Tag: personal experiences

Categories
Community Stories

A Dogsitter for the Furkid!

Are you in a household where both pawrents work full time and the furbaby is mostly alone? Or perhaps are you considering getting a furbaby but are worried because all members of the household work full time? If you answered yes to any of the two questions then perhaps getting a dog sitter might be a good solution for you! I’d like to share with you my experience of getting a dog sitter and hopefully that would give you enough information to consider having one too. 

When we welcomed Ollie to our home, I knew that a puppy would need lots of attention. I had a week of leave and I thought that was enough. Little did I know, after reading extensively, that is not enough.  Though puppies spend a lot of time sleeping, they needed the human interaction as well. Without it, they might experience separation anxiety and perhaps face other emotions or psychological issues. 

I was fortunate that my mother-in-law was able to come over every day for almost a month from 12-1 to look after Ollie when he was a puppy. However, I knew this was not a  long term solution so I went online to see what I could do. That was when I stumbled on the site www.pawshake.com

Pawshake was a platform that allowed me to book a sitter. Most people, I realised much later, only booked a sitter when they needed someone to look after their furbabies when they were on vacation or over the weekend. It wasn’t common to get a daily sitter to look after the furkid. 

I used that platform to find a sitter for Ollie on a daily basis (weekdays). The platform encourages you to meet the sitter before confirming the deal. This was useful as it allowed me to see how they interact with Ollie. In fact, this was a very important part of choosing a sitter as sometimes Ollie wasn’t as comfortable or might even bully the person who came over to look after him. All the instructions to how this can occur is in the site itself. Thus, I relied on the information online and found sitter for Ollie when he was 4 months old. The person I found was a student who was waiting to pursue her studies online. The cost ranges and different sitters have a different price. It ranges from $10-$30. As I wanted someone on a regular basis, I asked if I could get a small discount. The first sitter I had for Ollie was 19 years old and had several pets before. She charged $10/hr and that amounted to $200/month. My husband and I decided to go with her as we found that once Ollie met her, he was instantly connected to her. 

Let me go to some details about what happened during her time with Ollie. As Ollie was still a puppy, she spent that time cuddling with him, playing with him and even teaching him how to pee and poo. We had a playpen for Ollie and so when she came she will release him from it and give him as much attention as she could. In fact, she even helped to potty train him during her time with him. In terms of safety, we gave the keys to her once we decided to get her help. We also informed her that we have a camera and always checked it when she was in the house. We locked the other doors when we left home. There must be some form of trust between the sitter and the pawrent for this arrangement to work. The sitter made a huge difference to Ollie’s growth. I leave my home at 6.40am daily while my husband would leave at 8. The sitter comes from 12.30-1.30. Once my husband leaves, Ollie will nap till the sitter comes. I would return home between 5.30-6 and Ollie would be napping until I returned. As Ollie knew someone would be there in the afternoon, he didn’t display any signs of separation anxiety. In fact, he is so used to the routine, even on weekends he would sleep till 12 then ask for attention and have a nap after. I’ve read a lot online about how sleep is important for canines. 

Now, Ollie is 2years and 3 months. Do I still have a sitter for him? Yes I do! 

The reality is, the sitter won’t be able to commit for the whole year. They too have different responsibilities at different times of the year. Normally I have a sitter that can commit at least 1-2months. It might also not be possible to always get a sitter for $10/hr. There were months where the sitter’s price would be $12-$20/hr. However, I didn’t not mind it as long as there was someone to walk him and play with him in the afternoon. In fact, I even made friends with some of the sitters and invite them over for Ollie’s birthday. Here is a picture of Summer who was Ollie’s sitter in 2019 with her husband at Ollie’s first birthday. Ollie absolutely loved all the attention from her.

In fact even over the weekends, if we needed help, we knew we could ask the sitter to come over and look after him! Thus, I would definitely encourage pawrents to get a sitter if they need help in looking after their furbabies. After all, a happy furbaby is a happy pawrent!

Categories
Community Stories

All About Spitzes – Diet

Continuing on our series of Stories From The Community: All About Spitzes, this second article will be discussing the topic of diets – what are common foods they avoid as well as recommendations by our very own Spitz owners.

This article will feature the experiences & insights from the hoomans of Orithespitz, legendthespitz and hweeventures!

Q: What diet are your Spitzes on?

H: Hwee is currently on a 50% HCF & 50% Kibbles diet. She used to be really picky with her Kibbles so we introduced HCF to encourage her to eat more.

O: Ori is on an 80% HCF & 20% Kibbles. 

L: Legend is also currently on an 80% HCF & 20% Kibbles.

Q: Is there anything you avoid feeding them? Alternatively, what do you encourage them to eat?

H: We are very cautious and picky with what we feed Hwee. She is allergic to chicken so we naturally avoid that though it was pretty hard to find kibbles with no chicken by-products. Moreover, due to her previous pancreatitis flare up, we now have to keep her on a low fat diet. 

Hwee’s meals always consist of a good balance of lean meat/fish & veggies! We were advised to keep her meals within 20% of fat content, so we will always calculate the fat percentage for each of her meals. To keep the range within 20%, we will request for lean cuts from the butcher when preparing her meals. 

