Ah K - trapped and freed

We all thought Ah K was female until the vet tech informed he's actually male after sterilisation was done. True, for some male cats, the sacs could be so small to the human eye on first glance to even determine whether the cat is a male or female.

I have seen kittens suckle on teats of a male cat who didn't mind demonstrating motherly care. Bizarre, but the animal world could be just a headscratcher as anything else.

Trapped in a cage loaned from AVA, Ah K was a fiesty one, struggling in the trap destined to his one ill-fate. We reckon that where he was from, an alley behind a row of shophouses, the colonies of cats scavenge through rubbish left from kitchens of restaurants and seek shelter in automobile stores. According to R, mother cats are known to have found their way into cars under repair to give birth in the vehicles, and only to have their newborn kittens die in the engine system. As to how that could happen, I have no idea.

The uncle who trapped Ah K labelled him as a fierce cat, but R implored him to let him go, promising that he'll never return to the alley but be released elsewhere. So carefully she transferred him from the trap into the carrier in a room. V brought him for sterilisation, vaccination and microchipping.

When he arrived at my place for transit to a foster, he was semi-groggy and sedentary, but certainly far from the aggressive feline the uncle had said him to be. I was expecting him to snap on my fingers when I inserted them through the grilles of the carrier, but only found him responding like any friendly cat would, to the caressing strokes on their hard-to-reach chins. Ah K was a delight to interact with.


Ah K in the carrier. There's nothing, till this day after follow-up visits with the foster, fierce or fearful about Ah K. Nothing at all.



So for now, Ah K resides peacefully at the foster's, together with other unadopted cats. He occupies a cage meant for rehabilitation. I cannot imagine the trauma any animal faces being trapped in a four-walled trap, only to find itself denied of hope and life.

We gave the elderly foster lady $50 for taking care of Ah K. I know it's never enough for her, for someone forking out her own money all these years to tend to her strays and cats at home. On top of that, she initially refused to accept it until we convinced her she needs this help and this is the best we could draw out from the fund, as we made plans for our 7 dogs then.

Last I visited Ah K, he was all clean from his bath and resting well in his cage, eyeing the other cats scampering about in the room. Purring in the pleasure of the stroking and at peace that he's out of that fearsome trap, that intuitively so, spelt death to him.

Day 2 for our 7

at the boarding kennels. They have never been confined within a kennel ever before and the close proximity between them is causing some grumpiness as they oriented themselves to a different lifestyle. We are sure that they will settle down well soon, being as adaptable as they are.

Thank you to all of you who have come forth with your support for our 7. Every bit counts!

* Keep them in mind if you are ready for a family companion. Individually, they are each very affectionate and loyal.

Jamie

Jonah

JAMIE & JONAH are the most mild-mannered, sweet, gentle and simply easy-going boys. Their eyes say it all. Always smiling and light-hearted, they take to people easily. Very much like their mom, Mama Girl (her photo is on the top right column). Smaller in stature and easy to handle, I believe they each can settle well in apartments with daily walks and playtime.

Ben

Jordan

BEN & JORDAN are very loyal, steadfast, they never forget. They both look tall and mighty but for Ben, really, he's a little boy at heart. They'll make a great one man's buddy. Jordan seems to be the most free-spirited. He would do better in a house with garden space.

TIGER is the chubbiest, a heavyweight both in stature and in mind, can be a bit stubborn and also a cry-baby. If he likes you, he really likes you. And will show it very physically - coming entirely upclose to you, skin to skin, weaving and pressing his whole body against your body. He is a funny fellow and will certainly be a man's best buddy.

STAR is a little spoilt brat when he's among his brothers, especially when food is concerned. I guess if he is on his own, he will relax and mellow down and give up the chilli-padi fight in him which is somewhat like Little Anne. He is also small in stature like Jamie and Jonah, but quicker and more intelligent and reactive.

TOMMY is unfortunately the outcast in the pack, but he has been steady and takes everything in stride, going about his ways and days and tolerating any bullying with an attitude of acceptance. I do hope he goes to a family who will shower him with love and makes him feel that he is part of a family who treasures his good and faithful heart.

* Email us at projectjk@gmail.com to chat more about our 7 and how you can be their guardian in the next stage of their life.

Breathe a sigh of relief....

our 7 are now, at this very moment, no longer at the farm where they had been facing abuse and dangers of car accidents. Where their caregiver has also been silently bearing all the verbal abuse that were turning more hostile by the day. The dangers and constant threats were real and we couldn't wait for alternatives or other offers any longer. Moving out immediately is needed. So we did just that this morning.

