Beautiful BROWN EYES
She appeared out of nowhere, this brown beautiful dog. It was as if she was their muse, for our 3 Seletar strays. One day there were three dogs and the next there were four. As some of you may know, our original feeding started with Milo and Blackie. After Milo's rescue, Blackie hooked up with Junior and subsequently Patches, our Hound look-alike who took upon himself to be the next leader of the pack. For a while, these 3 ran together, ate together (or not quite as Blackie is always far away, distanced but not isolated) from one location to another on the run from lurking danger. Then one day, to our relief, they found and stayed in a fenced up building which they call temporary sanctuary and it was there that she appeared.
She appeared out of nowhere, this brown beautiful dog. It was as if she was their muse, for our 3 Seletar strays. One day there were three dogs and the next there were four. As some of you may know, our original feeding started with Milo and Blackie. After Milo's rescue, Blackie hooked up with Junior and subsequently Patches, our Hound look-alike who took upon himself to be the next leader of the pack. For a while, these 3 ran together, ate together (or not quite as Blackie is always far away, distanced but not isolated) from one location to another on the run from lurking danger. Then one day, to our relief, they found and stayed in a fenced up building which they call temporary sanctuary and it was there that she appeared.
First sight
When we first saw her, waving her lovely tail, she looked straight into our eyes with a huge smile and trusting face, the words from a song "Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes, I'll never love blue eyes again..." came into my mind. Such a lovely looking dog, so sweet and friendly with big, hazel, almond shaped, long lashed eyes, looking at us, in wonderment that she would get food from us and not harsh words, no beatings, no chasing away. Where she came from we didn't know. Was she a stray all along, we doubt as we have been by this whole area and have never seen her before. Did she belong to a family, we don't know too but she fitted in with this new pack so easily it was as if she always belonged. Most pack would not allow a newcomer in quite that fast but in this case, she fitted in like a glove from Day One.
When we first saw her, waving her lovely tail, she looked straight into our eyes with a huge smile and trusting face, the words from a song "Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes, I'll never love blue eyes again..." came into my mind. Such a lovely looking dog, so sweet and friendly with big, hazel, almond shaped, long lashed eyes, looking at us, in wonderment that she would get food from us and not harsh words, no beatings, no chasing away. Where she came from we didn't know. Was she a stray all along, we doubt as we have been by this whole area and have never seen her before. Did she belong to a family, we don't know too but she fitted in with this new pack so easily it was as if she always belonged. Most pack would not allow a newcomer in quite that fast but in this case, she fitted in like a glove from Day One.
We call her MamaBrown. What a strange name, some people said. Yes, we agree, it is, but to us, she looked like she was once a mama, a dependable mother dog and she is brown. And she became that - she became what we call the big sister, the Rat Pack's mama not in age as she is pretty young, estimated to be less than two and not in size but in the dignified way she carried herself, her quiet and elegant demeanor, her caring behaviour. She is that sort of dog you could count on, to give love to a newcomer, a mentor, she was a trusted companian to confused extremely fearful Blackie, a middle bridge between boisterous Patches and playful Junior. She behaved like a mama to young Junior who always needed licks and nudges, faithful follower to leader Patches and loyally stayed by Blackie's side when the latter was later found heavy in pregnancy.
Our good girl
Just as in a family or in a classroom of kids, there is always that one you can depend on – to "follow instructions", carry the teacher's books, clean the blackboard, be home on time, a classroom monitor, an obedient child, MamaBrown was that to us. Everytime we went to the fenced facility, she would be there waiting never coming out till we call her whereupon she would obediently head towards us. Sometimes the other 3 would disappear to roam the streets, play truant or hunt, MamaBrown would not leave with them, she would be there waiting for their return and our appearance.
Just as in a family or in a classroom of kids, there is always that one you can depend on – to "follow instructions", carry the teacher's books, clean the blackboard, be home on time, a classroom monitor, an obedient child, MamaBrown was that to us. Everytime we went to the fenced facility, she would be there waiting never coming out till we call her whereupon she would obediently head towards us. Sometimes the other 3 would disappear to roam the streets, play truant or hunt, MamaBrown would not leave with them, she would be there waiting for their return and our appearance.
