EYE WITNESS TO HIT & RUN ACCIDENT NEEDED. Dog flung and hind leg snapped. Now in emergency surgery.
For 5 days, every step was torture for Babu Boy. His hind leg had been fractured and without proper medical attention, he had to limp about with his injured leg swollen and dangling.
Babu Boy was hit by a vehicle at bus stop B04 on 21 april at about 5.30pm along Kallang Rd.
When the workers nearby heard a loud bang, they rushed to the scene and found Babu. The vehicle had already fled the scene. We have heard reports that a taxi was involved but workers interviewed could not ascertain this.
This is a real act of cruelty. According to worker, the bumper came off the vehicle upon impact and Babu was flung aside. He grazed the road and suffered burnt skin under his neck, his lips were bleeding.
We have learnt that a couple who witnessed the accident called the SPCA. We hope this couple or any eyewitness will contact us to help with our investigation. SPCA is unable to disclose further information to us.
Update: Dear Fellow Animal Lovers, thank you for your concern, love and support for Prince. Should you wish to contribute and help with his vet bills, please go down personally to Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital at 232 Whitley Road, S297824 (click for directions). Opening Hrs - Sat: 12pm-3pm, 7pm-10pm Sun:2pm-7pm. Please tell the clinic that you would like to contribute to "Prince's" medical bills under Hope Dog Rescue's account. We apologize that it is not convenient to visit Prince but please rest assured we will arrange a "Meet the Prince" session when he is healthier. Thank you everyone for your kindness. With gratitude, Fiona.
Rebecca Tan:
On 15 April, one aunty brought her dog to a neighbourhood vet for medical treatment. Upon arriving there she saw a skeleton dog inside the vet facility.
The vet told her that a breeder sent it to him to be put down. The aunty was very concerned about the poor dog as he looked young and looked like a poodle. He was totally shaved so she could not tell properly. The dog gave a soulless look at the aunty resigning his fate. The aunty not knowing what to do call her friend for help but they were helpless. Finally, they remember reading HOPE Dog Rescue and decided to try and see if any help could be rendered to the soulless poodle.
The next day on 16 April, they called HOPE Dog Rescue who immediately went to collect the dog from the aunty and sent him to a vet for full medical check-up.
Fiona:
My years of animal rescue did not prepare me for this. What I saw was shocking, upsetting and extremely painful. As soon as I laid eyes on the tiny skeletal of a dog, tears welled in my eyes. My heart hurt so badly from the pain, misery and torture I could feel from him. Imagine being reduced to this state; it would have taken months of animal cruelty and months of starvation to bring a dog to this skeletal state.
Anger surged through me that someone so cruel and heartless could bear to do this to a sweet little defenseless dog. If they didn’t want him, they could have just given him up. Why torture him and reduce him to this pathetic state before sending him to the vet and asking the vet to euthanize him?
How could anyone mistreat and abuse this little dog?
Weak and tired
A lady, who happened to be at the vet with her dog, saw and felt sorry for him. She paid for his initial bill ($187) and took him out. She brought him home for a bath, had his wounds cleaned and handed me the dog when I met her after work. She told me that he had already seen the vet and passed me an entire plastic bag full of liver supplements and probiotics. I looked at his body; he didn’t have an ounce of fat on him and the lower part of his body was covered with open sores, some weepy and deep looking. These were pressure sores caused by sitting in a cage for years and the fact that he was mere skin and bones didn’t help him. He was in great pain.
Weighing a mere 2.8kg
I lifted his lips to check the colouration of his gums; they were very dull. He was severely anemic and probably had tick fever. I immediately told her he had to be rushed to the vet again.
Extremely pale gums from being severely anemic
And that was how little Prince and I ended up at the vet together, me wondering if he would leave his tiny pain wrecked body while in my arms.