We witnessed the last of potential street dangers for our 7, just a few hours ago. Tiger, the chubbiest heavyweight and most macho-acting of the lot was the most scared one just now as they were carried onto the van. He put up the biggest fight!

Never been put on/walked on leash, our 7 will have to learn the ways of living with man as they readjust their footsteps to walk more in sync with the humans who will potentially be their guardians for this new stage in their life.


Final shots at their homeground where their presence is unwelcomed and threatened....

Now, they are finally safe at a shelter. We will update more in time.



Meanwhile, we fully appreciate your support in their boarding requirements during this period. We are certain, as with Little Anne, they will each find a good foster family and permanent home soon.

Email us at projectjk@gmail.com to support our 7's new stage of life. Our deep heartfelt thanks!

Meet them all here :
~ Big Ben, Jordan, Jonah, Jamie, Star, Tiger, Tommy ~

Rainy Saturday, V decided to

put dogfood for our 7 in the now-vacant shed so the boys wouldn't have to eat in the rain. Kibbles, meshed with bread and meat, in the basins.

Then, the same man who threatened to trap our 7 and cull them stormed out from his cabin to shed, grabbed the basins of food and hurled them straight into the mud. Food wasted right before V's eyes, I can only say it broke V's heart.

The lorry-driver who had instructed an Indian worker to help V place the food under the shed was so mad he almost got into a fist fight with our dog-hating man. A heartwrenching episode, but a reinforcement to our plan to MOVE our 7 next week.

Yes, we will move them out of the farm with immediate effect next week. After weeks of sourcing around, negotiation and discussion, we found the temporary refuge where we can safely entrust our 7 at. At close to S$2,300... this is how much it will cost our dogs for the first month.

Great thanks to supporters who'd stepped forth to donate to our 7's boarding... we're still some 60% short of covering for their expenses of moving our 7 and their boarding and maintenance.

It's the highest amount we ever appeal to the public to in helping any group of animals, but in good faith, we believe we'll be able to garner all the support we need in according our 7 their safe shelter for now.

Next week, we see our energies channelled to transiting our 7 to the shelter for the first time in their lives, leaving their birthplace of vast field, burnt wood and running water forever.

In good faith, we appeal to your kind financial support for their boarding, vaccination, transport, deticking and heartworm test fees. If you'd like to stretch your hand for our 7, as we make this important decision for them that will change their lives forever, email us at projectjk@gmail.com

With Lil' Anne's settling miraculously fine at her foster, we are heartened and encouraged. By the possibility of LIFE, the hope that faith and humanity give rise to. THANK YOU.

Big Ben, Star, Tommy, Tiger, Jonah, Jamie, Jordan

For those of you who

are deciding to donate to Diesel Jr's medical treatment, which is planned to commence tomorrow morning, please hold on to it, cos DJ decided to leave us this morning. We are very sorry about that. I've never gotten used to it, it still hurts bad. And the questions...But I'm glad that he is now truly free.

I personally still do not know for sure, when we bring in a sick animal, when is the time that we should put the animal down. So I asked the vet what happened and what was his opinion. For DJ, he was not vocalising in pain, nor panting non-stop, nor in visible distress. He was simply lying down and resting in silence though still aware of happenings as he eye-balled the comings and goings. So euthanasia was not chosen and we decided to give him a chance at treatment. However, this morning about 10plus, he chose to leave us.

Thank you to those of you who have donated towards DJ's hospitalisation and medicine given during the past few days. We have not received the bill yet. For those of you who have emailed but have not sent in your donations, please do not feel obliged to do so. Keep it for other uses.

We do realise the vulnerability of sharing all this and other happenings like our 7 on a blog, open to reading, comments, interpretations. But we will continue to do so if it offers a platform for people to be real and of a genuine heart in the things of animal welfare. In the midst of our personal weaknesses and mistakes.

For we do not know for sure, all the time. But we will take the chance, where there is a glimmer of hope. And since we are all here in the name of animal welfare, let's lay little issues aside and all work together - for exactly that purpose which we started out for.

Not for you. Not for me. But for the welfare of the animals.


DJ looked like this when young.

Noon today, we went by the farm

of our 7. And it was a heart-stopping period as I witnessed the rough behaviour of the workers at that area.

The unfortunate thing is our 7 have the habit of barking and chasing after certain workers and vehicles entering that area.

