RIP Roberto the Rabbit

We have heard and seen so much about stray cats and dogs, yet on the flip side, pet owners have no qualms about throwing out their small pet animals into the wilderness.


About 3 months ago, our volunteer received a call for help with a rabbit that was roaming Little Guilin park. It was approaching dusk so J, the lady who reported the case to us was concerned over the safety of this little one. In fact, she assured our volunteer that she will stay and watch over the rabbit till we arrive. Once the volunteers arrived, they got on their fours to get close to the rabbit. The rabbit was frightened by the crowd initially but calmed down after a while, like he knows that help is here. With the help of 2 other passers-by, the volunteer managed to pluck the rabbit to safety. A few residents who exercise at the park regularly commented that the rabbit was seen hopping around for the past few days and they all feared for him as there are monkeys residing in the area and the rabbit seemed like obvious prey for them. He was later named Roberto as he looked calm and quite a gentleman with his white coat and pleasant disposition.

Roberto was brought back to the volunteer's home, and very quickly, a warm comfortable area was set up for him to spend the night. He seemed inquisitive but upon closer inspection, he had an eye infection and there was pus in one of them. That was probably why Roberto was "thrown out" of the house but in fact, a simple vet visit with medication could have treated the infection. Roberto nibbled on some hay and comfortably settled in for the night.


The next morning, Roberto was found to have serious diarrhea and he was very weak. A rabbit suffering from serious diarrhea is equivalent to having non-stop bleeding for a dog/cat, and it is life threatening to the animal. The volunteer immediately called House Rabbit Society Singapore (HRSS) for help to secure an appointment with a vet to attend to Roberto. However, the little one did not make it to the vet visit - Roberto passed on during the mid morning of 25 March 2011.


The government has been advocating "Responsible Pet Ownership" amongst the public year after year, yet such irresponsible behavior continue to prevail in our society. Is abandonment a simple solution to our pet problems? If Roberto and many other abandoned animals could speak, they would have endless tales to tell you about their plight. His owner solved the pet problem but gave Roberto a whole new world of problems which includes starvation and predators.

Spare a thought for your pet - he/she may just be a pet to you, but to him/her, you are the world! By abandoning your animal companion, you are clearly throwing away the trust a helpless and voiceless one has for you, and maybe even sending your loyal pet out to his/her death. A little life was lost to tell this story.

Please help us spread the word about "Responsible Pet Ownership". If your pet is not well, seek medical advice from a vet. If he/she has behavioural problems, look for professionals who can help uncover the root of the problem. In short, never give up on your pet.

In memory of Eby

Eby was the adorable black dog featured in the month of May in our 2009 calendar. She began her short, hard life in an industrial estate in Toh Guan. It was a dark and stormy night when Noah’s Ark volunteers heard her crying and found her tied up in a factory, apparently she had been tied up for 24 hours a day come rain or shine.

After being rescued that night, Eby was brought to the volunteer’s home and took a bath as she was all wet and filthy. She fell asleep soundly and comfortably, probably for the first time in her life, on a cushion. Eby was an intelligent puppy and within a couple of days she learnt the basic commands like “sit” and was toilet-trained.

In less than a month, Eby fortunately found a new home with May and her family. A day before Eby’s arrived, the family had excitedly gone shopping for toys, treats, a pink collar and matching leash and a pink bed for her. It was heart-warming to see the love awaiting this little dog.



Like all puppies, Eby was full of life and extremely playful. She seemed to enjoy the garden the most – jumping into the bushes, rolling around in the grass and chewing on the plants! She liked playing with her toys and would bring them over to May and sometimes when May was taking a nap on the couch Eby would wake her up in order to get her to play.

Eby was truly loved by her family. They brought her to the vet to get her vaccinations and she was micro chipped. She enjoyed her daily walks where she showed her domineering trait by pulling May along with her leash. She was sent to obedience training classes and the trainer said she was intelligent but had a short attention span, and showed traits similar to Border Collies. May was in heaven on hearing that: to her Eby did look like a Border Collie, and like any proud parent she would love to hear the good things about her darling.



