NEWSFLASH!
This video was taken last week, beloved Blackie's precious babies, our beautiful Ebony pups. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yu1_4-Fv9c&feature=channel_page
As of today January 12, there are only 4 pups to be seen. Three of whom we have determined as female. The fourth could not be ascertained as it kept too far away. The fifth which is the one with white tip tail seems to be missing when we were there. We actually think we may have lost one already.
If we can't find any homes for them, one thought is to catch them and send them to the SPCA , rather than let them be run over by trucks, cars, mistreated or caught for other evil purposes. We are so undecided about this. We know how cruel the evil ones are to pups but at the same time, to make this call means there is no turning back. Sigh.
Please help pass the word around if you can adopt or even foster them - Call 98383820 or email anaterry@singnet.com.sg
Ebony Pups (Labrador Cross)
Well. The day we have been waiting for finally came. We have searched hard and we have searched long. Through tall grass, mud, thorny bushes, thick foliage, overcame fear of snakes, cobras, insects and also toads and frogs. We finally found Blackie's nest.
Ever since the other dog's attack on Blackie, she doesn't linger long at old haunt and sleeps on the road, near car parks. Seeing her sprawled out on the tarmac scares us. Why is she here. Why is she not with her pups. Are they alive or have some died. She also doesn't eat as much although she keeps taking bread home. Now we are clever, we no longer buy buns as those are hard to carry. We buy bread, preferably wholemeal ones as they are more nourishing and we stack 6 in a pile. She would take the whole pile and with a mouth full of bread, run back to the thick foliage. So heartbreakingly sweet to see her do that, after every feeding without fail, she will bite that stack of bread to bring back for her pups.
Last week, upon seeing her again on the road, we decided we will brave the dark jungle and try find her nest. We were unsuccessful before as she sprang at us in the middle of our search, snarled and growled at us. It was in the evening then and had grown dark. This time we will go early in the morning on a sunny day. We wore thick jeans, full socks and shoes and long sleeved shirts. We also took along umbrellas and sticks to startle snakes before they startled us. As we entered the pathway we normally see Blackie take, the underbrush was thick and scratchy. Good thing we had protection but still our palms and faces and hands were not spared. They were red and itchy. Blackie usually takes a few pathways and as we tried one after another, not all of them were accessible by people because of the overhanging branches and hilly slopes. Just as we thought we probably should go back, we heard a dog woof and some yelps. We grew excited and knew at least one pup would be there. A little afraid too that she'll pounce on us. The last pathway seemed easier than the others and two of us proceeded. The other two of us kept watch to see if Blackie came back. It never occurred to us she would be inside with them as we had called and called her earlier to feed her but she didn't turn up. We just thought she had gone looking for food.
Along the small pathway, while pushing aside grass and thorns, we came to a crossroad, it did look like a crossroad and a little cave. There would be no way we could go any further. Only a cat or dog can do that as you need to crawl. We contemplated crawling but the place looked like there might be snakes too and while we were talking, suddenly there were lots of yelps and louder too, very loud. We thought, ok, we know there are pups, we'll just leave a plate of food for them. As we opened cans of food and prepared kibbles and bowls of water, suddenly a head appeared. Followed by two, then three. The puppies! How sweet.
Adorable black looking faces whimpering in excitement as they smelt food. Three ok, we can handle three, just pick them and put in a bag and try to put them in a safe place. As we picked one up, the pup cried and cried, shrieking and yelping as if we were going to harm it. We had to let go as the racket made us nervous as we half expected Blackie to return. And nothing is fiercer than a mother dog protecting her young.
As we let go the pups all disappeared. Undaunted we set out pouring another can, the black faces appeared again, this time from a different hole. One, Two, Three, Four... Four black pups. Four whew that's a lot. As they hungrily ate the food, believe it or not, another black face appeared, very nervous and afraid, probably the smallest. It looked like how Blackie looked each time it ate, looking up to make sure we didn't come nearer.
Adorable black looking faces whimpering in excitement as they smelt food. Three ok, we can handle three, just pick them and put in a bag and try to put them in a safe place. As we picked one up, the pup cried and cried, shrieking and yelping as if we were going to harm it. We had to let go as the racket made us nervous as we half expected Blackie to return. And nothing is fiercer than a mother dog protecting her young.
As we let go the pups all disappeared. Undaunted we set out pouring another can, the black faces appeared again, this time from a different hole. One, Two, Three, Four... Four black pups. Four whew that's a lot. As they hungrily ate the food, believe it or not, another black face appeared, very nervous and afraid, probably the smallest. It looked like how Blackie looked each time it ate, looking up to make sure we didn't come nearer.
Five beautiful glossy fur labrador cross pups, presumably healthy as Blackie is still nursing them. In the meantime our two feeders outside were smsing us urgently - come out, Blackie is back and circling the area, howling away, in anguish as she knew there were intruders. Blackie appeared to be contemplating going in and had attempted but the sight of two feeders outside, she hesitated and instead howled. As we came out, the sight of those five black pups gobbling down their food made us sad. On one hand we are happy to see them alive, as after all they are Blackie's pups and she is precious to us. On the other, what future do they have. Their mother can barely take care of herself, much less for these five.
Five very hungry pups, but beautiful,
fat and glossy due to Blackie’s nursing.
A sad future hangs in the distance.
fat and glossy due to Blackie’s nursing.
A sad future hangs in the distance.
