Licensing Your Dog ? Many People Have Their Dogs Microchipped But Do They Actually License Their Dog?

The story goes like this. You find a dog. It looks a little shaken but none the worse for wear. Despite finding it wandering around aimlessly on its own, it looks relatively well cared for so you hold on to the hope that it is only lost, not abandoned. You managed to cajole the pup to you and secure it. You take it to a vet to be scanned for a chip and hurray, you find that it has one. Happy that you can reunite the dog with its rightful owner, you key the microchip number into AVS' microchip number enquiry link, only to find that the chip has not been registered because the dog is not licensed. 

Image taken from Lost & Found Facebook

Now imagine that you are the owner of that lost dog. You have done everything right up to that point. You adopted a dog and microchipped it. Loved it with all your heart. Made sure it wanted for nothing. One day, you did not realise that the door was not closed properly and your dog took it as an invitation to go exploring. So used to being led and watched over by you, it did not realize that it had wandered off far enough that it did not know the way home. Some kind soul found the dog and took it to the vet to have it scanned for a chip. If you had licensed your dog with the AVS, a simple mouse click would close this story with a happy ending. If you had not, then you might never know how this story ends. 

Using a microchip scanner, scan the dog to check if he is microchipped. 

This seems to be a common story in Singapore. Flip through the classifieds and you will find many pets with microchips being posted in the lost and found section. Many pet owners think that just microchipping their pet is sufficient. However, there is little point if the microchip is not registered somewhere with the owner's contact details. The microchip registry can also store other important information, for example, whether your dog has a medical condition so whoever finds it can be made aware and care for it accordingly while they wait for you to come pick your dog up. In Singapore, the microchip is registered when the dog is licensed with AVS.

It used to be that licensing a dog was troublesome and not the cheapest thing to do. The license was only valid for a year, or a few years, and you had to renew it at the end of each period. In September 2020, to encourage more pet owners to sterilize and license their dogs, AVS introduced a one-time license for sterilized dogs. This means that, for a low one-time payment of $35, a sterilized dog can get a license that is valid throughout its life. No more having to worry about the license lapsing because you forgot to renew it! 

We are not saying that licensing a dog means that a lost dog will always be found and returned. We are in no way saying that you are free to let your dog wander about without a care as long as it is licensed. Besides, the rule on keeping a dog leashed and properly supervised in public spaces still applies. However, we all know that some dogs have the heart of Indiana Jones or Houdini and sometimes they manage to get away from us no matter how much we try to control them. Licensing a dog just makes it much easier to reunite a lost dog with its owner when found rather than never knowing the fate of your lost dog even if it has already been found. We just think that it is sensible and worthwhile to pay $35 once for peace of mind knowing that you have a better chance of reuniting with your dog should it ever get away, though we hope this never happens!

Licensing a dog also helps with traceability when there is an outbreak of disease, for example, rabies. Think of it as the TraceTogether of pets! Though it does not work quite the same way, it serves the same purpose in contact tracing in the event of a disease outbreak.

All in all, licensing a dog has many pros and no cons. And it is even so simple and affordable to apply for a license now. To find out more about licensing a dog in Singapore and what to do when you have lost or found a pet, visit AVS website at https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/owning-a-pet/getting-a-pet/getting-a-pet.

Written by : Samantha Yap

Tribute to Matthieu

People often say that first love is the most unforgettable. If that is true, then Matthieu will live on in our memories forever. Our dear boy Matthieu died at home peacefully surrounded by family on 26 February 2021. He was 19.

As you may all know, Matthieu was HOPE's very first special needs dog. We were first alerted to Matthieu's plight in 2012, when Mr Aziz found him after a terrible accident on Jurong Island. The accident resulted in Matthieu's incontinence and his hind legs being paralysed. At that time, Matthieu was estimated to be around 10 years old but he displayed a tenacity for life typically seen in a much younger dog – he clung on to life and continued to thrive against all odds. It wasn't an easy journey – Matthieu had to undergo acupuncture, massage and hydrotherapy sessions before he could walk in a wheelchair. Through it all, he has maintained his sweet and charming nature, and is generous with his affection.  Because of Matthieu, we at HOPE have learned so much about what it takes to care for special needs dogs. He gave us the confidence to help other special needs dogs that came along – Sida, Harper and Donut.

Matthieu when he was first rescued 

Even as we celebrate Matthieu's life, we also want to express gratitude to the many people who gave him a second lease of life. Thank you, Flora, for taking Matthieu into your home and giving him a comfortable space to spend his golden years. It took us six years to find a forever home for Matthieu so we were overjoyed when Flora adopted him and showered him with so much love. Thank you for taking care of Matthieu all this time and being there with him in his last moments. 

