Thank you everyone for your concern for Prince and Babu Boy, and for contributing to their vet bills. We are touched by your kindness and generosity.
Prince
Prince has put on 700 gms in 3 weeks
Prince's blood count is now up from 24 to 27, but still below the normal of 35. His platelet count is 40000, the normal being 145000 and above.
Results of his blood test was sent to the US, and came back negative for tick fever / anaplasma. It seems Prince's kidneys are functioning well now; we can't test his liver as he is on steroids so the results would be inaccurate.
This is how he sleeps most of the time
When he sleeps, his limbs are very stiff. He doesn’t yet know how to relax
Prince has an auto immune related problem, and he bruises easily so he has bruises appearing on his body for no reason, and these bruises take a long time to go away. As such, we have to be very gentle in carrying him, and we can't knock him or be rough with him.
Poor Prince.
Yet, Prince has put on weight, from 2.8kg on the day we rescued him (Apr 18), to weighing 3.5kg today. We can still see his ribs but this is a far cry from his skeletal frame. Our darling Prince has also learnt to walk, run, and even play fetch with foster!
Unfortunately, he still sleeps in an awkward position; it will take more time. He needs to be wrapped in a towel and gently put on his bed. The towel is then slowly removed when he falls asleep. He doesn’t stay in this position for long, he startles and wakes intermittently. His foster has been sleeping with him in the living room to accompany him but she will gradually leave him to sleep alone.
He needs to be held down in this position till he falls asleep. It doesn’t come naturally to him.
Prince is curious now - he's learning to behave more like a dog. He looks around, observes the world around him and wants to sniff other dogs. This is a stark contrast to previously when he was very scared of other dogs.
Perhaps all this is a bit like getting a new life all over again. So Prince now behaves very much like a puppy. He whines and wants to be carried. He likes to be carried and exhibits some separation anxiety when his foster moves away.
Moving ahead, Prince will still need to go back to the vet for blood tests every 3 to 5 days. When his health condition stabilizes, we will take him to an eye specialist as his right eye has a bad ulcer.
Babu Boy
In Babu Boy's situation, unfortunately, things did not go too smoothly.
When he was due for discharge, Fiona observed him outside when volunteers took him out. She noticed his leg looked deformed and asked the vet tech to speak to Babu's doctor, who was on leave.
Babu Boy's left hind leg looks slightly awkward
When Dr Choi came back from his leave, he took an Xray of Babu's leg and realized the steel plate that had been inserted into the leg was bent.
Xray of Babu Boy's leg after the first surgery. The circled area had been bent.
This is the strength of a stray - he survived being hit by a car and dragged, surely he would be a very tough dog. So perhaps Babu had put too much force on the leg after the surgery and bent the steel plate. This steel plate is so strong that it can’t be bent with our bare hands.
As such, he had to undergo a second surgery yesterday (Monday) to remove the bent steel plate and replace it with a thicker, stronger plate. Poor Babu has to endure a second round of pain. We hope this is the final surgery he will ever have to undergo.
He is not allowed to walk or bear weight on his leg so we don’t take him out for walks. He cries and whines and tries to come out. . . . .
Babu Boy's care-giver from the construction site came to visit. Babu was absolutely elated!
Babu's leg is still bleeding after the surgery
On a brighter note, the wounds under his chin and ears have dried up. Strays are indeed tough and hardy.
Babu has a foster for two weeks when he is discharged but after which, he will need a foster for the next three weeks - will anyone be kind enough to foster him?
Looking chirpy despite the pain; Babu Boy cant wait to get out of the hospital
Thanks again everyone for your generosity and kindness, without which we would not have been able to save Babu Boy and Prince.
Written by A.Wong Babu Boy's photographs courtesy of Iris Ng
An accident, or the evil doings of a sick serial animal abuser?
They say being human, we’re a more evolved species, capable of thought, empathy and many other emotions. But there will always be the exception to the rule, I suppose. The brutality of what we’ve seen in recent times – was it the work of someone who obviously has no such compassion?
In two short weeks, we’ve come across two cases of dogs with their tails horrifically chopped off.
