Little Fudge is a brave one. While at the clinic, the sweet pup allowed the staff to pat and work on him, and did not growl or snap as they cleaned his wound, sitting quietly through the pain he was surely feeling. By the end of his stay, he was adored by the clinic staff, especially vet nurse Nikki, who loved him so much that she gave him a soft toy and a collar.
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| Nikki bidding Fudge farewell |
However, Fudge does not get along with other cats and dogs. When volunteers visited him and took him out for walks, he would sometimes growl at them and passers-by. We knew then that rehoming him would be tough as he would need a firm and experienced dog owner. It was a pity as little Fudge - as observed at the clinic - can be really sweet and affectionate just like any other pet.
Being a stray, Fudge loves his freedom of space. He does not like to be caged and would sometimes growl and get upset when he is inside.
Having been recuperating at the vet’s clinic for some time, it was soon time for us to discharge Fudge. Vet nurse Nikki was the most upset as she had been the closest to him. She kept hugging him before he left the clinic. We couldn’t bear to, but we had to release him back to the factory. Fudge seemed to know it too as we sensed some fear and apprehension from him. The pain he went through must have been traumatising for the poor boy. It was heartbreaking. We want to provide so much for this sweet and brave little one, yet there is only so much we can do. If we had unlimited resources, we would certainly rehome every rescued street dog we came across. Unfortunately, bound by laws, we do not have much of a choice. With a cap of 10 street dogs that can be housed in HDB flats each month and an estimated 8,000 strays on the streets, how would there ever be enough homes for them? With their temperament and love for freedom, it was going to take a lot for someone to take a street dog in. This sense of hopelessness is demoralising. We hate it, but that’s how it is with rescue work. Hence, we accepted that Fudge was going to have to be released in the evening. He seemed scared to be going back to the factory but sadly it was just something that he would have to cope with.
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| Fudge walking back into his factory |
On the same evening, we bumped into an old uncle. Interestingly (or as some call it – by fate), after five years of feeding in that area, it was the first time Fiona bumped into this uncle, who said he had been searching for Fudge for the past two weeks. When he heard that we had returned Fudge to the factory, he asked why we had returned him and not rehomed him. He added that Fudge is the sweetest dog he had ever seen and that three dogs had attacked him, and shared his worries and concerns over Fudge being attacked again. Fiona assured him that we would check on Fudge regularly and if anything happened, the worker at the factory has our number and would be able to contact us easily.
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| Enjoying his chicken wings |
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| Fudge and his little neighbour |
Updates on Jaspar
Jaspar has just gone to a foster home, and according to volunteer, Leslie, who just paid a visit over the weekend, he is doing well. His wound has healed very well, and the fur is growing back.
He left the clinic skin and bones but has put on 1kg since arriving at the fosterer’s. As his body doesn’t process protein well, they have been feeding him lots of fish and fish oil to boost his weight. He has also formed a close bond with the fosterer and her helper, and will join the fosterer on the couch when she sits down to watch TV, and he is also slowly getting used to the fosterer’s two dogs and vice versa.
Jaspar is currently looking for an adopter, so give this sociable, playful dog a chance!
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| Jaspar's wound has healed nicely |
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Jaspar is currently looking for an adopter, so give this sociable, playful dog a chance!
Here, on behalf of both Fudge and Jaspar, HOPE Dog Rescue would like to extend a big thanks to all the kind donors out there who had helped with both of their bills.
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| Handsome and happy! |
Contributors : Rena Huang, Leslie Kok ,Yan Qin and Esther Low