It came as a shock then that Eby started coughing out blood in April. Straightaway, May brought her to the vet, where she had an x-ray and blood tests. She was put on a drip and the vet thought she could be discharged in a couple of days. Yet, it was tragic for May to receive the call from the vet telling her that Eby’s condition had suddenly worsened and that she had passed away. The vet suspected it was a virus and May now thinks it may have been a virus that was picked up from her daily walks at the park.



Eby passed away on 13 April 2009. She was just a few weeks short of making it to the month she represented in our calendar. Eby may have begun her life in sadness and difficulty, but in her short life she did experience joy and kindness, and in the end she got to know what it is like to be loved by a human family. For this we thank May and her family. Eby will always be loved and remembered by those who knew her. May she truly be resting in peace.

Tribute to Ms Jojo Schnauzer

JoJo
Rescued on 23 July 2006
Passed away peacefully on 21 February 2009
Estimated age: 9 yrs old
JoJo was the second spokesdog for Noah's Ark in 2006,
helping to raise funds for her fellow fur friends
May she rest in peace

Dear Readers,

It is with a heavy heart that we are writing to inform you that Jojo Schnauzer passed away peacefully at 9.30am on the 21st of February.

3 years ago, Jojo Schnauzer was lost and wandered the streets of Geylang aimlessly. She was tired, hungry and missed her home dearly. One morning, she was quietly sitting at a coffee shop hoping to receive a bite. A kindly man, Mr Tan, approached her and upon seeing how hungry she was, set a plate of food down in front of her. It was her first decent meal in days! Jojo happily wolfed down her meal as Mr Tan walked around the food stalls, asking if anyone would like to adopt her. One stall owner initially agreed to take her in but had second thoughts and changed her mind. Because of this, Jojo was then sent to a nearby home for the aged in the hope that she would be adopted by someone else.

The next morning, Mr Tan returned to the coffee shop to check on Jojo but was told she was at a home for the aged. He was extremely upset to see that she had been confined in a bird cage. (http://noahsarkcares.blogspot.com/2008/04/jojo-schnauzer-cum-editor-of-noahs-ark.html) This was when he first contacted Noah's Ark and a representative came down to see her.

The representative decided that Jojo deserved a chance at being rehomed and subsequently sent Jojo for a medical check-up. Despite being 6 years old (as estimated by the vet), she passed all the necessary tests with flying colours! Subsequently, she was adopted by a kind lady who cared for her till the day she crossed the rainbow bridge.

These are what some friends of Jojo have to say:

A special contribution by a volunteer

Jojo was part of a team of Noah's Ark's road show dogs. She attended doggie events and school talks that educated children about the importance of sterilization, microchipping, the work of Noah's Ark and to adopt rather than buy a pet. Jojo helped Noah's Ark since the time she was found and adopted in 2006. It was mid 2007 when she retired as she started to become exhausted from the road shows and outings.

After her retirement, Jojo spent her days at home playing with her siblings and going on occasional outings. On Feb 14, 2009, Jojo attended her sibling's birthday party. Holly had recently turned 2 and held a birthday party to raise funds for Noah's Ark. Jojo had a good time at the party but when she arrived home that evening, she had blood in her urine. The next morning, her owner immediately took her to the Vet where they spent 4 hours at the Vet doing every possible test to find the cause of her being so unwell. She did a Complete Blood Count, had her urine tested, x-rays taken - but the Dr attending to her could not find anything wrong with Jojo except for some crystals in her urine. She was given antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine before being allowed to go home.

The next day, Jojo was back to her normal self and there was no more blood in her urine. She was fine for three days and on the fourth day after the visit to the Vet, Jojo suddenly became listless and had a loss of appetite. She spent the day sleeping and refused to eat all day. The following day, she simply refused to eat and just lie quietly in a corner. Her owner was extremely concerned so immediately took her to the Vet again as Jojo usually loves her meals and seldom refuses food. It was close to midnight when they headed for the Vet.

