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Creator's Academy

Pawjourr’s Creators: Allthatauss

Have you ever come across a mother-daughter pawdel duo? Uncommon, but not a rare sight. Let me introduce you to Scarlett and Penne!

The AUSSventures begins

Scarlett is a two and a half years old Red Merle Mini American Shepherd, also known as Mini Aussie. Penne, a Red Tri Mini American Shepherd, is her four-month-old daughter.

Their story began in May when Scarlett gave birth to a litter of eight puppies*; four boys and four girls. The entire litter of puppies was named after Pasta noodles — voted via Instagram polls — with Penne being the second pup to enter the world!

*Check out their Instagram Stories to watch Scarlett’s entire pregnancy journey.

The litter has since gone their separate ways, renamed, and taken into different families. However, the puppies would appear on their social media now and then for a mini-reunion, staying connected forever!

Zeus (left) spending time with his mom, Scarlett (right)

Thrill-seeking Aussies

Miniature Shepherds are active and athletic, and our two Aussies are no exception! Scarlett is the master of tricks — knowing 10 — Penne, on the other hand, is still a work in progress. But one day she will know just as many as her mom!

Their parents love making reels of all the crazy things they do, especially documenting all the AUSSventures they partake in on Instagram and TikTok. They can be frequently spotted taking boat rides, swimming, hiking, and playing tug of war with each other — what an adventure!

Scarlett becomes a #PawjourrPetCreator 

It’s a dog life

Our favorite Aussies appeared in many campaigns this year, which allows their hooman to put their skills to the test.

Since joining Pawjourr as a pet creator, Scarlett has been a part of two campaigns. As Scarlett tends to get anxious easily, it only makes sense that our creators worked with Finn and Tailspring. Scarlett has benefited a lot from Finn supplements and Tailspring goat milk toppers, these calming aids have helped Scarlett in more than one way; these calming aids do not just soothe Scarlett, they also serve as nutritious treats!

Daughter Penne was featured in her first campaign this past August – yay! Unlike her mom Scarlett, Penne isn’t suitable for all the campaigns available. However, Aroma Paws pet shampoo is perfect for young pups like her. This is because their coats are softer and more delicate, which requires more care.

Scarlett and Penne hoping to join their hoomans in Italy

Versatile creators 

The brands that Scarlett and Penne have worked with this year all share one thing in common: pet wellness and health.

Our creators do not just share the action-packed adventures they take on. They also use their experience and exposure to good use, showcasing brands that aim to improve the lives of pets.

As doggos of different ages, Scarlett and Penne would require different products that meet their different needs. This would come in handy as it allows our creators to showcase a variety of products to target a wide range of audiences — the perfect fit if you’re looking for creators that are versatile. 

Want to connect with creators like Scarlett and Penne? Reach out via hello@pawjourr.com now!

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Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: Gimmegizmothecorgi

Life is full of surprises, ups and downs, and in-betweens. But never fear, your doggo companion is here! The growing pains of being a dog owner are so rewarding when seeing your fur kid prancing around with its fellow furiends. That is what Xinyi, pawmom to her Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Gizmo, believes in.

A Corgi’s odyssey

Xinyi first saw Gizmo from an Australian breeder, Nireno Kennels. Due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, she wasn’t able to meet him physically. However, the distance didn’t stop her from finding ‘the one’! 

Named after the 1984 movie Gremlins, Gizmo is just as adorable as his namesake. Attention-seeking by nature, he craves all the scratches and cuddles that he can get, and has grown to love his hoomans much more than his fur friends. “He is living true to his name!”, says Xinyi. 

@gimmegizmothecorgi having the time of his life playing tug of war

Gizmo is a true fighter, and he channels that fighting spirit when it comes to his favorite game, tug of war. He’ll go at it with anyone — even if they’re twice his size!

While he loves to play rough, that doesn’t mean he can’t relax and have a good time. Beyond all that roughhousing, he really enjoys long walks at the park or getting all dirty and muddy at the beach. 

Every week, Xinyi looks forward to planning social events for her rambunctious fur kid. “We try to let him experience new things and activities as much as we can so that we can create many happy memories with him.”

