I became a volunteer in 2018 at The Right To Live (TRTL) dog shelter, and have been volunteering there ever since. Many people have asked me what it’s like to volunteer at a dog shelter. They wonder about the friendliness of the dogs, what I do to care for them and how the environment is like. Thus, I thought I would pen down my experience as a volunteer in hopes of encouraging animal lovers like yourself to support local shelters!
What kind of dogs do you care for?
Manja and I at Jurong Lake Garden Dog Run ❤️ (*taken before COVID-19)
“Are there any puppies at the shelter?” is a popular question I often receive. It is a misconception that most dogs you will meet at shelters are purebred young pups. They are mostly mongrels (aka Singapore specials), which refer to dogs who are bred on the streets. Singapore specials are commonly rescued from construction sites or sadly, families who have abandoned them. As they are a product of different dog breeds, Singapore specials do not look like purebred dogs. Despite their differences in appearance, they are no different from any other purebred dogs. Every Singapore special that I have met have their unique quirks, just like Manja in the photo above who REALLY loves her belly rubs.
“Dear hooman, rub my belly please… “
What do you do at the shelter?
Toffee giving me paw-fives ?
TRTL houses over more than 120 dogs. At our shelter, volunteers can walk and bath the dogs. The scope of work for volunteers may vary for different shelters but most shelters primarily need more volunteers to help with walking and bonding. As Singapore specials spend most of their days cooped up in their kennels, they do not get to make many hooman friends. Therefore, they get SUPER excited when they meet volunteers. Like many pet dogs out there, Singapore specials take time to warm up to new faces. The longer you commit, the better they will get to know you. One problem shelters face is finding regular volunteers who would stick around for long. These dogs need to foster a sense of familiarity with humans.
How is the shelter environment like?
Other TRTL volunteers ? (*taken before COVID-19)
When I first started, I had to gain the trust of many dogs at the shelter. Dog shelters house many dogs with different temperaments. Due to past experiences, some dogs may take more time to open up than others. Nothing wrong with requiring that extra boost of patience and T.L.C (tender, loving, care) right? What inspired me to continue my volunteer work at the dog shelter was witnessing how much I could brighten a dog’s day. Their smiles, hugs and antics keep me going.
“Not today hooman”
In a nutshell, many shelters in Singapore are looking for passionate helping hands to help care for our beloved Singapore specials. Besides joining volunteering programs, there are other thoughtful ways in which you can support local shelters. You could choose to adopt and not shop for a pet or become a dog sponsor. My volunteering journey has certainly been a fulfilling one, and I hope that it has sparked some inspiration in you to start your journey as well!
Allergy is defined as an over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance called an allergen. Allergens are protein that can come from plants, foods or animals.
Allergies are one of the most common issues here in Singapore. Allergies can start to appear when your pet is around six months of age and the majority of dogs affected with allergies are over the age of one or two.
Types of allergy
Flea Bite Allergy
Food Allergy
Environmental Allergy (Atopy)
The most common type of allergies seen in pets is either environmental allergy or food allergy. Common food allergens are chicken, dairy, eggs or beef. Common environmental allergens are pollens from trees/grasses and dust mites.
Signs and symptoms of allergies
Itching of the skin
Constantly biting and licking of the skin
Scabs on the body
Flaking on the skin
Redness on the skin
Treatment options for food allergy would be elimination diet for 8 weeks with no other food, treats, flavoured chews or medications. A home cooked novel protein and carbohydrate diet or hydrolysed protein diet. Novel protein such as rabbit, kangaroo or frog meat can be sourced easily available from any meat supplier. Novel carbohydrate such as sweet potato, white potato and chickpea can be sourced easily from the supermarket. Hydrolysed protein diet can be found in veterinary clinics selling prescription diet.
Treatment options for environmental allergy would be giving medications or allergen specific immunotherapy. Medications such as apoquel, cyclosporine, corticosteroids and cytopoint injections can help to manage allergies. Allergen specific immunotherapy such as serum allergy testing or intradermal skin testing can help you identify what allergens your pet is allergic to. Most veterinary clinics can provide this service where they are able to draw your pet’s blood and send out the serum for lab testing.
*Do note that allergies CANNOT be cured but can only be managed
My Personal Experience
Hiro started showing signs of scabbing and crusting around his groin area when he was about six months of age. His main diet was kibbles and chicken is the main ingredient. We rarely give him treats and do not give him milk either.
Scabs started showing day by day and even though he wasn’t scratching or biting it, it definitely bothered me a lot and it was concerning. I immediately stopped his diet and avoided chicken at all cost and changed to another food brand with the main protein as lamb. To my relief, the scabs started going away and his groin area does not look nasty anymore!
Everything was going smooth sailing till he nearly turns 2 and that was the time when I found out that he has been licking and biting on his paws once in a while. It did not bother me at all as I thought he was only doing it due to boredom and a way to get our attention. Soon, the licking and chewing became so frequent that his paws were filled with saliva staining, fur loss and it was inflamed!
His angry red paws were definitely a red flag and worth the investigation! The vet did a simple skin cytology test and there is a yeast infection going on in all four paws! To manage the yeast infection in his paws, we got some antifungal and anti-itch medication to help him manage his allergies. The medication definitely helped to calm his angry red paws and he stopped biting and licking his paws! When there is no medication, I try to manage his allergies by washing his paws regularly with a medicated shampoo (Vetazole/Malaseb) and putting him on a cone to prevent him from traumatising his paws and applying antibiotic cream.
Conclusion
It is definitely worth a trip to the vet if your pet has been experiencing any of the above signs! Don’t let their skin issues deteriorate over time! If medications are not your preferred choice, regular washing of the paws with a medicated shampoo and putting on the e-collar at least so they do not traumatise their own paws just like silly Hiro!
I hope my personal experience dealing with Hiro’s allergies help to enlighten pet owners! Remember, each dog is different and our experiences may vary. Thankfully Hiro’s allergies are only his paws where yeast overproduces.
Follow us on Instagram:@hiroxcharoadventures to see the goofballs and their crazy daily antics!
“Will I be getting my sleep back?”, “How long more till he knows where to pee and poo?”, “When can I ever leave him alone?”, “Can I return this pup to the breeder/SPCA?”