On the way to the Vet, Jojo was very quiet in the car and did not move at all. She didn’t seem well and her breathing became extremely laboured. Just before we got to the Vet, despite not having eaten for two whole days, Jojo threw up a lot in the car. Upon arrival, she was immediately put on a drip. Blood was taken from her and another x-ray was done.

The results of this recent test was a far cry from her normal results just barely a week ago. Her intestines and kidneys were inflamed and her heart looked abnormal. We were shocked and could not fathom the drastic change! The Doctor mentioned that JoJo's kidneys were very stressed and suggested we let her stay a few nights in the clinic.

We bade her farewell and headed home. Little did we know that was the last time we saw our darling Jojo alive. The Doctor called the owner in the morning at 9.30am and said Jojo was not doing well and we should come to see her. Before we could even leave the house, the Doctor called ten minutes later to say that JoJo’s kidneys had shut down and she was gone. She had been on a drip all night but all the fluids that went in did not come out. She did not urinate at all. Her organs had not been functioning well. The Doctor said she vomited a lot again just before she passed on.

When we arrived at the vet, we saw that they had laid little Jojo on the table in a private room and covered her bloated stomach with a towel. We kissed our darling Jojo goodbye for the last time. I felt that her body was still warm and could not control the wave of tears that threatened to fall. At the very least, Jojo seemed at peace after a night of struggling. We spent some time with her in the room and arranged for her to have a private cremation. Despite having her for only a few short years, she was more than just an adopted dog to us. She was part of our family.

We never knew why Jojo was abandoned, but we are glad she was a part of our lives. It was our greatest joy and honour to have spent three happy years with Jojo and we hope we brought as much happiness to her life, as she did to ours. We regret not being with her when she left us but I am sure Jojo knew that she meant the world to us, and that we loved and cared for her dearly and miss her tremendously. Jojo will always hold a special place in our hearts and will always be loved by us. SHE made a difference in our lives. God Bless Jojo.

JoJo in the middle with her friends Popsicle(left) and Snapple (right)

Eulogy by Mommy Lynda

It has been three years since JoJo first arrived in our home, but I recall clearly the first day JoJo spent the first night at our home, she was a sweet darling and a very good girl. In the middle of the night she would go to the bathroom on her own to pee and poo. Immediately, I saw that she must have had an owner previously as she was very well trained.

The next morning, I did what I had to do by placing advertisements with the press under “Lost & Found”, informed the relevant authorities, SPCA and AVA, that I had found a lost dog. Had it been my dog that was lost, I would have been devastated and I would have missed my dog dearly. But after a month had passed, no one ever came to claim JoJo.

There were many callers who called when the ad appeared in the press, all looking for their lost schnauzers, but none fit JoJo's description. I was initially hopeful that JoJo would be reunited with her owner, but as the days and weeks passed, my hopes were dashed. I realized that perhaps JoJo had been abandoned and not lost.

After more than a month, my family decided to keep JoJo. During this month while waiting to be claimed, JoJo had spent many nights sitting on my mother’s lap watching television. It was the first time that my mother had ever allowed a dog to sit on her lap. JoJo and my mom had become rather close and I came to the conclusion that perhaps JoJo belonged to an elderly person, which would explain the bond she had with my mom. JoJo liked to follow my mom around the house, watch my mom cook in the kitchen and keep her company while she read or watched TV.

JoJo gradually taught my mom to interact with dogs and I am so glad that it opened my mom’s heart. Before JoJo came into our lives, my mom showed no interest in dogs. Since JoJo came into our lives, I often heard my mom talking to JoJo, which was something she never ever did before. I was astounded and touched by this and felt extremely blessed to have Jojo.

Every morning, when we awoke, JoJo would look for my mom first without fail, as if it was her duty to keep watch on her. Just last night, my mom commented that the house was now so quiet without JoJo around. When JoJo was around, she would watch television with my mom and would “grumble” if it was past their bedtime! For the past few nights that grumbling is no longer heard, but we can still picture JoJo in our house, snuggling to sleep in her favourite spots.