@gimmegizmothecorgi loving his water activities

Pushing through the rainy days

When Gizmo was taken for a DNA test, he was found to be at an increased risk for Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) which is a common health issue amongst Corgis. Other serious health issues include hip dysplasia, epilepsy and degenerative myelopathy.

A pawrent’s biggest fear is to see their fur kid(s) getting sick — and this came true when Gizmo had a health scare last year. He has since made a full recovery but the incident convinced Xinyi to get Gizmo insured due to his hefty hospitalization bills.

“Most comprehensive in terms of his needs”

Xinyi went on a hunt for the best insurance plan out there and found AON Happy Tails, known for their comprehensive insurance policy for pets!

Happy Tails is the only pet insurance company that covers specified hereditary and congenital conditions — “which is helpful for us as Gizmo is at risk of IVDD and prone to congenital conditions like Hip Dysplasia,” said Xinyi.

Additionally, pups between the age of sixteen weeks and four years enjoy a lifetime co-insurance of 20%. This means 80% of the incurred expenses are covered. Enrolling your pups at a young age means they get to enjoy better co-insurance coverage – isn’t that fantastic?

“I think it provides us with a peace of mind, and means that our fur babies get to enjoy their life to the fullest without us having to worry about the ‘what-ifs’,” Xinyi added.

*Bonus Content*

If Gizmo could speak hooman for 7 days, what would you say to him? Or do with him?

“I would love to be able to travel overseas with him, and to let him explore the different sights, attractions, and food other countries have to offer. If he can speak hooman he will definitely be talking non-stop about his favorite country and food, and also making a lot of friends all around the world!”

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Creator's Academy

Pawjourr’s Creators: Lillygirlthegolden

Meet SoCal’s fearless duo

Amanda and her one-year-old Golden Retriever pup, Lilly, are roaring for adventures as they spend most of their time in the Atlantic Ocean.

If Moana was a four-legged canine, she would be Lilly! When owner Amanda says the word “swimming”, electrified Lilly can be seen waiting by the door to jump straight in the car, ready to chase some ocean waves.

Golden Retrievers are said to be active by nature and playful by heart. At the beach, Lilly proves them right by frolicking around, making pit holes, getting all wet and muddy. Lilly can always be seen chasing after anything: seagulls, crows, pelicans — you name it!

@lillygirlthegolden soaking up the SoCal sun

A company of two

Amanda, with her flair for creative writing and video editing, loves to share their water adventures with their followers — originally an Instagram exclusive, they have since expanded to platforms like TikTok and their new blog, ‘The Golden Life of Lilly’!

By sharing their oceanic escapades online, it allows Amanda to showcase her skills in writing, composing and editing. From high-quality photos to product reviews, Amanda got it covered!

She immersed herself in the online community in hopes to inspire others, and also learn from creators like herself. This exposure introduced Amanda to a lot of fur-ever friends where she picked up numerous tips and tricks on pet ownership and content creation.

@lillygirlthegolden looking playful with her tennis ball

Always putting Lilly first

As a hooman working for Beach Patrol, Amanda and her pup would spend the entire day at the beach — a win for Lilly! But the long hours could take a toll on Lilly, causing Amanda to be more aware of her fur kid’s well-being.

With that, Amanda is always on the hunt for the best products that seeks to improve Lilly’s health through community recommendations or even branded collaborations. 

@lillygirlthegolden loving Oxyfresh’s water additive dental care

For instance, our golden duo has recently partnered with Oxyfresh, to showcase their Premium Pet Dental Water Additive on Instagram. Brands like Oxyfresh, who strives to improve the lives of pets, are exactly what Amanda looks out for! 

Experts of their craft 

Our golden duo incorporates products they love into their everyday lives and most of their content features brings a fresh ocean breeze to the niche community of pet-product reviews! 

@lillygirlthegolden winding down at the beach

Their potential is endless! Our California girls can certainly spice up your campaign with the right amount of sand and waves.   

Whether your objective is to raise brand awareness or creating curated content, their ability to feature authentic and engaging content can provide numerous opportunities to give your brand the edge you seek. 

Ready to work with creators like Amanda and Lilly? Reach out to us at hello@pawjourr.com today! 

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Creator's Academy General Updates

What’s new on Pawjourr: September 2022

An experience designed with creators in mind.