He weighed a mere 2.8kg. He looks like a brown / apricot poodle. He had been shaved bald probably by whoever who did this to him. I suspect he must have been tick infested and shaving him was the easiest way out. Without any fur, his entire body was a bag of bones. While waiting for the vet to see him, I felt him struggling to breathe. I felt him dying in my arms. I prayed that he would not give up, that he would hang on. I kissed his tiny head and told him that the fact he was in my arms, meant that he would be saved and I believe he might have heard me.
Dr Heng saw him and was appalled by the sight of him. Blood tests and other checks were done on him and perhaps these were the reasons he was sent to his death.
· Kidney failure
· Liver failure
· Tick fever
· Mycoplasmosis
· Severely anemic – Packed Cell Volume (PCV) for dogs is 35 in the normal range. Anything falling below 15 would usually require a blood transfusion. Prince’s PCV was a mere 10.
· Auto-immune problem
· Malnourishment – weighs only 2.8kg
· Right eye may be blind – either from a cataract or neglect – we have not had his eye checked thoroughly yet as our priority is to save his life
· Pressure sores on his testicles and rump
At the vet
He may have lost the vision in his right eye
Pressure sores on his bony frame
This wound is deep and infected
Pressure sores caused by years of sitting in a small cage probably with no room to even stand, turn or move
Back view of Prince's sores
Dr Heng asked if he was still eating. The lady had fed him some rice, which he did eat. Dr Heng then told us to take him back and to return for another blood test 3 days later. We then took Prince to Karen’s home for fostering. Karen had previously fostered Moose and George for us.
Rina carrying Prince and keeping him warm
At the foster home, we were in for a greater shock! Prince didn’t know how to walk, neither did he know how to lie down and sleep! It was a sorry sight as we saw what we did – he just sat in awkward positions and dozed off. Watch the videos to see how Prince sleeps.
Prince sleeping at the vet
Sleeping in a sitting position
We tried flipping him sideways, holding him down and he would fall asleep but once we moved our hands, he would jump up in fright and go back to his sitting position. He doesn’t really know how to walk either. He eats, sleeps, pees and poo in the same place. Foster Karen has put many towels beneath Prince so he feels more comfortable and we tried moving him a foot away from his towel, he will immediately crawl back to his towel and sit again. He doesn’t know what to do with his newfound freedom or space, he doesn’t know how to walk and he doesn’t know how to sleep. This is how he whiles his days away:
Blood stains on the mat
He sits on this mat and will not move from it. He needs to be fed.
Stop buying puppies.
Stop supporting animal cruelty.
Saturday morning, fellow volunteers, Rina and Lisa, met me early in the morning to take Prince to the vet (Redhill) for a re-check on his blood count. To our dismay, his blood count was still way below the normal range, and Dr Teo said a blood transfusion was necessary. She also recommended he do an ultrasound on his spleen.
We desperately started calling friends and posting on Facebook looking for canine blood donors. Donor dogs need to be over 2 years old, 25 kg and above, and be up to date on vaccinations and HeartGuard. Dogs, like humans, have several different blood types, and we needed to do some blood typing to determine our dog’s blood type and then do a cross match. The vet at Redhill did not have the facilities to do so, and we had to rush down to Mt Pleasant Sunset to do the blood typing. All this while, little Prince was sound asleep in Rina’s arms, nicely wrapped up in a towel like a baby.
Rina, Sherry, and Effi with little Prince
Prince Receives A “Favor”
Desiree called to offer her dog, Favor, for a blood transfusion. Favor is a local Singapore Special, 3 years old and healthy. He had previously done a blood typing so Desiree knew what his blood type was and it was a perfect match for Prince. A match on the first try, this was Prince’s lucky day! By this time, the clinic was closing, so again we had to go to yet another vet. We booked a cab for Desiree and Favour, and told them to meet us at Mt Pleasant’s main branch as they would be open 24 hours and little Prince could immediately start his blood transfusion and have the ultrasound done. The entire process would take up to six hours.
