When Patches saw us, he ran towards us excitedly and started to jump on us. The people who were nearby were shocked and weren't sure if we were being attacked by 2 strays. If you have met Patches you would understand the stunned silence. Patches is big, he is tall, has a coat of black, with brown, patch and spots, he is often misunderstood as fierce but actually he is very friendly and loves to jump on people.
Our car was parked across the road so we called to the dogs to follow. Upon reaching the car, we got out the dog kibble and started to feed both of them. All this while, the eyes of the passerbys were following us and observing.
Half way while eating, a truck drove by and Patches ran off and started to chase it, barking at it wildly. He likes chasing cars and barking at vehicles as it was a game for him. Junior followed behind him. we shouted for them to come back. Patches stayed in the middle of the road and an approaching car had to stop for him before he moved out of the way. He and Junior then returned and continued to eat. Shortly after, a lady walked towards their direction to a bus stop when Patches stopped eating and ran towards her and started barking and Junior followed again. The lady stopped in her tracks and shouted at them and at us. We quickly yelled for the dogs to return which they did and continued eating.
As this point, we made the decision that both these dogs had to be removed for their own safety. The way Patches is carrying on chasing vehicles and barking at people, it would be a matter of time before the authorities are alerted and all strays in the area rounded up. Nobody knows that he is actually friendly and wants to play. He poses no danger but people view strays differently especially such a big one at that. Also there is an increase in the movement of construction trucks and this also pose a dangers to the dogs.
We have also recently heard the place that they are located in will be re-developed next year. We know eventually they need to be moved once demolition plans begin. What will our Rat pack do then. So our pack’s time at this location is running out. Rather than wait and be confronted with what do when that time comes, we quickly made an hasty decision.
We called them, opened the door, and Patches jumped in. Did we tell you that he loves car rides? Junior was easy as he imitates what Patches does. We have moved them to a shelter and they are now safe and located in a single kennel. They are temporarily locked up till they can undergo medical checks. As you can see in the photo, Patches was initially upset to be behind bars. He was defensive growling and barking at the other dogs despite his human-friendly nature. Junior was quieter, more resigned to the fact that at this place, he will never be hungry again..
So for now our Boys are safe. Our plans for them is to get them checked out at the vet, sterilise them and eventually try to rehome them. We know it will not be easy for Patches as he is a mature dog, big in size and a little different looking, Junior should be slightly easier he s still young and small in size. But we will try. As long as we are able and they are healthy, we will try.
Somewhere out there, there will be a special place for them, especially for Patches. The one who loves to be with people the most, if there is any dog who craves for love and human touch, that’s Patches. Is there someone who can see him for his beauty, his brindle colour, his unsual zig zag stripes, and say “What a beautiful dog!” because to us, he truly is. It is not his fault he was born looking different, God gave him this for a reason, to stand out in the crowd and Patches does – to us he is Awesome.
We are looking for sponsors for boarding and medical for both Patches and Junior. If there is anyone out there who may not be able to give them a home but is able to contribute some amount, please remember Patches and Junior. No amount is too little. Give them a chance. Our Boys need you. This will be for the Rat Pack – The Boyz fund.
Awesome Patches,
The most misunderstood dog.
“Take me as I am because I will love you as you are.
If I can see beyond your looks,can you not do the same for me?”
Playful Junior
Everything is a game to him, Fast cars, fast life
But fast and easy life is not safe.Like for all youths, a good home will settle him
The Honey Bunch
Our Team managed to catch the 4 elusive and hidden puppies in the factory two nights ago. These are Angel’s siblings. The story of Angel can be found in our earlier entries of November 2, URGENT NEWSFLASH - For Adoption and November 5 - Finally Home under "An Angel For Adoption". We decided to have them brought out as the danger to the pups of being disposed off by the factory's boss has become imminent. According to the feeder, the workers told her that the boss had actually caught the 4 pups and thrown them outside down the road. However, the pups were smart enough to find their way to factory. Upon knowing this, the boss then told the workers that the next time he catches them, he will drive them far away from the factory and dumped them elsewhere.
That night was to have been a viewing by an interested party to adopt one of the pups. Unfortunately he failed to turn up and attempts to call him on his handphone was unsuccessful as he had switched off his mobile. So while waiting, and hearing the latest worrying news, we decided that by hook or by crook we had to relocate the puppies.
With ALL’s help, they would be housed temporarily at the Shelter till we can clean them up and find good homes for them, one by one. Even with that open offer, we had a problem – how do we catch them? We had only found one and three were hiding beneath machinery and tons of pallets and crates, refusing to even acknowledge us. Mohan and Dennis came through for us. Despite their extremely busy schedule and the late hour, they came immediately to the factory and brought with them their own special equipment to catch the pups. After about 45 minutes of heavy manouvering around the cartons, moving pallets and machinery, in sweat and grease they managed to get all the 3 other pups.
