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.
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| 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.
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.
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.
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.
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| Resting after her chemo jab |
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| Shedding after her chemo jab |
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.
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| 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.
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| Not at all enjoying her bath! |
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| 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.
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| Save a life. Adopt ME. |
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.
Written by Alicia Wong
Laurel is a small local cross breed, estimated to be about 2+ years old. She is HDB approved.
Written by Alicia Wong
Photographs courtesy of Lisa Goh