O: Ori is not picky or allergic to anything so I generally let him eat anything. But I avoid lamb because I don’t like the gamey smell. I’m also watchful of the amount of treats he eats, I definitely try to ensure he doesn’t eat too much.

L: We will avoid beef because Legend started to develop brown patches after we fed him canned beef in the past. We suspect it’s due to an allergic reaction. 

We would add salmon to his meals as it is a good source of protein and it helps to keep his skin healthy & shiny. We also feed him pumpkin as pumpkin helps to boost his immune system. On top of that, we try our best to incorporate fruits and veg into this diet. 

Q: Is there anything in particular that Spitzes should eat?

H: For Spitzes, coat care is very important so adding fur & coat supplements like fish oiI and coconut oil helps a lot with that!

And since they’re double coated, the Singapore weather may be too humid for them. Often, it leads to itching, scratching & hot spots! So I firmly believe in skin and coat supplements to help maintain a healthy coat condition. 

O: I would also recommend supplements for coat care. I usually add coconut oil, fish oil and other similar supplements to Ori’s diet whenever necessary. 

L: Spitz are prone to luxating patellas so it’s important to take preventive measures. We feed Legend Arthrix Plus as a joint supplement, Augustine Superboost, fish collagen and salmon oil supplements. Salmon oil helps with shedding and also promotes a shiny and healthy coat. This is especially good for them since they are a double coated breed.

– – –

THE WOOF AGENCY would like to thank Orithespitz, legendthespitz and hweeventures for sharing about their experiences!

Stay tuned to next Stories from the Community, where we talk to owners of long-back dogs to learn more about how to care for them! 

Categories
Community Stories

The Story of an Assistance Dog

Ever wondered what the life of an assistance/guide dog was like? The Woof Agency had the chance to speak to Isabella, a visually impaired woman who lives her life with O’Hara, her guide dog.

Read on to learn about how the process of obtaining a guide dog, key distinctions between the various types of assistive dogs, and some do’s and don’ts when it comes to interacting with them!

Could you tell us more about your story with O’Hara?

When I was 6-years-old I started losing my eyesight to a rare genetic juvenile form of macular degeneration, called Stargardt’s Disease. This disease is progressive, so after a few years of having it it made me be considered blind. Throughout my life, I have taken classes for the blind called Orientation and Mobility. These lessons are taught by a professional, and helps teach blind individuals how to travel independently, and use a white mobility cane. This was very important because in order to work with a guide dog, an individual must be blind and also must have exceptional mobility skills (know how to travel by themselves). In 2018 I trained at the campus of Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, New York for 3 weeks to learn how to work with O’Hara as a team.

I had to go through an extensive and detailed application process, in order to be considered to receive a guide dog. O’Hara was not specifically trained for me. However, she was trained for 2 years prior to us meeting on how to lead someone who is blind and be their eyes. We ended up being a great match, and have been working together ever since. 

What is Guiding Eyes?

Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a non-profit organization that has been training exceptional highly trained guide dogs (dogs trained to help lead the blind) since 1954. Through donations, volunteers, and word of mouth they are able to provide guide dogs to those with sight loss for free, despite the dog costing around USD$50,000 to breed, train, raise, and place with someone who is blind. 

What is an assistance/service dog? What are the different types of assistance/service dogs?

A service dog is a type of assistance animal (not all assistance animals are service animals) that is specifically trained to perform tasks/work that directly mitigates the disability of someone who is disabled.

Comfort and emotional support are helpful to those who need them, but do not legally qualify as trained work or tasks. Therefore therapy dogs and emotional support animals are not legally considered service dogs, and do not have the same legal protections as a service dog.

What are the tasks of an assistance/service dog?

Trained tasks/work can include, but is not limited to: Guiding someone who is blind, alerting someone before a medical episode happens, retrieving medication or reminding someone to take the medications, interrupting self harmful behaviour, finding help for someone who has had a medical episode, etc. O’Hara is a guide dog, which is a type of service dog that is trained to help lead those who are blind. Her tasks include helping me get from point A to point B, finding door/chairs/locations for me, stopping at street crossings/any change in footing/steps/curbs, guiding me around obstacles, and essentially being my eyes. 

How can a dog become an assistance/service dog?

Any breed of dog can be a service dog in the USA. The dog does not need to be professionally trained, but does need to be trained to meet the ADA’s (American’s with Disabilities Act) behavioural qualifications for a service dog. The dog needs to be house trained, temperament tested & and is not allowed to be/show aggression, know at least one task or be trained work that directly mitigates someone’s disability (cannot be comfort or support). They must be under the control of their handler at all times, and the handler must be classified as “disabled” by the ADA’s definition.  It is very hard to become a service dog, and training typically takes one and a half, to two years before a dog is considered “fully trained.”

Not every dog is capable of becoming a service dog, due to it being so difficult. It should be noted that training & the handler being disabled is what makes a service dog a service dog, not a vest. In the USA a service dog is not required to wear a vest, harness, or anything “identifying” them as a service dog. It is the training that makes them what they are. A normal dog could wear a vest, and that does not make them a service dog. Service dogs are considered medical equipment by federal law, and are not legally pets. 