On Apr 25, the first dog was spotted by Sis Mary in the HDB area, and on May 5, while HOPE was on its rounds feeding and checking on the street dogs, we came across 3 badly injured strays – with one of them having a huge, raw, bloody wound where its tail should have been.
Spotted by Sis Mary. Photo courtesy of Rajaa and Sis Mary.
We all know a dog's tail is a barometer of emotions. But more than that, a dog's tail is a continuation of its spine, and is made up of 6 to 23 vertebrae. Important nerves near the base of the tail contribute to its bowel movements. The pain of having such a crucial part of the body sheared off … it must have been beyond excruciating.
For the other two injured dogs we saw, one had a huge gaping wound taking up half his back and the other with a slightly smaller, but deep wound, possibly from a dog fight.
We are trying to take him to the vet. His wound is deep and maggot infested
The dog with the bigger wound cannot be approached. He is in great pain and walked with difficulty but is extremely wary of people. They badly need our help.
The injured dog, whose tail had been torn from his body, turned to look at me, tears in his old tired eyes and then he walked off. His pain…I can’t even begin to describe. I could not sleep that night. I think about that dog every day. He needs help and I have to help him.
Dog with tail chopped off. Spotted by HOPE volunteers
I intend to search for him every night, until I find and save him – because when his eyes met mine for a split second, I felt his pain. Even if I have to put him down, at least I can lessen his pain and suffering.
Some wondered if this was an accident – maybe by heavy machinery? But two dogs in two weeks, both having undergone the same agony of losing their tail. It just seems a little too… coincidental.
If anyone has seen these two dogs, please contact SPCA’s 24 hour hotline for emergency cases 62875355 ext 9 or inform us via whatsapp at 90104202 (Iris).
THANK YOU EVERYONE! Love from, Babu Boy We would like to thank Isabel Motyka, a HOPE Dog Rescue volunteer who helped fetch Babu Boy to the vet and shared his plight with her friends from the Ladies Tennis Singapore organization during their awards luncheon. They all must be dog lovers as they immediately took up a collection and made a generous donation towards their medical expenses. We would also like to thank everyone who has contributed to Babu Boy's surgery. We are still short of $700 as his bill to date, is $3100. He is still at the vet and will be discharged on Saturday. Thank you.
Handsome Babu Boy. His eyes show intelligence and wisdom.
21 April, 2012. Saturday
“Dee, Dee, Dee,” went my handphone in the dead of the night. It signalled an incoming SMS. “Male dog had a serious accident.” “Call me if u wan to know more,” stared back at me. The message was from John, Babu Boy’s feeder. Waves of panic seized me. My hands trembled as I waited for John to answer the call. John related that Babu Boy was involved in a hit-and-run accident about 5.30pm at a bus stop. This was the place where Babu Boy and two other female strays had called their home for the past 4 years.
A couple who happened to be passing by, called the SPCA. Upon hearing the loud bang, a few Indian workers from the worksite rushed over. They had recognised Babu Boy as one of the dogs from their worksite. He had been hit by a car and dragged a short distance, sustaining a broken leg and multiple scratches and burns from the rough gravel road.
Burnt and scratched from the road
Poor Babu Boy's injuries from an irresponsible driver. Why is it that when cars knock a person down, the driver is jailed or fined, but when they knock an animal down, they can get away scot-free? Are they not living creatures? Do they not feel the same pain?
Babu Boy was out cold for an agonizing five long minutes. Babu Boy finally stirred and attempted to stand but failed. The Indian workers stayed by Babu Boy’s side until the SPCA came an hour later to pick him up.
22 April, 2012. Sunday
A little after twelve midnight, John did his routine feeding of the three stray dogs. Upon learning that Babu Boy was at SPCA, John and two Indian workers rushed to SPCA. The three men had saved Babu Boy from the ‘gallows’.
Workers made a splint for Babu Boy and bandaged his broken leg
At the crack of dawn, I rushed over to the worksite. My heart sank when I saw Babu Boy. He was confined in a squalid and stuffy room. Being Babu Boy’s relief feeder, I had not seen Babu Boy for quite a while. He had put on a substantial amount of weight due to the unhealthy diet of discarded chicken necks. The amount of fat lying below the skin of chicken necks can be quite shocking. Such injustice had been done to the dogs by feeding them with nothing but fat and skin.
