Last Tuesday, we attempted to catch her to be sterilised so that there will no longer be any puppies with homes we cannot provide. Alas, we did not succeed.
On Sunday when I called uncle, he said that Ah Girl has not come back since Friday. That was not good news. First thing Monday morning called the authorities and true to the bone, the dog catchers got to her on Friday night.
So Ah Girl was in the pound since Friday night. When we went to bail her out on Tuesday morning, it was a much more longdrawn affair than I expected.
Apparently, dogs around Ah Girl's area have been under the eye of the authorities for years. It is a 20-year problem at that area I was told. However, I emphasised to them that time and again, the wrong dogs were caught.
Remember Ah Boy? A gentle friendly fellow, collared, belonging to uncle. Yet, on the patrols, the dog catchers caught him. Why? He was an easy target I guess.
Ah Boy, caught and destroyed last Sep.
Ah Girl, too, is not the problem that the complaints were targeted at. She is an independent girl, always on her own. Coming into the grounds for food and shelter, ocassionally taking a walk around the neighbourhood. Ever since the dog catchers caught and destroyed Ah Boy, she has been staying close to the grounds cos there are other stray packs at that area (those are the packs that are more wild and people are complaining about), and without the accompanying strength and support of Ah Boy, the wild packs attempted to attack her. She has been fine, no harm done to her as uncle will chase the wild pack away.
So, there we were at 9am, waiting to bail her out, affirming the authorities that we will bring her to the vet to be sterilised, microchipped, but we need time to figure out where we can relocate her to, as it was made very clear to us that we cannot bring her back to homeground.
Our main aim was to bring her out of the pound asap as she looked quite traumatized already with what she has gone through. She was lying expressionless in a corner of the cage, eyeing us suspiciously, wondering what are we humans going to put her thru again.
Leaving that place...
After 3 hours of negotiation and paper work and written confirmation from our vet proving that Ah Girl is indeed going to the clinic to be sterilised, and assurance that she will not be put back to her homeground but will be boarded at ALL, and I must say, a degree of understanding from the head of the authorities which I really appreciate at that moment, they finally released Ah Girl to us.
I would like to believe that the authorities do have a sense of understanding and kindness despite what is seen and felt on the surface. As we were waiting, hour after hour, with just a wooden door separating us and Ah Girl, I wondered -- just how would I react if after all our negotiation, they decided that we CANNOT take Ah Girl out?? I understand it is a matter of proper paperwork, but it does get just to that level of frustration at times. Despite the charged-up morning of events, I am thankful the authorities released Ah Girl to us.
Even though we have not intentionally let Ah Girl stray and be without a licence (we can't get hold of her to begin with), we still have to pay the fines to get Ah Girl out: -
Impoundment fee = $93
Fine for straying = $100
Fine for not being licenced = $200
Boarding at the pound = $49.50
Microchip = $20
TOTAL = $462.50
* The original intention is to board her at ALL after her sterilisation. However, thinking it thru, on what is best for Ah Girl, bringing her to a shelter, even though she will have a measure of freedom at ALL, that will not be what she wants. Being much of a loner, the number of dogs at the shelter could be extremely stressful for her. As of now, she is looking quite depressed at the clinic. Not interacting nor reacting much. Just hiding herself at the furthest corner. I'm not sure what is going thru her mind. But if I am her, all I want now is to go back to my familiar homeground.
This is what makes me both glad and sad that we got her finally, yet, we are given no chance to put her back to her home.
What we intend to do now is to discuss with the management of the building to give Ah Girl a chance, all she needs is a place to stay. The good news is that they are planning a dog run area for Lucky whom they agree to licence under the company's name. But the last time we spoke, they were not agreeable to license Ah Girl. I guess no one wants to be responsible for Ah Girl in case she gets caught again and needs to be bailed out. But now that we have a hold on her, we can bring her back to the building and keep her safely within the dog run enclosure which is an ample spread of ground where she can stay safely with Lucky for the rest of her years. This is the best plan for Ah Girl for now. We are just glad that after so long, finally, Ah Girl has been sterilised as we all had hoped for.
Pray for an open heart on the management's part to agree to formally licence Ah Girl and give her this chance to live her life, without the fear of being caught and destroyed for simply being born a stray. All she needs is a chance.
Resting at the clinic after sterilisation
All in all, Ah Girl's bail, sterilisation, microchip, vax, heartworm test, transport etc... will be about $800+.
We fully appreciate any amount of donations towards this secomd chance we have given her. Pls email projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg for cheque donation details. You can also donate to DBS Savings Plus 050-5-017652
THANK YOU.
On Sunday when I called uncle, he said that Ah Girl has not come back since Friday. That was not good news. First thing Monday morning called the authorities and true to the bone, the dog catchers got to her on Friday night.
So Ah Girl was in the pound since Friday night. When we went to bail her out on Tuesday morning, it was a much more longdrawn affair than I expected.