There was this man who was leaving his farm and upon the dogs' barking, he took up a plastic rod, lift it up in anger and smashed the entire rod to bits right in front of me and the dogs....Later, a car drove up the lane, chased by the pack and Tommy was almost run over as he was dashing just in front of the vehicle and the bonnet bumped his backside...this behaviour made them unwelcomed on their own homeground...and a Malay postman who has to endure their barking and chasing daily, whom I apologised to just now as he looked exasperated at this daily encounter....and the last occurence was when a truck driver alighted to speak with us, and when 2 of our dogs started growling a bit at him, he swung his 'changkol' (hoe) at them, not hitting them just scaring them away but I can only imagine what other more irritated/scared workers may do.

These all explain the limping, cuts on legs, faces that appear on and off on our dogs.

The ironical thing is that these 7 plus Little Anne appear a nuisance to strangers who don't know them. But to us and those they know are of no threat, they are simply affectionate and faithful. I'm sure Y and W will never believe that Little Anne is a terror on the streets.

Sigh....the issue of men and animal living together in peace may not be possible here.

* We are given till end August to clear them out of that place. The boarding kennels we may have to bring them to on an urgent basis will cost more than the initial one we planned for them, which we are still appealing for. And we are uncertain now how we will fund that for the longterm.

But, looking at the rough treatment they received today and every other day, it is not only dangerous for the dogs but highly stressful for V who has to see them every day. It is nothing short of a miracle that they have been able to survive well at that place so far.

* We sincerely ask of you to stand in faith and support by us, as we make the decision for them.

Today, I visited DJ

at the clinic. Most of the time, he'll be lying on his side resting. He's given a heart medication to help his heart pump better for now while he awaits his treatment. We bear in mind the injection may or may not heal him, with the possibility he may leave us.

Would you euthanise him now or try the treatment? What would you do? Is the cost a concern? Cos the funds are donations from people who believe in our work.

It'll be easier to answer the question if DJ is your very own pet, isn't it? Won't we try all means and expenses to heal him, when there is a chance and hope? So, why should it be more difficult to decide now - when DJ is a street dog?

Diesel Jr (DJ) is looking better,

his gums are that bit pinker than when he was first brought to vet. No vomit. No cough. Vet tech has to force feed him to give him energy. Vet advised us to wait a couple more days before treatment. We shall do just that.

Keep DJ in your prayers. Thank you.

Thank you for the

encouraging comment to our earlier post on Diesel Jr.

Sometimes it gets tough when objectivity over rules and the mind ponders on whether to try and save or not. And to be honest, one concern is the cost, the expenses that will be incurred. And the weighing of whether it is 'worth it' to save a street dog and spend that amount of money. That the money can be used to save other dogs, and not just one.

We are still growing in our awareness and acceptance of what is the right thing to do.

With Diesel Jr, he seems to be stabilising well at the clinic now, which is what we want b4 commencing heartworm treatment. To leave him to die at the farm when there is hope of recovery for him - how do we do that? To bring him to the clinic and euthanise him - maybe, to relieve him of the disease. But is the disease at the stage where a cure is not possible? To decide to try and treat him, with the possibility that he may die from treatment, but also the chance that he will survive and heal - how do we know this is the right choice?

I don't know for sure, at least not all the time. But we do look and listen for signs from the animal that he himself is willing to take the chance and fight for survival. So far, there is no more vomiting nor coughing from Diesel Jr, he is mostly resting in his corner. If the vet reckon him stable enough, we can start with one injection tomorrow. We will keep you all updated.

We visited Diesel Jr on Saturday

He was still lethargic, lying down on his side most of the time while on drip. On one ocassion, he got up on all 4, with head held low, before settling down to rest again.

As of yesterday, he is looking better and we'll go see him later today to decide if we will commence heartworm treatment today.

On the same day, with Y and W, we brought Little Anne for her full check up and blood test to rule out heartworms as she had been coughing slightly, panting and one episode of vomiting yellowish foamy fluid.


Little Anne was a cooperative client as the vet tech took her blood and then the vet gave her a thorough body check up. All looks and feels good - her gums, her organs, her blood test negative for heartworms. Most likely a case of indigestion and getting used to change of diet and environment. Well, she is a little on the chubby side. :) Cough mixture and a course of antibiotics was prescribed and off we went back home to PP.



One red line indicating no heartworms.