Legally there are only two questions that can be asked in public, however they can only be asked if the answers are not obvious. The first question being “is that a service dog required because of  a disability?” The handler would answer that with a yes, or a no. No further details may be asked about that question. For example, it cannot be asked what that persons disability is. The second question is “what tasks or work is the dog trained to perform?” The handler would give whatever answers applies to them.

The tasks or work may not be asked to be demonstrated. Because the USA does not have a registry or certification for service dogs, someone is not allowed to “see ID, or papers.” If the person says their dog is for comfort, calms them down when they get upset, or is for support that is not a service dog, and therefore they can be asked to leave.

No dogs are allowed to ride in shopping carts, even if it is a service dog. The dog must be under control at all times, and may not be causing a disruption in business such as excessive barking. If you want to interact with a service dog, it is always best to ask before doing so. 

What are the dos & don’ts when people see a service dog in public?

If a handler says that it is not a good time, it is important to respect that and not take it personally. It is dangerous to the life of the handler, and the training of the dog to attempt to distract a service dog from working.

Examples of distraction include: petting without asking, talking to the dog without asking, making sounds at the dog like kiss noises, prolonged direct eye contact with the dog, feeding the dog, calling the dog’s name, whistling at the dog, or any form of attempting to get the dog’s attention.

Again, it is best to just ignore the dog and if you really want to interact it is essential to always ask first. The handler decides when the dog is not working, so even if the dog looks like it is just laying there it could be still performing its life saving job. It is equally important to note that service dogs get lots of  time to play , and to just be a dog when they are not working. Thee dogs are not forced to become a service dog, nor are they forced to stay a service dog. These dogs LOVE working, and are happy doing it. 

What are some misconceptions people have of service dogs?

Some misconceptions include:

Thinking service dogs are aggressive: In actual fact, they’re legally not allowed to be aggressive.

All types of assistive dogs are the same: This is false as well, as there are very different tests and procedures included and there are different requirements for each type of assistance animals.

Anyone can have a service dog: You need to not only have a disability, but also need to be considered “disabled” by the ADA’s definition.

Service dogs are pets/You only need ID’s to be considered service dogs: Not true, as you essentially need to have proper training in order to be classified as a service dog.

Additionally, not all service dogs are guide dogs, as there are many types of assistive dogs. It’s important to also note that stores are not allowed to deny a service dog access such as supermarkets or other commonly used places. However, they tend not to be allowed in more sterile locations such as hospital operating rooms or religious places of worship, based on the discretion of the person in charge.

—

THE WOOF AGENCY would like to thank Isabella for sharing about her experiences with O’Hara & Guiding Eyes.

Enjoyed this article? Let us know what other stories you’d like to hear about in the comments below!

Categories
Community Stories

How I suddenly came to care for a senior hamster

When I first started my internship, I was told that we have an office hamster that is around 2-3 years old which is estimated to be around 80-120 years old in hamster age. Initially, I did not interact much with the him but as time went by, I slowly grew attached to him.

When he was still in office :3

I started doing research online regarding how to better care for a hamster. I started out by made some toys out of cardboard that he could play with. Then I started to, buy some snacks for him and would play with him once in a while. After a few months, I decided to get him a new cage that is bigger that his original cage so he can have a bigger space for himself as my research online said that small cages could make a hamster feel stressed due to the lack of space.

When Christmas and New Year’s came around, the last two weekends of 2020 were a long weekend and there would be no one to look after him if he was left in the office so I brought him home and he has been in my house ever since. My family also grew attached to him and plays with him when they have the time to.

Eating broccoli at my house

One day as I was feeding a treat to him, I noticed that his left ear seemed swollen and since I have no experience about how to handle this kind of situation, I googled and found out that it could either be a growth or an ear infection. I then contacted my close friend that owns 2 hamsters to seek for help. My friend helped me get an appointment booked with the vet that she usually brings her hamster to and she also went to the vet with me as it is my first time going to the vet.

His infected ear

After the vet checked on him, it seems that not only was his left ear infected and swollen, his right ear was also infected and he also has some on his skin as well. Initially, the vet wanted to clean his ear and teach me after so I could do it myself as well at home. However, when the vets were trying to clean his ear it seems that he was not used to being handled and he was very stressed by the situation that he gasped and almost collapsed. The vets decided to not clean his ear anymore, gave him some oxygen and get him to calm down.

The final decision was to feed him antibiotics and antihistamine to help with his infection and itching. At first, I was a little worried about needing to feed his medications myself as my friend told me that she had a hard time feeding her hamster medications back then when she had to. But when I tried to feed him his medication myself, he ate his medication well and did not reject eating it which was a huge relief for me. He is now still in the middle of his medication period and I hope that he stays strong and recovers well : ) 

Categories
Community Stories

Could Miniature Schnauzer be the most beginner-friendly dog breed?

Are you thinking of what dog breed might be suitable for you as a first-time owner? I know exactly how you feel. Before we got Fifi, we were excited about her arrival. Yet, we are also anxious about the challenges that might arise with caring for a new furbaby. However, with proper research done, you’ll be better prepared on what to expect.

Fifi has been with us since she was 2 months old. She is a happy 13-year-old girl now. With my experience handling a Miniature Schnauzer, I will be sharing with you 5 reasons why Miniature Schnauzers might just be the dog breed you are looking for.