We’re proud to finally introduce the brand new Pawjourr Creator Dashboard with key features that will help you make the most out of your content creator experience. Expect a full rundown of what it is, how it works, and what’s new!

Everything you need in one place

Say goodbye to forgotten applications. With the new dashboard, you can now manage your profile and track your campaign progress on your homepage – allowing you to keep track of your application status and earnings efficiently!

In addition, we made sure it’s easier than before to upload your drafts. Ongoing Jobs allows you to view your active campaigns in greater detail and upload your content with ease – isn’t that such a breeze?

Watch your funds fill up

That’s not all! You no longer have to worry about how much you’ve earned or how much you’re making from your campaigns. 

Your Treat Jar helps you to keep tabs on your earnings and you can be an expert navigator by following these steps:

Step 1: Choose your preferred payment method.

Step 2: Add and save your preferred payout method for easy withdrawals.

Step 3: Keep track of your earnings and withdrawals through your transaction history.

Level up your job search

Skip the endless scrollings! With our improved filters, your next opportunity is only a few clicks away.  Select specific requirements based on your campaign preferences using the search filter on the left. From countries to creator types, we got them all!

Have a question?

For new creators, fret not! With the Pawjourr Help Center, you can easily access FAQs and answers to your questions. You can even connect with our team directly via our chatbot and we’ll be there for you in a jiffy!

Now that everything you need is all in one place, we hope you are ready to navigate your way through the world of exciting and fun branded opportunities. 

Let us know what you think about our new release!

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Brand's Resources Creator's Academy

Instagram Reels vs TikTok: Which is better?

It can be hard to figure out which media channels to use for your company. Every social media platform has a different type of distribution content, not to mention different target audiences and media cultures. 

Fret not. Once you understand how the different platforms work and what kind of content best fits the audiences, you’ll be going viral and gaining a following in no time. Right now, video content is crucial in marketing your products and getting your brand out there. What’s the difference between Instagram reels and TikTok videos? 

By Pawjourr

Instagram Reels

For starters, just because they’re both video-based content doesn’t mean they are the same. The two media platforms are giants in their own way and have different ways to connect to audiences. 

Instagram, the old classic. It’s been around for a long time and chances are, your company already has an Instagram page of its own where you post your own branded content. Mainly a platform that posts images instead of videos, all that changed when Instagram reels were introduced in 2020. 

Typically lasting 15 to 60 seconds, these reels allow you to further your audience and reach. While Instagram stories are tied to your page and only your followers are privy to your content, your reels are discoverable through the ‘Explore’ page on Instagram and there’s a higher chance of your video being seen by new users. 

By Pawjourr

Due to the nature of the platform, content on Instagram is inclined to be a little more formal. That doesn’t mean all the fun stuff should be taken away but rather, educational videos for your brand’s community and polished informative videos are more likely to do better. 

You can also decide whether or not to have it displayed on your grid layout – you can move it to the reels tab instead. That way, your content can be curated in a different way than your images. Personalised vlogs, special takeovers and campaign videos all fit the bill! 

Statistics show that Instagram reels earn up to 22% more engagement than video posts shared on the native feed, so next time you want to post a video, you might want to publish it as a reel instead. 

TikTok 

The underdog that grew in popularity during the pandemic, is not to be taken lightly either. Even though it hasn’t been around as long as Instagram, the chances of going viral tend to be much higher and your content has way more chances of reaching new users due to the platform’s ‘For You Page’ algorithms. 

It might seem like TikTok isn’t the best platform for marketing your brand but it’s a huge window of opportunity. In fact, 84% of marketers are diverting their attention to TikTok. The emphasis on community and vlogging allows brands to connect with their customers while marketing their products with ease. 

By Pawjourr

The nature of TikTok videos tends to be more candid and real. Think of funny sketches, down-to-earth conversations and product reviews. In truth, it can be anything. The beauty of TikTok is that, unlike Instagram, there’s less pressure to curate your feed and create a unified brand of content. Since users are mainly scrolling through videos on their FYP, your videos will most likely be viewed individually. 

By Pawjourr

When to use IG Reels or TikTok

Even though there isn’t a strict rulebook you have to follow, after trial and error, you’ll find that your brand will be connecting with different communities on both platforms. Social media statistics show that TikTok’s users point to its rising popularity amongst teenagers while Instagram frequents both young adults and teens. 

