Yoga Cat

We had just started counting cats for spaying on our usual feeding rounds when we saw a lone cat sitting at a distance next to a worker. We felt something was amiss, so we called out to the worker and asked why the cat was on its own.

“Oh, leg no more, no walk,” he called back to us.

A worker showing us the injured cat

Immediately, I panicked and asked him to carry the cat over so that I could have a look. The moment I laid eyes on her, I was shocked beyond words. Her hind legs were so badly broken that she could not stand. They were sticking out in completely wrong directions. It was obvious that it was an old injury, as her bones had fused solid at those awkward angles. Just look at the photos and imagine the pain the cat would have gone through, dragging her wasted legs behind her for months as her broken bones mended themselves slowly, in all the wrong ways.

She can no longer bend her right hind leg
 

Look at this poor cat! Her left hind was in an entirely wrong angle!
 

She had not had a proper meal in a long while as there was no way she could get about without being mauled by dogs

By this time, Burmese workers from around the area had gathered around the scene. They informed me that, some time ago, people had clubbed the cat with a “kayu” – which means wooden stick in Malay. Saddened but furious, I demanded to know who could possibly have done such a thing to her. Immediately, the workers clammed up and shook their heads. They probably didn’t want trouble at the work place. It was infuriating, but there was nothing more we could do about the incident.
 



At the vet



Look at the sorry state she was in. Her limbs were all wrong!

How could any human possibly be so evil to beat a living creature to this extent?

We scooped the cat from the worker’s arms and propped her up on a high wooden box, safe from the stray dogs, so that she could eat. She was mere skin and bones; we could feel every detail in her fragile skeletal frame as we carried her. The poor starved kitty probably never had a good chance to forage for food in her condition. She hungrily wolfed down three whole cans of canned food as we watched. Although she was a little shy, she was truly a friendly and sweet creature.

 

After she was finally done eating, we placed the cat into a carrier and brought her straight to the vet. Unfortunately, we were told that there was no way her legs could be saved. Amputation was the only option. Right now, she gets around by pulling herself along on the ground with her 2 front paws, dragging her back legs behind her as she moves. The vet believes that amputating her hind legs would make it easier for her to “walk”.

Look how her legs fused in the wrong direction after the bones joined. Imagine the pain and suffering she has gone through

Talk about animal cruelty! We simply cannot imagine why or how someone could do this to a tiny, defenseless creature, why anyone would abuse and torture innocent animals. Imagine the pain this cat has gone through, and how her life has been changed irrevocably because of a single act of meaningless violence. She’s a trooper, she survived; but there are millions of animals out there who are still being abused and who aren’t so lucky.
 

If you see cases of animal abuse, please notify the authorities or call an animal welfare organization. Every life is worth saving.

Written by Elena Lin

Murphy, Saved From A Breeding Farm

On 20 Aug 2011, a painful decision was made to relieve Precious, our pet dog for the past 11 years, of further pain and suffering. It was a heartbreaking experience for us.

“No more pets” was what Mum told me, knowing the heartache we had gone through after trying everything under the sun to save her.

Days rolled by with the ever-growing void that “Preshie” had left behind and every day I silently hoped that I would come home to a surprise --- a doggie waiting to greet me. That never happened.

Sometime in October 2011, I ‘caught’ Mum scrolling through the SPCA adoption gallery page and asked if she had second thoughts of owning a pet again. She tried to brush it off with “I don’t think Dad will agree to that”.

I recalled Joanne (a course mate) had mentioned a dog adoption drive by HOPE Dog Rescue. I searched the website and found that the adoption drive was over. But Mum had fallen instantly in love with Murphy (one of the Famous 5 up for adoption) and I pleaded for her to check if he was still available. She advised me to “check with Dad first”.



At the breeding farm. So many dogs in a small cage. This is how they live all their lives.

Saved!

Day he was rescued.

Murphy

Dad said “yes”! I immediately sent an sms to the contact person (Lisa) to enquire if Murphy had been adopted yet.

The next morning, Lisa sms-ed Mum to say “ Murphy was still available for adoption” and that she could send us the adoption questionnaire. Mum then sms-ed me with the news while I was on the MRT to school and I literally squealed in excitement --- the possibility of adoption!

His very first bath after the rescue

After some anxious waiting -- the short-listing process and house checks that had to be carried out, an email arrived from Fiona confirming that Murphy was finally ours! And we hadn't even met him yet!!

Murphy’s arrival to our home on 4 Nov 2011 certainly lifted the gloom in our household. Our Malti-poo has since brought us so much joy and laughter and is a Light in Our Life.