Fifi, the-13 year-old silver Miniature Schnauzer | @fifi.prinsassy
  1. They are hypoallergenic

If the cleanliness of your house is a concern to you, you’ll be thrilled to know that Miniature Schnauzers do not shed fur. Shedding was a huge consideration for my mother. Even though not shedding fur also means you might need to brush its beard frequently to prevent matting, dog shedding is much harder to clean up, even with a lint roller.Miniature Schnauzers do not drool as well, plus point for cleanliness!

For Fifi, we have tried sending her for Schnauzer cut grooming. However, we thought that she does not suit that cut. Hence, we do not let her keep her beard from then on. Keeping the beard short is a workaround if you do not have time to brush frequently.

Aside from being cleaner by not shedding, hypoallergenic dogs are perfect for people with a sensitive nose. If you sneeze every time a dog is in a room, Miniature Schnauzers will be suitable for you as the lack of shedding will not trigger your allergy.

  1. They are extremely smart

Miniature Schnauzers are also extremely intelligent. The breed was initially trained as a herding dog. In today’s context, they will be suited to be trained as a therapy or service dog. In Singapore, a grey and white Miniature Schnauzer, Button, is a therapy dog to offer comfort for elderly patients in hospice care. 

In my own experience, we have never sent Fifi for any dog training before. However, she is smart enough to check if we are nearby once in a while when we go for walkies. Another example of their intelligence is how they will try to communicate. When Fifi was a puppy, we enclosed her in an area within the house. To show us that she wants to play or come out of the area, she would throw her toy over the fence repeatedly so that we will let her get the toy. Fifi seldom cause troubles for us growing up. She loves cleanliness herself and would clean her mouth after meals. She also only pees and poops in the outdoors. Even though these traits might not apply to all Miniature Schnauzers, their intelligence is undeniable. With proper training, they could be easily managed and obedient.

  1. Miniature Schnauzers are a good size

Being the smallest dog in the Schnauzer family, they only weigh between 5.4kg to 9kg which makes them easy to carry around. Their size also makes it convenient to bring them around as they could easily fit in a pet carrier. Especially in Singapore where pets are not allowed on some private cars without a bag, a small dog breed like Miniature Schnauzer can get around easier compared to a larger breed. 

  1. They are good-tempered and affectionate

Personality and affection level of the dogs is an important consideration when getting a pet. Miniature Schnauzers are generally well-mannered and they are quite independent too. They do not always require constant attention and are perfectly fine to be left alone for a while. All they need is your presence within the room and you are free to do your things too. 

For Fifi, she needs her own space and alone time as well. Sometimes, she would just chill at a quiet corner at home to get her beauty sleep. The only time when she will bark for attention is when she is hungry, wants to play or waiting for walkies. These instances do not happen very often and even when they do, the timing is rather consistent which makes it easy for me to plan my schedule. 

  1. They are generally a healthy breed

Pet care can be costly in Singapore especially if you do not have a pet insurance policy. Cost aside, first-time pet owners may not know how to handle certain health conditions that might be breed-related. Miniature Schnauzers are generally healthy with little joint and back problems. With a good diet and having enough exercise, the healthiness of the breed can put your mind at ease as you do not have to worry much or spend too much time caring for the health conditions. That being said, you still have to look out for any unusual signs and symptoms just in case they fall ill. Being a healthier breed does not mean that they will not fall sick and requires no attention to their health. However, a healthier breed will mean it is less likely you have to spend on pet care or faced with challenges you might not know how to handle as a first-time pawrent.

In conclusion, Miniature Schnauzers are just the right amount of fun and independence. With proper training from puppyhood, they can become great companions which are obedient and sensitive to your emotions. While they offer you the comfort you need through the ups and downs in life, you can have the peace of mind as they are a healthy breed which you need not worry about their health and the cost of pet care often. Miniature Schnauzers are easy to care for and will be good for first-time owners to gain experience in caring for a pet. With a good family, Miniature Schnauzers can bring priceless value and fun into your life. However, it depends on you for what is the most important considerations when getting a pet. It will be wise to research each breed thoroughly before making a decision.

Categories
Community Stories

Oolong ate a lizard and got sick

Oolong is usually a pretty active and playful dog. But when we went home last Thursday, he was extremely lethargic; he welcomed us with a lick at the door and went back to his room to sleep. Oolong was sick. I could see in how he dragged his paws across the floor, how heavy his step was from one side of the room to the other. I went in and spoke to him, and he barely raised his head. He usually licks my hand when I stroke him but this time he wasn’t up for it. At this point, alarm bells were going off in my head.

Vomitted at 1am
The moment our worry for his illness went to the next level is when he vomitted his food out at 1am.


As worried pawrents, we took him to a vet hospital immediately. We booked a cab and went straight to a 24-hour animal hospital

First Diagnosis
At the hospital they did some checks, checking whether there was any indication of a serious food poisoning. They squeezed his stomach area too to check for any discomfort to check for gastric blockage, and Oolong had a slight fever going. But the vet couldn’t pinpoint what was exactly the issue, so he recommended us to do an x-ray and blood test.
FYI, doing a consultation, blood test & X-ray in a pet hospital at midnight is much more expensive than a normal vet. At a day neighbourhood vet, a blood test costs around $280 for a comprehensive one, x-ray around $120 and consultation around $50 ($450 total). The 24-hour pet hospital quoted $300 each for the blood test and x-ray and $160 for the consultation ($760). Be prepared to pay 2x more for a midnight vet trip vs a normal one.