The advertising opportunities on the platforms differ slightly. While Instagram is no stranger to including ads in your feed, TikTok puts a big emphasis on creator-based ads against Instagram’s ‘shopping’ section and shoppable ads. 

TikTok also tracks both the brand’s profile as a whole and the individual video performance. This means overall metrics, total playtime and geolocation. Instagram reels offer the general analytics you’re used to, interactions, reach, and engagement statistics with reel-specific data to get insights on. 


Take a look at the CatCare Water Fountain campaign in partnership with DogCare. Featuring Pawjourr’s pawfluencers, the two platforms saw different engagement statistics and results. Since the creative briefs were the same for the campaign, the style and content of the posts remain the same – the only difference was the social media platforms

By @maiathemeow on Instagram

The combined reach of the campaign, with 18 pawfluencers, was 129,000 accounts reached  with 4,300 profile engagements. 

Similarly, the campaign was also held on TikTok, featuring 12 pawcreators from Pawjourr. The results were 539,000 accounts reached with 6,900 profile engagements. 

By @tabbyandtuxedocat on TikTok

 Ultimately, you get to decide how your brand intends to curate your content and persona on these platforms. The difference between Instagram and TikTok might be confusing, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really rewarding. 

Don’t forget that your brand stands a good chance of reaching different audiences through the two different platforms. Growing your community and brand awareness is essential in building your brand, but remember to keep your content authentic and sincere. 

This way, no matter what you do, your content is sure to do well no matter what the platform is. 

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Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: The Golden Shayne

Finding your best friend makes the world a brighter place. Especially when he comes in the shape of the cutest Golden Retriever. The epitome of sunshine, the fun-loving star isn’t only a bundle of joy to be around – he’s a star too! Shayne just wrapped up filming a Mediacorp drama, so look out for him gracing your screens soon. 

Photo by @GoldenShayne

Love At First Click 

Livia first saw Shayne online. After doing rounds of extensive research, Livia first laid eyes on her best friend to-be through videos of Shayne playing in his dog pen with all his toys. She knew he was the one when he calmed immediately when a human would pet him. 

“He looked so calm and enjoyed the stroke of human touch. I knew instantly he was the one when I couldn’t stop sharing the videos of Shayne with my loved ones,” exclaimed Livia. 

That was all it took for Shayne to be flown to Singapore to his forever home. 

Photo by @GoldenShayne

A Ray of Sun-‘Shayne’ 

Shayne, a bundle of joy and a whole lot of energy, loves to swim. His pawparents encourage his passion for the waves, bringing him to frequent swimming sessions on the weekends. He also goes for playdates with the dogs next door and visits pet-friendly cafes – Livia wasn’t kidding when she said he was outgoing and energetic! 

Even so, enjoying quiet time as a family is something treasured between this paw family too. 

“My partner and I will usually watch Netflix on the sofa together after a long day of work and Shayne will lean on us as we watch TV,” said Livia. 

“Shayne even watched TC too! Especially when he sees dogs going after a ball or a toy. He will stand right in front of the TV to have a closer look if he needs to ‘inspect’ what’s going on.” 

Photo by @GoldenShayne

Worries, Prevention and Protection 

For a dog like Shayne, one of the biggest fears Livia faces is potential hip problems that would affect his active lifestyle. 

Despite getting good hip scores as a puppy, hip dysplasia is common amongst Golden Retrievers and Livia doesn’t want to leave anything to chance. 

“We took preventative measures to minimize his risk when he was barely five months old. We took him to a vet and did a JPS surgery, an early intervention procedure that significantly reduces the chances of hip problems,” said Livia. 

The medical costs for procedures like hip replacements now are very costly. Livia and her partner decided on getting pet insurance to avoid financial worries becoming a factor in deciding between having treatment – anything that can be done for their furkid in the future was important. 

“It gives us peace of mind when the pet insurance provides a comprehensive cover, which is what HappyTails does. Even for hip dysplasia,” said Livia. 

When Shayne visited the vet a few months ago, his hips were thankfully in good condition and he doesn’t look like he’ll be in any danger anytime soon. This ball of sunshine can play to his heart’s content. 

*Bonus Question*

If Shayne could speak hooman for 7 days. What would you say to her for that week?