That very morning, we also managed to catch 2 more young dogs for sterilisation. The remaining few are bit more wary which we'll try again soon. So far, we've sterilised 6 pups from that area.

All in all, a fruitful day, especially so to know and be assure of a clean bill of health for Little Anne who is just such a sweet and intelligent girl. Whoever adopts her will be one blessed family.

It's such leg work, hand work and heart work that keeps us going. Each close encounter with a living, sentient being who has come along our path. And for whom, each of us do our part to make his/her life a little bit better than before.

On our part, time and effort we are most willing to put in for the needy ones out there. What we seek now is your support in terms of the sterilisation and medical fees at the clinic as our funds for stray work is running very low. Donations can be made by cheque directly to the vet clinic and we will mail the receipt to you. Pls email us at projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg for more donation details.

Thank you very much.

Where Guppy and Diesel live,

(Guppy now deceased), there had come a pair who strangely also look like Guppy and Diesel. Similar colouring and markings.

More unfortunately, one of these young boys has fallen ill and deteriorated in the past few days. Lost his appetite. Bloated abdomen. Coughing. Puking foamy white fluid. Lethargy. Looking miserable.

Dread: heartworms like Guppy.

Today, after visiting Jr and Ginne, we drove to their farm and this time, Diesel Junior (he looks like a smaller version of Diesel) has hidden himself at the back part of the farm. Personally, he has not been very familiar with me and for the past times I was there, he would just allow me to lightly touch his nose and cheeks and nothing more.

Today, he looked dull and miserable. Head held low. Gloomy eyes. Unsmiling lips.

As I walked up to him, he simply stood there, eyeing me without wariness but neither was there exact friendliness. With the farm uncle's help, I managed to carry him into the car without any fuss from him and he sat in quietness all the way to the vet.


Diagnosis: the dreaded heartworms.

Heartworms sometimes cause an enlarged abdomen, in this case, which makes it very uncomfortable to take in any food, thus the appetite loss.

The vet has drained the excess fluid from his abdomen and put him on drip. He needs to recuperate his strength in the next few days before heartworm treatment can commence, which entails injection of medication to kill off the adult worms lodged in his heart and lungs. Treatment carries great risk, especially for a weak animal, as the dead worms may dislodged from the heart and lungs and then obstruct the blood vessels that could lead to immediate death. Therefore, treatment must be closely monitored and the animal must remain quiet and confined.
Here it is again.

The expected debate of whether to treat or not to treat. To let the dog die at the farm, as the farm uncle said, "Cannot be saved already..."

It is always easy to be an armchair commentator. I would probably think that way too from the comfort of home. But being out there on the farm, walking the same ground and seeing the same scenes, holding the animal in my arms, leaving him to die when hope is round the corner just doesn't makes sense to me.

Yes. Diesel Jr may not make it. But then again, he might. And being neutered, he can then live out many more good years on the farm. So long as he is not caught and culled, which is an area quite out of our control for now.

Where we can bring hope and healing, we will. So for this simple reason, Diesel Junior is recuperating at the vet clinic now. His health will be monitored for the next few days until the vet deems him ready for heartworm treatment.

* We appreciate your kind support in Diesel Junior's treatment. For donation details, pls email us at projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg Thank you.

Spent a hot sunny noon

with Junior and Ginne at ALL. Gave them a good cool bath and then chill out under breezy blue skies till it was time to meet V on the route.



Cooling off ...



When the sun gets wee bit glary, Jr & Ginne will hide out under the shade of a hut.



Siesta....

Both Junior and Ginne are looking good. Healthy appetite, active and alert. Both of them will stick together and look out for each other, though Ginne is still at times 'queen-ing' over Junior who will willingly submit belly-up.

Happy to see them settling down well here with their personal comfort areas to hide out. The measure of freedom ALL provides is very much welcomed by dogs and rescuers alike.

* We ask of your support towards their boarding fee which has been paid up till last month. If you would like to be a regular Sponsor of Junior and/or Ginne at $110/month, please email us at projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg We welcome any other amount of donation towards their boarding too. Thank you.

Little Anne is settling down

just fine. Much smoother than we initially thought for a dog born and living on the streets for the past few years. Other than some ocassions where she was testing waters and tried to assert her queenly attitude over PP with some bared teeth and growls, she is steadily adjusting herself into her new pack and sorta accepted that PP is the host and that she, Little Anne, will be fed after PP has eaten her fill.

It is a blessing that PP has such a mild, welcoming and giving nature. Any other more dominant host dog would have made Little Anne's integration more difficult.