During the three dogs' long disappearance, as reported in our blog
entry of October 31 (http://homelessinseletar.blogspot.com/2008/10/status-quo.html), she was there alone, scared but waiting and hopeful, came to us when we called but reluctant to come out from the facility, with her huge eyes pleading with us to look for her friends. And only when the 3 finally came back after many days, did she emerge with them to eat.
MamaBrown smiling at feeders.
Her trademark, Her sweet smile,
Her beautiful eyes wide and lighted up in joy
She is always appreciative, affectionate and obedient
This photo taken in October 22
Her trademark, Her sweet smile,
Her beautiful eyes wide and lighted up in joy
She is always appreciative, affectionate and obedient
This photo taken in October 22
Our usual routine after every feeding, would be to round them up and make them return behind the fenced facility where it is safer. Junior always pranced around in a game of 'catch me if you can', Blackie was always the odd one out, sitting far away, isolated and distanced, Patches would never move, whether you had a stick in or hand or not, he would disobey and instead try get into the car, but MamaBrown, the most obedient of the lot would always head back. We never needed to tell her what to do, she'd come out to eat when we call her and once we started clearing the plates, she'd turn and walk slowly back, a completely no-problem child, the most kwai (obedient) of the lot. And always, after she reached the end of the pathway, she would always turn back to give us a long look, a wave of her tail as if saying "Thank you for coming and see you again." That was her trademark, that look, her eyes, her thankfulness, her appreciation, her gentle spirit, her motherly behaviour. Sidetracked
It was always our original intention that when we had to relocate them, MamaBrown would be the first as she was the easiest to manage. So we would tell her, wait Mama, when we get another location, you'll go there first, keep the place safe and then the boys and then Blackie, if we could catch her. But then things changed, because of the boys roaming and chasing people and cars, the immediate and very real danger to their lives
It was always our original intention that when we had to relocate them, MamaBrown would be the first as she was the easiest to manage. So we would tell her, wait Mama, when we get another location, you'll go there first, keep the place safe and then the boys and then Blackie, if we could catch her. But then things changed, because of the boys roaming and chasing people and cars, the immediate and very real danger to their lives
(see our blog entry of November 20 - http://homelessinseletar.blogspot.com/2008/11/relocation-and-more.html), we somehow ended up relocating them first. One emergency led to another and with the rescue of the Honey Bunch puppies, the problems with adoption for the temple dogs and helping with ALL's weekend expo sale, our plan to relocate MamaBrown got pushed further and further back. There didn't seem to be enough hours in a day to finish doing what we had set out to do.
Safe Haven No More
And in the meantime that safe quiet fenced up haven suddenly became a hive of noise and shouting, with workers moving around, painting the building, putting up fences, heavy trucks rolling in and out and our 2 remaining girls, MamaBrown and Blackie hid further and further in the facility, confused and afraid with the new happenings. All along, ever since the Pack discovered this facility to stay in, we had no way of going into to feed them and depended on them to come out to get food but with the strange noises and heavy activity, the girls (without the boys as we took them to a safe place), were reluctant to come out, sacrificing their food and water out of fear. With no brave Patches to lead them out or playful Junior to run to us, MamaBrown and Blackie hid themselves in, and looked troubled. From far, we could see their tails tucked and ears pull flat back. They continued to miss their feeding day after day, as the rats and crows helped themselves with the food we would leave behind since they were too afraid to come out when we were there.
And in the meantime that safe quiet fenced up haven suddenly became a hive of noise and shouting, with workers moving around, painting the building, putting up fences, heavy trucks rolling in and out and our 2 remaining girls, MamaBrown and Blackie hid further and further in the facility, confused and afraid with the new happenings. All along, ever since the Pack discovered this facility to stay in, we had no way of going into to feed them and depended on them to come out to get food but with the strange noises and heavy activity, the girls (without the boys as we took them to a safe place), were reluctant to come out, sacrificing their food and water out of fear. With no brave Patches to lead them out or playful Junior to run to us, MamaBrown and Blackie hid themselves in, and looked troubled. From far, we could see their tails tucked and ears pull flat back. They continued to miss their feeding day after day, as the rats and crows helped themselves with the food we would leave behind since they were too afraid to come out when we were there.
