That's no stray, she's our ambassador of love

A MONGREL has managed to do what grassroots organisations, religious bodies and Government organisations have long strived to achieve: A common bond, a warm sense of belonging and harmony among neighbours.

Blackie the stray has become a pet - and passionate - cause for a residents from 11 blocks at Yishun Street 81.

They are a diverse lot - young, old, married, single, - from all races and religions. Alas, today, the last day of the Year of the Dog, brings news that Blackie's days may be numbered.

Blackie has been living in Yishun Street 81 for the past three years. In that time, she has touched the lives of many of the resident there so much that she has brought residents from 11 blocks together to fight to keep her alive.

Last week, someone complained to the authorities about the four-year-old dog. And so Blackie may now be put to sleep.

That has marshalled the residents from Yishun Street 81 into action.

First, a resident took Blackie to a kampung in Lorong Buangkok, off Gerald Drive. Then came the petition. Residents gathered the signatures of 76 people living in 11 blocks in the estate to stop the authorities from taking the dog away.

They wrote to their MP, Ms Lee Bee Wah, to intervene. (See other report.)
A resident, Madam Dulcie Lim, 59, described Blackie as their 'ambassador of love'.

HELPED THEM BOND

'Before, I didn't know many of the residents here,' she said. 'Most of us kept to ourselves. But Blackie has helped us break the ice and even bond with each other. Isn't that what our Government always wanted to achieve?

'Blackie has done so much for this neighbourhood. It is not fair that she has to leave this place. We all love Blackie and we want her back.'

In the letter to their MP, the residents wrote about how Blackie has become an integral part of their community.

'We sincerely hope that you, our good MP, can understand this strong bond we share with this very special dog... spare the neighbourhood the heartache of losing this dog,' the residents pleaded with their MP.

Blackie, who is known as 'Xiao Hei' (Mandarin for little black one) was found abandoned at Yishun Stadium three years ago.

A resident spotted her and brought her to Block 825. That became Blackie's home.
But last week, the Centre for Animal Welfare and Control (CAWC) of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), received a call from Ang Mo Kio-Yishun Town Council about two stray dogs in the area.

On 8 Feb, the CAWC team checked the site and spotted Blackie. Five residents spotted the officers from their flats and rushed down to save the pet. Fortunately, she was not impounded that day.

AGAINST HDB POLICY

The residents were told that Blackie cannot be kept at HDB void decks as it is a public place.
Under HDB policy, Blackie is too big to be kept in a flat.

HDB residents can keep one dog of an approved breed such as silky terrier or Maltese because they are smaller and more suited to living in flats.

Said a resident who wants to be known as only Priscilla: 'We were so worried that the AVA officers would return for Xiao Hei. So for the time being, we've housed her in a nearby kampung.'

The 52-year-old housewife said: 'I've known Xiao Hei for three years. Every day I would buy $2 worth of roast meat for her from the market. She is a good dog and never bites anyone.'
Added Madam Lim: 'Blackie is very friendly. She even shares her food with the stray cats.
'I've seen how she would let the cats eat first. When she feels that they have had enough, she would shoo them away and eat her share.'

A resident claimed that she saw Blackie trying to save a kitten which had fallen into a drain.
Madam Hasmisah Mohd, 42, unemployed, said: 'I heard a kitten crying for help but I couldn't find it. It was Blackie who led me to the injured kitten inside the drain.'

Ms Joyce Koh, 31, another resident, said: 'Whenever she saw my car driving into the carpark, she would run behind my car. She would then wait for me to park and walk me to the lift.'

Poly student Ashwin Gunapathy, 19, said that there are more than 70 residents vouching for Blackie.

He said: 'We want her back in the neighbourhood and we are all willing to put our names down to apply for a licence so that she can stay here.'

He was among the 30 residents who met this reporter at Block 825 last Monday.
Madam Juliana Tan, 53, said: 'I lost one of my daughters over a year ago. She was 28 when she died of a blood disorder.

'I used to be afraid of dogs, but I don't know why I started talking to Blackie about my dead daughter. I was mourning and Blackie gave me solace.' Madam Tan lives with her younger daughter in a three-room flat.

A couple, Madam Soh Oi Chue and her husband, Mr Tang Yeo Soong, recalled how Blackie would accompany them to the market.

She said in Mandarin: 'At 7am, Blackie would be at the foot of the block, waiting for us.
'She would follow us to the market where we would buy her her favourite duck's neck. I miss Blackie terribly.'

Mr Tang helped to bathe Blackie and clean up her makeshift home daily.
He said: 'Our three children have already grown up. Blackie is like our little daughter. Some of us even chipped in to have her sterilised.'

When Blackie was knocked down by a car last December, it was Ashwin's father, Mr Gunapathy, who took her to the vet. The fees came to $200. He also helped move Blackie to his temporary home.

The New Paper team tagged along with a few housewives last Wednesday to meet Blackie in her new home.

She wagged her tail and ran towards the housewives when she saw them and jumped on them. It was a touching scene.

Madam Lim said: 'We call ourselves the desperate housewives. But we are not desperate for men. We are desperate to save Blackie.'

Home for Blackie might be answer

SHE was pleasantly surprised when some residents asked her to help save a stray dog.
'I believe what they told me is genuine. Apparently there are people who want the dog and some who don't,' said Ms Lee Bee Wah from Ang Mo Kio GRC.

'We'll handle this the same way as we have handled stray cats. We will do a survey to see how many residents want to keep the dog in the neighbourhood. 'If the residents feel so strongly about keeping the dog, we will be able to find a solution without breaking the law.'

Like finding someone who lives in the vicinity to take in the dog, added Ms Lee.

Mr Madhavan Kannan, head of AVA's centre for animal welfare and control, told The New Paper that they are unable to acede to the residents' request and have advised them to find a home for the dog. 'The residents may keep it in boarding farms at Pasir Ris Farmway or Seletar Farmway till they find a home for the dog,' said Mr Madhavan.

For the purpose of rabies control, AVA impounds dogs found wandering in public places.
Mr Madhavan said: 'Although some dogs may be tame, there could be times when a dog can turn aggressive and may attack another person's pet or children.

'There are also people who fear the physical presence of stray dogs at the common areas of an housing estate. Some people are also disturbed when dogs come close to them and sometimes sniff.'

Since Blackie is not allowed to roam freely in public areas and she is considered too big to be kept in a HDB flat, would Ms Lee then consider building a shelter for her at the void deck?
'I don't rule out that possibility,' she said.

It will all depend on the survey results which her committee members are helping to conduct.