MattMatt & his Mama, Flora 

Forever Love 

Thank you to Mr Aziz for finding Matthieu, for feeding him and keeping him alive, and for roping in your daughter to help. Thank you both for your kind hearts! .

Matthieu and Mr Aziz, in earlier days 

And to every supporter and volunteer who has helped Matthieu one way or another – thank YOU! We wouldn't have come this far without you.  

Goodbye is not the end 

Matthieu’s name means "Gift of God", which is extra meaningful considering how he has gifted us with so many precious memories and life lessons during his short time on earth. So thank you, Matthieu. We will miss you, our dearest Ah Pek.  

Written by: Vanessa Tai

Amos, Victim of Circumstance

At the age of 15 (over 80 in human years), Amos should rightfully be enjoying his golden years, spoilt with cuddles and taking peaceful naps as he pleases.

Instead, we received news that our HOPE’s rescue had gotten into trouble on the eve of the Lunar New Year ☹️

The sad state that we found Amos in 

Amos acted out of character and bit a stranger when he dashed out of his house, leading to a complaint with AVS. His owners have been overseas for the past 10 months and had left him in the care of a helper and a 89 year- old grandfather. Knowing that Amos needed help, we acted swiftly.

We found Amos in a neglected state - he needed grooming and medical attention. Though he seemed fearful, he was rather sweet, friendly and was well-behaved at the vet.

Poor Amos - deprived of love and affection

The series of medical tests and scans results:

Weighs 8.4kg / estimated 13 to 14 years old

Desexed

Heartworm and tick fever negative

Kidney and liver ok

Low thyroid

Dewormed and started on Nexgard

Bad dental (scaling done on 19 Feb, 6 teeth extracted)

lump on hind leg removed during GA for dental

Requires heart supplement for minor heart back flow 

Overall in good health

The lump found on Amos hind leg 

The lump removed during surgery 

We are glad that Amos had a good appetite at the clinic though he craves attention and would bark non-stop when left alone. We observed his behaviour while he was being treated/groomed and concluded that he has bad separation anxiety issues, but not an aggressive nature. He is so happy being around people.

Day of his rescue

A groomer volunteered her time over the Lunar New Year holidays to groom Amos at the vet

Perhaps lacking affection and feeling insecure, something triggered his instinctive “fight or flight” response and he lashed out and bit someone. An AVS officer visited Amos at the vet after a complaint was lodged. Checks found no abnormality and Amos greeted the officer well. We are relieved that Amos passed his evaluation test, and we are free to rehome him. In the meantime, we need someone experienced to foster or adopt him. We believe that with gentle discipline and lots of love, he can overcome his anxiety.

Amos after dental

Incidentally, we saved Amos's sister Chloe on the very same day Amos got into trouble. So, Amos may have just saved his sister! More about Chloe here.

Amos the good old boy deserves the best care he can get. If you are able to help, please email us at hopedogrescue@singnet.com.sg

Written by: Michelle

Chloe Falls Victim to Pandemic

The pandemic has impacted many lives, keeping families apart, and our canine family members are victims of the situation as much as many of us are. Unable to return from overseas, Amos' and Chloe's owner had little choice but to leave them in the care of a helper and a frail 89-year-old grandpa who is unable to provide them with the proper care that they need. We had received a text from the owner about Amos on Chinese New Year Eve and had gone to retrieve him to take him to the vet.

Chloe at the vet

Just as we thought we were in the clear with Amos, we received yet another text from the owner around 6pm on the very same day. 

"Emergency with Chloe...dad says she has vomited blood," it read. The volunteer who had just returned from the vet barely had time to breathe before she was rushing back out the door to pick Chloe up and making yet another trip to the vet.

Badly matted and neglected

Chloe was in a serious condition and was given emergency treatment at the vet. She had difficulty breathing and her stomach was very hard and painful to the touch. The vet did a rectal check for bleeding and found none so the blood might have come from the pee or the mouth as grandpa wasn’t certain it was blood from her vomit. Blood tests came back normal for red blood and white blood count. She was a bit anemic, possibly from vomiting blood, and her platelets were high, but glucose level was also normal. Chloe is a senior dog, estimated to be around 15 years old, so she also presented signs of chronic diseases. She has a grade 3 heart murmur with backflow present in both sides of the heart. Her heart is enlarged as a result. She will need to be on Pimobendan to manage the heart disease. Her kidneys are also showing signs of early kidney disease. Her stomach walls have also thickened which could mean chronic inflammation or could be due to her having ingested something toxic which would also have caused her to vomit blood. A scan of the stomach showed no signs of any foreign object but she will have to undergo an ultrasound of the stomach in 3-4 weeks time to understand the cause of the inflammation as it may be a sign of some chronic gastric issue, and even cancer.

