I'm awfully late for my date with Mr. Sandman but there's this nagging guilt at the back of my head and I just had to come up with a post. It's been way too long since I last blogged about anything other than the rescues. I'm still owing quite a few posts to the group but I'll be selfish for once :p This post isn't that far off from rescues but it's at least on the opposite spectrum. A happy post!
Celebrating Lisa's birthday over the weekend
I knew them not too long ago but they have come to be a very important group of people in my life. I am grateful for whoever is looking out for me from high above to arrange for them to be here at one of the lowest period in my life.
Gorgeous Lisa
Banana cake from Bollywood Veggies - baked from banana from their own farm
Yummy Nasi Lemak!
A beautiful 3D collage made by handi-lady Rina as a pressie for Lisa
No party is complete without doggies
My first time meeting Bandit
Such a pleasure meeting him!
Mark showing Bandit some love
Popsicle the boss
Meet Snapple!
Sweet sweet Laurel
Chelsea is Lisa's sweetheart
Dog whisperer??
Dogs are the angels in my life ♥♥♥
Bollywood Veggies 100 Neo Tiew Road, Singapore 719026 (Kranji) Tel: (+65) 6898 5001 OPEN ON: Wed to Sun & Pub.Holidays from 9 am to 6.30pm
Note: Dinner is not available as they close at 6.30pm
I am so proud that my article for HOPE Dog Rescue on Molly (read here) had been picked up by the press. My post was also summarized and translated into Chinese. Albeit, I can recognise only half of the total words in the Chinese article. I am able to make out the gist of it.
I am so glad to be doing my part to raise awareness for these dogs. For me now, blogging is no longer just for fun. I realised that so much can be done with my words and photographs. With what I can give and offer, I have never felt richer in my life.
Not the prettiest picture to start a blog post with and I know that many might not have the stomach for it. But I sincerely beseech everyone to stay on and read about the ordeal of strong sweet Molly.
It was slightly after 2am on a weekday when I received a text from a friend, Astha. She had spotted a dog that had 'lost a paw', loitering at her block in Bukit Panjang. Lost a paw?? Fiona and I don't really know what that means but we rushed down all the same.
Nothing can quite prepare us for the sight. The dog had literally lost a paw. (This dog would later come to be named Molly.) It was dark and we can't really make out how bad the injury was but we can see a good bit of the bone where her paw should have been. As the stench of rotting flesh filled the air, it gave us an inkling of the severity of her wound.
On top of that, Molly was also emaciated. (Later we learned at the vet that she weighs only a mere 10kg.) She was ravenous despite that Astha had already fed her food. We tried to take advantage of that and used food to lure her into the carrier. But I soon come to realise that rescue work is not easy. Molly was very wary of human and refused to come near us even when there was food. This was going to be a long night.
There was no way we can rush things. We had to approach her slowly so as not to startle her. Although she was in pain and hopping on 3 legs, she was still very nimble. The slightest bit of movement from us was enough to scare her into running in the opposite direction. In fact, I remained crouched most of the time. Amazing that I can still walk after that.
Since Molly refused to come near us, we left trails of food leading to the carrier. The plan was for Fiona to push her in and close the gate, while my job was to hide behind the carrier and tilt it with all my might so that she can't come back out. Every time she comes near the carrier, I would hold my breath. In part was because of the nauseating putrid smell and the other was because I was so afraid that she would run off just by me breathing. It sounds silly but we failed so many times that I was despairing we might never get to help her.
All too soon, we ran out of food because Molly would eat up the trails of food but never venture far enough into the carrier. Astha kindly offered to run to a 7-eleven to buy more canned food. There was nothing else that we can do but to patiently repeat this over and over again. I must have been getting pretty desperate, for I started to plead with Molly in my head. And after what seems like eternity, Molly finally trusted us enough to forage deeper into the carrier for food. That was the cue and we sprung into action. Success! We can all finally breathe a sigh of relief, now that we managed to have her safely in the carrier and get her the help that she needs.
It was almost 5am by the time we got home and poor Fiona had only 2 hours of sleep before she was due to get up and bring 2 strays for sterilization. I have the utmost respect for Fiona and her team. The amount of dedication and sacrifice that they put in is unbelievable.
The next day, residents from Green Haven helped us bring Molly to the vet as her carrier could not fit into our small van.
In the daylight, we can now see the extensive damage to her leg. You can't see it from here but it was infested with maggots. Apart from losing a paw, there was also a deep puncture hole on her left front foot, equally maggots infested. It looks like her leg was caught in something. A wild boar trap maybe? Does anyone know if there's traps in Bukit Pajang area?
Molly had remained surprisingly calm throughout it all. It was as though she knew that we were helping her. I believe that she has a really sweet and gentle disposition because she did not turn aggressive like other dogs normally would when they are in severe pain.
I can't even bear to look at the wound, let alone suffer from this pain. I don't know how Molly does it but I know it's beyond me.
Did you see the fat maggots crawling around in the video?
Molly would have to be amputated from the shoulder below. But the vet says that she might die on the table because she had very low red blood count from excessive loss of blood and she also has heartworm. There was however no choice but to go ahead with the surgery, as her leg was septic and had swelled to twice its size. Without the amputation, she would most definitely die from the sepsis. Everyone at HOPE Dog Rescue was very worried and kept her in our prayers as she underwent surgery.
Dear Molly who loves life had battled death and won! She is currently warded and recovering at the clinic. But sad to say her ordeal is far from over. Her next hurdle now is to find someone to adopt or foster her. If there's no one to take her in, she would have to stay at a kennel.
This stump at her shoulder would likely get infected if she is to stay at a kennel because it is dirty and wet. After Molly's struggle, she deserves a loving home that can nurse her back to health.