Have you been asking these questions to yourself?
You have just adopted a precious puppy, or waited two months just to bring your puppy home from the breeder. He is absolutely the most adorable thing you have ever owned, but… he is also sort of ruining your life. Was this whole decision a big mistake?
Welcome to “Puppy Blues”
Just like how mothers could develop postpartum depression, puppy blues are a similar phenomenon. Even though puppies are not children, there are some aspects of raising a puppy that is pretty much similar to raising a baby.
It is perfectly normal for you to feel exhausted, bumped out and overwhelmed. You are not alone and I can assure you this does not last forever.
Hoshi at 10 weeks old (First day at his new home)
When I first brought Hoshi from the breeder, I was really excited and wouldn’t stop looking at the precious ball of cuteness. However, it did not take long for the stress and blues to kick in.
On Hoshi’s first night home, there was barely any sleep as I woke up every 30 – 45 minutes to check on Hoshi and made sure he did not pee in his crate. This has led to a huge lack of sleep for at least a month. Sleep deprivation is a major contributing factor to puppy blues and it will become much harder to maintain your mental health when you can only sleep two to three hours each night! For me, I had to wake up every 1am and 5am to bring Hoshi on his potty break.
Other than potty training your puppy, you can expect yourself to simply not doing anything for the next two weeks! I am really blessed to have Hoshi join the family while I was on a holiday from school. But this will definitely be extremely hard on first time pawrents who have a full-time job or commitment.
Enjoy a short video of puppy Hoshi and my family members (really enjoying the time)
When Hoshi is awake, I am ensuring that he is not putting tissue paper into his mouth, he is not biting my sofa and not stealing socks from the shoe rack. Supervision is extremely important as you would need to spot the moment your puppy needs a toilet break and act fast before you need to start mopping the floor again. When he is sleeping, I am using whatever time I have to finally shut my eyes and get a good rest. There is barely any time for yourself, your work and relationships. I felt really left out when I saw my friends meeting up after a long circuit breaker and yet, I was stuck at home taking care of a poop machine.
Here is short 2 seconds video to show the panic in my voice as I screams “oh! shit shit” (He was about the poop half way when we were playing with him)
These are just small little snippets to how your lifestyle could change after welcoming a puppy into your life. I assure you that I have done plenty of homework two months prior to bringing him home for the breeder, yet I was still taken aback by these changes and sacrifices I had to make. I am sure you have done your research and preparation. But do set low expectations for yourself and know that it is okay and normal to be stressed or overwhelmed despite feeling you were prepared for it.
Raising a puppy takes time and effort, it is also difficult and some might even say painful experience, especially for first time owners. Along with these sad and anxious feelings there could also be feelings of regret and guilt. I was drowning in guilt for wanting to send Hoshi back to the breeder after day two!
I expected myself to be happy, after all this was something I had wanted since I was a child. My whole family was excited to welcome this new family member. Everyone was delighted but me. The guilt was overwhelming and I wished someone was there to tell me it was okay to feel what I felt.
To whoever who needs to hear this, it is absolutely okay and normal to be feeling all that you felt. There is no need to feel guilty for wanting to send your puppy back to the shelter or breeder. You are not a bad hooman.
So, when will my life actually get back to normal?
Well, it does not. Your life after having a puppy will never go back to what it was, but I am sure it will turn out to be better than what it was. Your puppy will need some time to understand you and your family. Likewise, it would take time for you to understand your puppy and its personality. Life will gradually start to become easier when you both have spent quality time to bond. Before you know it, your puppy will the best friend you can not live without.
At this point in your journey, give it some more time before making another huge decision that you might eventually really regret. You might be feeling very overwhelmed at this moment and would just want to give up your puppy to remove all the stress at once. But take a step back and really give it chance for both you and your new family member. Take some time, talk to a close friend and really try to savour the funny moments or proud moments with your puppy.
Every single day, they are learning to love you and to communicate the love to you.
Baby Hoshi (at 12 weeks) and I wishing you all the best in your journey with your puppy!
Hoshi used to be my source of stress, but now he is now my source of comfort and support. I really hope that after reading this short story, you would not feel alone in this journey. If you ever need a listening ear or advice on your puppy, you can always find me on Hoshi’s Instagram @hoshi_sheltie. I would love to be a part of your puppy journey and really be there for you like how I wished someone was there that would really understand how I feel. If you have ever experienced this, do comment down below and share your story with new pawrents in the community to let them know they are not alone in this.
I’m sharing with you guys our journey with Kobe; our 3 legged Mongrel a.k.a Singapore Special. He was found with his left hind leg severed below its knee; and a huge maggot wound behind his back. The cause of his injuries until today is unclear. Rescuers managed to get him to the vet, and it was determined after a specialist’s assessment that amputation of his hindlimb is essential to improve his quality of life.
Maggot Wound
Severed Limb
We apologise for the graphic content!
However, Kobe recovered quickly from the surgery under the loving care of his foster parents. Shortly after, we took him in and adopted Kobe as part of our family. He has always been such a happy go lucky doggo!
Doing tricks!
As this is our first experience loving and caring for a 3-legged dog, there are of course many factors you must consider before adopting a pet that may or may not have any special requirements. We did our own research and was mentally prepared to take up a lifetime challenge/responsibility of providing to the best of our ability to ensure Kobe has an enriched life.
Through the months we had Kobe, like any other dog owners out there, we had our fair share of struggles, trials and errors. But through those tough times were lessons that taught us patience to understand the reasons for Kobe’s behaviours and actions. Through these experiences, these are some of the important highlights to take note of:
Keep tripod doggo slim!
According to the Vet and Therapist; The most common health issue with a three legged pet is that they may develop arthritis earlier than other pets.
Because of his missing hind limb; weight bearing on both his front limbs, can result in increased muscle tension of his biceps and triceps.
Thats because more stress is placed on his remaining joints, hence, more wear and tear in the future. Therefore, it is very important to keep them healthy and slim, so as to not have any additional joint stresses from excess weight. A Balanced diet is the key!
Since maintaining a healthy weight is important, its important to strengthen the core muscles! Using balance discs is one good way of strengthening the stomach’s muscles.