Chloe had laboured breathing

It has been a few days since she has been warded but Chloe is still not eating on her own and has to be syringe-fed a blended diet. She is also on a slow drip to treat her kidney disease. We are grateful to the vet for waiving the emergency charges as well as giving Chloe a trim to get ri of all her dirty, matted hair.

Badly in need of proper care and love

The owner has surrendered both Amos and Chloe to us as she is unable to provide the dogs with the necessary care due to the physical separation. Both dogs are now in medical boarding while we search for fosters for them. The foster for Chloe will need to have experience in caring for senior dogs and/or palliative care and not leave her alone for long hours. If you have the know-how to provide an old dog with what she needs to live out the rest of her life comfortably, please consider fostering or adopting Chloe. To find out more, email hopedogrescue@singnet.com.sg.

Written by: Samantha

Vestibular Disease

Just like humans, our canine friends face health issues as they grow older, and one of the common issues among older dogs is the vestibular disease. We hope that this post helps to raise awareness about this condition so that timely intervention and treatment(s) can be provided.

What is the vestibular system?

The vestibular system consists of components located in the brain, inner and middle ear. It is a system that helps to maintain normal balance and coordination in dogs.

What is vestibular disease?

Vestibular disease, sometimes called “old dog disease”, refers to a sudden onset of disorientation and loss of balance. This neurological dysfunction can happen to any dog but it is more common among older dogs.

What are the symptoms to look out for?

Some of the common symptoms include head tilt, nausea and nystagmus (involuntary flickering of the eye). Head tilt is one of the reasons why some eventually become reluctant to stand or walk as they have trouble getting up. Even if the dog manages to get up, he/she will tend to lean or fall in the direction of the head tilt. Other common signs to look out for are their lack of appetite or reluctance to drink, lack of coordination and loss of balance (i.e., falling down more often than usual). As the symptoms are rather similar to that of stroke, it is always advisable to seek medical consultation as soon as you notice these symptoms in your dog.

What are the causes?

There are several possible causes of the vestibular disease. It could be due to a middle or inner ear infection; or it could also be a brain issue (such as injury, infection or tumor). Some medications that are toxic to the ears could also cause this. However, most cases are often diagnosed as “idiopathic” as no known cause could be identified.

Is there a treatment or cure?

While there is no known cure to the vestibular disease, appropriate treatment could still be provided if the underlying cause can be found. Medication can also be prescribed to ease and treat the symptoms, where possible. For example, IV fluids could be administered if the dog is unable to walk and eat on its own, and other medication that can help to treat nausea could be prescribed as well. The good news is that this condition is not fatal and most dogs will recover completely within two to three weeks. However, the bad news is that there is a chance that it will happen again even after a full recovery.

How can I help my dog during a vestibular attack?

Try to keep your dog comfortable as he/she rests and recovers. Try to keep water and food within reach but if your dog is struggling to stand up, consider feeding him/her instead. It will also be helpful to keep the area, where your dog is resting, clear of obstacles to prevent them from knocking into things and falling down especially since they are experiencing balance problems during the bout of vestibular attack. It is also good to have prescribed medication for anti-nausea, anti-dizziness and appetite stimulants at home if your dog has a history of vestibular attacks as they may come in handy.

We have also learnt that frankincense essential oil helps. While it is generally used for humans for brain/balancing, it is also safe for dogs. Based on our experience, using it on dogs on a regular basis,even after they have recovered, helps to reduce the occurrence of vestibular attacks and they tend to recover in a shorter time.

References:

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/vestibular-disease-in-dogs

https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/vestibular-disease-dogshttps://www.matthews.carolinavet.com/site/pet-health-blog/2020/06/30/causes-of-seizures-in-dogs-copy

Written by: Shu Hua

Fish Farm Dogs

 Remember the dogs that grew up on fish food? Read here. 

Everyone has an oasis in their hearts. It could be a playground, a park, a room, anywhere. For a few of us in the stray feeding team, this oasis is a fish farm on which ten dogs reside. This peaceful hideout might not be the best place for the dogs to live in, but there are kind workers living there who care for the dogs and feed them, and there is something magical about the place that heals the soul and keeps the volunteers going back. It is as if time has stood still at the fish farm and one is transported to paradise.

Hope Dog Rescue volunteers have been visiting the fish farm monthly for years. During each visit, we would feed the dogs and apply frontline for them. Some time ago, the fish farm workers informed us that they could manage and did not need our help, so we stopped going over. Recently, they contacted us for help again so we restarted our monthly fish farm visits, until Covid came. Due to the numerous restrictions, we were unable to visit the fish farm for more than half a year. As we were worried that the workers might have difficulties buying food for the doggies and we could not visit the fish farm for some time, we gave the workers a huge stash of kibbles and canned food before the restrictions kicked in.