It was anguishing to see Babu Boy’s left hind leg jutting out awkwardly. I knew it was broken. Despite all this, Babu Boy lumbered towards me on three legs. The fracture leg was limp and was swinging like a pendulum. What I saw greatly distressed me.
John instructed me to apply Hydrogen Peroxide and to sprinkle some pinkish DD powder onto the raw wounds. The wounds on Babu Boy’s ear, mouth and underside of the neck were probably sustained when he grazed himself on the rough asphalt road. John hurriedly instructed what I had to do when he was away for a 9-day overseas working trip. John mentioned that Babu Boy was a strong dog and hopefully the leg will heal by itself. Sadly, I was equally ignorant to believe it will heal by itself.
23 April, 2012. Monday
On arriving at the construction site, I was unable to locate Babu Boy. According to the workers, Babu Boy had not been sighted the whole day. With the female dog’s help, Babu Boy was found hiding below some heavy metal sheets. Even the aroma of Babu Boy’s favourite chicken drumsticks had failed to lure him out. His wounds were now covered with clumps of mud. The pain must be unbearable for Babu Boy. However, I could still spot a faint wag on his little tail.
He has such a good and sweet nature, laid-back and trusting
24 April, 2012. Tuesday
Today was no different from yesterday. Babu refused his drumsticks as well as the canned dog food which I had offered. I knew that I had to seek treatment for Babu Boy. Being a pauper, I had no money and no car at my disposal. I was at wit’s end.
25 April, 2012. Wednesday
During a casual conversation with another feeder by the name of Jennifer, I related Babu Boy’s plight to her. That set off a whole chain of events. Miss Jennifer had contacts with other feeders. After many phone calls, she telephoned me and said HOPE Dog Rescue could help. There was a gleam of hope after all.
26 April, 2012. Thursday
Lisa, a volunteer from HOPE Dog Rescue contacted me. She made all the necessary arrangements for Babu Boy to be transported to Mt Pleasant Animal Hospital at Bukit Merah View.
Still hiding under the pipes after 5 days, suffering in agony. Workers trying to lure him out.
Finally, worker Samu managed to carry him out
Putting Babu Boy into a carrier, getting ready to depart for the vet
A foul, rotting stench filled our nostrils while we were in the van. We later found out that the repulsive foul smell was from the festering wound below Babu Boy’s neck.
The vet estimated Babu Boy to be about 5 to 6 years old. An X-ray taken showed that Babu Boy had a tibial fracture. We were concerned about internal bleeding too, but luckily the doctors assured us that his blood count was stable, showing no signs of internal bleeding.
Poor sweet Babu in pain
Babu was too afraid to be on the stretcher, and had to be carried in for his X-ray
They used a towel to support and half-carry him to the X-ray room instead
Keeping weight off his hind leg
Shaving away the dried-up blood to see and clean the wound, which had started rotting and was foul-smelling. Babu Boy is brave and endured everything without a sound.
Doctor testing if Babu Boy still has any feeling in his toes. He does!
27 April, 2012. Friday
Babu Boy was conveyed to Mt Pleasant Animal Hospital in Whitley Road. After consultation with the vet, surgery was scheduled for the next day.
28 April, 2012. Saturday
The surgery was performed by Dr Dennis Choi. It took almost 3 hours, which was much longer than expected. The initial x-ray had revealed 2 broken bones, but when they operated on Babu Boy, they saw that his bones were in fact shattered, with bone shards embedded in his flesh. Dr Choi screwed a steel plate into his bones to hold them in place. It seemed like eternity, but in the evening the operation was finally over. A hardy and brave dog like Babu Boy had pulled through. I heaved a sigh of relief.
X-ray showing where his bones snapped
Babu Boy before the surgery
Still smiling before the surgery
After his first surgery, with Lisa assuring him that everything will be alright
29 April, 2012. Sunday
John returned from his overseas trip. I related everything to John. I thought he would be extremely anxious. To my dismay, he was not or may be it did not show. I SMS him that I would be visiting Babu Boy at 1 pm. I invited him to join me. He said he had some personal matters to attend to. He told me that I better start off immediately since it was already 12 noon. He made no indication that he will visit Babu Boy. I felt my heart drop to my knees.