However we should take extra care to not overdo any exercise or prolonged walking. It is important to look out for signs of fatigue – Kobe would suddenly sit halfway during his walks and that meant he had reached his limit for the day.
It is also important to avoid ACL injuries (anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) as it is one of the key ligaments that help stabilise the knee joints) on their remaining limbs!
It is highly recommended to consider consulting a Veterinary rehabilitation therapist for advise on how to protect and strengthen their remaining limbs!
We apply it every night before he sleeps after his night walk.
It helps if you shave off your pet’s excessive paw pad fur so that dirt does not get trapped in between their toes and they don’t slip as easy while walking or running around the house!
Ensure there are not too many slippery surfaces in the house.
If you have slippery surfaces like wood, tiles or marble, covering these surfaces with rugs or baby foam mats helps especially when they are busy happily running or playing! As 3 legged dogs have less balance, extra care is needed to prevent them from slipping, as they are more prone to injuries.
Lucky us, our floor is made of overlay Vinyl instead of regular tiles.
It would also benefit them by providing raised water/food bowls, to avoid prolonged neck bending while drinking or having their meal!
We bring Kobe out on fun walks, swims on beach days and dog parks to allow him to socialise with other people and dog buddies!
Having a 3 legged dog does not stop them from their ability to engage in normal activities a dog would do. Kobe loves to have his daily zoomies around the house with his cat brothers & sisters. He excitedly jumps up and down the sofa whenever he is most happy about something.
Having lost his hind limb a such a young age, he has adapted the use of his remaining hind limb growing up. He behaves like any other normal happy dog would, and probably thinks other dogs are weird for having an extra hind limb.
“How much time is enough time before we decide that this is not going anywhere?”
“I don’t think I can do this. I don’t know how else to help her.”
“Do you think she’ll ever love us?”
“Will she be like this forever? What if this is the real her and she’s going to be permanently this way?”
“What if she likes being a stray more and being at home is not what she wants?”
These are just some of the honest questions that have come up since Mayo came into our lives.
Ever heard of the 3-3-3 rule when it comes to adopting a rescue dog? Do a simple search and google will tell you most rescue dogs follow this 3-3-3 rule.
Credit: rescuedogs101.com
They say the first 3 days the dog would probably be shut down. After 3 weeks the dog more comfortable, and after 3 months the dog is completely comfortable.
We didn’t understand. We watched every Youtube video there was, we even read books, we read 10000001 articles to prepare ourselves but nothing worked. Nothing was relatable and Mayo went against all the rules and training tips we’ve watched/read. Although there was strong support from the Singapore Specials community on Instagram (for which I am so so thankful for), we didn’t come across any account we could really relate with that understood what we went through, or had a dog remotely like Mayo. We felt incredibly lonely in our journey because we had no answers.. There were a ton of doubts and uncertainties, and besides sharing them on Instagram we were pretty helpless and hopeless on most days.
The Lows..
It’s hard to pinpoint an exact lowest because everyday seemed to be an accumulation of the whirlwind of emotions we experienced. The first 2 weeks we barely slept. There were nights Mayo howled and cried (?) for hours straight in the middle of the night. Whenever we got up to walk in her direction in first 1 month, she would literally shiver & cower even though we didn’t give any eye contact or said a word. We..just..walked.. She was probably so stressed out that she had violent seizures in her sleep the first month or so. We were worried it was a neurological problem and that made us sleepless and watched the camera monitor every night but thankfully it went away as she got more comfortable.
We are not proud to say this but in the spirit of sharing, we also actually lost Mayo, TWICE, within the first 2 months. She got spooked by a sudden sound, lodged herself behind one of those things along on the road and the leash flew from my hand. I spent 30 mins looking for her under ditches, construction sites, bushes.. but guess what? I got a text from our neighbourhood chat that Mayo was at our HDB lift lobby. Our regular cleaner uncle took her up and tied her to our gate. When I lost her I heard voices of our volunteers in my head, “If Mayo this kind get lost, confirm cannot find one!” But although she was still frightened of us, she chose to go back home – my guess is she knew it was safe and choose us over living on the streets alone. Still blows me away how she knew the way home especially since there have been so many stories of lost dogs that never find their way home.
Photo sent by neighbour who spotted her downstairs.
Cleaner uncle who recognized her brought her up and tied her to our gate.
She definitely regressed especially on walks after that because her confidence was shaken – mine was too. She was constantly pulling on leash and wanting to go home. I was at my wits end and so highly discouraged because it just seem more and more like she won’t break out of this fear cycle. Then one day… a fellow dog owner told me fearful dogs need a confident leader. They can sense our anxiety and i guess she knew. If I could I would avoid walking her because I was insecure and worried that I would lose her again. That afternoon I picked up the leash, puffed my chest, took a deep breath and said ‘Mayo, come!’. Lo and behold, she came. This time I kept my head up, and when she pulled ahead out of fear, I stopped. I took a step ahead of her, deep breath, and continued walking. Like magic, she calmed down and we had a good walk. Positive reinforcement, pack leader, whatever 100001 other training theories bla bla bla – you do you. Mayo was so scared of me she wouldn’t take treats from me – we barely have a relationship yet, so how to reinforce? How to reduce the threshold when she goes from 0-100 in an instant. I can’t predict what & who we meet on our walks. I could only assure her that you know what, I got this. I know where we are going, and I dont need her to worry about bicycles, traffic, runners incoming. Just follow me, you will be fine. #letthemsniff they say.. I would love to let Mayo sniff. When she is confident to sniff, I let her sniff. But i noticed that when she walks ahead of me, she is more easily triggered and reacts in fear perhaps because she feels like she is defenseless and has no clue how to respond to all these new triggers. Now, even though she is so much more confident on walks and typically walks ahead of me, when she sees something that makes her worry, she still comes back to me and allows me to take over in a particularly unsure situation.
But above all, I found it most challenging to see Mayo not being a dog. Don’t get me wrong, she was a good dog! She didn’t whine, she doesn’t bark (well now she does!!), she doesn’t pee & poo at home, she sleeps, she eats. But, she wasn’t a dog. We were told to give her time. But as the days went by and we saw minimal to no progress, we wondered how much time is enough? How much time does she need? What can we do? What if she is simply just like this?
