Spoke with Dog Dog's owner, Mr J,

on Wednesday night to understand what is their decision regarding Dog Dog. Mr J was hesitating but he said that his family, especially his teenage daughter has been missing Dog Dog and would like him back. Giving Dog Dog away was more of his personal decision which I understood more the next day.

So I thought about it and decided to bring Dog Dog back home and at the same time, meet the rest of the family members.

Last evening, I went to pick Dog Dog up. He was as usual a ball of energy, eager beaver and scurrying everywhere to greet the other resident animals! Ignore his thin frame and this fellow is actually very boisterous and energetic for a 9 year-old!

And good news, since last Friday till now, Dog Dog has gained 1 kg! :) Now, stroking him down his body you can just feel a hint of rib bones and it's obvious he has packed on some meat down his hinds. 4 kg now! He can put on 2 kg more.

On the way back to his home, he was just as curious as the first time I met him last Friday. Standing tall and peering out the window. As we neared his estate, he seemed to know. He perked up as we passed the coffee shop below his flat. I believe the animals could sense their environment very keenly in ways we may not fully comprehend.

Once out of the car, he was just raring to go, turning his head all around to take in the familiar sights and smells. As we took the lift up, he turned his head to look at me, not sure what he was saying. And once the lift door opens, off he went straight to his home gate and up on his hind legs calling for his family.

He has missed his familiar home. Once the gate was opened, he looked so happy and greeted Mrs J and baby and then crawled under the sofa to his favourite spot and rested, all guards down.

Mr J was not back yet. So I spoke with Mrs J and understood better the situation with Dog Dog.

Dog Dog is their daughter's dog, gotten 9 years ago. The family takes reasonably good care of him in terms of providing food, shelter, grooming, taking him down for pee/poo but one thing they are ignorant or not as involved is to find out why he is just so thin despite regular meals. For them, it is because Dog Dog has always been so active and playful and they just didn't think there is anything seriously wrong with his health.

As one of our supporters said, "It's so frustrating to read of owners like Dog Dog's. They are not outright cruel or abusive to their pet but yet they can disregard obvious signs that are staring in their faces and not feel anxious enough to do something more. "

After chatting more, I learnt that the family had intended to give Dog Dog away when their baby was born last year, as Mrs J does not have time to look after both Dog Dog and her baby. And as the baby learnt to move about in a walker, and started chasing Dog Dog, there was an ocassion when Dog Dog reacted to the chasing and scratched the baby slightly. That is understandable cos Dog Dog must have been thoroughly irritated/frightened by the baby in the chasing walker! Well at least when baby is on the prowl, Dog Dog can run under the sofa and seek some peace away from fur-pulling baby hands.

There were also ocassions when Dog Dog will be very barkish and poo in the wrong places (eg, living room - he usually poos downstairs) and dirty the whole house when the family is out, a display of separation anxiety. He was also very very barkish in the clinic as soon as humans are out of sight.

Since we took Dog Dog to the vet on Friday, Mrs J and her daughter has been missing Dog Dog and had told Mr J that they want him back. He is a fuss-free dog. Happy by himself, and very comfortable at his home of 9 years. I personally would not choose to relocate an old dog unless there is obvious abuse/neglect and refusal to change after discussion.

When Mr J came back, Dog Dog happliy ran out to greet him and followed him all around the flat. Mr J is the one who brings Dog Dog down for walks and pee/poo break.

I brought them Dog Dog's medicine and a better range of food (family doesn't cook so we don't expect them to specially cook for Dog Dog) but at least if you are going to feed your dog can/dry food, choose a good brand. It's gonna go into your dog's body each and every day so please forget about all the supermarket and provision shop brands, please! Go to a good petshop and ask the staff to recommend the many good/premium range available now. Though in my opinion, home prepared foods are the best.

Mr and Mrs J showed that they are willing to change Dog Dog's diet and Mrs J said that having Dog Dog for 9 years, she cannot bear to give him away. She also understands that it is unfair for Dog Dog to be passed to someone else, and it is most kind to let Dog Dog stay on and grow old in his familiar home.

So for now Dog Dog will stay on with his family and we will monitor him closely for the next few months, while also keeping the option open that he may require another good family should any changes arise. His is a straightforward case of giving him better food plus his digestive enzymes, that is all basically that needs to be altered in his lifestyle.

* Thank you ML for offering to pass Dog Dog some digestive enzymes, that will be most helpful once his current supply is finished.

* Sorry, no photos this time as my camera was acting up. I will update with photos of Dog Dog's progress when we next visit. For now, I think he will be fine.