Molly's surgery costs $3500. While every cent is well-spent, it is something that HOPE Dog Rescue can ill afford.
If you can help in any way, be it adopting; fostering; or donating towards her surgery; please email alicia@hopedogrescue.org
I had blogged about Oscar previously, but I'm willing to take a bet that you have no recollection whatsoever of this cute little face. And there is a good reason for this. Oscar has been steadily putting on weight and is well on the road to recovery! When I fetched Oscar for his vet review today, I can barely recognize him myself.
Oscar is looking so much more alert and a lot less tense than when I first saw him. The vet said that he had put on 1 kg in a mere 1 week! I had been told that this little boy loves his food. And that is a good sign :) Skin culture was done, hence the small white patch on the body.
This was how grotesque poor Oscar looked like when HOPE Dog Rescue first picked him up at the cemetery. I can only imagine life as a living hell for him. Lest everyone forgets. Oscar is only 6 months old. Still a baby. (Photo courtesy of HOPE Dog Rescue)
And this was when I first met Oscar. Although slightly better but still a pathetic sorry sight. His skin was extremely raw and there were patches of open sores. He was also huddled up like a ball and terribly afraid of his surroundings.
Take a look at our brave little warrior now! He has come a long way and I am immensely proud of him. However, this does not spell the end of the ordeal. Oscar has to go back to the vet weekly for jabs and it will take him a few months to completely recover.
HOPE Dog Rescue is now paying for his lodging in a dog kennel as they are not able to find a foster. A volunteer also goes down daily to feed him his medication. While Oscar's physical condition is improving, I am worried about his psychological condition. When I entered the kennel today, all the other dogs were jumping up and down, barking excitedly. All but Oscar. He lies unmoving, only looking at me with his big brown eyes. As you can see from the photo, he is all by himself, confined by cold slabs of concrete. This is no way for a puppy to be growing up.
I was cradling Oscar all the time while we were waiting for the vet and I can see that he was slowly warming up to me. His body relaxed and he started to check out the surroundings. And when I placed him in the car, he shifted himself and propped his head up on the hand-rest to look at me. I was all mush when that happened. My heart was won over by him 100%. It became apparent to me that all it takes was love and human touch to mend this broken soul.
When I returned him to the kennel and placed him on the cold hard floor, he seemed resigned and reverted back to his lifeless self. I was devastated. Sleep will be difficult for me tonight as Oscar's gentle helpless eyes keeps coming to mind.
Little Oscar desperately needs a home, even if not a permanent one but at least something temporary, so that he need not be placed in a kennel. If you can foster or adopt Oscar, please email alicia@hopedogrescue.org.
After my encounter with Beano (read more here), I realised that there's so much to be done for animals and so much more in my own capacity that I can help out. I therefore, started to volunteer for HOPE Dog Rescue and my 1st assignment was to ferry Oscar to the vet for his follow-up consultation.
Oscar is a 6 month old stray puppy that stays in a cemetery (more about Oscar). HOPE came across him when they were carrying out their sterilization project there. Oscar is suffering from Dermodectic Mange and 2 of his siblings had already died a slow painful death from it. He is the only 1 out of the litter left now.
Meet little Oscar. He was so terrified the whole time I was there & stayed almost motionless in the carrier.
His body is so raw and it's bleeding in some areas
My heart was heavy with despair while I edited these photos. It must be sheer torture for Oscar.
Puppies are suppose to be playful & jumping around. I've never seen a puppy look so sad in my entire life.
Instead of getting better, Oscar seems to be in a worse off condition because his white blood cells have increased. The vet is not sure where's the sepsis from & thus Oscar was warded for IV antibiotics.
I know HOPE had their hands full recently with Beano and Babu suffering from canine distemper. And on the night that I was sending Oscar to the vet, I learned that they were rushing a kitten, with an eye nearly popped out, to the vet too.
I am grateful to the kind people from HOPE for not giving up on these strays. An easy option would have been to put them to sleep because treatments are expensive. But they had never withheld treatment just because these are strays.
In addition to keeping Oscar, Beano and Babu in your prayers, I'm appealing to all to help in whatever way you can. If you have a car, perhaps you can volunteer to ferry the pets around. Or perhaps foster a dog. Or if not, the simplest way is to make a donation.
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one." -Mother Teresa
Once again a mega big thank you to all that had contributed to Beano's medical bills!
Meet Beano
Although Beano's head was still wrapped up, I was relieved to know that there was a marked improvement from when he was first brought in.
Sherry with a big big heart
I'm in love with that little pink nose!
I heard that just before I arrived, Beano was really active & naughty! That must means he's so much better :)
Who is the lucky one that will get to keep Beano as their pet? You perhaps? Beano needs a home ......
Meet Prince. Prince was rescued from a puppy mill. How can anyone be so cruel? (picture from HOPE Dog Rescue)
This is Prince now & he's the smallest sweetest thing ever ......
While Beano seems to be on the bend, Prince is not so lucky. His blood count does not seem to be going up & the vet thinks it might be the dreaded 'C'. How much more suffering can this miserable small tiny thing take?
After meeting Prince & Beano, I know they will be close to my heart & I'll have them in all my prayers. I am thankful to HOPE Dog Rescue for reaching out to these stray and abandoned dogs. I am even more thankful for fosters, like Sherry, who opened up their hearts and homes to help rehabilitate these dogs before they are able to find a home.
I can't do much but I'm going to continue my endeavor of raising funds for these dogs whenever the need arise. I hope you all will continue to lend your support.
Finally Say No to Puppy Mills! Do not buy your dogs from pet shops. Adopt if you can.
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