Lisa, the volunteer from HOPE Dog Rescue called to inform me that Babu Boy was not eating. I cooked Babu Boy’s favourite chicken drumsticks and dragged my heavy feet to the Animal Hospital.
My heart broke into pieces when I saw Babu Boy. The was a forlorn look in Babu Boy’s eyes. Even the wag on Babu Boy’s little tail had disappeared.
Probably, Babu Boy feels abandoned by his feeder. If Babu Boy could speak, he would want to know why his feeder is not keen to visit him. I will continue to visit Babu Boy until he fully recovers. Otherwise, my conscience will prick me for not being present when Babu Boy needs his feeder’s care and support.
HOPE Dog Rescue:
Babu Boy's surgery was estimated to cost $2500. Although it was expensive, it was impossible for us to say no. Babu has no owner to love and care for him. We couldn't have just left him lying in excruciating pain with his multiple wounds, hiding in the construction site, as he had done for 6 days before he was brought to our attention. We didn't want to follow the common practice either - to condemn him to death just because he was a stray and no one's responsibility. We didn't want to take the "easy way out"; we were determined to help Babu get better. We have always had a soft spot for street and breeding dogs and it was the least we could do for Babu Boy. We were sure there would be many kind-hearted people who would help us to help Babu.
Babu Boy is currently warded at the vet and recovering from his surgery. Although he is tired from his life on the streets, sleeping on filthy gravel and sand all his life, he does miss the workers at the construction site where he stayed. They were kind to him, and he sat with them during their free time while they rested and chatted. Even though he couldn't understand a word they were saying, he enjoyed their company and he felt he belonged.
Now, he feels that nobody wants him, and that he is a burden to us. He has never been off the streets before, and he is wondering why he's there at the vet. He has no idea what is happening to him. He is refusing to eat because he is depressed and in pain. He will be staying at the vet till Thursday or Friday, depending on how he is feeling, but the most important thing right now is to get him to start eating again.
We are in need of funds for Babu's vet bill. If you would like to help, please send a cheque to Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital at 232 Whitley Road, S297824. Please issue the cheque to Mount Pleasant Veterinary Centre (2008) Pte Ltd and write "HOPE Dog Rescue, Babu Boy" on the back of the cheque. Please note that any funds in excess of the balance will be carried forward to help other animals in need! Thank you for your kind understanding.
EYE WITNESS TO HIT & RUN ACCIDENT NEEDED. Dog flung and hind leg snapped. Now in emergency surgery.
For 5 days, every step was torture for Babu Boy. His hind leg had been fractured and without proper medical attention, he had to limp about with his injured leg swollen and dangling.
Babu Boy was hit by a vehicle at bus stop B04 on 21 april at about 5.30pm along Kallang Rd.
When the workers nearby heard a loud bang, they rushed to the scene and found Babu. The vehicle had already fled the scene. We have heard reports that a taxi was involved but workers interviewed could not ascertain this.
This is a real act of cruelty. According to worker, the bumper came off the vehicle upon impact and Babu was flung aside. He grazed the road and suffered burnt skin under his neck, his lips were bleeding.
We have learnt that a couple who witnessed the accident called the SPCA. We hope this couple or any eyewitness will contact us to help with our investigation. SPCA is unable to disclose further information to us.
Update: Dear Fellow Animal Lovers, thank you for your concern, love and support for Prince. Should you wish to contribute and help with his vet bills, please go down personally to Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital at 232 Whitley Road, S297824 (click for directions). Opening Hrs - Sat: 12pm-3pm, 7pm-10pm Sun:2pm-7pm. Please tell the clinic that you would like to contribute to "Prince's" medical bills under Hope Dog Rescue's account. We apologize that it is not convenient to visit Prince but please rest assured we will arrange a "Meet the Prince" session when he is healthier. Thank you everyone for your kindness. With gratitude, Fiona.
Rebecca Tan:
On 15 April, one aunty brought her dog to a neighbourhood vet for medical treatment. Upon arriving there she saw a skeleton dog inside the vet facility.