As it was already 3am after the consultation, we figured to wait until the next day to bring Oolong to our neighbourhood vet to save some $$. The vet gave oolong an IV jab under his skin to keep him hydrated, along with 2 medicine jabs to prevent nausea and lower the fever.
First bill was $280++

Surpise Lizard time + Teething
The next morning, we found a dead lizard head next to his body. This stupid boy must’ve eaten the lizard sometime yesterday which is now causing a stomach upset. We also realised that his gums were bleeding from his teething issues, so these 2 double whammy must’ve affected his appetite and condition quite abit.

2nd Vet visit
As Oolong still was not feeling well, we went over to our neighbourhood vet to do a 2nd round of checks again, just to be on the safe side.
Same procedure; the vet pressed the stomach to feel for any discomfort or blockage, and checked the temperature. His temperature was down at least which was a good sign, and he is a little more active.
The vet suggested that the lizard might be the cause of his illness; dogs get food poisoning too! But it affects every dog differently, some dogs vomits, some dogs get dirrehea, and some get both. She gave us some probiotics and antibiotics to help, and told us to monitor his for the next few days. Some good signs to look out for is pooping (meaning he has no gastric blockage) and higher activity level.
2nd bill was $110+.

Aftermath
Based on some online information and vet recommendation, we decided to feed a diet of soft food for him to aid his digestion. This consisted of boiled chicken and milk.
Luckily for us Oolong condition did improve, he became more active and has been eating better, hopefully this episode will teach him not to eat lizards again!

Conclusions
After the whole debacle and stress, we came out of the whole experience feeling much better as Oolong was recovering. But there were a few key takeaways that we have to abide by:

1) Unless its an emergency, do your checkups at day day vets instead of 24-hour hospitals
This needs some judgement as if your dog is really sick or is poisoned, time is of the essence. But unless absolutely necessary, it’s best to wait until daytime to see the vet as the costs is usually much cheaper.

2) Buy pet insurance (#notsponsored)
This is really important as if there happens to be a gastric blockage and there is a need for an operation, the cost of it would easily run upwards of $7k. If Oolong did need an operation then, it would be emotional and financial stress at the same time. At least with insurance, I can be rid of much of the financial stress.

3) Have one logical person in the discussion
Having a pet being sick is a huge emotional stress, but it’s very important to have a logical person in the situation to steer clear of emotional decisions and overthinking. In the whole situation i was the emotional one, while my partner was helping me to look at the logical signs of recovery and next steps, which really helped calm my mental nerves quite abit

I hope this article helps anyone who faces a similar situation to me! Do ping me if you need any advice!

Categories
Community Stories

Did I make a mistake adopting a Singapore Special?

I adopted Gigi back in 2017. I was a pawrent noob. Never owned a dog before, hardly knew anyone who owned a dog and knew nothing about Singapore Specials(SS). I did not know what to expect upon adopting and there were times i wondered if I was making a mistake.

My adopted SS – Gigi

One thing you have to know before adopting a SS is that they are all different – personalities, traits & temperament. There is no one-size fits all when it comes to Singapore Specials. I know of super timid, fearful SS but there are also SS who are very confident & friendly.

Gigi is a fearful dog who expresses her fear through aggression. When I first met her, I was told that she was aggressive towards other dogs and also very apprehensive towards strangers, especially in the house. Despite not knowing how to handle an “aggressive” dog, her pitiful past and adorable face moved me and I had to bring her home. She warmed up quickly to me and my family and that’s when I thought it was fate. Apart from her temperament, Gigi is all sorts of perfect – independent, house-trained and all-round well behaved. She could be left alone at home without a problem and she wouldn’t end up destroying the house.

Though she does not look it, she is fearful aggressive

But I struggled greatly with her temperament. She would bark at neighbours, lunge at other dogs, she even tried attacking strangers before. I started to live in fear of her accidentally injuring another dog or human which led to avoiding walking at crowded places or peak hours, waiting endlessly for an empty lift and refraining from inviting people over for dinner. Those were the times I asked myself if I had made a mistake adopting her.

I attempted to train her, engaged trainers, sent her for daycare all in hopes of helping her. There were failures and successes, there were times I really wanted to give up. Only when I came across our very last trainer did things change for us. It took a lot of conditioning, firm handling and hard work but I saw the changes in her. Both our lives have changed for the better and I cannot be more grateful.

If you asked me if I think adopting Gigi was a mistake – no, she is the best thing that happened to me and my family. And if given the choice I would still adopt her. But, there are some things I learned along the way and for anyone who is looking to adopt a SS, I would encourage you to consider these 3 things –

  1. Be prepared – There were so many things I wished I knew before adopting, like how to handle her temperament & what to expect. That would have saved us from ending up living in fear and feeling hopeless.
  2. Understand Singapore Specials – They may come with their trials & difficulties. SS are known to be skittish & fearful. Understand the temperament of the dog you are adopting be ready to make the commitment.
  3. Do not give up – The journey may not be easy but it is rewarding and don’t give up on your furkid once you have made the commitment.
Hang in there pawrents!