Things became worse, big trucks and more uniformed persons started rolling in. The whole area became sealed. We could still see the building but not our precious dogs. It is normal for Blackie to be missing as she loves to roam but not MamaBrown. She does not wander, it is not her style, even when the other three would would go missing for days, she never followed them. Like an obedient child, she always “stayed at home”. It was a shock to us at that time that she was not there. Like a foundation pillar, she is always there. Even when she didn't eat, we can always count on her being there, remaining, waiting. Our pillar is gone.
In desperation, we spoke with the Head guy in charge but was refused entry into the facility. We called our friends from SPCA to try speak with him hoping that they would have better chance but they too were turned down. More than two weeks have already gone by for her without any food. Where can she be. Is she missing or just hiding? Could she have followed Blackie out to roam, but this is unusual, it has never happened before and we have seen Blackie in another area recently but where is she. She must be so hungry and weak. Is she still in that building? Can she get out from a different exit? Did she get out? Is she even alive.
In desperation, we spoke with the Head guy in charge but was refused entry into the facility. We called our friends from SPCA to try speak with him hoping that they would have better chance but they too were turned down. More than two weeks have already gone by for her without any food. Where can she be. Is she missing or just hiding? Could she have followed Blackie out to roam, but this is unusual, it has never happened before and we have seen Blackie in another area recently but where is she. She must be so hungry and weak. Is she still in that building? Can she get out from a different exit? Did she get out? Is she even alive.
Operation MamaBrown
We passed word around to all the nearby workers, Indian, Bangladeshis, Myanmese, road sweepers, anyone and everyone in that area that our dog is missing and we continued our search. The day we received the call that she was spotted in another area was a joyous one. Without hesitation, the nearest feeders in that area, rushed out to meet her. From a distance MamaBrown saw and recognised the feeders and waved her tail. Even the workers in that area clapped in happiness when they saw the emotional scene between a lone thin dog and the feeders. She wagged her tail till it looked like it would drop off but she didn't walk much, she looked too weak.. When the feeders had to leave her to go home after spending an hour with her, after giving food and water and a lot of pets and hugs, she looked up with both pointed ears (usually her ears are one up and one down) as if asking "must you leave me alone again?" But the feeders no safe place to relocate her, no plans had been pre-arranged and had to regretfully leave MamaBrown behind, who is looking, waiting, puzzled.
A Promise Fulfilled
That's when we all decided in the next 24 hours, we need to mobilise the team and this time we will relocate her. On December 8 that became a reality. However with so many feeders around, MamaBrown panicked and ran. But because she is very weak and malnourised, she cannot run far. We did eventually catch her, with some difficulty as she is afraid, she is defensive, she has seen much cruelty and she doesn't like the leash. The leash reminds her of the noose and the wire and screams in the night. What horrors her lovely eyes have seen during the weeks in the wild we can only imagine and too troubled to narrate in this blog. When she was finally in our arms, all the feeders cried. It was an emotional time as SMS ran out to our other concerned parties. She looked at us with those beautiful brown eyes, as if in apology.. "Sorry for the trouble. so sorry to cause you hurt, sorry to worry you."
We passed word around to all the nearby workers, Indian, Bangladeshis, Myanmese, road sweepers, anyone and everyone in that area that our dog is missing and we continued our search. The day we received the call that she was spotted in another area was a joyous one. Without hesitation, the nearest feeders in that area, rushed out to meet her. From a distance MamaBrown saw and recognised the feeders and waved her tail. Even the workers in that area clapped in happiness when they saw the emotional scene between a lone thin dog and the feeders. She wagged her tail till it looked like it would drop off but she didn't walk much, she looked too weak.. When the feeders had to leave her to go home after spending an hour with her, after giving food and water and a lot of pets and hugs, she looked up with both pointed ears (usually her ears are one up and one down) as if asking "must you leave me alone again?" But the feeders no safe place to relocate her, no plans had been pre-arranged and had to regretfully leave MamaBrown behind, who is looking, waiting, puzzled.
A Promise Fulfilled
That's when we all decided in the next 24 hours, we need to mobilise the team and this time we will relocate her. On December 8 that became a reality. However with so many feeders around, MamaBrown panicked and ran. But because she is very weak and malnourised, she cannot run far. We did eventually catch her, with some difficulty as she is afraid, she is defensive, she has seen much cruelty and she doesn't like the leash. The leash reminds her of the noose and the wire and screams in the night. What horrors her lovely eyes have seen during the weeks in the wild we can only imagine and too troubled to narrate in this blog. When she was finally in our arms, all the feeders cried. It was an emotional time as SMS ran out to our other concerned parties. She looked at us with those beautiful brown eyes, as if in apology.. "Sorry for the trouble. so sorry to cause you hurt, sorry to worry you."
