Coincidences

It's a Small World we live in. We discover kindred souls in the least likeliest places. A couple of weeks ago, we received a call from Ms. J who introduced herself as a resident in the vicinity of where we feed. She had never read our blog, nor seen us feed but a casual conversation between her mother and a friend about this sorrowful little black dog they know and feed some nights led to a series of discoveries. Her friend, finding their stories about the black dog seemingly familiar, mentioned having heard about them in the internet and after a few investigative searches, J found our number.

Yes, to both our delight, the little black dog in question is our dear Blackie.

Blackie apparently has been coming out from the forest late at night when no cars or people ae in sight. She sleeps near the place where we first met her with Milo and J's parents, when driving past will stop at the car park and leave food for Blackie. Dear Blackie is so trusting of them that she recognises the car and she will walk towards them in anticipation. But these are the good old days, as lately she has not been seen. Just like us, J's family are concerned. We found out during the last sighting they had of Blackie, whom they fondly call Miss Black, was several weeks back, when she looked extremely thin, just skin and bones and had a wound on top of her head. She looked sick and did not eat the food they offered.

Oh dear, our hearts sank at this discovery. How can she be skin and bones with the huge amount of food we have been leaving in the forest for her everyday? How can she be tired, weak and lifeless when she is still so young. We cried when we heard about the wound. Recently many crows have been sighted in the forest, which doesn't bode well. Crows are scavengers and like vultures, they attack weak or sick dogs or pups, kittens, unable to defend themselves. Can Blackie's wound on her head be the work of crows attacking her now that she is sick, she's weak and can't run away - she has no respite in the forest, no place to hide from them. And Blackie has always been afraid of crows, that much we know. Perhaps she has seen the damage they can do or they must have attacked her when she was a pup. Our poor dear Blackie. It is heartbreaking to know she is going through so much pain and misery, all alone and we are unable to help her. Does she know we care.

We mounted a search and rescue a few evenings ago with some good friends, and again on a weekday when some of us took time off from work but alas, to our sorrow we found no Blackie nor Shadow, no trace of dogs, no body, no smell. We even took along Indy, her favourite little ebony pup, the last rescued from the forest, but although Indy appeared extremely excited and sniffed in high anticipation in the places where Blackie was last seen lying on, she is not a tracking dog and could give us no indication. Blackie did not appear. We had hoped, unrealistically but hopefully that Blackie and Shadow with their keen sense of smell would come running out because Indy was around. We didn’t dare venture deep into the forest with Indy, much too afraid to lose her in the dense forest.

Poor Indy got bitten very badly by the mosquitoes even though she was only there for a short while, and we can only imagine how much poor Shadow and Blackie suffer with the blood suckers. But we are very grateful for S who volunteered his much loved dog and accompanied us on the hunt for Indy's mummy. We wish we had a happier ending to the little adventure for Indy, who we are sure will be delighted to see her mother again.

We left the search as empty as when we first came, a sliver of happiness with a hope that she might be still be alive hence no stench of death, sad that we didn't see her lying inside injured and ready for our rescue and definitely worried that our worst fears might have come true that Blackie could be gone forever from us, choosing to leave the forest where she grew up, a place where happier memories with her five precious pups, our darling Ebony Pups, forsaking all in her pain and misery to a lonely desolate place to pass away.

We tear as we write this. Our hearts are very heavy because it doesn’t look good. She has never been sighted this sick before and she has never disappeared from us this long before, not only from us but from J's family as well. Even when she stopped coming to us because of what we did with her pups, she would acknowledge when J's parents visited. Deep in our hearts, we carry a fear that dearest Blackie has already gone from us forever, without saying goodbye. Even if she is still around, she needs medical help desperately. We suspect she may have heartworms, tick fever and on top of that, her wound needs to be addressed immediately or gangrene and infection will set in. Since we have gone into the forest twice and not found her, our back-up plan is for J to activate us when and if they spot Blackie at night, no matter how late it is, they will sound the alarm for us to trap Blackie. The hope is fading slowly as each night slips by with no call from J.

Strangely enough, J's family has never seen Shadow. We do think Shadow is still alive as the plate of wet food is licked clean, and this is not the work of the birds. The birds eat the kibbles but not the wet food.