There is no journey like the one you embark on with your dog. The key is to know what you are getting into and never give up.

Categories
Community Stories

My Close Escape from Euthanasia

Hi guys, in case you don’t know yet, my name is Kiki. This name was given to me by my first family and my pawrents just continued to use it.

In Feburary 2018, at 3 months old, I was brought home by my first family. They were so excited to have me and so was I to have them. However as days go by, things spiraled out of control.

Being in a family with 3 small children (4 if you consider me as a small puppy as well), my then pawrents did not have the capacity to care for me adequately and I soon fell into the arms of the devils.

I got myself some sort of a skin irritation where I constantly scratches and bite myself. I was constantly itchy and in pain. However, as I was the first puppy the family ever had, they did not know how to deal with me.

Pawdad sent me to the vet several times and was diagnosed with skin allergy. They suspected that it could be due to food, but despite changing my diet and eliminating via food type, they could not find the root cause.

It just kept going on and on and months flew by. At my very worst, I was almost bald and bloody due to the constant scratching and biting (I really can’t help it) and to protect my siblings, pawdad asked his friends to foster me temporarily.

This was the start of my journey of moving house to house. I was sent away by countless “fosterers” as they could not deal with my constant scratching (and disgusting smell). I am also always locked in my cage almost 24hours a day as they were afraid of me dirtying their places. I was at a very sad place. It was until July 2018 that pawdad reached out to my current pawrents to seek help as a last resort.

He had scheduled me to be euthanised 2 days later, but has no place to temporary put me up at. My mummy had questions about me but agreed to put me up for 2 nights.

When pawdad brought me over to mummy and daddy’s house late at night, he told mummy that I had severe skin allergy and the vet recommended to be euthanise as I will not have quality of life. He felt sad about it but this is what he had to do. He left after saying goodbye to me.

After closing the door, mummy opened my gate. It was the first time the gate has been opened for godknows how many days or weeks. I climbed out of the cage… Despite all the pains and itches, I made my way to mummy’s lap and asked for a belly rub.

Mummy gave me a good belly rub and looked at daddy saying how pitiful I was (no doubt, I was so raw then). Daddy suggested that we should not give up on me and that he would make an appointment tomorrow with his friend’s vet and get a second opinion. Mummy agreed. Little did they know, it was this decision that saved my life.

The next day, daddy got home from work and brought me to the new vet. The vet saw me and immediately got down to business. He took tests and did everything he needed to do. He even gave me a huge slab of salmon from his stash for dinner as he said I was so severely underweight for my age (7 months).

All red, at the vet

It turned out… The results showed that I was suffering from a very severe form of chronic scabies that the bugs were eating me alive inside and outside. Luckily though, I was diagnosed in time, if we were to wait any further, I would not have made it out alive.

This event turned everything upside down. Mummy contacted pawdad to inform the results and pawdad was shocked. He could not believe his ears and asked if mummy could keep and restore me back to health. He would be willing to pay for all the medical bills for my condition until I got better.

Mummy and daddy discussed and agreed to give me a second chance in life.

I got home, looking like this….

July 2018

Being also a first time dog owner, my new pawrents did not know what to do, much less prepare for my arrival.

But mummy being in the healthcare industry knows fairly well how contagious scabies is and quickly build me a playpen using Daiso metal grids to temporary keep me at a corner of the house (but this is definitely bigger than my cage which I’ve been living in it for many weeks!)

I was on medications 3x a day and showering every 3 days for 2 whole months. As both mummy and daddy are working, mummy engaged the help of her 3 good friends (AKA my 3 godmas now) for rotational help. The 4 of them took turn caring for me 24hours around the clock. Making sure I was fed well, had my medication and showers, and had lots of love and care. They almost could not leave me alone at home as I would start biting or scratching the moment I got nothing to do. In addition to all the special attention I needed, daddy assist in keeping the house scrubbed and cleaned well. He mop the floor and wipe everything I touched EVERY SINGLE DAY.

For the first time in many days and weeks, I finally slept well.

Slowly but surely, my skin started to recover. Instead of being like a skinless roast duck, I became a pink chicken and my fur started to grow out.

Look at me, being all cozy on mummy’s lap

As my condition slowly got better, I also became a vacuum cleaner during park walks (mummy ever had to pick out a chicken bone from my mouth) and learnt to climb stairs!

From taking each step gingerly….

To hopping like a kangaroo!

Everyone was very amazed at my recovery and I was so active by then! With due care and diligence from pawrents and godmas, I was on a roll. I became the puppy I should be.

Pawdad saw my miraculous recovery and after discussion with mummy, they decided to transfer my name under mummy’s name to make me officially adopted by my pawrents!

I could not be happier and pawrents were elated to have me part of their family. I mean, I am already their family since the night I got there, didn’t I? Hahaha!

Everyday, I create new problems and challenges to my pawrents which made them scratch their heads (see the pun?) and try to outwit me each time. (Soon after, mummy started me on command training to tire that clever brain of mine).

It took 1 month for the Chronic Scabies to be cleared and close to 3-4 months before my fur are fully grown out!