She has since picked a favourite cosy spot where she can retreat to relax. She's also beginning to enjoy her walks and understands the need of the leash in our human society. Toilet habits are smoothening out well. Her bond with Y and W is also building up and on one ocassion, when Y and W were out, she planted herself right next to the main door till they return and greeted them enthusiastically.

Our instincts are right in a way that each of these 8 dogs are so human friendly that they may possibly wish for human companionship in a home of their own, more than the street/farm life they were born into. No doubt they have their freedom but with streetlife, so do they have to always be on guard against threats.

Little Anne is moving into a transition where we hope for a permanent family home for her, cos in this short week since Saturday, she has shown us her true and wonderful potential to be a faithful, loving family friend.

* Contact us at projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg if you are the one for Little Anne.

"Remember the big picture"

We were reminded. Not fight the little bush fires as they come. But recognise and resolve the fire starter at its source.

The big picture.

Not just for our 7, our 8, 50, 500 ... but for the living stray population in Singapore, Asia, the world. The recognition that life in all its myriad forms deserves respect. That life is meant to be lived. In full. Peace. Dignity. And where life needs to be taken to provide for man, let the ending be swift, respectful, as painless as possible.

Been a strangely emotional past two days for me, haven't felt this way in awhile. It's like stepping into a revolving door, into that split second of stillness when you are neither in nor out. Where you see what's ahead of you but you're not quite there yet cos you've never quite left the past behind.

So I remind myself. Emotions are of the soulish realm. So I feel them. Then I lay them aside. Walk on ahead with what is to be done. It really doesn't matter how I feel, how you feel.

The Spirit is always full of joy, full in the absolute certainty that things always work out well. May not be the way our human minds plan and build around. But always, for those of Faith, things SURELY work out well.

Resettling Lil' Anne

Little... not quite 'little'. Anne is medium-sized, a stout lady, matriach of the pack. Genes from Mama Girl to lead and play authority, but sweet as always to us.

Anne and an enthusiastic PP smelling each other out.

For the first time, Anne steps on polished tiles of the domestic home. A move away from the wilderness and a step closer to human-dog harmony.

Our now-7 dogs

"If I see the dogs here by end August, I promise you I'll ask my [foreign] workers to trap the dogs in the open storeroom and ask the Environment to put them to sleep," quipped the man in his broken English, mislabelling animal welfare control in Singapore.

"You know what's going to happen har... they'll put them to sleep," the woman added.

Today, I was faced with two local employees left on the farm where our now 7 dogs (minus Lil' Anne) reside, in and out of the plot. The tenants who took care of our pack have left behind behind an empty ramshackle shed littered with styrofoam boxes, baskets, cartons, and calendars that date back to 1977. In this shed is a four-wooden-walled room where I surmise the angsty employees will corner our dogs into, as they'd said.

They spoke from behind window panes, not opening the door when I knocked. Statements laced with sarcasm, something unashamedly scheming about their demeanour unsettled me. Backed by claims that our dogs chase after and bite their clients and the postman.

There it was, we didn't leave the conversation on any point of agreement or reconciliation. But the confrontation reminds me the malice of human character. And further stimulated to take greater actions for our dogs. Our 8 dogs... living on their natural instincts to ward off outsiders on the land they've called home and where in canine spatial perspective, they've claimed a stake on the territory.

In obvious ways, our pack is the guardian, the protector of this land.

Saturday, we took over V for the day to feed the pack. We placed their basins in the clearing beside the plot beside a hydraulic excavator where they fed at.

This morning, the basins were stained almost completely in mud due to construction work at the site.

V and I brought the basins back under the shed to wash with rainwater and stalks of wild leaves. The best we could do with water supplies cut off and no proper cleaning tools in hand. Then, we poured water from the mini-jerry cans V lugs around everyday now, and filled the other basins with wet mixtures of bread, kibbles and meat.

How much of this 'treatment' do the dogs deserve? In what right should they have to end the lives of our dogs? To threaten us with their supposed 'condition'?

V said she'd go all out for her dogs. After this episode, I think I somewhat understand what she meant. To go all out for her dogs. To reclaim justice, to do what's right, to fight against innocence-trodding agents, to make sure our dogs are unscathed by malice so typical of Man.

Been a long day out,

catching 2 pups to be sterilised, visiting various boarding kennels to speak with the owners on possible boarding plans for our 7 as they need to be relocated from their area as soon as we can.