Thank you HOPE Dog Rescue for saving Murphy from the breeding farm and giving us the opportunity to provide him a life he truly deserves.

Murphy just celebrated his 2nd birthday in May 2013

Murphy – our fluff ball



Murphy and Me as he is today





Murphy on the right, while mommy holds on to Cotton at our recent Meet Cotton & Harper session

Contributed by: Larissa Ng

What A Little Love Can Do!

Sandy was waiting for her friend at the lobby of an apartment when she noticed a dog sitting alone in a corner. Curious, she approached the dog. As she drew closer, the acrid stench of urine wafted towards her and she knew that something wasn't right. The smell grew stronger and more overwhelming, until Sandy was close enough to see that the little dog's fur was matted, covered with her own stools, and that her nails were way too long. She looked confused and hungry. 


When we found her

Sandy immediately phoned her friend, who then brought some dog snacks for the starving animal. The dog quickly wolfed down the meagre meal without hesitation. Judging from how hungry and eager she was, it was definitely not enough. She had obviously been neglected for quite a while. 

Indignant and concerned, Sandy approached the security guards for more details. She was told that the woman who used to take care of the dog had kicked her out of the house that morning. The management had knocked on her door a few times during the day, but she flatly refused to take the dog back. Bewildered by this unusual situation, Sandy pressed further. According to the security guards, that woman used to love this dog a lot but then rumours started going around that she had become mentally unsound. So when the poor, confused dog wandered around the apartment complex and did her business along the corridor, her owner actually threw some of that poo at a neighbour’s door. The guards only learnt about this after her neighbour called the cops. 

 

The police arrived to investigate and take statements; the authorities were subsequently informed of this abandonment case, so Sandy decided to wait for them to arrive. Meanwhile, she lodged a case with the SPCA to file a report of neglect. SPCA replied that their inspector will drop by to check if the owner is able to provide adequate care for the dog. 1.5 hours of silence passed before Sandy made up her mind to attend to the poor dog on her own because she felt the dog required immediate care. 

She contacted HOPE Dog Rescue, and left a copy of her IC with the management in case the owner or the authorities arrived with enquiries. With our advice, Sandy then rushed the dog to a vet. We named her Lucky. Lucky had a thorough medical check at the vet, and it was revealed that her eyes were cloudy and dry; hence they did not produce tears. Although this is a common problem in the breed, Lucky’s condition was likely exacerbated by prolonged periods of neglect. She now needs to be medicated with eye drops thrice daily, for the rest of her life. Poor Lucky is merely 2–3 years old, but has already been through so much. 


Just rescued and taken straight to the vet

 

This was what came out of the carrier



Imagine the stench and the poor dog's discomfort

Back view

She looked insane



Not being able to tell the front from the back

When we brought her to the groomer, we were told that she had probably not been groomed for a year to have become so unkempt. Her urine and poo had matted and hardened in her fur, and she had to be shaved down. After the groomer was done, it was like a new dog had emerged! We could see that she felt lighter and happier without all the grime that had been stuck to her for so long. 

 



How could anyone possibly do this to a living creature

 

Her eyes were blurred from years of neglect



Years of poo had hardened and stuck to her fur making her look like she had an extra leg

 

How would you start grooming?

Look at how long her nails were - how did she manage to even walk



Years of poo stuck on her
 

Looking almost like a normal dog



It wasn't American Ginseng. It was a lot of fur from one little dog



Getting rid of her past and starting a fresh life

 

As we could not find a foster, we boarded her at a pet shop. At first, Lucky was afraid and didn’t eat for 2 days despite her hunger. Gradually, she bloomed into a friendly and playful dog, and has learnt to trust humans again. 

Although we feel very sorry for the neglect that Lucky has had to go through in her early years, we also feel sorry for the owner who had put Lucky through it all. Like Lucky, her owner may be in need of help. It’s possible that she is unable to even care for herself, let alone a dog.  

 

Nobody deserves what’s happened to them. We would like to sincerely thank Sandy for being a kind and proactive citizen and caring for the wellbeing of another. 



As she is today, pretty and loved

Note : Lucky has been adopted by Melissa and we thank her for loving Lucky the way she does and giving her the warmth, comfort and real life she deserves!

 

Story by Elena Lin. Photographs courtesy of Lisa Goh

When Jack Met Julie

My journey with HOPE Dog Rescue has opened my eyes to a lot of things. Things you don’t often see on the streets, read in the newspapers, or hear of in your daily conversations. Truth be told, before volunteering, I was oblivious to the magnitude of suffering that strays, breeding dogs, and even some domestic dogs in Singapore go through. After all, the pooches I meet on the streets are almost always impeccably groomed, admired by passersby and accompanied by adoring owners. Besides, who would have guessed this beautiful, orderly nation of ours, home to a society of educated, law-abiding citizens, actually houses so many stone-hearted individuals who have complete disregard for animals?