Whilst JoJo was with us, we took her to road shows to interact with people and children. JoJo also volunteered her time and interacted with the kids at a Children’s Home, teaching children about guardianship and that owning a pet is a lifetime commitment.

Jojo (left) visiting a sick friend

Out in the park with Fur Friends

We also shared with people the beauty of adopting an older dog. These older dogs that enter your lives are grateful to you for adopting them and giving them a second chance in life. No doubt their life spans may be shorter, but if you can help by giving them a few good and happy years, why not? JoJo made a difference in the children’s lives she touched, and will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Jojo (2nd from right) at Pawtobello

Dear JoJo,

We will miss you dearly and we will remember all the good times that we had together with your fur friends.

You were a good girl and you had always been a joy to the family. We are thankful that you did not suffer much during your last days but you left us so suddenly and we were not prepared for your departure. We are still shocked by your passing.

We wish that we had more time to say good bye. We will remember the times we had together on 14 February ’09 at US Doggie Bakery with all your fur friends. I hope you had a good life before you left us.

JoJo, now that you have crossed the bridge and over the rainbow – please go and say hi to all your other siblings and tell them that I still miss them and will always remember each and every fur kid of mine.

May you rest in peace.

Love,
Mommy Dearest

Outing with with Fur Friends

Eulogy by Holly (Mini Dachshund), 2 yrs old

Dear Jie Jie JoJo,

Thank you for being my playmate and for allowing me to bully you and pull your beard and pull your ears each time we played. I know you loved me a lot, which was why you sat patiently while I naughtily pulled your beard and your fur. I know that I am the youngest at home and you always gave in to me like a big sister.

I am sorry that I had been a naughty brat and that I bullied you, but I know that you adored me.

With love,
Holly


Eulogy by Nikki (JRT), 14 yrs old

Dear Jo,

The house has been pretty quiet without you around. I miss all the arguments we had most mornings and evenings. Now that I have no one to argue with anymore, life has been rather dull.

I know that we’re both pretty old and we were constantly at loggerheads with each other, like our fellow two legged human folk – but at the end of the day, we were still best friends right? We would share our cozy beds together and we ate together during meal times.

When dogs get older – we all go through the same process, we tend to sleep more, forget things, argue as to who is right and who is wrong – and we never give in because we are always right! The truth is that although we get on each other’s nerves all the time, we love and need each other all the same.

Farewell my friend, till we meet again in heaven.

Love your controlling old mate,
Nikki

Eulogy by Prince (Mongrel), 1 yr old

I knew Jojo especially loved belly rubs and snuggling up next to warm bodies. Like any other dog, she enjoyed treats and pats. She was always ready to greet me with a goofy smile whenever I came to visit! It was great having to grow up with Jojo as part of my foster family. I miss her dearly and am sad that I'll no longer be able to play with her anymore.

Love from a regular visitor,
Mr Prince Mongrel


JoJo, this is a special post from all your fur friends. We miss you greatly, but we are comforted knowing that you are happy where you are. We take comfort in knowing we will meet again someday. Rest in peace.

Eulogy to Barnie, Our Special St Bernard

My New Beginning…

When tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We did together.
I know how much you will miss me,
But each time you think of me,
Think of the good times we had at Noah’s Ark
Please understand
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the paw,
And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those who are so dear to me.
As I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life,
I'd always thought,
I wanted to die, until I found a place in Noah’s Ark
I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I have to go now…..

Goodbye my friends and till we meet again…

Man's Best Friend in Life and Death - Tosca (R.I.P.)

Tosca came to Noah’s Ark in a most unusual way.

Remember the little dirt track outside Noah's Ark? Along that track, pass the huge plantation on both sides; at the very end, lies a Chinese cemetery.One night in the Hungry Ghost month of 2006, Raymund heard a dog howling it’s heart out. It sounded so heart breaking that Raymund was moved to unravel the mystery dog behind it.