“I would want to tell Shayne to trust that we will give him the best life we could give to him! To tell him how much we love him and how much joy and laughter he’s brought into our lives! We are very grateful that he is the one.”

“We want to hear how he feels about us too!” 

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Creator's Academy

Life as a Pet Influencer!

I’ve always heard hoomans complaining about how they’ve had to “work like a dog”. As a dog, I kinda like my work. You’ve probably heard of the term “Pet Influencer”, aka Pawfluencer,  from the other dogs in the park. It’s the job everyone can put their paw in and start with no fuss. But you might not really know what we do, so let me tell you more about Pawfluencing and why you can dip your toebeans into this! 

Photo by @benjithechicky

Spending time together

Whenever my pawmom heads out to work, I definitely feel a little sad inside. I don’t see her as much as a few years ago, when she had to stay home for days on end. Becoming a Pawfluencer really opened up the ways we spend our quality time together. Every new pet job is a chance at trying new pet toys, grooming products, and pet food I wouldn’t have been able to find at the local pet store.

One of my paid partnerships gave me the chance to play with a ball — with treats inside! I could smell the kibbles hiding in there so I had to boop my snout on it until the treats could fall out for me to munch on. I was all tuckered out from all that moving, it felt like a mini-workout!

Photo by @benjithechicky

From trying out new toys and treats, to getting dressed up and posing for pictures together, there’s never a dull day. 

You can call it work, but really, it’s about having fun and spending time together. 

Becoming a pawfluencer makes staying at home even more fun than usual! There have been many times now that a night in means being together with my human and trying something new together. Because content creation comes from almost anything, it’s usually a ball of fun.

Photo by @benjithechicky

It also makes me happy that I am working from home now, just like my pawparents did. 

Getting That Coin 

If there’s anything I need to say to convince you, it’s this. You earn money for your favourite treats! 

When you become a pawfluencer, you get to keep all that you’ve earned from the content you’re creating. After earning my first paycheck, my pawparents realised that earning while having fun together was possible. 

Photo by @benjithechicky

Even if you’re camera shy, it’s really not that hard. Our humans are taking photos of us all the time anyway. Just wait for them to prepare their lights and props, sit pretty for the camera, and smile! Watch your treat jar fill up just like that. 

My human is calling me over to try out this new brand of dog food, and after we’ll head out for some fun at the nearby park. You know what they say – work hard, have fun, make history. Trust me, you have what it takes to become a content creator and I promise that it’ll be worth it! 

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Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: Lola.thegoldenshowgirl

This article was brought to you by Aon Happy Tails.

Holding the title for the most friendly dog breed, Golden Retrievers are as wholesome as they come. The breed is synonymous with being happy and easygoing and will want nothing more than for you to be happy. Such an embodiment of sunshine and rainbows is an absolutely accurate way to describe Lola, the durian-loving doggo to pawmon Daphne.

Lola is a good-natured cinnamon roll, friendly to humans and doggos alike. Despite being in doggy daycare since she was 14 weeks old, the Golden Retriever is rather unaware of her own size when playing with dogs and people alike. 

A smile worth protecting

Lola and Daphne

Lola’s golden rays had been shining for as long as Daphne could remember. “By chance, Lola was one of two remaining puppies in her litter of nine,” she said. “We picked Lola because she was the more playful of the pair and approached us. It was an easy choice after that.” The litter would still meet from time to time, thanks to Daphne and the other pawrents exchanging contacts and keeping in touch with each other. Because of that, Lola’s bond with her pack is even stronger than most — the litter even gathered to celebrate their first birthday!

Energetic and playful

As one would expect, Lola is incredibly high-spirited and active; possessing energy rivalling a dynamo. “She will play and completely forget that you can (and might) tip over if a 30kg doggo gets too excited and jumps at you!” Daphne mentioned that Lola is obsessed with tennis balls and swimming, so the pawfamily would go for regular swims (Sentosa Beach is where her heart lies). “Lola is also just happy being at any big field,” Daphne said. “There, she can run freely and chase after her tennis balls.”

Lola having the time of her life at Sentosa

Past experiences, present worries

“From past experiences, pet insurance is something that I know we should have.” Daphne’s previous Golden Retriever had passed due to Advanced Nasal Cancer. The harrowing experience had left the pawmom worried the same might happen to Lola.