The fur of a 3 year old Maltese, Jack

I wonder if fate should be blamed for animals’ sufferings? Or was luck at play? Why do some dogs have access to an unlimited supply of food and a shelter overhead, while others lead a beggar’s life in solitude, prone to danger and hunger? And why are some pooches the apple of their owner’s eyes, while others are grossly mistreated without dignity and respect? Sure, life isn’t fair to any of us – some people live in riches while others like paupers – but being at the apex of the food chain does not give us any right to ill-treat animals. It doesn’t allow or excuse our erroneous behavior of inflicting pain on the weaker beings!

Jack tied to a leash that restrains his movements for 6 months before Julie found him
(Photograph taken from mobile phone)

Jack could have been the popular neighbourhood Maltese that would have made everyone he met gushing about his bright round eyes, petite frame, and fluffy white coat; but as luck would have it, he was confined to the back of a shop for six months before Julie saw him.

Julie recalled seeing a forlorn looking Jack tied to a leash and sprawled uncomfortably beside two empty bowls. His doleful eyes, hidden beneath his scruffy, overgrown fur, called out to Julie and she felt compelled to intervene. 



A brave smile from Jack, whose coat was unkempt, overgrown, foul smelling and terribly tangled. You can hardly even see his paw pads!

After consulting with us, Julie spoke with Jack’s owner who revealed that it was his friend who had given Jack to him, and that he had never wanted Jack in the first place despite taking him in. As a result, he decided to confine Jack and kept him permanently leashed round the clock for six months straight!

Saddened by Jack’s predicament, Julie offered to adopt Jack but was turned down flatly. The owner’s refusal came as a shock to us because the man clearly had no intention of caring for Jack and had found him a burden. It is odd how humans can be so mercurial and territorial! And in all honesty, I doubt there was any emotional attachment involved in his decision, and I am fairly certain he merely wanted to keep Jack because someone else is interested in him now!

Ears that haven’t been cleaned for 1 year or more

The conversation persisted for a while (mostly with Julie telling him how cute Jack was and how much she wanted to adopt him) before the owner relented by saying he needed some time to think through it. His line of thought is extremely ironic and puzzling to us, given that he barely gave any effort in caring for his pet. To top it off, he was the one who said he didn’t want Jack and had chosen to keep him on a leash for six months. Pray tell us, why is he so hesitant about putting Jack up for adoption?

Left with no choice, we waited anxiously for his decision. Meanwhile, we assembled a team of volunteers, made arrangements with a foster, and had a vet appointment booked.

The fateful day came when the owner decided to give him up. We are relieved to share that Jack no longer has to sleep, live and eat with a rope fastened to him. The man finally gave in and entrusted Jack to us.

Once we got hold of Jack, we whisked him off to the vet immediately. The vet was shocked by the extent of his ear infection – wet, gooey and filled with yellowish discharge – and his horribly matted fur that was beyond salvation and had to be shaved off eventually. The vet also said that Jack’s ears probably haven’t been cleaned for at least 6 months to a year! No wonder the room reeked of the pungent odor from his ears, which had us all holding our breaths. All this didn’t seem to bother Jack at all, as he smiled adoringly at the vet while being treated.



Further checks also revealed that Jack has very high liver enzymes and needs to be on liver supplements for a while. He also has a hernia and undescended testicles. These will be operated on at a later stage when his liver readings go back to normal.

Badly matted fur caked up into a big patch on his belly

Jack still bore a smile even after his fur was shaved off! He’s rocking his bald body.

What should have been loose and fluffy ended up compressed into a matted layer stuck to the skin. A result of prolonged neglect.

It is hard to comprehend how anyone can neglect a dog like Jack. His ebony round eyes twinkle every time he looked at me, and I couldn’t help but give him another pat on his furry head. I swear those innocent eyes can brighten even the darkest day. Jack is presently boarding at a pet shop and requires a foster or someone to give him a good, loving home. We thank Kathleen, who fostered him initially when he required medical treatment. Despite being a first-time foster, Kathleen did an excellent job at caring for him – cleaning his ears, medicating him regularly, and paper-training him. Jack is a Maltese, estimated to be about 3 years old. He is a fast learner, slightly alpha and extremely easy-going. Please email sherry@hopedogrescue.org if you would like to adopt him.

Our gratitude goes to Julie for saving Jack and putting an end to his misery. Without her, he wouldn’t be the carefree dog he is today. 

Written by Claire Chai