Now having found a friend in J and E, we set out to meet with them over the weekend, to fill in any blanks or questions they may have, and vice versa for us. And what an enjoyable time we had that day. It was like a meeting of old friends - anecdotes and stories were shared, of Patches, MamaBrown, Horlicks, Junior and even Milo, all Blackie's old friends and theirs.

Now we understand how Horlicks disappeared for so long and reappeared suddenly without any harm. And they were delighted to hear about the ebony pups, the ones they had seen in the forest scampering around witth Blackie and puzzled why one by one each disappeared. They had been very upset and thought the worse of the pups' fate but that turned to excitement as we told them of how Blackie's pups, save for White Tip, have been rehomed and are now in their teens. J, E and their family will come visit the RATS pack and the Ebonies, touch and cuddle them, all of them once thought dead and now discovered alive safe in the kennels and some with new families. Yes it will be a reunion of old friends again.

We will even visit Patch, now renamed Forest in his new home as they remember with much love the big brindle, goofy dog. J's father has always been especially fond of this big boy as he loves brindles, and he is eager to see big Patch again.

Yes, it is a small world indeed, and while we were talking, they asked if we know of "another dog in the area, a cream colored.... ", we finished the sentence in excitement for them "... with upright ears !!! ALSIE !!!"

Beautiful Alsie.. yes, yes, we do know her we shouted in glee, "Have you seen her? Is she around?" What news awaited us, what delightful news, Alsie has been living in a home for the last few weeks, rehomed by this wonderful couple who has been looking after her ever since Alsie's old owners left her behind. Yes they know of the sad story and feeling very sorry for the once owned dog, have been feeding her, trying to win her trust. No wonder Alsie does not look thin when we see her, and is always seen in the odd hours. She always seemed more interested in our treats than in our food because she is not hungry, she has already been fed by this couple and their neighbours, everyone feeling very sorry for this beautiful dog. Recently, a family took her in after she got into a fight with another dog, which explains the scratches we saw on her and the blue ointment on her toe. But Alsie is very naughty, she loves this area she grew up in and loves running out from the house, even though she receives love from the current family, she still remembers the bus stop where her first owner would alight and she still sits there waiting. Her first owners had taken her in as a little puppy and first loves cannot be forgotten even when that beloved first love betrayed, a dog sees nothing but that pure innocent love of sweet memories.

So Alsie, also known as Heidi (because she was first seen hiding) would dig a hole under the fencing, barrel her way and escape from home. The owners have done everything they can to stop her, re-done the fencing, higher gates, even tying her up sometimes but she always manages to squeeze out for a short stroll and gallop around the estate. She is still seen once in a while visiting her favourite feeder for her familiar jerky and treats but now that we know she has a home, we just make sure she does not run into the foreign workers site and inform her owners of her escape.

Alsie gets to eat her favourite jerky. She returns her thanks. It was a million dollar kiss for us. A dog we thought we had lost, has come back.

We had the sweet opportunity to visit Alsie with J and E and it was so good, felt wonderful to pat her, to cuddle and stroke her. It was almost surreal to be actually there next to her. She was so happy to see J and E and you can tell how much she trusts them. She went belly up straightaway. Remembering the last time we tried to touch and catch Alsie, she had snarled at us in fear, it was a transformation that was hard to believe if we were not there to see her first hand again.

Is a a coincidence J's paths and ours crossed? Or is it a Miracle. We’d like to think it is the latter.


ALL at ClubPets' Carnival @ D'Kranji Farm Resort - a fund raising event
Animal Lovers League (ALL) will be participating in ClubPets Carnival at D'Kranji Farm Resort on June 6 and 7, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. along with other Animal Welfare Groups.

The event is two days of education, fun and relaxation for the whole family with games, activities and goodies to keep you thrilled and occupied.

View Clubpets webpage for the events listing : http://clubpets.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/clubpets-carnival-dkranji-farm-resort/

We will have a booth selling merchandise such as notebooks, hand-painted T-shirts, tote bags, cushion covers, toys, dog and cats greeting and post cards, dogs' t-shirts, scented decorative candles as well as many interesting items to fund our welfare activities for the cats and dogs in our facility.