We then brought them in to the shelter where an occupied kennel was made available for the 4 pups. We are very grateful to ALL for coming to their rescue. Without question of how long the pups will stay, the costs and space constraints, they came through for us unconditionally and gave their time and effort to help us out with the pups. This is why our Team will always support them, be it fund raising or sales of calendar, ALL not only talk the talk, they walk the walk.
This is a call for the Honey Bunch, so called as their fur is a beautiful honey hued. Honey to look, honey to touch, honey in nature and honey to us. There are 1 female and 3 males. Extremely cute, lovable and in desperate need for a home. Not necessarily together. If you have seen Angel, these are 4 replicas of her. There is Latte the only female, Kopi the smallest boy, Cyrus, the most active and cheeky and Stor, the biggest size. However at a glance they all look alike, like duplicates or should we say photocopies.
Eeeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo
Who’s the fairest of them all
More about Cara
Well, Raven and Silver have finally left. Cara is alone. What can we say - Cara is looking for her pups. I suppose she thinks they are just outside as previously we took them out to bathe them and return them to her, took them out to vaccinate and returned them. She was always anxious when we did that, anxious and worried. Now we have not returned them to her and she is getting more anxious, upset and still waiting. SIGH.
We visited her last night, and she was happy to see us but unlike the usual visits when she comes to us to be cuddled and petted, she barked and tried to run out and avoided our touch. We wondered why and realised that she was trying to ask us to open the door for her so she can look for her pups.
Cara barked at us when she doesn’t usually do that.
Not an angry bark but rather, an enquiring one....
more like “Where are my babies?”
So sad for Cara. Almost broke our hearts to see her like this. We feel she thinks we betrayed her. And we probably did, in a way, we had good intentions but how do we tell a devoted mother that removing her puppies is for their and her own good. Tell me, how do we do it. We promised her when we first rescued her that she never had to run again, never be beaten again, never be hungry again but I bet in her simple doggy mind of love and devotion, if she could give up all that comfort and luxury, just to have her pups back with her, she would choose the latter.
It will take a while for her to get over this. Cara is an unusual dog. We have said it before and we will say it again. Its been 5 days and she is still looking and waiting. Cara is very beautiful now that she has put on weight. Her fur is jet glossy black and she looks young again. She has a patch of white on her chest. To us it is her Star – her medal – God gave her a medal for her loyal devotion. Fantastic mother, Mia Cara, you deserve your medal of honor. Take a bow, Cara, take a bow.
We are so happy our blog have enabled us to share our sorrow and joy. One of our readers, Ms. J has offered to take care of Cara’s sponsorship, for her boarding and medical. She has said in her email : “…I read your story posted on 5 November and Cara's story brought tears…….I’d like Cara to be taken care of for the rest of her life…I’d like to visit her.”
Cara looks lovely now.
Glossy and slim. Milk teats have shrunk.
She has put on weight.
What a wonderful sight to behold. All she needs now is a permanent home
Thank you Ms. J. for your kindness, your generosity. All our dogs are special but some of them have touched us a little more. You have seen Cara beyond her looks, We will work together with you, towards the goal that one day, Cara can walk into a proper home and call it her own. We cannot give her back the pups, but we can give her a new chapter, definitely a safer one and filled with love for only her.
United we stand – HomelessInSeletar Team
While we started this blog to create awareness on the plight of the strays in our zone, we never thought of the funding as we have always dug into our own pockets but the situation has been brought to a different level as feeders from other areas contacted us for help. In our first entry, we stated why and how this blog was inspired – Joey. Joey that we didn’t manage to save and Joey who we were inexperienced and needed help, but some who could – didn’t, and some came too late. Because we lost Joey through this inadequacy, we vowed then that if an individual, without a support base group, ever approached us for help for any strays, we will at least give them our ears and advice even if we couldn’t do more, due to our limited resource and funds, We will try to help the best we can in that circumstance or situation.
• Cara and her pups was one of those case. It was a call from another feeder
• So was Shep and Lady, not in our area but we heeded the call for help and rescued them
• Angel and her siblings, The Honey Bunch, are another, from a completely different area but we heard of the danger in the lives
We don’t make ourselves to be saviours of the world, we know we can’t help everyone nor can we save all but these feeders still need our support, a listening ear if we can offer nothing else. Rather we take our inspiration and passion from Cathy and Mohan from Animal Lovers League where they see beyond organisation and protocol but work towards the same passion for the strays. We try to exemplify ourselves with their work, in our small way. Our group is now growing, zealous, passionate and good people. We are so thankful for them, so grateful for their ever-ready offer of help, each talented in their own right.
Yes. That’s us – We give the best that we can, in our own ability and our own capacity for no effort is too little, no amount is too small.
If there is anyone out there reading this blog, and want to join us in our efforts, let us know. We would love to get to know you. The reward is tremendous, a sense of achievement, a joy unexplained, wags, wuffs, licks, sighs, nuzzles and muzzles, whines, barks, howls – How can that not be enough? No reward? Our cup is overflowing!
1 comment:
Hi can I ask what is the place that you feed the strays? Is there other groups that feed strays in Defu Lane?
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