During one of our weekly feeding sessions, Robert, a worker working in a fish farm around the area, approached us for some food for the dogs living in the fish farm. He had seen us feeding and distributing food to factory workers so he was hoping that he could seek help too. While collecting food from us, he told us that there were a total of eleven dogs in the farm, consisting of five adult dogs and six puppies. Even though the workers there really care for the dogs, they were unable to provide proper food for them. The workers often fed them fish food, which the dogs ate hungrily anyway because they had nothing else! Poor dogs! The workers also fed them leftover food from their own meals, and this was never enough for these eleven dogs. When asked whether we can sterilise the dogs there, he gladly agreed to help us in the sterilisation project.
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| 2-month old puppy |
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| These poor dogs grew up on fish food |
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| Start of the sterilization project |
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| Taking the dogs to the vet to be sterilized |
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| Workers helping to load the carriers into the van |
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| We had to wait for these to get older before sterilizing |
When volunteers Fiona, Annie and I went there for the first time, we realised that only the adult dogs could be sterilised as the remaining puppies were too young, about 2 months old or so. We dropped off 2 carriers the night before and taught the workers how to catch the dogs. They also had to fast the dogs the night before. Each week we would sterilise 2 dogs till we had sterilised all the dogs in that fish farm. After sterilising the five adult dogs, we had to wait for the remaining six puppies to reach the appropriate age before we continue the sterilisation project. Generally we sterilise them when they are about 4 months old because as they get older, they get more wary of humans and it becomes more difficult to catch them. It is really sad when this happens because it means that they have lost faith due to possible abuse and threats from the humans around them.
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| This is their home |
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| Puppies were everywhere |
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| Mommy dog |
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| Robert loves the dogs |
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| Helping is catch the dogs for sterilisation |
Meanwhile, Hope Dog Rescue will continue to supply the dog food weekly during Hope’s feeding sessions. As this allows Hope to keep the strays fed by relying on the support of the community, we hope to be able to continue this in the long term. A bag of 40lbs kibbles which cost us about $55, can feed only 11 dogs for about a week. With more and more workers reaching out to us for help, and more hungry dogs that need the food, we hope to be able to supply more food to the dogs. If you wish to sponsor our stray feeding programme, you may help by purchasing dog food from one of our suppliers.
2 months later, we contacted Robert regarding the sterilisation project and visited the dogs again at the farm. The puppies were old enough to be sterilised so we continued with the project. However, we noticed that the dogs were tick infested and the ticks were really very very big! We had to apply frontline on them every two weeks initially until the problem went away. That’s 11 tubes of Frontline at one go!
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| Applying Frontline on the dogs monthly |
With two dogs at a time, it took us three weeks to sterilise them. One of the dogs had blood in his pee so medication was prescribed. We had to monitor the dog’s progress even though it was staying at its farm so our volunteers had to contact the workers every day to track the progress of the dog.
A vet review was arranged for the dog two weeks’ after. When our volunteer Annie went to the farm to pick it up, she was told by the worker that one of the dogs, Junior, had a swollen nose and discharge coming out of his nose. Considering the state Junior was in, it was also brought in to see the veterinarian.
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| Junior had a very swollen nose, possibly bitten by ants |
The veterinarian told us that Junior’s swollen nose was giving him difficulties breathing and could have been a result of being bitten by ants. When Junior returned to the farm, our volunteer explained the instructions on the application and usage of the medication to the workers as they had to apply it every day.
The workers cooperated with us in ensuring the welfare of the dogs living in the farm. Whenever the dogs were sick or need any other help, Hope Dog Rescue would be informed and we did whatever we could to help the dogs. Now, on a regular basis we supply food to Robert’s dogs every week and apply Frontline to the dogs on a monthly basis and hence need Frontline tubes and Heartgard each month, at least 11 tubes for just this one farm of dogs.
If you could help us help these dogs, by providing them food for their empty bellies, or the Frontline / Heartgard that they sorely need, please drop us an email at hopedogrescue@singnet.com.sg so that we can continue our community work for these dogs.
Written by Buven