Come join us at the carnival and visit us at the ALL booth and let us get to know you. Support our cause by buying our merchandise. Help us help the dogs and cats in our care. We will be there and hope see you and your furry friends. Admission is free and open to everyone.

Directions if you're driving.

Via the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE)

Head towards Woodlands. Use Exit 8 to go onto Turf Club Avenue and drive straight on to Kranji Road. At the Kranji Road/Loop junction, turn left into Kranji Way and connect to Neo Tiew Road. Continue along the road for approximately 11 km and then turn left onto Neo Tiew Lane 2 and head for D'Kranji Farm Resort.

Via Jalan Bahar/Choa Chu Kang

Connect to Lim Chu Kang Road and turn right onto Neo Tiew Road. Turn right onto Neo Tiew Lane 2 and look out for D'Kranji Farm Resort.

Free Shuttle Bus Schedule

From Yew Tee MRT to D'Kranji Farm Resort: 8.30am, 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm

From D'Kranji Farm Resort to Yew Tee MRT: 10.15am, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.40pm, 2.40pm, 3.40pm, 4.40pm, 5.40pm, 7.15pm, 8.15pm.

DOGS FOR ADOPTION
Our RATS pack

Our rescued dogs, The RATS Pack are up for Adoption

We have 5 wonderful dogs with great personalities and temperaments for adoption
Milo, Horlicks, Junior. Mama Brown and Cara
our precious sweethearts

We invite you to view the individual dogs and their profile :
http://theratspackadoption.blogspot.com/
Please call us if you wish to view them or get to know them better.

Playful Junior - Neutered male http://theratspackadoption.blogspot.com/2009/05/playful-junior-for-adoption.htm

Devoted Cara - Sterlised Female http://theratspackadoption.blogspot.com/2009/03/devoted-mia-cara-for-adoption.html

Classy Milo - Neutered Male http://theratspackadoption.blogspot.com/2009/03/classy-milo-for-adoption.html

Gentle Mama Brown - Sterilised Female http://theratspackadoption.blogspot.com/2009/03/gentle-mamabrown-for-adoption_18.html

Macho Horlicks - Neutered male http://theratspackadoption.blogspot.com/2009/03/dog-with-heart-of-gold-macho-horlicks_18.html

Showcasing Gentle MamaBrown from the RATS Pack

Name: MamaBrown
Sterilised Female
Age : 1 year+
Size : Mid size
Cross Breed
Good with people
children and dogs

MamaBrowns’s story
A gentle, sweet and docile female dog.
Sweet MamaBrown with her beautiful soulful brown eyes need a home who would love her forever.
A real sweetheart who gets along with everyone - dogs, pets, people, children.
She is quiet and hardly barks except whimpers in love and joy when she sees you.
She needs no reprimand nor cross words for she always try to please those she love.
Totally obedient and gentle dog
Everyone’s favourite

If you would like to adopt MamaBrown, pls contact 98383820 or email anaterry@singnet.com.sg

View her story at
http://theratspackadoption.blogspot.com/2009/03/gentle-mamabrown-for-adoption_18.html

For Adoption – Female beagle rescued from breeding farm
Bean is the last beagle rescued from the breeding farm. Estimated to be approximately between 3 to 5 years old, she is smaller than the other beagles we rescued, total of 6 and she was almost not saved as the breeder forgot about her. She was the thinnest and most starved one (as the farm had by this time stopped feeding the dogs they wanted to give up), but now she has blossomed and gone back to her normal size due to love and care.

This is an old photo of Bean taken a week after her rescue. Her fur is shaved down in this photo.

She was literally saved from the brink of death because the day we rescued her, she was lifeless, too weak and tired to even move. If she was not rescued that day, we know in another couple of days, she would have starved to death. Currently under foster care, she is fully recovered and responding and adjusting well. She is also eat healthily and very alert and friendly. We are all very proud of her, her will to live is very strong, her desire to live life to the fullest is very great.

Bean will be sterilised soon and currently undergoing heartworm treatment but otherwise the vet has declared her to be in good health. Heartworm is treatable.

Interested parties please contact 98383820 or email anaterry@singnet.com.sg to arrange for viewing.

Help to pass the message to everyone you know - ADOPT DON'T BUY