Every society has its strengths and weaknesses – that
includes us too. Our top priority will no doubt be our numerous residents over
at our sanctuary NANAS which we promise each of them food, shelter and care
from the day they step into our sanctuary door till the day they breathe their
last.
Apart from those already at our sanctuary, Noah’s Ark
places a great emphasis on our street work in Singapore under PID – Project
Industrial Dogs. PID seeks to curb the root of the problem – to stop the
endless reproduction as well as lessen the number of strays on the streets
through active sterilization. Though our PID team is small, we always press on
with the firm belief that with each female street dog spayed, many lives are
inadvertently saved.
We come across all sorts of cases when our volunteers roam
the streets. In addition to regularly providing the street dogs with food, our
priority is to sterilize the dogs and control their population. We explain what
we are doing to the factories be it bosses, supervisors or workers and try our
very best to convince them to work with us. Needless to say, there are all
sorts of responses. On the positive side, some workers can see where we are
coming from and also ask us for medical help for their factory dogs. They will even refer their
friends who work in other factories to us to help their dogs. We are grateful
they understand and want the best for their canine companions - though these
dogs do not live in the lap of luxury but they are well-loved.
We try our best to
manage each case amicably - Sintu was one lucky dog to receive help from us
despite initial resistance from his workers.
Sintu
We have seen Sintu in this factory for years and at
night, he is often seen chilling with the workers sitting beside the factory gate.
We have even seen the workers playfully put a big hamper ribbon round his neck during
Chinese New Year - he looked just like a festive mascot. :)
An elderly caregiver who also feeds Sintu regularly informed
us that Sintu has taken ill. We have just seen him around a couple of days back
but as it was always during our late night feedings, we did not notice anything
amiss.
One afternoon, we dropped by Sintu's factory to look for
him. We went round the factory but could not find him until we obtained the
help of some workers to call him out. When we saw Sintu, we knew that this boy
needed medical attention immediately for himself and also to avoid infecting
the other dogs. Sintu had contracted TVT (canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor -
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/reproductive_system/canine_transmissible_venereal_tumor/overview_of_canine_transmissible_venereal_tumor.html)
and he must have had this condition for quite some time for his genitals to
show such symptoms externally.
One of the older workers initially did not allow us to
take Sintu away, despite us assuring him that we will return Sintu after he is
well. He kept insisting that with the application of medication, Sintu will gradually get
better. While we are aware that with their traditional mindsets and perhaps due
to genital injuries being a sensitive issue, he was not exactly open for discussion
but we stood firm and kept persuading him to allow us to bring Sintu to the vet.
After some time, he finally relented and we quickly put Sintu into the carrier
without further delay (should he change his mind).
Over at the clinic, the vet confirmed the diagnosis and
we have already started the weekly vincristine jabs on Sintu. If Sintu does not
get better after a few jabs, a biopsy will then be required. Meanwhile, we are
monitoring Sintu’s condition closely with the help of his workers.
Yogi
On one of our feeding nights, we made a turn into this
particular lane when we saw a few dogs loitering around. A huge dog came
running towards us when he smelt food and we found that he is affectionately called
Yogi by the factory who has kept him since young. We were feeding Yogi and
about to go off when we saw that he had a hole in his scrotum. We know only too
well that the hole though small for now, will likely get infected and cause
Yogi much pain further down the road. We spoke to the elderly security uncle
and he was only too glad to have our help to treat Yogi.
As it was already late at night, we promised the security
uncle we will be back during the weekend to fetch Yogi. Saturday came and a
worker from Yogi’s factory helped us to put Yogi into the carrier. Though big
in size, Yogi was a gentle giant whom everyone at the factory loves. We could
tell they treated him and his other canine friend well and we promised them we will
bring him back once he is well.
We sent Yogi to the vet for neutering and vaccinated him
as well. He was also treated for his scrotum injury which we were glad that
medical aid was rendered on time. Yogi was also given a good bath before being
ferried back to his factory a week after – the workers stopped work to welcome
him back while he happily greeted them too!
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Sintu and Yogi are just two of our recent cases and even
though our medical bills are on the rise, we are unable to turn away the needy
street animals. How do we say no when we might be their last line of help? This
is the least we can do for them, to ensure they are able to lead their lives
out in dignity and not slowly pass on in misery due to injury or sickness.
In Part 2 later, we will be featuring another rescue case which we genuinely need your kind support to help see us through.
Any bit of contribution is appreciated, as we continue to help the street
animals and their caregivers. Please email us at noahsarkcares@gmail.com if you can
help in any way – be it in the form of a monetary donation or even fostering as
we have a few other cases at hand seeking fosterers too. Thank you!