So what made us press on? What lessons have we learnt?
I mean there were days that our anxiety skyrocketed through the roof and it seemed like every tiny thing sends her into a frenzy and we have to walk on egg shells around her for fear of making her regress and more fearful. Some days maybe we took things too far and she was stressed. Some days maybe she was triggered by an aggressive dog. And as humans we become so consumed by our own human worries. But like everybody says, dogs live in the moment. I used to think ‘oh no, Mayo got scared. she hates me. she’s going to hate me.’ NO SHE’S NOT. The next morning, she’s ok already. Give your dogs some credit, and cut yourself some slack! Don’t be too hard on yourself – it’s something I remind myself everyday. She proves to us day after day how resilient she is.
The Highs!
With every low, we have to remember there will also be highs 🙂
Definitely one of the highs was the first time Mayo left her bed to come to the dining table to sniff. We were having curry chicken. Curry seemed to have a magical effect on Mayo – curry makes mayo brave haha. Came to find out later on that actually her rescuer/feeder fed her packets of curry chicken rice occasionally for 6 months! Now Mayo has an upgrade and has doggy-safe curry made with love filled with greek yogurt, capsicum, turmeric & chicken.
During circuit breaker I (mama) had a lot more time to work with Mayo. Started off by tossing yummy treats around the house to encourage her to move around the house. Little by little, I think maybe 3 months into her adoption in May, she started becoming a little more ‘kaypoh’ and confident to come sniff when there’s food on the table. Little signs of her becoming more like a dog.
mayo with her paws on the table demanding for curry
One of my biggest highs, was the day mayo learnt to sit. It took us a grand total of 6 months and because she was so fearful of me, I couldnt use any treats to lure her into a sit like most people do. Neither could I touch her butt to push her down because she was fearful and usually out of reach anyway haha – this dog observes safe distancing very well. I shared on my Instagram that the ‘Sit’ command is literally one of the first things that people teach their dogs. It seems like a no-brainer thing and ya, we were a bit ‘FOMO’ that mayo doesn’t know a single ‘trick’. But hey!!!!!! we took 5 months, but we still got there eventually. Yea we might take longer, but not about the destination but the journey correct? Hehe as at September 10th 2020, she already knows ‘down’, ‘sit’, ‘paw’, ‘chin’, ‘touch’ and ‘bow’. Again, none of these were learnt through luring with treats, or through simply grabbing their paw/chin etc. We ‘captured’ the behavior! Like a camera! Don’t underestimate your fearful dog! Whenever she did the behavior on her own e.g sit, or lie down – we will use a verbal cue e.g SIT and mark it with a marker. Anyway…. ahahaha ok I won’t go into too much detail about the training – next post ok?
Mayo in a ‘down.’
TLDR;
Hahahaha, in summary…… Don’t sweat it if your dog doesn’t follow the ‘rules’. Even after 7 months, Mayo has yet to fully trust us. She still hides from us when we come home but everyday we are seeing new sides of her. But 7 months ago it seemed like an impossible feat for her to me lying beside us. Yet today we can play with her, and she will occassionally willingly lie next to us. If you have a dog like Mayo, I just want to say you are not alone. You might not feel like your dog loves you yet, but remember that it ends with .. YET. Someday I believe they will. I am still telling myself all these everyday while I encourage others. We are all still work in progress and I look forward to the day I can upload a video of Mayo excitedly wagging her tail when she sees us.
Till the next time, I hope you take comfort and pride in your own adoption journey.
I will be sharing with everyone the whole story of how Rico was lost and found, and some measures to take if (touch wood) any of you experience it in the future.
It was just an ordinary day when I was off from work, doing my own things, running errands and catching up my life. I still can remember how Rico greets me when i am back from the errands which was around 5.15pm. After a while around 5.30pm, my grandpa came back home and I also went to my nanny’s house for a chit chat, which was just one floor below mine. I just close the gate door without locking it. Now, the house is left with my grandparents.
“Panic starts to creep in…”
About 6.35pm, I came back home and that was when the panic started to creep in. I felt utterly quiet and Rico did not come forward to greet me at the door. I asked my grandparents and they thought I brought Rico out with me the whole time. I tried to find Rico around the house but to no avail.
Ignoring my grandparents’ nagging, I started off searching the corridor. I was still in disbelieved at the moment, my heart raced very fast. Realizing that Rico was really lost, I went into panic mode frantically searching for her high and low at my housing block. I walked aimlessly to each floor and every unit hoping I could find her. To my dismay, none.
By this time, my aunt had come back home from work and knew about Rico. We soon start to search around the void decks, carparks, parks and places that usually Rico will go to. But, none.
We then went back home, trying to cool down and think of what exactly had happened and ways to find her. We had different views such as:
Grandma – “I saw someone at the door playing with Rico while I was in the kitchen. I thought it was one of our neighbours. But I don’t really know who is it, is like some woman wearing dark shirt. Don’t know is it carried away by someone else already.”
Grandpa – “When I came back home around 5.30pm, I didn’t saw Rico already.”
It was so hard to figure out exactly what had happened. My grandparents were not very sure about a lot of things and they also did not really pay attention during that timing. Plus, our neighbours would usually come and play with Rico whenever they passed by as Rico is very friendly to humans.
Soon my parents came to help for the search and we also asked for CCTV footage from our neighbor. The CCTV footage only managed to record a woman wearing dark clothing; carried many things, passing by at 5.53pm. This was when we suspected that it might be the same woman that my grandma mentioned and she might have carried away Rico while the door was not locked. We decided to report to the police, hoping police could help retrieve CCTV footage around the block and lifts to see any traces of Rico.
7.30pm at the police station: we gave whatever information we have. However, they cannot investigate as we were lack of information and some do not tally with one another’s views. “What is the timing that your grandma saw the person come and play with Rico?” “Is Rico still around at 5.15-5.30pm before you went to your nanny’s house? Your grandpa said didn’t saw her but you remember she was at home. So which one?” My mind went blank and speechless. The only action they could do was to take note of a lost dog and lookout if any of the public came to return Rico. They suggested to contact AVS and SPCA (which I also knew).
As I was back home disappointed, I call both AVS and SPCA but sadly SPCA was closed for the day. It was then that I decided to inform my friends and asked them to spread and share on social media. My parents will then settle the posters however it can only be done the next day.