There, he saw a bull mastiff guarding a newly setup grave. The dog was keeping vigil at his deceased master's grave. Every night, Raymund would hear the dog’s howl, breaking the peaceful silence surrounding the Sanctuary of Noah’s Ark.

Raymund half wondered if the bull mastiff was a ghost. The dog refused to leave the grave, so Raymund went to feed it daily.

Each night, the dog would howl without fail and subsequently, the howling got softer & softer and finally reduced to whimpering. After several nights, the dog followed Raymund home to Noah’s Ark.

That was how Tosca came to be a resident in Noah's Ark.

He was named “Tosca” after a character in a Puccini opera of a lover who was faithful to his lover even in death.

Tosca was an imposing beast – big in size and affection. Many visitors were wary of this huge dog with a menacing look. Those who overcame their fear grew attached to him, and give this gentle giant a scratch between the ears each time they visited which Tosca loved.

Tosca would amble over to meet visitors and stand still while people patted him. He loved to bask in their attention. He was great with children after juniors overcame their initial fear of the big dog and they would scramble to take a photo with him to show off to their friends.

Tosca loved having visitors and would follow them around the sanctuary. You could see it in his eyes that his heart leaped with joy in the company of visitors, especially older men. These men probably reminded Tosca of his beloved deceased master.

In early 2006, a growth appeared on his right front leg. The growth grew quickly and Raymund sent Tosca to the vet. Blood tests revealed osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer commonly found in big dogs. It was also discovered that the cancerous cells had also spread to his lungs.

The diagnosis was bleak. The advice was for Tosca be euthanized to avoid pain and suffering. The tumor grew larger and soon Tosca had to limp. Despite the pain, Tosca remained his lively self and enjoyed a healthy appetite.

Quality of life, living and dying in dignity and love is what Noah's Ark is all about. Raymund decided to postpone putting him down and set forth to research alternative and traditional methods for a cure or treatment to stop or slow down the spread of the cancerous cells.

Research & persistence finally paid off when he learnt of a traditional Jamu herb of reputable anti-carcinogenic properties which was only available in Batu Pahat. Raymund made several trips to Batu Pahat in search of this herb and finally, after numerous enquiries and footwork, found it in a tonic form. He bought 10 bottles and started Tosca on this herbal tonic and homeopathy.

After two months, Raymund took Tosca back to the vet for more tests; X-rays revealed the cancerous cells in the lungs had cleared! Amazing!!

Encouraged by the results, Raymund persevered with the treatment. Another two months later, Tosca's third x-ray showed that his lungs continued to remain clear and the cancerous cells were contained in the original spot on the leg. Tosca was coping well and everyone was jubilant.

In the wee hours of 19 January 2007, Tosca woke Raymund up with loud barking. When Raymund went downstairs, Tosca crawled onto his own mattress.

Raymund sat there beside him, knowing that it was time to part. Fifteen minutes later, Tosca heeded the call to another sanctuary higher up in the sky.

Tosca's departure left a huge empty space in the hearts of those who knew him; of a dog who was a shining example of enduring love and faith.

Could we as Homo Sapiens, a breed far more intelligent than mammals, fare better?

Rest in Peace my dear Tosca. You are indeed a man's best friend in life and death.

Tribute to Dolly (Noah's Ark 1st Spokesdog)

Dolly

Rescued on 18 July 2003

Passed away peacefully on 13 May 2008

Estimated age 12 yrs old

Dolly was the first spokesdog for Noah's Ark in 2003, helping to raise funds for her fur friends.

May she rest in peace.

Tribute to Dolly - 1st Spokesdog of Noah's Ark (R.I.P.)

Dolly came to Noah's Ark via a vet. She had been abandoned in a house after her expat owners moved out of the country; leaving her and a cat behind in an empty house, like used furniture.

Like Dolly who found a new home, the cat was rehomed too.

A neighbour's maid fed Dolly through the gate everyday. By the time she was rescued, we discovered that her ears was filled with maggots and the vet had to clean and remove the maggots from her ear.