Apparently, dogs around Ah Girl's area have been under the eye of the authorities for years. It is a 20-year problem at that area I was told. However, I emphasised to them that time and again, the wrong dogs were caught.
Remember Ah Boy? A gentle friendly fellow, collared, belonging to uncle. Yet, on the patrols, the dog catchers caught him. Why? He was an easy target I guess.
Ah Boy, caught and destroyed last Sep.
Ah Girl, too, is not the problem that the complaints were targeted at. She is an independent girl, always on her own. Coming into the grounds for food and shelter, ocassionally taking a walk around the neighbourhood. Ever since the dog catchers caught and destroyed Ah Boy, she has been staying close to the grounds cos there are other stray packs at that area (those are the packs that are more wild and people are complaining about), and without the accompanying strength and support of Ah Boy, the wild packs attempted to attack her. She has been fine, no harm done to her as uncle will chase the wild pack away.
So, there we were at 9am, waiting to bail her out, affirming the authorities that we will bring her to the vet to be sterilised, microchipped, but we need time to figure out where we can relocate her to, as it was made very clear to us that we cannot bring her back to homeground.
Our main aim was to bring her out of the pound asap as she looked quite traumatized already with what she has gone through. She was lying expressionless in a corner of the cage, eyeing us suspiciously, wondering what are we humans going to put her thru again.
Leaving that place...
After 3 hours of negotiation and paper work and written confirmation from our vet proving that Ah Girl is indeed going to the clinic to be sterilised, and assurance that she will not be put back to her homeground but will be boarded at ALL, and I must say, a degree of understanding from the head of the authorities which I really appreciate at that moment, they finally released Ah Girl to us.
I would like to believe that the authorities do have a sense of understanding and kindness despite what is seen and felt on the surface. As we were waiting, hour after hour, with just a wooden door separating us and Ah Girl, I wondered -- just how would I react if after all our negotiation, they decided that we CANNOT take Ah Girl out?? I understand it is a matter of proper paperwork, but it does get just to that level of frustration at times. Despite the charged-up morning of events, I am thankful the authorities released Ah Girl to us.
Even though we have not intentionally let Ah Girl stray and be without a licence (we can't get hold of her to begin with), we still have to pay the fines to get Ah Girl out: -
Impoundment fee = $93
Fine for straying = $100
Fine for not being licenced = $200
Boarding at the pound = $49.50
Microchip = $20
TOTAL = $462.50
* The original intention is to board her at ALL after her sterilisation. However, thinking it thru, on what is best for Ah Girl, bringing her to a shelter, even though she will have a measure of freedom at ALL, that will not be what she wants. Being much of a loner, the number of dogs at the shelter could be extremely stressful for her. As of now, she is looking quite depressed at the clinic. Not interacting nor reacting much. Just hiding herself at the furthest corner. I'm not sure what is going thru her mind. But if I am her, all I want now is to go back to my familiar homeground.
This is what makes me both glad and sad that we got her finally, yet, we are given no chance to put her back to her home.
What we intend to do now is to discuss with the management of the building to give Ah Girl a chance, all she needs is a place to stay. The good news is that they are planning a dog run area for Lucky whom they agree to licence under the company's name. But the last time we spoke, they were not agreeable to license Ah Girl. I guess no one wants to be responsible for Ah Girl in case she gets caught again and needs to be bailed out. But now that we have a hold on her, we can bring her back to the building and keep her safely within the dog run enclosure which is an ample spread of ground where she can stay safely with Lucky for the rest of her years. This is the best plan for Ah Girl for now. We are just glad that after so long, finally, Ah Girl has been sterilised as we all had hoped for.
Pray for an open heart on the management's part to agree to formally licence Ah Girl and give her this chance to live her life, without the fear of being caught and destroyed for simply being born a stray. All she needs is a chance.
Resting at the clinic after sterilisation
All in all, Ah Girl's bail, sterilisation, microchip, vax, heartworm test, transport etc... will be about $800+.
We fully appreciate any amount of donations towards this secomd chance we have given her. Pls email projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg for cheque donation details. You can also donate to DBS Savings Plus 050-5-017652
THANK YOU.
3 comments:
keep up the good work, i feel so sad and touched when i read Ah girl's story.
Thank you for the FANTASTIC work you've done in rescuing Ah Girl. Bittersweet and it's unimaginable how anyone can go through all that...
The Lord WILL be good to us. He is good.
kz
Impoundment fee = $93; Fine for straying = $100 - i think that is ridiculous. In the first place, Ah Girl did not ask to be impounded, and secondly how do they expect Ah Girl to understand she is not supposed to be wondering about; even we humans also need to move about.
Do update if the management allows Ah Girl and Lucky to stay together in the building and do advise if contribution for dog food is needed.
Last but not least, thank you for what you are doing and i am glad your faith has given you much motivation to act and not to just rely on the higher beings to produce some miracles. i truly respect you for that.
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