With the help of my neighbours, we went searching for Rico again at my housing block. Hoping to attract Rico’s attention this time, we called out her name and using toy. We believed that Rico might be still somewhere in my housing block, maybe one of the units as she do not really know how to climb up/down the stairs. Rico will also get tired out easily, she would not run that far unless it was really carried away by someone else.
Along the way, we got some insights such as a unit at the 11th floor saw Rico running across their corridor, someone saw Rico-lookalike at the minimart. We also met some helpful neighbours who came to help a little. But still, none again.
Soon around 9.45pm, my friends specifically came down all the way to help me out. Taking over my neighbour, we continue searching my housing block. Despite knowing that Rico would not bark when outside, we still try all possible means to catch her attention. My friends also help to deal with the social media sides at the same time and give me suggestions such as animal communication (AC) etc. However, AC was busy at the moment, could not attend Rico’s case.
As time passed by, we felt the urge to get the posters up asap. My friend helped to draft out a few posters to paste near my area so that at least someone would be aware of it. Only by 10.45pm, we then started to put up the posters.
11.20pm: posters were up but still no sign of Rico. We could not continue the search as it was quite late and we afraid that we might disturb the neighbours. My friends all went back, I still did not gave up and just walking around the neighbourhood in hope for Rico.
“Worst day of the life…”
12.20am: came back empty-handed, disappointment, lost. It was the worst day of my life. I did not expect such things to happen on me. A lot of thoughts running through my head now. “Where is Rico exactly?” “Why you suddenly so daring to run away?” “Are you in a safe place now?” “Have you eaten or drink anything?” “Did someone really carried you away?” All I could do was just to pray and hoping Rico could come back home soon. I even placed toys outside the corridor so that Rico can smell her way back home.
2.30am: I was settling the social medias. Seeing everyone trying to help me find Rico and all the prayers from them really warms me. I was touched that so many friends and even strangers were helping me.
“I couldn’t sleep at all…”
4.15am: I was still wide awake, crying. I switched off my silent mode, waiting for any calls or messages to inform me Rico was with them. I even dreamt that I have found Rico.
7.30am: It was raining, I got really worried. Why does it have to rain today! My aunt went out early to search for Rico again. But still no sign.
8.30am: I was fully awake and have taken urgent leave for work. Still, there were no calls and messages. I prayed that the rain could quickly stop but it rain even heavier. The weather was cold, I am afraid that Rico was out without any shelter.
10.30am: Still no calls or messages, I assumed many had not gone out and saw the posters as the weather that day was too good to sleep in. Finally, a full stack of posters was ready to put up. I have told my parents to paste the posters around the neighbourhood while my friends and I would go door-to-door knot in my housing block.
11.30am: My friends and I started the door-to-door knock. Since my block was in a L-Shaped, I decided to start off with the top floor (12th) on right side of the block which the unit had last seen Rico running across their corridor.
“Is that Rico?!”
11.50am: When we were about to go to our 3rd unit of door-to-door knock, I heard my friend gasped loudly. “Is that Rico?!” Shockingly asked me. I immediately went forward and I SAW RICO! She was sitting near the door. WE FINALLY FOUND RICO!!! We were so overjoyed that my friend even cried. Rico saw us too, but she just happily wagging her tail away. I approached the uncle in that unit and he was glad that Rico was found too.
Luckily, the uncle saw Rico loitering outside his corridor and brought her in as he was worried about Rico’s safety. The uncle tried to find the owner but Rico did not wear any collar tag and the posters were not put up yet. I also recalled that we have gone to that unit previously but the door was closed, hence unable to see that Rico was in that unit. Thankfully all this while, Rico was in good hands. She got a proper shelter, the uncle cooked her a good meal (better than mine), he even accompanied Rico to sleep in his living room. In summary, Rico was enjoying while everyone was panicking searching for her. ?
12.15pm: Rico finally got back home safely, everyone was elated. I was really really relieved that I can reunited with Rico again. Gave the uncle a small token of appreciation and here is his return:
“Thank you for the goodies. And the sweet memories Rico gives me. Take good care of her, I missed her already” – Uncle
We are so fortunate and bless to have met such a kind soul. Without the help from the uncle, we could not imagine how Rico would be like. I am also glad that we are able to make new friends.
Pointers to Note:
From this incident, here are a few points to take note:
Do always wear a collar tag on your dog
Timing is very important. Try to remember as much as possible and the whole timeline should your dog get lost.
Take actions immediately and waste no time. This could help quicken the process of finding your dog.
Report to AVS and SPCA. AVS hotline is 24/7 but do take note of the operating hours for SPCA.
Report to police (optional), unless you have valid informations. They can’t really help much though.
Do up posters immediately
Spread and post up on social media
Try your very best and continue the searching
You may contact animal communication too
Lastly will be the waiting game. It may be very dreadful but please do not give up and continue to pray for it. I see many people have come together in helping to find Rico. I am sure some days your dog could be found soon.
Finally a peaceful night
At last, everything was back to normal, Rico was still her usual self. In fact, I am actually wondering does she even know that she got lost? It is still a mystery how did Rico run out from my house which is on 6th floor of the left side of the block, and ended up on 12th floor of the right side of my block. By the lifts? Or did she really climb up the stairs? No one knows, only Rico does… ?
PSA – I am self-taught and this guide is not meant to be an exhaustive list or replace what your vet/nutritionist advised you! I just want to share some nuggets of information I picked up along the way 🙂
Myth #1: Dogs can eat exactly what humans eat!
Dear hoomums and hoodads out there, do you have the misconception that dogs eat exactly what we eat? For instance, rice, meat and vegetables are sufficient to constitute a nutritious and balanced diet?
Like many of you, when I first adopted Max, that was what I thought. However, after a horrible itchy episode that Max suffered, I realised that what I was feeding was highly inflammatory and not even balanced!
What is a balanced diet then?
A quick rule of thumb is the 80 – 5 – 15 rule that I follow. There are slight variations out there and it all depends on your dog (and any pre-existing health conditions that he/she may have)
Generally, 80% of the bowl should be filled with meat.