For the past few months, we have been checking with the workers whether we could visit again, but they mentioned that there were still many controls in place. We really missed the doggies and could not wait to visit them again. Finally, during the new year, the workers informed us that we could visit. This was such great news for the new year.

Armed with the Christmas goodie bags, big bags of kibbles, frontline, medication, hearts full of anticipation and love, and boxes full of cooked food for the doggies, we set out on our trip to the fish farm. The first thing we noticed was that the familiar happy faces rushing out to greet us and queue for food were missing. It was so sad. Where did the doggies go? Years ago, the fish farm was very different. Before we turned into the fish farm, there would be friendly doggies greeting us outside with wagging tails and sloppy kisses. Concrete slabs had not been put down yet and we had to trod on mud paths to reach the doggies. Now, the fish farm is cleaner and more modern, but some things remain unchanged: the tranquil air, the kind workers and the adorable dogs.

We thought that perhaps the doggies were hiding due to the rain, so we parked our cars and went to the sheltered area where another pack of doggies were at. This pack of doggies is well taken care of by the workers and very chubby and cute. They are quite wary of strangers though and we are only able to apply frontline for them with the help of the kind workers. There are five dogs here: Ah Bui, Xiao Hei, Jimmy, Tiger aka Puli and Lucky aka Shuai Ge. We spent the morning giving out Christmas goodie bags to the workers, mixing the food in the shelter, feeding the cuties treats, applying frontline for them and being amused by their antics.

Not forgetting the other pack of doggies, we opened our umbrellas and went out to look for them. Aha! There they were, happy and cute as usual. Guess they were just hiding from the rain earlier on. The poor doggie that was skin and bones was missing though. Segar, the kind worker who helped to feed the doggies, informed us that the poor skinny doggie had passed away during the circuit breaker period. So sad… we had intended to give him an extra portion of food as he was so skinny. He was always so sweet and we really looked forward to meeting him again. It is so heartbreaking to think that he must have endured so much pain on his own prior to his departure, and that we did not manage to send him for treatment before he passed away. It was likely that he had suffered from heartworm or kidney failure, given that he had a hearty appetite but was still skin and bones. Sorry dear boy... sorry that we did not send you to the vet earlier T___T We hope that he is happy and pain free on the other side of the rainbow bridge.

Besides feeding the pack of dogs outside and applying frontline for them, we also brought ear cleaning solutions to clean their ears as a few of them suffered from hematoma before. We left the solution with Segar so that he could clean their ears regularly. Hopefully it helps to keep their ears clean and free from bacteria.

It was a wet and cold morning but our hearts were warm and toasty from the smiles of the workers and doggies. We were happy to have filled the doggies’ bellies and to have applied flea and tick preventatives for them. Dear fish farm doggies, till we meet again. Please stay safe and healthy in the meantime. xoxo  

Sunday the Miracle

This is the story of Sunday, the lost dog who found her miracle after a long ordeal.

In 2012, we rescued an adolescent stray off the streets. She was estimated to be around 4 years old. Even though it was just 4 years on the streets, no doubt she led a sad life up till then as a defenseless street dog.

We brought her to the vet for a check-up, where she was found to have suffered from a miscarriage. She was later warded for treatment and observation. Life was just beginning to get better for this little fighter.

Alas, Sunday managed to escape when the vet carelessly left the main door open. For 12 whole days, she was nowhere to be found. In all our years of rescue work, we never had any dog go missing for so long.   Many dog lovers followed her posts and the pet community banded together to help locate her. Everyone was so worried. A few even wrote in to offer to contribute to the reward in order to increase the chances of finding her.  Her reward climbed from $200 to $2000. It was a trying period for all of us, yet touching at the same time.

On the 8th day, a friend, Chiew Guat, called us and said: "If you find her, I will adopt her."

It was as though Sunday heard her words. On the 12th day, we finally found her, albeit in a weakened state. She was again warded for a few days for observation and subsequently adopted into her forever home with Chiew Guat. All of us rejoiced!

And so, Sunday led a happy and well-loved life. She enjoyed going out with her family and hanging out with her dog sibling. Life was good for the last 8 years.

Towards the end of last year, Sunday developed tumors in her stomach – in fact, there were so many of them that she could not be operated on. Chiew Guat spared no expenses in treating her and keeping her comfortable – massages and acupuncture etc., she had it all.

And this year, Sunday was diagnosed with vestibular disease, a condition common in senior dogs. Yet the feisty girl fought on.

Sadly, her tumors ruptured in the end, causing massive internal bleeding. Sunday passed on peacefully at home with her family by her side.

Much as we are devastated by the news, we would like to thank Chiew Guat and family for loving her and caring so much for her up till her last breath. Sunday continues to lead her best life over the rainbow bridge.

Sunday's rescue story: http://hopedogrescue.blogspot.com/2012/02/vagabond-sunday.html

Written by : Alina Tee