Take a Look!

Aug 2018
Sept 2018
Oct 2018
Nov 2018

In Nov 2018, I celebrated my first birthday!

I wouldn’t have made it to my first birthday (or even third this year!) without my pawrents’ decision to bring me for a second opinion. I would not have escape that needle of death. So I’m forever thankful for their kindness.

Lastly I got to say, even though pawdad and family did me unjust, I forgave them and I still love them. Till date, whenever I see my pawdad and family, I am always very happy to give them hugs and kisses! I knew that although they may not have given me the best care, they had made the right decision to let my current pawrents adopt me. For that, I am forever grateful.

Today, I am happy and I hope you are too!

Signing off,

Kiki, your favorite MP

Categories
Community Stories

Scared of dogs? This article is for you

If you know my dog Kobe and interact with him before, You know that he is a sweet boy that loves human and other dogs! Even thou he is missing a leg, always have a smile on his face, I still have many people thats afraid of him.

Have you ever just walking your dog and minding your own business, and from afar, you see X stops abruptly and find another alternative path; or X starts walk diagonally as they stare down your dog to avoid it. 

Have you ever just exiting the lift with your dog, and you release some sort of invisible force repealing X thats about to enter the lift?

Have you ever just minding your business while walking your dog, and suddenly you hear someone screaming, you thought someone was in trouble, but oh, your dog is cause of it.

Have you ever just resting in public places, and your dog starts wagging its tail and smiling to X, and X deems your dog to be aggressive and scary? 

Have you ever goes to a dog park where there’s couple of small doggos, the moment you off leash your dog, X picked up their dogs and leave the place soon after.

Have you ever just walking and keeping left side on the lane, and someone incoming using their phone without paying attention, and suddenly you release some sort of invisible force again, repealing X immediately, and X got angry and “TSK” at you, or worst, confront you and ask you to walk your dog properly.

Thats a sign of people suffering from Cynophobia develop the condition as a result of negative experience with a dog in the youth. Eg: Been chased or bitten by a dog, witness someone get terrified by a dog, or have grown up with someone who’s aversion to dogs become their own fear. 

Cynophobia, pronounced (sy-no-phoia), is a phobia or a fear of dogs. 

Oh, let’s not forget there a small fraction that just outright dislikes dogs.

Base on my own experiences above; and speaking as a dog owner, and an animal lover;

I think that depends on the situation:

A) the owner, and B) how the dog is behaving. 

Certain dog owners will get mad at everything, but also there are dogs that behave badly or are new to the owner and haven’t been trained yet, so their owners will probably understand if you get upset.

For me, I will try my best to be respectful if I’m out with my dog and notice someone eyeing him with uncertainty. I will shorten the leash and have him close and give the person room to pass. I always keep my very socialized / trained dog on my side and sit as they passes with fear. By doing that; I let the person know ahead of time that my dog is a friendly one. 

(That dog is a mongrel and omg he is looking at me, he is about to come and bite me)

While I respect their fear and I won’t try to force them to like dogs or be offended by it, in some cases I don’t understand. I often wonder if the person had a traumatic experience, or if they didn’t grow up with dogs and don’t know anything about them, or a certain breed thats stereotyped as aggressive.

My small little advise to you if you’re suffering from Cynophobia:

If you’re really afraid of my dog, I totally understand! I’ll make sure he doesn’t come up to you. But please, do not start screaming. There is no reason to scream. Although he is very friendly, I have train him to not having to greet everyone he meets while walking, so he’s not even going to come up to you. People do get scared sometimes and keep their distance. BUT if you start screaming when he is literally just standing there, chances are you will scare him just as much as you are scared, which is bad enough, and try to bolt, which is worse.

And if someone made my dog that uncomfortable I’ll be pissed off as all hell. He might not mind it, but I’m only human.

So if you’re scared of my dog, please politely say, “I am afraid of dogs” and back away a little bit. I will get the message and will move him away from you. If I notice you look scared, we will move away. I believe all dog owners are responsible for that, but of course, we also have a small fraction that feels that they are above all, and doesn’t give a damn about your fear, then I am sorry about your negative experience of dog owners like that.

Fear is something that alerts us to possible danger and helps keep us safe. It’s good to be aware of what scares us, and then choose to either be afraid of that thing forever, or learn about it and determine when you need to be afraid and when it’s really okay. Both options are valid.

Im coming to attack you with my cuteness

On the flip side, we also have people that over enthusiastic animal lover. Well, thank you for getting so excited seeing my dog in public, I’m fluttered. But your excitement might spook my dog too. 

If we are resting and your kid decided to approach us and wants to pat my dog while making a lot of loud noises, please respect us that we might have to politely decline your kid’s enthusiasm and walk away, and often is because we know our dogs better than you, and we do not want to be accused that our dog is creating a problem. 

I mean, who could be afraid of this dog?
Categories
Community Stories

How having a dog changed my life.

