If you had for one moment thought that dogs are far more superior beings than humans, well – you thought right. Despite the hard life that Venus had gone through, she helped save a life! She was resting in her “Redhill Suite” when a Chihuahua, owned by Mr Vernon Cornelius, needed a blood transfusion. An An had not been eating for a few days and had been diagnosed with tick fever. He needed blood to live. Immediately Drs thought of Venus, who was lazing in her suite waiting for volunteer, Lynette, to bring her her daily ration of beef, eggs and rice. Dr Ang called Lynda for her consent and Lynda immediately agreed to let Venus donate blood and Mr Vernon was absolutely relieved. On a separate note, a doggy blood donor should be at least 25 kg in weight. Venus is lighter than 25 kg, but she was donating blood to a Chihuahua, and An An only required 75ml of blood from Venus, instead of the usual full bag of 450ml.

Blood is drawn from the jugular vein.

Drawing blood.



It's in their blood to save lives.

An An receiving blood.

We visited Venus the following day and what we saw absolutely amazed us – she was glowing with pride. Yes, she knew she had done a good deed, she knew she had saved a life and she was extremely proud of herself for doing that!

We are still hoping that someone would write in to offer to adopt Venus. Like we often say, even if it means living in the patio or garden for the rest of her life, it is still paradise compared to where she came from. Venus has been to hell and back. She never gave up, neither will we. Everyday we continue to hope and pray that someone will want to take her to their home and give her a life that this black beauty truly deserves.
 

A HERO in every sense of the word.

We would like to thank Lynette for faithfully bringing food to Venus everyday, rain or shine, for the past two months of Venus’ stay at the Redhill Suite and Dr Ang for the use of her photographs.

Do stay tuned for Venus’ next update, as she goes for her very first swim. Venus will be discharged this Sunday.

We salute Venus with this song, Dare To Live.

Written by Fiona.

A note from Mr Vernon Cornelius.

In certain emergencies Pet Animals DO need Blood Donations!

After my dog, An An, was diagnosed with 'Tick Fever' by Veterinarian Dr Ang Yilin, he was found to have a drop in blood count, and platelet count. A very dangerous situation, and he urgently needed emergency 'Blood Transfusion'! So the panic was on to find a suitable match and donor!

An An feeling down

It was to our blessed good fortune that a big, once badly injured dog named Venus, recovered by Ms Lynda Goh, was being treated at Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Center (Redhill). Venus' blood was a perfect match, and so began the process of her blood extraction to help An An survive!

St Venus' Blood Donation saved An An's life! It is with deepest gratitude and many thanks to the very generous heart of Ms Lynda Goh, but it was St Venus' 'gift of life' that saved An An!

Mr Vernon Cornelius with An An.

I must shamefully admit I never really gave much thought to Blood Donations for Animals, but having experienced this life or death encounter for my beloved pet, it made me realize the seriousness for such a need, and the urgent necessity for an Animal Blood Bank!