We came out to put food for Blackie but she kept away till we were at a distance. She zoomed in on the food, ate a little, grabbed the bread and ran in to her pups. It was along while before she came out. As she didn't get to eat much the first time, we fed her some more. It was good to see her eating. Now we know she has to feed 5 pups, we know her survival is crucial for them.
Just recently, we spotted the pups running around with Blackie. Yes, they are getting too big and too old for her to hide anymore. Their situation has become precarious. Just like Blackie, they are as hard to get near and that makes it difficult for us to catch. We wonder if we should try because even if we can, what can we do with them? We have no place for them, no one to foster them nor adopt them. And we also do not have the funds to support them. And even if we do have the funds, how long can it sustain them. There are five and that is a big number. As learnt from the past, black dogs are the hardest to rehome as everyone prefer a lighter colored dog. Questions are more than there are answers and no one has any solution.
Macho Dog with a Soft Heart
Horlicks has become very friendly which makes it dangerous for him as well. He has found some friends in a group of guards but these guards are there only temporary and cannot take him permanently. They are very nice to him and because of them, he has become friendly to everyone, even to us. In the past we had to carefully leave food for him and move off to enable him to eat but now, he comes right over to sniff our hands and follow us everywhere. The guards like him a lot as he is good company for them during the late nights. He follows them on their rounds and as long as he is with them, he is safe from predators. However there are times when they are on calls and he starts wandering - that is when it becomes dangerous for him to be too friendly.
Horlicks, so friendly and sweet
and mild, thanking us.
and mild, thanking us.
Horlicks, sheepish with the attention.
Smiling for the photo shoot.
Horlicks, meantime has been seen visiting Blackie’s nest of pups. One time when one of our feeders gave him a bun, he didn’t eat it but with the bun in his mouth, ran over to the nest, possibly to give the pups. Another time, we gave him a box of full of kibbles, intending for Blackie and Horlicks to share. During lunch, we went back to check and to refill, the box was missing. We asked the guards and they said that Horlicks had eaten some, then carefully bit the box containing the remaining kibble in his mouth and went straight into the direction of Blackie’s nest. Wow, what an impressive dog. He is playing surrogate father to Blackie’s pups. He even knows how to “Ta Pow” (pack food) when Blackie couldn’t although we had tried many times to make her take back a packet of kibbles for her pups.
How sweet of him, how human or even more thoughtful than most humans. A dog like that would be such a joy to most people. It is such a tragedy for him to be abandoned by his previous owners. Being a dog with such human sentimental feelings, it must have been traumatic and devastating for him to be left behind by his family. Poor Horlicks. We have no place for him, no plans for him and no funds for him. We now have a dilemma we can’t fix.
We will just keep pushing for adoption for all our dogs, including Horlicks. If we can rehome one of our dogs from the kennel, we will be able to let him take that empty place but if we can’t, there is no place for him. That is our arrangement with the Shelter. The best would be to get a home immediately so he can stay off the streets. It is not easy but we will try, we have to, for Horlick's sake.
Adoption or Fostering – Litter of FIVE Ebony Pups
In the Disney movies, the birthing of new lives often bring much rejoicing and glorified in a wonderful array of colour. But in this dark and realistic world, in a lonely forsaken place where the Ebony Pups are discovered, is this the beginning to an end? Were they born to die? If they could choose, they would have chosen never to be born as that would mean running in fear their whole lives from people trying to catch them for food, for culling or for the mere pleasure of killing or maiming them. Born in the wrong place at the wrong time. How sad can that get.
In the Disney movies, the birthing of new lives often bring much rejoicing and glorified in a wonderful array of colour. But in this dark and realistic world, in a lonely forsaken place where the Ebony Pups are discovered, is this the beginning to an end? Were they born to die? If they could choose, they would have chosen never to be born as that would mean running in fear their whole lives from people trying to catch them for food, for culling or for the mere pleasure of killing or maiming them. Born in the wrong place at the wrong time. How sad can that get.
Can we make a difference to their lives. We know it is not easy but we will try. We have to try. Surely they were born for a reason. Can you help us give them the reason that they were meant to bring joy to others - with their wags, their whimpers, their sighs, their grunts, their adoration and their love. That they were meant for better things and not hunted down or ensnared in a wire noose or in a black airless plastic bag.
Close up shot of one of the Ebony pups.
A litter of FIVE beautiful glossy shiny fur of jet black Labrador cross puppies. Three are full black with no markings, one with a white tip on its tail and the last, beautiful white socks but all five look alike - beautiful jet black. They are healthy as we know the mother is still nursing them and we try to pump the thin mother with lots of food so she can produce enough milk for these pups. She would die for them, we know, for we know how much she loves them and because of them, her own life is very much in danger as she won't leave - making her a sitting target out in the open. But we would rather she lives and along with her, her beautiful puppies.
Can you help them beat the odds -
Prove the world wrong -
Black is Beautful, Black is Elegant, Black is Cool, Black can be LOVE and Black is Ebony -
The Ebony Pups
To help save them, we need adopters and fosterers - 9838 3820 or anaterry@singnet.com.sg
Horlicks is Urgently looking for a home
Name : Horlicks
Age : Approximately 1 year plus
Breed : Cross
Temperament : Gentle and Mild, Very friendly with people and children. Loves to play.
Macho dog with a soft heart. Excellent family dog.
Unfortunately, the current licensing ruling restricts ownership of mid-sized dogs in public housing, and as much as we would love for Horlicks or one of the Ebony pups to go homes who will love him, regardless of the type, regretfully, he is not on the HDB approved list. This does not apply to fostering.
Please email us at anaterry@singnet.com.sg or call 9838-3820.
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