Meat includes pork, chicken, beef, crocodile, lamb etc. It can be minced or in cubed form, whichever your dog prefers. Additionally, try spicing up the meat options by adding in different seafoods such as canned tuna in water (do check for salt content), salmon and green lipped mussels.
*Bones of canned fish are edible
5% refers to offals and kidneys – these are essential for balancing the diet!
15% refers to vegetables and grains.
For vegetables, it is advisable to choose vegetables that are low in sugar such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, zucchini and cucumbers. Try to reduce the number of potatoes (too much carbs!) and carrots (high in sugar). Additionally, vegetables should be cooked and cut into smaller pieces to aid digestion!
For grains, white rice, white bread and pasta should be avoided (it increases the chances of yeast infections and many dogs are allergic to it). Instead, opt for wholesome grains such as quinoa, oats and lentils.
Myth #2: Dogs don’t need supplements
While it is true that not all supplements are necessary for a balanced meal, it is important to add in calcium to your dog’s home cooked food. The amount of calcium to add depends on your dog’s body weight, and there are lots of online resources to help calculate this. Examples of calcium include finely grounded egg-shell powder and bonemeal powder.
Optional but highly recommended supplements include:
For joints: rosehip powder and golden paste
For gut health: probiotics, greek yoghurt, kefir and cottage cheese
Herbs – rosemary, turmeric, oregano and cinnamon
Do check the dosages of these based on your own dog’s weight!
Myth #3: Dogs do not need oils
While oils are optional, they are a great source of omega-3 and helps with fur growth! These are the 3 common oils that are fed:
Fish oil
Coconut oil
Flaxseed oil – alternatively, flaxseeds can be bought and grounded prior to meals
Summary
Conclusion
While home-cooked food is better than commercial brands because you know what is going into their meals, it is important for their diet to be balanced and nutritious as well.
If you are deciding to switch their diet to home-cooked food, do start slow, especially if your dog has a sensitive gut and monitor their stools as well.
I hope that my advice has been helpful! Max says a big thank you to everyone who has read till here.
If you want to follow Max’s journey, his instagram is @thelazygoldiemax <3
To sterilise or not to sterilise, that is the question that many pet parents face at some point in time. But what happens after the decision is made?
So you’ve finally come to a conclusion after weeks and weeks of researching the pros and cons of sterilising your furry mate. The tough part’s over, right? Not necessarily!
To ensure that the surgery and recovery process is as smooth as it can get, these are some of the things that all pawrents should consider during the planning process.
When to do it?
We often hear advice like “You should spay her after a few rounds of heat” or “Let her experience motherhood first” or “Male dogs don’t need to be sterilised” etc. Then there’s the other recommendation that it’s safe to sterilise puppies from 4 months old.
Personally for me, I spoke to three vets about this issue and all of them gave me differing advice. Even within veterinary science, there are different schools of thought. Initially I had planned to spay Duoji at 6 months, then it was pushed back to 8 months cos she just looks so young and baby-ish. I didn’t have the heart to subject her to surgery. Ultimately she was spayed at 13 months old, after she reached adulthood. Incidentally, she had her first heat at around 9 months old. In a way I was reassured that she had developed properly physically before surgery.
At the end of the day, every furkid is different and there’s no right timing to do it. There are some underlying conditions, such as undescended testicles, of which sterilisation is recommended but otherwise, best to seek a trusted vet’s opinion and make an informed decision.
Where to do it?
For something as important as a surgery, it would be unwise to just waltz in to any vet clinic. I strongly recommend all pawrents to begin searching for a trustworthy and reputable vet in the early stages, before you trust them with any operation procedure.
Check online reviews or chat with other pawrents. Better still, visit them for a simple check-up or vaccination – you’d want to assess the clinic, its staff and facilities, whether it’s a good experience overall, before you make your final decision.
Location is also an important consideration. Not only would you save time travelling to and fro (or $$ for those who don’t drive), the journey would also be more comfortable for your furkid. This is particularly important for furkids who get anxious when travelling in cars. Imagine having to endure a long car ride while feeling groggy and in pain after surgery.
Sterilisation fees vary across different vet clinics as well, so if price is an area of concern, best to call up your shortlisted clinics to enquire before confirming the appointment.
Checked in at the clinic
Any add-ons?
During the procedure, your furkid will be under general anesthesia so why not plan the sterilisation surgery to coincide with procedures that you may want/need? Common ones include dental scaling, extraction of teeth etc. This way, you’ll only need to subject your furkid to general anesthesia once.
E-collar
Wearing an e-collar is a must for furkids post-surgery as it helps to prevent them from licking or disturbing their wound. Most incisions are held together by self-dissolving threads which can come apart when in contact with their saliva, putting the wound at risk of infection.
If your dog is fussy, it’s best to get him or her used to the feeling of wearing an e-collar at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. Ease them into it by keeping the initial duration short, then slowly extending the time, with plenty of treats in between, of course.
During this step, you can also take the chance to check the fit of the e-collar. The last thing you want is for your furkid to reject the e-collar or try to shake it off and risk aggravating the wound. Or worse, to find out that the e-collar doesn’t fit on the day of surgery and you have to scramble to get a replacement.
Trying on the first collar, which was too small. Duoji’s not pleased.
Grooming
Post-surgery, you won’t be able to shower your furkid for around 10-14 days so do plan a shower before the appointment day to keep your furkid clean and comfortable. I strongly recommend sending your furkid to full grooming before that – a shorter and neater fur coat can come in handy especially since you won’t be able to shower or brush their coat much during the recovery phase.
Setting up a confinement area
During recovery, your furkid would have to minimise movement and get plenty of rest. That means no running, jumping about or rough play. If you don’t already have a playpen or crate, the next best way is to set up a temporary confinement area in a spare room. This would be the space that your furkid is confined in for the next 14 days, ideally, so make it comfortable with soft blankets/pillows etc.
But if your furkid is as active as mine, then you will have to devise some additional ways to keep them safe and out of trouble. You might even want to pre-plan these stop measures and test them out first to make sure it’s foolproof.
In Duoji’s case, she was actually almost normal by the 3rd day after surgery, which means it was impossible to keep her confined for long periods of time. I ended up allowing her to have some pockets of free roaming time under close supervision from day 5 onwards but with makeshift barricades (think rows of chairs to block the stairs, leg massager and random metal tins to block the sofa etc) around the house to prevent her from accessing areas that I deem dangerous.