The vet told her that a breeder sent it to him to be put down. The aunty was very concerned about the poor dog as he looked young and looked like a poodle. He was totally shaved so she could not tell properly. The dog gave a soulless look at the aunty resigning his fate. The aunty not knowing what to do call her friend for help but they were helpless. Finally, they remember reading HOPE Dog Rescue and decided to try and see if any help could be rendered to the soulless poodle.
The next day on 16 April, they called HOPE Dog Rescue who immediately went to collect the dog from the aunty and sent him to a vet for full medical check-up.
Fiona:
My years of animal rescue did not prepare me for this. What I saw was shocking, upsetting and extremely painful. As soon as I laid eyes on the tiny skeletal of a dog, tears welled in my eyes. My heart hurt so badly from the pain, misery and torture I could feel from him. Imagine being reduced to this state; it would have taken months of animal cruelty and months of starvation to bring a dog to this skeletal state.
Anger surged through me that someone so cruel and heartless could bear to do this to a sweet little defenseless dog. If they didn’t want him, they could have just given him up. Why torture him and reduce him to this pathetic state before sending him to the vet and asking the vet to euthanize him?
How could anyone mistreat and abuse this little dog?
Weak and tired
A lady, who happened to be at the vet with her dog, saw and felt sorry for him. She paid for his initial bill ($187) and took him out. She brought him home for a bath, had his wounds cleaned and handed me the dog when I met her after work. She told me that he had already seen the vet and passed me an entire plastic bag full of liver supplements and probiotics. I looked at his body; he didn’t have an ounce of fat on him and the lower part of his body was covered with open sores, some weepy and deep looking. These were pressure sores caused by sitting in a cage for years and the fact that he was mere skin and bones didn’t help him. He was in great pain.
Weighing a mere 2.8kg
I lifted his lips to check the colouration of his gums; they were very dull. He was severely anemic and probably had tick fever. I immediately told her he had to be rushed to the vet again.
Extremely pale gums from being severely anemic
And that was how little Prince and I ended up at the vet together, me wondering if he would leave his tiny pain wrecked body while in my arms.
He weighed a mere 2.8kg. He looks like a brown / apricot poodle. He had been shaved bald probably by whoever who did this to him. I suspect he must have been tick infested and shaving him was the easiest way out. Without any fur, his entire body was a bag of bones. While waiting for the vet to see him, I felt him struggling to breathe. I felt him dying in my arms. I prayed that he would not give up, that he would hang on. I kissed his tiny head and told him that the fact he was in my arms, meant that he would be saved and I believe he might have heard me.
Dr Heng saw him and was appalled by the sight of him. Blood tests and other checks were done on him and perhaps these were the reasons he was sent to his death.
· Kidney failure
· Liver failure
· Tick fever
· Mycoplasmosis
· Severely anemic – Packed Cell Volume (PCV) for dogs is 35 in the normal range. Anything falling below 15 would usually require a blood transfusion. Prince’s PCV was a mere 10.
· Auto-immune problem
· Malnourishment – weighs only 2.8kg
· Right eye may be blind – either from a cataract or neglect – we have not had his eye checked thoroughly yet as our priority is to save his life
· Pressure sores on his testicles and rump
At the vet
He may have lost the vision in his right eye
Pressure sores on his bony frame
This wound is deep and infected
Pressure sores caused by years of sitting in a small cage probably with no room to even stand, turn or move
Back view of Prince's sores
Dr Heng asked if he was still eating. The lady had fed him some rice, which he did eat. Dr Heng then told us to take him back and to return for another blood test 3 days later. We then took Prince to Karen’s home for fostering. Karen had previously fostered Moose and George for us.
Rina carrying Prince and keeping him warm
At the foster home, we were in for a greater shock! Prince didn’t know how to walk, neither did he know how to lie down and sleep! It was a sorry sight as we saw what we did – he just sat in awkward positions and dozed off. Watch the videos to see how Prince sleeps.