Among dog breeds, Golden Retrievers, unfortunately, have the highest rate of cancer — slightly less than double the rate of cancer in all dogs. The estimate for that is one in three, according to the Golden Retriever Club. 

Daphne believes that pet insurance is mandatory for all pet owners to have peace of mind. After all, insurance exists to protect us from unforeseen circumstances. She recounted an incident when Lola was 15 months old, whereby the doggo accidentally swallowed an antler chew that she had been playing with. “We brought her to the vet for an X-ray and they performed an endoscopy on her to fish out the chew bone,” she said. “Thankfully, the majority of the cost of surgery was covered by insurance, so did not have to pay as much in the end!”

*Bonus Question*

Say Lola could speak hooman for 7 days. What would you say to her for that week?

“We would tell her to stop snatching someone else’s toys at the dog pool or beach. It’s embarrassing! We would remind her of her size and to give others their personal space. Most importantly, we want Lola to know that she brings lots of joy to everyone around her and we love her so very much. 

We always hope to be able to bring her along for a long holiday trip. Probably Canada during Autumn/Winter so she can experience a different and cooler climate because we think she’s gonna love the weather. It will be an adventure too, having her tag along on our travels and explore a whole new world for herself.”

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Community Stories

“I Had to Hit the Ground Running”: How a Frontline Healthcare Worker and a Pet Owner adapted to the Pandemic

Have you ever wondered what it is like for a frontline healthcare worker during a pandemic? 

For Rachel, a first-year staff nurse at a local acute hospital, the height of the pandemic’s first wave in Singapore, she had to adapt to major changes. These included ‘ignoring’ her dog Bear and facing discrimination as a health care worker. 

We interviewed her to learn more about her experience, and how we can do our part to respect and accommodate our frontline workers.

1. How did Singapore handle the COVID-19 pandemic, and how did this affect your life as a frontline healthcare worker?

I was a new graduate from NUS Nursing at the height of the pandemic’s initial waves in Singapore and simply put, I had to hit the ground running. Staffing was scarce as many colleagues were deployed to other areas, such as the quarantine facilities and swabbing centres. I have had to orientate myself quickly. It was a drastic shift to working on rotating shifts, and I would find myself physically and mentally drained at the end of the day.

2. What is a local acute hospital?

An acute hospital is one that sees complex and urgent medical conditions and/or injuries that have a sudden onset. Such hospitals include an emergency department, intensive care, and a wide range of medical and surgical specialities. Patients usually receive active short-term treatment and stabilised, before discharging or transferring to a long-term care facility such as a community hospital. Acute hospitals in Singapore include Singapore General Hospital, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and more.

3. Tell us more about your relationship with Bear.

I have known Bear since he was only a couple of days old. Bear was rescued by Mercylight Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in November 2016, along with his mother and 2 brothers from a cement mixer company. With eyes that have yet to open, they were left vulnerable to the dangers of fast-moving construction trucks and harsh weather. I was, and still am, a volunteer with Mercylight, and that was how I met Bear.

Initially, I was not looking to adopt Bear, as I was not confident in raising a puppy, and was looking at an older, calmer dog to call my own. As the years went by, my interaction with Bear increased through training for obedience competitions and trick performances. That was how I grew to love Bear’s goofy and happy-go-lucky persona. After 4 years later, I officially signed the papers for Bear’s adoption. I had decided to adopt Bear as my companion after graduating from my studies.

Bear is a people’s pleaser and loved to be in the presence of my family. He loves physical touch and he would often paw anyone who’s around him for attention. By some instinct, he knows when any family member is having a rough day and would offer his quiet company.

4. How has this changed since the outbreak?

As I have immunocompromised family members, I have had to be very regimented to keep everyone at home safe. While the protocols and weekly tests at the hospital have ensured so, I have had to keep a distance from Bear and my family members when I return home from work. I would head straight to the bathroom to wash up before interacting with them.

Bear is a huge cuddle bug and loves belly rubs. Bear’s usual routine when I return home is to flop over on his back for belly rubs and grab the nearest toy to play fetch with. Just imagine a very confused, and often disappointed, Bear when he waits outside the bathroom!