Desiree and Favor waiting to save Prince's life
Favor, the hero
Prince was seen by Dr Nandini, who was almost in tears when she saw him. Volunteers Rina and Johnathan sent Desiree and Favor home after he gave Prince 200ml of his blood and saved his life.
Prince may be warded at the vet for a couple more days as he is running a temperature. His PCV has gone back up to the normal range and is now 38. His platelet count is still far from normal and we are looking into ways to increase that.
Our volunteers and our friend, Effi, have been to visit Prince daily, carrying him and assuring him that everything will be alright. Prince needs to be hand fed as he doesn’t seem to know how to eat on his own. He is wearing an e-collar to prevent him from licking his sores. The staff at the hospital feel sorry for him so they removed his e-collar in the hope that he will sleep as they too have seen how poor little Prince sits all day in the cage, like a statue, nodding away. Effi bought Prince a nice cozy little bed and when she visits, she wraps him up in a towel, much like a baby and pats him to sleep. He is still learning to sleep lying down.
Effi and Prince
First time he is experiencing love and he is starting to enjoy it!
Prince has a long, long road to recovery. He needs to gain lots of weight and when he is stronger, we will have his kidney, liver and eyes checked thoroughly. For now, we just want him to pull through and be well.
We named him Prince, and so he shall live like one from now on. Prince’s life can only get better. He has had many friends show him love and care. Special thanks to Karen (foster) who can’t wait to take Prince home to fatten him up, Effi who has been visiting Prince everyday and helping with his medical bills and Francesca, whose valuable advice and support I always treasure.
From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank Desiree for allowing Favor to donate blood and saving Prince’s life. Without them, Prince might not be alive today. We would also like to thank Alycia Yee and everyone else who had contacted us to offer their canine companions’ blood to save Prince. Thank you!
If you would like to contribute to our work, please email fiona@hopedogrescue.org Your kind contributions will allow us to continue saving and helping all these innocent victims. We don’t want to have to say NO to a dog or cat just because we are limited by funds.
Photo Credits : Lisa Goh and Rina Ng
Note : With immediate effect, please do not send any cheques to Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Centre (Redhill). We no longer have a running account with them. Instead, please send them to Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital at Whitley Road or write to us. Thank you.
Imagine having to do these everyday. Wondering if someone will feed you today? To think where your home will be tonight? Will it be comfy and warm or cold and hard? If you will go to bed on a half empty stomach? Or praying that it will not rain that day or the night will feel so much longer? Cheddar spends her days at a HDB void deck probably having these thoughts every single day.
Lil' Cheddar
On good nights she will be able to seek warmth among the towels and baskets thrown away by residents. Yen Yen, a kind resident will build her a cardboard home at night, but come morning, her home is often ‘demolished’ by the cleaners.
Cheddar having her dinner
Cheddar's makeshift bunk
At eight or ten years old, Cheddar has hardly any teeth left in her mouth, and wheezes heavily. She has lots of fluid in her lungs, coughs and sneezes constantly.
Yet, Cheddar, the colour of burnt orange, is still super sweet and loving despite feeling rather unwell. She even gets along with dogs, and will walk alongside Yen Yen when she takes her dog for her walk.
Sadly, when we took her for a health check-up as she had mucus coming out of her nose, the vet diagnosed Cheddar with FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), which is like ‘AIDS’ in cats.
Going to the vet
At the Vet
From Cheddar's nose
This means her immune system is weakened and infections can cause severe illness and even death. Imagine having a fever or that irritating blocked nose that would take you 2 months, or maybe more, to recover from. It is what Cheddar is going through right now.
Spot Lil' Cheddar
A different home every night
There is no cure for Feline FIV, so all we can do now is try to make her happy and comfortable. With the love that we give her, hopefully it will make her slightly happier and live her days with something more to look forward to. Of course, a small tin of canned food probably isn’t what Cheddar wants but unfortunately, that’s the best we can offer. She should not be going through this all by herself without the basic physiological, safety and belonging needs so this is the least that we can do.