Trying to get past the chairs blocking the stairs.Blocked. She eventually figured out how to open the gate so I had to use a carton of drinks to secure it.
Caregiver
After the surgery, your furkid will be weaker than usual and require extra care. Hence it’s best to have someone responsible and attentive around to take care of them round the clock, especially for the first few days. For working pawrents, that means you might have to make arrangements to work from home or plan your leave days around the surgery date.
In my case, I planned the surgery on a Wednesday so I’ll have Thursday through Sunday to take care of Duoji before I head back to work on Monday.
Just discharged. Another reason to go for full grooming is so that the shaved leg wont look too weird.Tired and listless
Fasting
The night before surgery, your furkid would be required to fast so do remember to stop all food and treats by the stipulated cut-off time. Don’t forget to keep the water bowl too.
Keeping record
So you and your furkid have made it through the surgery and all safety measures are in place. What’s left is to ensure that the wound heals properly. It’s very important to keep the wound clean and dry – follow the aftercare instructions given by your vet closely.
As an additional step, you might want to keep a record of your furkid’s healing progress. Check for open/split wounds or signs of infection like pus and bleeding. The easiest way is to take a photo of the wound everyday, ideally using the same device and under similar lighting conditions. This way, you can compare the progress and show your vet if you suspect anything amiss.
By day 5, Duoji’s wound looked almost closed up and the swelling and redness had gone down already. Eventually the incision wound will fade away and be covered by the belly fur. Now, almost 7 months on, I cannot even locate the scar anymore.
Hopefully the above tips are helpful to pawrents who have upcoming surgeries and are unsure of what to expect.
We planned a birthday party for Milky back in July to celebrate his 2nd barkday & recovery from his entropion surgeries.
Planning a party for your doggo can be TOUGH. But since I’ve done this already, I’m going to detail my checklist here to make things as easy for you as possible! Here we go ?
Let the planning begin!
1. DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET
For us, we decided to co-host a birthday party with another Chow Chow owner whose dog’s birthday was the same month as Milky. Your budget will go towards:
✅ Location – any min. spending mandated by the cafe?
✅ Decoration – are you decorating the cafe?
✅ Food – are you buying food for your guests, both humans and dogs?
✅ Goodie bags – are you preparing door gifts for your guests?
✅ Cake – birthday cakes for your dog?
For us, our budget was to spend below $200. This means that we can’t choose a location that has a min. spending.
Since I am co-hosting with another owner, I did up an excel sheet to keep things clear and transparent. You can use my template here!
You can duplicate the excel sheet to your own google drive here
2. DECIDING ON A LOCATION
We don’t drive, so we wanted somewhere nearer to home (west) for easy transportation. We shortlisted Turf Club since it was along Bt Timah and had a few pet-friendly cafes there, namely WOOFTOPIA & AH B CAFE.
Eventually, we settled on Wooftopia because I’ve been there before and since we would be inviting quite a few big dogs, we wanted a larger place. I also liked that they do not have a min.spend, but reserved the tables for us.
They have 2 areas – so the large dogs (Chow Chow) were kept inside that area whereas the other smaller dogs roam at the outer area.
This is how the outside seating looks like (source: google)
? Tips!
Use the FAVE app for cashback. Get cashback when you pay via the app. Just a note that the cashback can only be redeemed on your next purchase, so what you can do is to order separately.
If possible, celebrate on a weekday. The last I was there, they were running a 30% discount off their mains if you go on a weekday. It was really empty so I guess these promotions might help to pull in some crowd!
3. PLANNING GOODIE BAGS
The fun part – because who doesn’t love buying stuff for our pets? ? But it can be a logistics nightmare if your guests are on different diets and/or has allergies on certain protein.
(a) Do up a google sheet and get your guests to fill it in.
(b) Plan your shopping! I was on a budget so I hopped onto Fave (no, this article is not sponsored by them haha) and bought the $30 Perromart voucher for $10 … and used another email address since it’s only for new customers (I realised they increased it to $20; it was $10 when I bought it).
I bought Absolute Holistic treats and also got some dental treats from Happy Doggi (btw, Woof Agency do sponsor treats for goodie bags. You can sign up here).
Zanel (the other owner) was in-charge of decoration and cake! The balloons were around $15, but the cake was pricier ($95). We got it from Onicupcakes, who is also a friend and fellow Chow Chow owner!
You can see the decoration on the wall (just balloons for Milky & Rug’s name!)
4. HAVE FUN & TAKE LOTS OF PICS!
It’s very fun, but also SUPER tiring. Just imagine it as a kid’s birthday party and you need to make sure everyone is playing nice (whilst not peeing & pooping) and your human guests are having fun.
I would highly recommend that you have another person to help around, and invite peeps who know each other so that they won’t be too bored alone!
(Left to right) Nugget, Milky, Maki, Kawaii & Bun BunFamily photo with our little boySome behind-the-scenes with the cake and trying to get a good photo (VERY HARD)
Let the celebration begin!
Planning a barkday party is both fun and tiring. But what I really love is the smile, laughter and running after your pets that makes everything worth it.
Just look at the boy with all his birthday presents – how blessed is he! ❤️
Milky with all his birthday gifts – what a lucky boy!
A huge thanks to everyone who attended Milky’s birthday party and being part of his life. It’s not easy being a pet parent, but the community and friendship makes everything better.
Have fun planning! xoxo
Sleeping after a long day of celebration; till the next pawty! x
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I work to give Milky a better life.
Kopi girl at The Woof Agency and Pawjourr, where we hope to build a community for pet owners all around the world!
You can reach me at Jane@thewoofagency.com or find Milky at @milkythecloud on Instagram!
IVDD: Intervertebral disc disease One of the most common neurological disorders of dogs and it is the most common spinal disease of dogs.
Do you know?