"No MamaBrown, it is ok, you don't need to apologise. You are safe now. A promise made is a promise kept. We are sorry it took so long. You just waited and waited, didn't you, all these months and weeks you waited just like an obedient child. You kept your part of the bargain. We did say we will come back for you one day although we took a little too long."..as we kissed her over and over again on her muzzle and her beautiful brown eyes.
MamaBrown is now in the shelter but quarantined from Patches and Junior as she is very thin and very weak. She can barely stand. For her to run from us during the capture must have entailed every ounce of her remaining strength. She eats very slowly, very weakly but she is alive. She has been a long time without food and drink but she is alive. Eventually we will release her to be with her old buddies. She will be happy to see them just as she is happy to us feeders who have been visiting her. With a wag of her tail, she makes every effort to stand up to greet us.
A Plea for sponsors
We are asking for sponsors for MamaBrown as she embarks on this journey of recovery. Is there anyone out there who feels like we do, love her and cherish her and want to give her a better life. She has waited patiently all this while, don't let her wait be in vain. Help us to help her. No amount is too small. Your sponsor wil go a long way for MamaBrown.
We are asking for sponsors for MamaBrown as she embarks on this journey of recovery. Is there anyone out there who feels like we do, love her and cherish her and want to give her a better life. She has waited patiently all this while, don't let her wait be in vain. Help us to help her. No amount is too small. Your sponsor wil go a long way for MamaBrown.
Email us at anaterry@singnet.com.sg or
homlessinseletar@yahoo.com.sg.
Hungry and thin.
Can barely stand but still appreciative, still obedient.
Still our good and darling girl
Hungry and thin.
Can barely stand but still appreciative, still obedient.
Still our good and darling girl
In quarantine. MamaBrown looks very afraid but she is safe
Beautiful MamaBrown with those brown eyes need you. Those eyes though still beautiful are no longer big and wide with joy and excitement. They are now tired from the running and fear, so tired from being lost and alone. Will you help those eyes light up with like they once did, just like when we first met.
Honey Bunch Pups
Buddy, oldest and biggest, his ears are beautifully pointed
Latte on the left and Oreo on the right
The honey-hued puppies are growing well and healthily and very very adorable. They will make super additions to the family as they all have very good temperament, loves cuddles and licks.
Buddy, the biggest and probably oldest as he is the most calm has been fostered temporarily and already knows how to use the newspaper for his pee and poo. He is so cute and sweet that fosterers find it very hard to let him go after they short term time with him. We too wish that the fosterers can keep him as they have been excellent in their care for him and he in turn responds well.
Oreo is the youngest but just as adorable and playful. Latte the female, with a slightly darker fore brow is so sweet and round. She seems to be fatter than Oreo, which we cannot understand since Oreo doesn't allow Latte to eat faster than him. They are so cute, these smaller two. When they share a bowl of food, Oreo will not allow Latte to eat faster than him, then when we scold Oreo and carry him away, Latte will not eat at all. She will run around us while we are telling her, ok your turn now. It's only when we put Oreo down, then both Oreo and Latte will rush for the same food and again the whole thing starts again.
To see is to believe and this is not a gimmick. It is not easy to see such cute, replicated, similar coloured looking pups. They need good homes to take them in. They also need your help in donating to their fund because as they grow older while at the facility, we will need to pay for their boarding as well as send them for vaccinations. It does not end and the pups are growing without a family. A kennel is a safe place but a kennel is not a place for puppies to grow up in. There are too many dogs around needing love and like human babies, puppies need more than just that, they need human contact. To have a mommy and daddy is every dog's dream, we know but for puppies it is much more. It is akin to a child waiting for Santa Claus to leave him presents under a tree on Christmas eve.
Buddy, Oreo and Latte need their Christmas gifts too, remember that as you shop for yours, the little pups have no one to shop for them. There will be no presents under the Christmas tree for them because Santa will not come.
Be the Santa for them, remember them in the sponsorship or better yet, make them your family so that there can be a special package for them with their names on it.
Please email us at anaterry@singnet.com.sg if you wish to view them for adoption or to contribute to their fund.
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