Details on exactly how was she rescued were lost in history. Noah's Ark was alerted by a vet, who was informed of her predicament after the rescue. We assumed the rescuer had scaled the gates to reach Dolly and passed her over the gate to some one else on the other side.

This act was been done at the risk of trespassing but bless the souls who did it, for it's a life that they have saved.

Fortunately, Dolly was rehomed to a good family where she recovered and became the very 1st spokesdog of Noah's Ark.

She attended all the fund raising events and functions to raise awareness on animal cruelty and abandonment. With her friendly disposition and good looks, Dolly was a natural and she enjoyed her new found fame and all the attention showered.

When Dolly grew older, she took a back seat and allowed the younger rehomed dogs to take over where she had left off.

In the past year, Dolly developed thyroid, incontinence, lost her sight and her hearing.

Despite all this, Dolly was still a relatively happy girl, and she did manage to enjoy a good quality of life for her remaining years, going on outings with her other doggie companions and had an owner who loved her greatly.

In May, Dolly's condition took a rapid turn for the worst. Age had caught up and she spent much of the day (and night) sleeping. Nothing could wake her up.

In her waking hours however, she would demand her mommy be around constantly by her side even when mommy was just in the next room.

E.g.; Mommy had to carry her when she goes to the loo, mommy has to carry her to the kitchen while she cooks and mommy had to carry her even when she answers the phone in the sitting room.

Eventually, she slipped into unconsciousness and we knew that it was time for her to heed the calling from another sanctuary above.

Dolly is estimated to be about 12 years old at the time of her passing; 5 to 6 years of which were spent with the expat family who abandoned her.

Dolly passed away peacefully on 13th May 2008 and left a huge void in the hearts of those who know her.

Her furry companions missed her and have been sad for a while. What comforts us is that Dolly passed away peacefully and looked serene when she left us.

We know that we have given her the best we could possibly have and she will always have a special place in our hearts and in the hearts of her doggy companions.

Dearest Dolly,

If you can hear us, thank you for being our Fur Friend and for helping us at Noah's Ark - we will miss you.

May you rest in peace.

With Love From all the Dogs at Noah's Ark

*********************************************************************

Eulogy by Mommy Lynda

Dolly was one dog that never gave us any problems. She was appreciative and well behaved till her last days.

I still do not understand why her family left her behind. Was the freight charges too expensive to bring her along?

When i adopted her, i knew that she was not young - i estimated that she would be about 5 or 6 years old. Dolly was a joy to have and she was easy to train. She had a good and pleasant temparament and was always willing to please her family members.

Dolly was Noah's Ark first spokesdog in 2003 when we participated at road shows. Dolly helped her fur friends to raise funds and to socialise with visitors. We wanted to prove to owners that YOU CAN TEACH OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS.

By adopting an older dog - what you see is what you get and it's easier to train an older dog. However, adopters tend to want younger dogs and mid-age is usually considered too OLD for them.

Having a middle aged dog is a joy to have because you give them that second chance to be loved and they are forever grateful to you for giving them that 2nd or 3rd or 4th or even the 5th chance in life.

When Dolly retired from her duties as Noah's Ark spokesdog - she did fostering. She taught her fur friends basic house training. For example; peeing on the newspaper, basic commands like sit and shake paws.

She was like a mummy dog to the younger dogs whom we were training to be rehomed. Its a amazing how the young dogs learned quickly from her.

On Tuesday, 13 May morning - Dolly left us.

Her fur friends were around her when she passed away. We know that her best friend Nikki, a 14yr old Jack Russell Terrier will miss her dearly.

Nikki is still trying to cope with the lost of her friend - she has been disoriented and feeling lonely.

We hope that Nikki will overcome Dolly's passing on soon. And we know that it has not been easy for Nikki - because she is not young any more too.

Rest in peace my baby, you will be sorely missed.

Endless love,
Mommy

***************************************************

Eulogy by Nikki (JRT)

My Dear Dolly,

I want you to know that i am so lost without you. Every night, i used to sleep by your side and everyday we used to keep each other company.

I miss you dearly and i am trying to cope being without you.

With lots of Love,
Nikki