Chondrodystrophoid (dwarfed) breeds of dogs whose normal cartilage development have been altered genetically for the purpose of a short, stout appearance – i.e.: Dachshund, Beagle, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, and Pekingese — are most commonly affected. Other chondrodystrophic breeds that may be affected by IVDD include Corgis, Cocker Spaniel, Pekingese, Shih-Tzu and Poodle. Nonchondrodystrophic breeds that are commonly affected by IVDD include German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever and Doberman Pinscher. Obese dogs of predisposed breeds are especially likely to suffer from IVDD.
BOO’S STORY
I wish I could turn back time.
Boo’s mom.
She is perfect in my eyes. Nothing can replace her. We have each other and that is enough. I wouldn’t mind burning my salary all on her, it was worth it. You can say I am the worst kind of pawrent, but I wouldn’t care. I give her my best.
I recalled 8 months back, I couldn’t bring myself to talk about Boo’s condition. Boo was diagnosed with IVDD days before Christmas. Retracing the memories, I wish I could turn back time. There was so many regrets, so many things where I wish I knew. I wish somebody knew. There were so many sequence of events that I wish I could change, maybe Boo will be better. But who really know? Who was actually prepared for this?
French Bulldog has always been my love. I recalled 3 years back, I did the necessary research; finding a true frenchie breeder, research on their possible medical conditions. Oh boy, found her and that was it. I got her from a reputable breeder. The chances of lesser medical issues is getting from a reputable breeder where you know the complete bloodline of the pedigree, you know the prerequisites. To me, first step complete with additional coverage to getting her an insurance.
Trust me. French Bulldog are not for the faint of the heart. They are highly expensive. It is never the initial cost but the maintenance of it. Imagine getting a printer and the inks are hella expensive, oh sorry wrong. More like getting a Ferrari, and the road tax and the petrol will kill you. Well, we are here on IVDD, so let’s keep it as that.
Definitely it was my fault, I allowed her to jump. It was difficult. We slept on the same bed, she takes the stairs, she loves playing fetch, occasionally I’m lazy I didn’t use a harness but instead a collar. Whatever it is, she was a very happy hyper dog. Nothing could stop her. She was invincible. There are so many wrongs here that I did not stop.
Honestly, all the research in the world, how the hell would you even know how does IVDD look like? When you probably noticed, you are posssibly going downhill. Trust me, google ain’t helpful by then. You can only guess and assume. It was terrible. I remembered I brought her home after a playdate. She was restless. I thought ok maybe she was tired. I carried her, she screamed in pain. I left her. She was dirty, I decided to bathe her. I probably shouldn’t have. I lifted her up and put her down, she screamed again. Oh god, it was bad. It hurt her so bad that she pooped.
She was shivering. I thought maybe she was cold from bathing. She didn’t want to sit at all. She was eating as per normal. It didn’t affect her. I left her alone with heat pad and towels surrounding her. Until 2 hours later, she peed and poop where she slept. This was not normal. It was 9pm. I couldn’t find a place where I could go. I didn’t want to pay extra for overnight consultation. I decided to go to where Boo’s always go. I was so dumb, I should have rushed her to a specialist.
So many mistakes, I didn’t even know where to begin. My emotions was taking over all my decisions. I couldn’t stay sane. I see pain in her eyes, it was terrible. My heart was breaking at every minute. My happy little girl became a 360 change within 12 hours. Honestly up to date, I wish I could turn back the clock.
I should have brought her to a specialist. Don’t bother on saving money. It cost the same end of the day. Or maybe I wasn’t smart enough or maybe the vets I went all charges crazily high.
Reasons to go to a specialist
Going to a specialist, you get your diagnose quicker. Time is the essence for IVDD. Every minute counts as the dog can lose the ability to walk, control their bladder, or even have any sensation in their legs. There are 5 stages of IVDD, 5 being the worst.
Personal experience
Some clinics do not have all the equipment. You will end up transferring your pet from vet to vet. – It was too painful and stressful for both parties. Imagine, you want to know what was the condition but it was all you can get is only a suspected diagnosis because they do not have the full amenities for a proper diagnosis.
After many times saying no, the vet continued to insist on the dog to be in something because it will be easier for them to do the scan or they probably learnt it that way. – it was too painful to watch. Boo freaked out, couldn’t recognise me, she blanked out. They dropped her at that moment, Boo was rolling on the floor non-stop, went into a panic attack and bit me till I was bleeding non-stop at the vet.It was terrible, the only pain I could feel was my heart.
Anyhow, only about 4 days later. Boo was operated on. Did not go to a specialist. It was said we need a miracle if she ever walks again. We bit the bullet and proceeded anyway. She was diagnosed with stage 5 of IVDD with no deep pain sensation and being incontinence. We are still ongoing physiotherapy weekly and she only shows improvements of her core.
Total damage:
Surgery + Mis = ~SGD$14,000K Physiotherapy = $180 per session
Boo used to go intensive physiotherapy 3 x week for Dec to Feb Which cut down to 2x week for March to May Currently: 1 x week for June to Aug Think it’s cheap, think it’s easy? Do the math….
Above are some of the little glimpse of Boo’s story on her facing IVDD. I wished I could be of more help on the signs. But one can never be so prepared for it. What are we? We are still humans. Nobody expected this. Nobody wants this. However, trust me. If i could turn back the clock, I promise you I will do it better.
I see many people owning Frenchies these days because of certain trends etc, but do they really know the cost? Do they know what they got themselves into? I see Frenchies being abandoned due to medical issues. I got Boo from a reputable breeder, but shit still happen. Are you really prepared for these cost? Do you have minimum SGD$20,000 set aside for emergency? Oh btw, credit card extension isn’t allowed on vet bills – It is not approved by MOM. Bank loan isn’t immediate also. BTW, vet will ask for 60% downpayment of the estimated bill before admitting the dog in. Will you dedicate your time to assist them if things go downhill? Are you willing to sacrifice your personal live for them? Are you really? I see people thrashing me previously, but really what will you do if you were living in my shoes?
Getting a pet is a commitment. It is a responsibility and sadly, love isn’t enough. It cost money. To older generation or people who don’t own a pet, might think it is just a dog/cat/animal, but it is a life. A life you hold. Remember in these 10-18 years of commitment, you have many responsibilities or milestone things coming your way, but your pet only have you. Please don’t abandon them if you are not ready for the cost or the hefty bills or not willing to part with it. Pets only understand love but love alone isn’t enough.
