I was
returning home from the market on Sunday afternoon, 14 July 2013, pushing my
trolley of groceries making sure it did not overturn as I tried to make my way
through the cracks and bumps on the sidewalk.
When I looked
up, I saw this dog trotting towards me. It was a HDB area and I hardly saw any
stray dogs around, especially a dog that size. I would say he was medium built,
light brown local dog.
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| Ashton had lovely expressive eyes that pleaded with me to help him |
So when I saw
him coming towards me I stopped, and he also stopped in front of me, and
stepped sideways to the grass area and just stood there. I saw that he had a
huge wound on his back just before his tail. It looked raw and painful. Maggots
had not yet started to feast on it.
 |
| A deep, huge wound on the lower part of his back, near his tail |
He looked
healthy but slightly skinny, a little anxious and showed no aggression at all.
I was able to pat him and he did not move away from me. Perhaps he could have
had an owner, which explained why he was friendly towards humans.
My mind was
racing all over. What shall I do now, I cannot take him home, he is too big for
the flat and my mother, already in her eighties will not be able to handle a
dog, and how can I walk away and leave him with a huge wound like that!
 |
| Fortunately maggots had not found their way to this |
Evening was
about to set, and I only know a few people that I can call who have a heart for
animals to help me with this dog besides SPCA! They tried but really no one
could take him.
I was
starting to panic, trying to reach someone to help and at the same time to
contain the dog to a corner. And I have to say, for a stray he was really well
behaved and obedient. He tried to walk away but we managed to stay in a corner
at the side of the housing block. So finally, I called the SPCA, but the
officer asked so many times if I could contain the dog until they arrived and
would not even tell me an estimated time when that would be….instead he asked
if I had a leash, if I could take him back to my flat until they
came....hello!! I already had him with me now and where was I to get a leash
from? And I had a whole trolley load of groceries! Did I make an appointment to
meet the dog so that I will have a leash at hand??? Told him I did not even own
a dog! It was frustrating, sorry to say that. I understand their concerns and I
believe SPCA is doing the best they can but really he was not helping…
 |
| Ashton is happy and easy going, despite his injury and pain |
Sadly, I am not able to keep him there for long.
 |
| Ashton, after his surgery |
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| He had his wound cleaned and was also sterilized in the process |
I have UNTIL
Wednesday, 17 July 2013 TO FIND HIM A HOME, after which, I may have to surrender him to the SPCA and hope for the best.
I also met a
kind Samaritan while I was with Ashton the dog, before getting him to the vet.
He, too, is trying her best to find a home for Ashton.
I managed to
get HOPE Dog Rescue to help share this story and create an awareness on
Ashton’s plight. They have been really helpful but I think they too have
difficulty finding him a home and they have their hands full with many rescue
dogs.
Up to now, we
have not been successful in finding him a foster / permanent home for Ashton.
He is really
easy to be with. The vet also says that he is very friendly and easy to manage.
Please give this dog a chance to have a home. He looks like he has been through
quite a lot in his life and I do feel that he is a good dog. If my situation was different I would keep
him myself. PLEASE HELP ME SAVE THIS
DOG. I have done all I can . . . will someone PLEASE HELP!
To foster or
adopt Ashton, please email jeanette_khoe@hotmail.com
Note : This
is not a HOPE Dog Rescue case. However, we have helped with the vet bills.