Prince sleeping at the vet
Sleeping in a sitting position
We tried flipping him sideways, holding him down and he would fall asleep but once we moved our hands, he would jump up in fright and go back to his sitting position. He doesn’t really know how to walk either. He eats, sleeps, pees and poo in the same place. Foster Karen has put many towels beneath Prince so he feels more comfortable and we tried moving him a foot away from his towel, he will immediately crawl back to his towel and sit again. He doesn’t know what to do with his newfound freedom or space, he doesn’t know how to walk and he doesn’t know how to sleep. This is how he whiles his days away:
Blood stains on the mat
He sits on this mat and will not move from it. He needs to be fed.
Stop buying puppies.
Stop supporting animal cruelty.
Saturday morning, fellow volunteers, Rina and Lisa, met me early in the morning to take Prince to the vet (Redhill) for a re-check on his blood count. To our dismay, his blood count was still way below the normal range, and Dr Teo said a blood transfusion was necessary. She also recommended he do an ultrasound on his spleen.
We desperately started calling friends and posting on Facebook looking for canine blood donors. Donor dogs need to be over 2 years old, 25 kg and above, and be up to date on vaccinations and HeartGuard. Dogs, like humans, have several different blood types, and we needed to do some blood typing to determine our dog’s blood type and then do a cross match. The vet at Redhill did not have the facilities to do so, and we had to rush down to Mt Pleasant Sunset to do the blood typing. All this while, little Prince was sound asleep in Rina’s arms, nicely wrapped up in a towel like a baby.
Rina, Sherry, and Effi with little Prince
Prince Receives A “Favor”
Desiree called to offer her dog, Favor, for a blood transfusion. Favor is a local Singapore Special, 3 years old and healthy. He had previously done a blood typing so Desiree knew what his blood type was and it was a perfect match for Prince. A match on the first try, this was Prince’s lucky day! By this time, the clinic was closing, so again we had to go to yet another vet. We booked a cab for Desiree and Favour, and told them to meet us at Mt Pleasant’s main branch as they would be open 24 hours and little Prince could immediately start his blood transfusion and have the ultrasound done. The entire process would take up to six hours.
Desiree and Favor waiting to save Prince's life
Favor, the hero
Prince was seen by Dr Nandini, who was almost in tears when she saw him. Volunteers Rina and Johnathan sent Desiree and Favor home after he gave Prince 200ml of his blood and saved his life.
Prince may be warded at the vet for a couple more days as he is running a temperature. His PCV has gone back up to the normal range and is now 38. His platelet count is still far from normal and we are looking into ways to increase that.
Our volunteers and our friend, Effi, have been to visit Prince daily, carrying him and assuring him that everything will be alright. Prince needs to be hand fed as he doesn’t seem to know how to eat on his own. He is wearing an e-collar to prevent him from licking his sores. The staff at the hospital feel sorry for him so they removed his e-collar in the hope that he will sleep as they too have seen how poor little Prince sits all day in the cage, like a statue, nodding away. Effi bought Prince a nice cozy little bed and when she visits, she wraps him up in a towel, much like a baby and pats him to sleep. He is still learning to sleep lying down.
Effi and Prince
First time he is experiencing love and he is starting to enjoy it!
Prince has a long, long road to recovery. He needs to gain lots of weight and when he is stronger, we will have his kidney, liver and eyes checked thoroughly. For now, we just want him to pull through and be well.
We named him Prince, and so he shall live like one from now on. Prince’s life can only get better. He has had many friends show him love and care. Special thanks to Karen (foster) who can’t wait to take Prince home to fatten him up, Effi who has been visiting Prince everyday and helping with his medical bills and Francesca, whose valuable advice and support I always treasure.
From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank Desiree for allowing Favor to donate blood and saving Prince’s life. Without them, Prince might not be alive today. We would also like to thank Alycia Yee and everyone else who had contacted us to offer their canine companions’ blood to save Prince. Thank you!
If you would like to contribute to our work, please email fiona@hopedogrescue.org Your kind contributions will allow us to continue saving and helping all these innocent victims. We don’t want to have to say NO to a dog or cat just because we are limited by funds.
Photo Credits : Lisa Goh and Rina Ng
Note : With immediate effect, please do not send any cheques to Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Centre (Redhill). We no longer have a running account with them. Instead, please send them to Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital at Whitley Road or write to us. Thank you.
