Some dogs suffer - Ditched, then adopted, then cast away again

By Faith Teo
January 31, 2006

HUGO is a handsome three-year-old pure-bred Alaskan Malamute with striking eyes. He is the size of a German shepherd and probably cost about $3,000 when he was bought as a puppy.

But last month, Hugo found himself at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for the second time. He landed at the SPCA kennel once for being lost. He was then adopted by adopted by a family. But they returned him recently because he killed the fish in their pond.

When we visited Hugo, the forlorn dog wagged his tail briefly, but didn't even raise his head.

Shelter supervisor V Mohan said Hugo is a shadow of his former self. 'He used to be strong, active and alert. When we first got him, we put out a lost-and-found ad in the papers, but no one came to claim him. 'Then he was adopted by a family for about six months.'

Hugo came back to the SPCA on Christmas Day, and Mr Mohan has been worried about him ever since.' I think he really misses his owner. He is confused because he doesn't know what's happening and why he's here again. 'Hopefully, given time and a new home, he will return to his normal happy self.'

SPCA staff have noticed that the dogs often come back with altered personalities, and they display signs of being fearful or withdrawn.

BAD EXCUSE
The most common excuse for abandonment - also the one that upsets SPCA's caregivers the most - is that there's 'no one to take care of the dog because they have no time', said SPCA executive officer Deirdre Moss. 'This is something that should have been considered before getting the dog.'

'Keeping a pet is a family decision. With training and attention, many behavioural problems can be solved. If you know that there's not going to be anyone at home to take care of the pet, or circumstances are going to change, such as when the children go to NS or go abroad for studies, then don't get a pet.

'Pets are not toys that you can just get rid of.'

AVA spokesman Dr Leow Su Hua urged potential dog owners to think carefully before getting a pet.

'There are many responsibilities that come with owning a dog, including housetraining, socialising, and obedience training. This is on top of feeding, grooming and providing the dog with healthcare. Potential owners should find out as much as they can on the type of dog they are interested in, so they can better understand the temperament and needs of the dog.'

SPCA holds dog care and dog behaviour seminars. More information is available at www.spca.org.sg

So many unwanted dogs, yet we're breeding more

The numbers are baffling. Hundreds of dogs here are left homeless each month. Yet, the number of new dog licences being issued here is steadily growing.

And, with the dog taking special significance this Chinese New Year, more puppies are expected to go on sale.

Said Mr Eric Lim, director of Ericsson Pet Farm, which sells about 100 puppies a month: 'There's so much publicity, so many advertisements featuring pictures of cute dogs.'

But while adorable puppies in ads bode well for pet stores, it is precisely this kind of impulse-buying that has Society of the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (SPCA) executive director Deirdre Moss worried.

According to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), there are currently no restrictions on the number of dogs imported or bred locally.

With the SPCA already taking in up to 250 unwanted dogs each month, the steady increase in supply of new puppies is worrisome.

Last year, 44,301 dogs were licensed in Singapore - up about 9,000 from 1996. Conversely, the number of imported dogs has fallen between 2002 and last year by almost half (from 6,188 to 3,419). This suggests that more dogs are being bred and sold locally.

Restrictions on the sale of puppies are already in place, said Dr Leow Su Hua, head of AVA's Animal Welfare Education Branch. 'Pet shops are restricted on the number of puppies they can display and sell at any one time,' Dr Leow explained.

Still, Ms Moss feels there are too many dogs in shops - a fear that is all too real for an organisation battling overcrowding. SPCA, which built seven more kennels in 2004, is working at full capacity. It had 14 kennels before the new ones were added.

Of the 250 dogs it takes in each month, about 20 are adopted, but they don't always find a permanent home. Last month, eight adopted dogs were returned. Take Alaskan malamute Hugo, for example. He may be worth thousands of dollars, but no one seems to want him. His story, though sad, is a common one.

'There are too many dogs being bred commercially and sold,' said Ms Moss. 'More people are buying from pet shops, which SPCA has to compete with. Adoption rates have dropped from about 30 a month to 20. There are 21 dogs displayed for adoption at any given time. The rest are kept in a holding area.'

'We never turn away any dog. But we are facing problems with a dropping adoption rate,' said Ms Moss. 'We hope people try to re-home their pets instead of surrendering them to the SPCA. That way we won't be forced to put down more animals.'

The excuses for abandoning their once-loved pets vary, but they are often trivial. The SPCA has heard these stories: The dog dug up the garden. It taught other dogs bad habits. It was just too active.

For both pet shops and the SPCA, sieving out serious buyers from impulse buyers has always been a problem.

Said Ericsson's Mr Lim: 'Some people might say we're a bit aloof with customers, but we see it as not hard-selling our dogs. The serious customers will approach my staff for more information on the breeds they're interested in.'