Currently, Yen Yen feeds Cheddar twice daily with food and medication, and we are happy that Cheddar has put on some weight although her stomach seems bloated in the past few days and seems to have some breathing difficulty.
However Cheddar continues living her life as a vagrant, seeking shelter where she can against the cold night air. On days when Yen Yen is unable to feed her, she will be spending the night with an empty stomach out there battling the cold.
She needs a place where she will be safe and warm every night and a home will be a perfect place. Are you able to give her one? We hope she can find a home that will give her pats and love. Cheddar is already sterilized, loves belly rubs and is docile. She even gets on with dogs!
She is old, sick and doesn’t have long to live, can someone give her happiness in her final passage? Even if it means just a few weeks in your home, it would mean the world to Cheddar. Can YOU give her that happiness?
Help Cheddar now. Please e-mail fiona@hopedogrescue.org or share this with your family and friends.
The first time I met Laurel, she was sitting on top the steps with Lisa (a fellow volunteer), outside the vet, looking out onto the road. I learnt that she had been sitting there for quite some time, happy to just see the cars passing by and perhaps relieved that she no longer needed to roam the streets looking for food and shelter, fighting for survival.
Laurel strikes me as being very docile and sweet. I can imagine how she could be that perfect mild-mannered companion for someone in search of companionship.
A shy little Laurel
Under her shy demeanor, however, lies a steely resilience. Laurel has bravely and stoically undergone her weekly rounds of Vincristine, a chemotherapy jab after she was found to have Transmissible Venereal Tumour (TVT) sometime last month.
The tumour was on her private parts. It had been bloody and the vet described it as one of the biggest tumours she had seen. The jabs leave her feeling nauseous, gives her a loss of appetite and lots of shedding, very much like humans who undergo chemotherapy.
Resting after her chemo jab
Shedding after her chemo jab
Laurel has completed her chemo jabs and her wound is almost healed. It is still swollen; with a bit of pus but there is no more blood. Her recovery has been absolutely amazing.
She has spent the last few weeks at the Animal Infirmary clinic under-going treatment. She will be discharged this Saturday morning and we are desperately trying to find her a foster home. She is sweet, affectionate and submissive. Laurel has been at the vet for almost 3 weeks and it won’t be fair to put her back on the streets when she has gotten used to human contact and regular meals.
The vet has not been the ideal place, she is caged most days except for when volunteers bring her out for walks. Still, we believe Laurel is slowly growing comfortable with being cared for, getting regular meals and a roof over her head. It is the first time she is experiencing love.
When she goes out for her walks, she doesn’t like going back to the clinic but she is obedient. Even without being leashed, she will walk back into her cage on her own.
Once she is discharged, we will have to find a home for Laurel, whose only other home right now is the streets.
Enjoying her walks with Lisa and Rina
Her bill has come up to a hefty sum but we thank kind donors for helping out. Without them, we would not be able to do what we do or help so many dogs. We also thank our volunteers – Iris, Lisa, Rina – for going down almost every night to take her for walks and show her we care. Lisa and Rina gave Laurel her very first bath and it was a terrifying experience for poor Laurel.
Not at all enjoying her bath!
Lisa and Rina bathing Laurel
While Laurel is a street dog, she’s very sweet and shy. She’s still wary of people she does not know, and needs time to warm up at her own pace. She will need to be socialized with people and other dogs.
Save a life. Adopt ME.
Once she knows and trusts you, she can be a real sweetheart, coming up to you for pats. Just like you and me, she’s seeking someone who will love and show her affection. She likes to be babied and responds well to being praised.
If Laurel’s story of strength has touched you, would you consider opening your heart and home to her?
Laurel is a small local cross breed, estimated to be about 2+ years old. She is HDB approved.
