I will never get used

to putting dogs to sleep, no matter what the conditions are.

We were told few days back to go pick up 2 small pups from a farm cos they had been a nuisance, peeing and pooing everywhere and no one is willing to clean up after them. Being a farm open to the public poses additional inconveniences to customers who visit. There are already a number of adult dogs on the farm.

We went down this morning, prepared with a cage to hold 2 small pups. However, we realised that all along, the farm worker was referring to 2 not so young pups (about 4 months) who had come from another farm across the road. These 2 gals were very friendly but the farm owner had given instructions to remove them from the farm.

So, there we were. Always I realise, the same scenario replays: we go there with the resolve to remove the pups, but each time, upon encountering the pups, when they come up to you to nuzzle and be stroked, the same question arose - what do we do now?

We asked ourselves the same question: What do we do now? (even though we know full well what we came down for) Where should we bring these 2 to? Should we attempt to rehome them? (when we have more awaiting homes) Should we board them at ALL? (how would we support their boarding fees for the rest of their lives?) Should we leave them where they are? (the management has informed few times to remove them).

They have to be put to sleep. I came with that knowledge. But executing it is never easy.

So I procrastinated. We drove them to Dr T, hoping to hear otherwise that our decision could be wrong. On our way there, they made themselves comfortable on my lap, snuggling close. I hated it. It was cruelly ironical.

These 2 were infested with dog lice. They were crawling all over their faces. It is good to know that dog lice post no threat to humans cos quite a few crawled onto my hands. Due to the lice infestation, their fur was very dry and they had dry, bloody scabs all over their bodies. One of them was very thin (probably anaemic from the blood-sucking lice) and the other was diagnosed with severe jaundice. Her gums and eyes were all yellowish. If left untreated, her liver wuld fail and she would eventually die.

If you can put it this way, their bad health condition gave us the courage to do what we came for - to put them to sleep. As Dr T said, when their health is poor, it is better to put them to sleep and concentrate on the healthier ones. Please don't ask me how I could do that. Not unless you can come forward and take full ownership of the many more pups who will need to be put to sleep. It was the choice taken in a sea of homeless dogs waiting their turns to be adopted, and a sea of strays hoping their turn to be culled never comes.

I had wanted to post their photos but that feels so strange right now. Maybe I will in a few days time.

* We really do not wish to do this anymore, and the only way to stop/reduce this is to carry on sterilising as many as we can catch. We need your support to build up our funds to pay for the sterilisation expenses. Pls email us at projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg on how you can help us. Thank you.