We have also decreased our outings and stayed at home. Despite this, we have made good use of our time by experimenting with different dog-friendly recipes, and also enriching Bear with trick training (we are currently working towards his Expert Trick Dog Title with Do More With Your Dog!).

Needless to say, Bear loves getting extra treats during trick training!

5. You mentioned encountering differential treatment. Could you elaborate on your experience?

Oftentimes, those who have not met Bear before would often assume that Bear is aggressive and had biting tendencies. Parents could be seen dragging their children away, and heard saying ‘he’s [Bear] is coming to bite you’. I guess it has to do with his tall stature and his unique looks as a Singapore Special. However, that could not be further from the truth!

Photo Credit: Instagram @bearrr_ss

These experiences would be made worse when they learn that I am a healthcare worker. Some are gracious in their interaction, while others would have visceral reactions such as disgust. While I have learned to take it in my stride, it still upsets me when there are still members of the public who pass harsh judgement and refuse to offer us a chance to educate them.

6. What are some common misconceptions individuals may have about frontline healthcare workers, and what advice would you impart on such individuals?

Oftentimes, for the uninitiated, there is a common misconception that healthcare workers are ‘dirty’. I have had obnoxious claims that I was very selfish to be working in healthcare during the pandemic. For such individuals, I would advise as such.

Nursing is more than a passion for me. The tough times will never overshadow the joy I get from seeing my patients walk out of the wards and back home. I am aware that being a frontline healthcare worker puts me and my family at higher risk for infection. However, there are many proven effective methods of infection control that have already been put in place, and all healthcare professions have been trained rigorously.

I am certain that this pandemic will pass soon, with corporation from all Singaporeans and with the valiant efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

7. Moving forward, what are your hopes for Singapore’s future in lieu of this pandemic?

I hope that Singaporeans would grow to have tolerance for others. Racism and discrimination have resurfaced during this pandemic, and have no place in the Little Red Dot we call home.

While there has been a lot of negatives, there has been an overwhelming response from locals in support of essential workers. From hawkers packing food for healthcare workers to Singaporeans donating SingapoRediscover vouchers to migrant workers, these small acts of kindness highlighted the heart-warming compassion of locals.

I hope that even when the pandemic situation turns for the better, we, as Singaporeans, will continue to foster our ‘kampong spirit. While it has taken yet another pandemic to bring this issue into the light (the former being during the SARS period), multi-racial Singapore is here to stay after things tide over.

Photo Credit: Instagram @bearrr_ss

Also, I hope that Singaporeans learned that everyone, and every job, have a place in society. While we shine the light on essential workers, we must not forget those in other sectors such as in the F&B, business and economy, social services and more. Everyone in Singapore, no matter how intrinsically or distally involved, keeps Singapore running.


Thank you Rachel for your input and experience.

Categories
Brand Highlights

Em-bark on a Frightening Halloween Experience with Royal Albatross’ Dog Cruise “Howl-loween: The Barkest Night”

This October, the Royal Albatross team is inviting a party of ghouls onboard their dog-friendly cruise ship. Following the success of their previous Halloween event, Peter Pela, CEO and owner of Royal Albatross, announced their desire to “spice things up”.

As such, get ready for a frightening evening out, packed with ghosts and goblins as you set sail on their “Howl-loween – The Barkest Night” cruise. Running from 27th to 31st October, watch as the luxury cruise ship transforms itself into a tattered, run-down version of its past self. Paw-rents (and their pups!) are also invited to dress up for this special event. Best dressed guests are eligible to win prizes worth over $200! 

Possible costume idea?

The theme for this year revolves around the mysterious waters of the “Sentosa Triangle”. As such the ship’s route will take you through the Sentosa coastline. A gourmet 3-course dinner will be served. You can opt to upgrade to a 6-course dinner at $50+++ per pax. Dog meals are prepared by their official partner, BOM BOM Catering. As quoted by Raphael Lim, their Head of Marketing, dinners will be served with a “dark twist”. What that is, is up to you to find out!

Photo Credit: https://www.tallship.com.sg/events/halloween-dinner-cruise-2021/

Tickets are SRV (Singapore Rediscovery Voucher) eligible.

You can also quote ‘PAWJOURR10’ for an additional 10% off.

P.S Ask the crew “Where’s the ghost?” for a special surprise ?