Our friend, Lily, received a call from Jennifer Danker at 1.19pm (3 April) saying that she had spotted a dog resembling “Sunday” while on her way back from lunch at about 12.50pm. Jennifer said she saw a black/tan dog running aimlessly at a traffic junction near Telok Blangah St 31 and thereafter went under a big white tour bus to hide. The bus is parked behind the PUB office building and next to it is a forested area. Jennifer wasn’t sure if it was “Sunday” but noticed it had a collar but was too far to see if it was blue or green.
Lily immediately informed Lisa and myself and we contacted as many friends and volunteers as possible to see if anyone was free or in the vicinity to rush down to help.
Lynette Chong was the first to arrive at the scene at 1.40pm and after walking around for a couple of minutes, found our darling “Sunday” hiding under a bus resting. Lynette kept her eyes on “Sunday” while waiting for more volunteers to arrive on the scene to assist. Second to arrive on the scene was our volunteer, Lisa. Lisa’s heart was in her mouth when she knelt on the road to peer under the bus and stared right into “Sunday’s” eyes. There was hint of recognition from “Sunday” but she didn’t budge. Lisa tried talking to “Sunday” to lure her out but that didn’t work. Isabel Motyka was the next to arrive and she had canned food and water for “Sunday”. “Sunday” was extremely hungry and came out to eat but each time Lisa tried to grab hold of her collar, she would retreat back under the bus.
Karen and Royston Scharenguivel soon arrived, followed by Lily. Perhaps there were too many unfamiliar faces, “Sunday” dashed out from under the bus, through a gate and ran into a construction site. Royston, Lisa and Karen followed her calmly, keeping their distance yet keeping their eyes glued on her. There was no way they would let her slip away again. “Sunday” has been missing for 12 days!
The gate that "Sunday" slipped out from
The construction site was huge. A few people tailed “Sunday” while Isabel, Lily, Royston and Karen drove around the area, positioning themselves at the back of the construction site and the forested area, in case “Sunday” came out from the other end. “Sunday” seemed as if she knew that site well and before long, she disappeared and was out of sight. Everyone’s hearts sank because that area was huge and there were many escape routes for “Sunday”.
Sunday escaped into this construction site
The route "Sunday" took
Royston quickly went around the site to speak to the Indian and Malay workers, giving them posters and his contact number for them to call him if they saw “Sunday” reappear. After what felt like eternity (about an hour actually), “Sunday” strolled out again and walked down a rocky slope. Kumar (worker at the site) immediately called to inform Royston and together with Lisa and Karen, they went to the forested area where “Sunday” had just appeared. Kumar and Malek were there keeping their eye on her.
“Sunday” went down a slope, which was rocky and had rough, overgrown grass. There she lay down and was sort of out of sight as the grass was long. Royston and Malek, a Muslim worker, went down the slope. Malek then called out to ask Royston if the dog would bite. After being assured that she wouldn’t, Malek made his way down the difficult terrain and as he approached “Sunday”, he quickly jumped on her and grabbed her tightly, lifting her up with a swoop! We concluded that “Sunday” probably had her legs entangled in the shrubs and thus could not run. Malek made his way up the slope, with “Sunday” in his arms. He slipped and lost his balance a few times and Kumar and Royston helped grab hold of Malek to pull him up.
Malek
Kumar (first from left)
Once safely up, Malek passed “Sunday” to Royston, who passed her to Lisa. There must have been tears of joy, although I wasn’t told about that! Lisa quickly put the leash on “Sunday” as “Sunday” struggled a little, trying to bite the leash, despite not having many teeth. Lisa then held “Sunday” tightly till she stopped struggling, finally realizing that she was safe! The entire episode took 2 hours.
Lily, Lynette and Lisa carrying Sunday to the car
Not taking any chances, “Sunday” had two leashes on her, as Lisa carried her all the way through the construction site, to Lily’s car. They took her to Lisa’s office to rest, while waiting for her new foster to finish work and return home.