Processed with VSCO with p5 preset

It’s…. officially 9 months 5 days since I had my first dog, and it’s been a helluva ride for me. Well, do not mistake me when I say that. This helluva ride kinda changed my lifestyle, my habits for the better, though twenty percent of the time, I had my eyeballs rolled after every mess my dearest pup made:)


TIME AND COMMITMENT

My fiancé and I decided to get a dog as we were living in the same house and working in the same company. COMMITMENT, I would say is the distinguishing factor whether or not, you should, or SHOULD NOT have a dog. Living with a puppy is honestly underrated and definitely incomparable, to taking care of a baby as many would say.
We were really blessed to have flexible working hours to deal with the puppy period as the first few weeks of your life with them, is gonna be disastrous.

You cant get mad at this puppy face isnt it.
  • Meals

Prepping their meal isn’t as simple as what many thought it would be and to further clarify this misconception, it definitely isn’t just scooping a cup of kibbles and expecting them to feed on it for all of their meals, their entire life. Every individual puppy is different and do keep in mind that their body changes and reacts to different types of food as they grow.

We did have had quite an experience with my sheltie’s meal since he was a puppy.
From raw to kibbles, to freeze-dried, to raw again and then to home-cooked.
Was indeed a stressful process I would admit. HEH!

They could be receptive to raw at first but allergies could kick in after.
They could be receptive to kibbles at first but decided to be picky after.

The list continues and to sum it up, every type of food, be it commercial food, home-cooked, raw … etc, they each have their own benefits but it boils down ultimately to how your puppy reacts to each type of food and the commitment of every dog owner to formulate the meals of their pups accordingly so they can eventually live a long and healthy life.

  • Daily walks / Dog runs / Cafes

Oh.. daily walks. Some people lament the need to walk their dogs daily and soon after, they no longer walk their dogs anymore.

This is when commitment kicks in as walks are what your pups look forward to every day where they can run wild, play at dog runs, or even just a 45mins walk outside wherever. Pretty similar to the kind of break we look forward to after staying at home the entire day.

Walking them daily exposes them to different environments instead of being a country bumpkin. Some puppies react very much as they were not exposed to cars, people jogging, the sounds of the birds chirping …etc when they are young and become fearful as they age and these certainly are not fears that could be eliminated overnight. This is only just an example of my experience having a sheltie, however, there could be other problems owner faces depending on the breed of their dog.

Commitment to walk them daily eliminates bad behaviour and is a good form of exercise to correct them of their bad habits and to develop a healthier relationship between you and your pups:)

Let them have their fair share of playtime too. Cafes are really heaven for them.

  • Trainings

Obedience training, focus training, toilet training, or whatsoever training you have enrolled yourself and your pups into, please do not give up halfway as these are the essentials and know-hows which will definitely be useful to you and your pups. All in all, don’t get one if you cant commit and don’t resent them if they were to pee on your couch or your bed or your favourite cushion in the future. #JUSTSAYING

  • Showers

Be sure to shower them weekly / twice a week to keep them clean. You don’t want bugs or fleas up their fur. As my sheltie has dry skin issues, he has to be showered weekly with medicated shampoo. The process is really tiresome but you get a puffy, pleasant smelling, and happy puff at the end of the day.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SACRIFICES

Waking up at several intervals during the night to clear his poop was a test for us. Both me and my fiancé struggled so much as we were logs before we had him. Puppies poop like there’s no tomorrow, and just so you know, they eat their own poop like it’s the best dessert they ever had. And yes, this is gonna be repetitive for the first few weeks. Ingesting too much poop is definitely not healthy for them in the long run and it could become a habit which would be hard to correct in the future.

It was madness for us at night and we were soulless in the day when we headed for work. But seeing how much he has grown and learned when and where not to poop, we know the sacrifices were not wasted.

As it’s only just me, my fiancé, and my pups living together, we could barely head out for a long period of time. Well, not until hapsie is an adult. heheh.
Staycations were also a no for us, temporarily. Covid’s here anyway.

HOW IT EVENTUALLY CHANGED MY LIFESTYLE

Having our own personal time has became a bonus for us.
Without a dog, you can travel whenever you want to, enjoying impromptu plans with friends and families, spending some time chilling while watching Netflix, popping chips into your mouth.

But when you have one….. you have to feed him on time, spend time walking him, playing with him, teaching and training him. Your energy will be drained by the time the sunsets. Zero time for dating or even just mere chilling. Times where we left him at the groom for about an hour or so, was the only personal time we had to have a cup of coffee, to lay back and chill for a bit. We even had to drop him off at our parent’s place occasionally to attend meetings/appointments and only fetch him when our day ends.

Waking up early has become a habit as we had to feed him. We use to be logs who only wakes up in noon. Now our body clock has changed.
Weekends have also been busier than before as we’ll bring him out to cafes, dog runs to meet his siblings and friends as weekdays were only walks and journey to the office together. Chilling and lazing on a weekend has become a once in a while event. It did change my lifestyle to a healthier one and I’m thankful for this change. 9 months into having a dog and I’m enjoying every second of it. Looking forward to having him celebrate the different milestones I’ll be achieving in the future and I’m really grateful for the change he has brought upon us.

—

Ah, not forgetting the twenty percent of the mess I mentioned earlier, its nothing more than having holes in your favourite shirt, clean socks which are soaking wet, strings in your pants shredded, and tissue paper pieces all over your floor 🙂 But don’t worry, after all the mess that’s been made, you’ll be sure to see their most innocent, brightest smile which you can never get mad at 🙂