Lisa putting Sunday in Lily's car
For “Sunday’s” reward, she had sinfully delicious food; fried chicken drumsticks and duck neck. She was terribly hungry and wolfed everything down, despite not having any front teeth. She then had to be coaxed to drink her water, before she lay down to rest. She was exhausted, slightly dehydrated but otherwise well and good. We checked her paws for cuts or injuries but she was alright. After being lost for 12 days, “Sunday” was surprisingly clean and nice smelling, albeit some weight loss.
"Sunday" eating with her double leash around her neck
Not long after, while still waiting at Lisa’s office, “Sunday” had her share of visitors; Veronica Foo, Iris and Nicholas, who had also spent days searching for “Sunday”.
Sweet little Sunday at Lisa's office
The lady that she is
Exhausted after her 12 day adventure
“Sunday” is now safely at her new foster home with Chiew Guat. We hope she will get her much needed rest, while we find her the permanent, loving home she truly deserves.
Sunday with new foster, Chiew Guat
We would like to thank EVERYONE that has helped in one way or another with "Sunday's" rescue. No matter how big or small a part you played, everyone played a part and made a difference in "Sunday's" life.
We thank Carol, Veronica, Effi and Haley for sponsoring "Sunday's" $1000/- reward. It will be shared equally between Jennifer Danker, Kumar and Malek.
Photo Credits to Lily, Lynette, Isabel, Karen and Lisa. Sunday’s Amazing Journey
The search for “Sunday” led us to find many dogs that needed help. “Sunday” is an amazing and selfless dog. She brought help to her fellow canines and she didn’t stop till her journey was completed.
On the night of Day 6, our search for “Sunday” led us to find an abandoned / lost miniature Schnauzer. The male dog was smelly, had severe loss of fur, was unkempt and the muscles on his hind legs were wasting away. We took him to Mt Pleasant Animal Medical Centre for a check up and was informed by AVA on the following day that his owner had been traced. AVA did not inform us if the dog was lost or abandoned but told us to leave the dog at vet and the family would go pick up the dog.
*We thank Fiona Tan for housing him for one night as it was after midnight when we found him.
Lost Schnauzer (at the vet)
On the evening of Day 7, we found an abandoned / lost Shetland Sheepdog who had very bad skin problems, malnourishment and thyroid. Because of her age, 7 to 8 years old, we took her to the vet to do a kidney and liver test, despite not knowing if she did have an owner. Her well-being was our top priority. Her full medical check up, medication for her bad skin and thyroid cost us $364/- but we didn't mind the cost. We were just glad that she was no longer roaming the streets. She is a sweet darling.
Sheltie
On Day 8 , we also found this local breed dog living in the drains of Beo Crescent. He is extremely scared and not approachable. Our volunteers will start feeding him on a regular basis and will try to befriend to help him.
Black dog living in the drain. Look at the fear in his eyes.
We found this dog many times, wandering along Jalan Bukit Merah and Beo Crescent. People often saw her and called us, thinking she was “Sunday". This dog had on a green collar and thus was often mistaken for “Sunday”. We found out that her owner, an Indian man, lets her out of the house every morning, to search for her own food and come nightfall, would take her home. This dog seems terribly unhappy and when her owner calls her home, she would plead with her eyes, for us to help her. We promised her that we would help her when we found “Sunday” and we will keep to our word.
Sunday's mistaken identity
On Day 9, we saw a brown female dog living in the forested area in Spottiswoode Park. She had no fur, her face was all wrinkled and she lived alone in the woods. There was no shelter from the rain and there definitely would be snakes in the area. She was a sorry sight and is extremely wary of people. She needs a long time before we can even get close to her. We found some aunties that feed her and have asked them to try to build trust, get closer to her and call us.
As you can see, “Sunday” brought us on an amazing, selfless journey helping all her furry friends, before she allowed herself to be caught. We not only will find “Sunday” a good, forever home, we also promise to help all the other dogs whose paths we crossed.
Today is World Animal Stray Day. Let us celebrate not just “Sunday's" safe return, but all the other strays whose lives we have touched, and those still out on the streets, waiting for our intervention.
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