It's 7 for now cos Little Anne is fortunate to be with Y and W right this moment under foster care. It must have been a bewildering day for her today - another car ride after a long while since she was brought for sterilisation, and after she was 'stolen' to another factory with Ben at another end of the island, first day in a home environment after years of rough rugged street-life, and a sweet ever-so-happy female dog PP for a companion instead of 7 big brothers! - and having to be strong as she is the smallest in her pack of all boys which may explain her act of boldness especially when it comes to feeding time. She has somehow learnt to compensate for her lack in stature with her timely growls and mask of fierceness when the boys try to share the food, to the point where the boys have learnt to let her dine first, thus her visible chubbiness.

I was just thinking that the true nature of a dog, an animal, may not be revealed accurately when they are living in the wild, where the natural elements and ever present hierchary and competitiveness may cause an otherwise good-natured dog to present or feign a bolder than true side to ensure his/her position or survival in a pack. This very same bold and at times rude pack leader may happily dispose of the need to act alpha when he/she is taken into a calm and understanding home where there is no need to fight to survive. Where defences can be laid down. Where the true nature of absolute trust and relaxed faith can shine forth. Where she can finally just be her own true self.

Little Anne, as with the other 7, are very human friendly, which makes it so much easier for foster care. The presence of human companions is desired and assuring, and I could almost believe now that given a choice, Little Anne may just prefer a peaceful home with human companions then feel the loss of great open spaces to roam with her pack while ever being on guard against unfriendly intruders and taking upon her own stride to protect her territory by constantly chasing away workers and vehicles that ply their homeland and risk angry shouts, stones thrown at her, being whacked by sticks, and dangers of being knocked by speeding vehicles.

I'm not sure yet if that is what's on her mind but all looks good now for her at her foster home. All gratitude to Y and W who are open-hearted and real in offering to help.

This is also a good opportunity for her to get used to a home environment, making her ready for rehoming to a permanent family.

Little Anne is a small girl, shorter than our normal local breed. Her easy friendly way with humans make her a wonderful family pet. Do keep an eye open for a new family for her. You can email us at projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg

8 on the wait

Then and now.

THEN: They were just another pack of farm dogs living carefree on the piece of land to call their home. Cos of the very environment they were in, they were on and off subjected to physical abuse by workers around there, when their primal instincts drove them to chase after those they deemed as unwelcomed or dislikable 'intruders' into their territory.

To us, they are a special pack who have a place in our hearts. Their story goes way back to their mom, Mama Girl, whose life story travelled from a far end of our island to where they live now.

Mama Girl

A simple, carefree, loyal family pack who now faces threats. Man made. As always.


Anne, Ben as pups

NOW: The farm plot they call home has been 'shut off' from them. The men who worked and helped watch over them have left. Water supply has been cut off.

They are now pushed further down to a bare gravel expanse that gets scorching hot in noonday with no proper shelter and dried of water for 8 thirsty dogs.

This has made the situation very trying and difficult for V who goes there everyday without fail, with no workers now to help her. With no water supply to hose water in the basins, V has to physically bring bottles of water daily.

Abuse from workers around that area still happens, we suspect, as Jamie is now limping. Work is started now to clear the land for road-building through which brings more exposure and potential dangers to this family, unwelcomed by humans even as they try to just live their days out on the land they grew up on. Even this is going to be taken away from them.

And where can they go now?

TODAY: Their situation is made more pressing now as the one person who has recently been able to help in watching over them, will be away from this Friday onwards. He has been helping to keep an eye on our 8 - to ward off physical abuse, be alert to patrolling vans of catch and cull, help with food and water. With him gone, so goes that measure of protection for the 8.

SHORT TERM: We have to relocate them from this plot of land within these few days. As our pack is big with 8 adults, the boarding places we explored are either full or do not work for us for now. We will re-look our options by separating the pack to 3 possible places for feasibility and sustainability. While we work on our longterm plan for them.

* FOSTER CARE/ADOPTION *

In this week that calls for urgent action, we seek good people out there who are ready to welcome a local dog or 2 into their home. Individually, these 8 are very human-friendly, affectionate and loyal.

Ranging from Little Anne, the smallest of the pack who makes an easy, fuss-free family friend. To her big bro Ben who towers over her but has a little boy's heart. A gentle fellow. To the 3 fawn brothers - Jamie, Jonah, Jordan - gentlemanly and faithful.

All perfect candidates as loyal companions.

Jonah

They HAVE to be relocated within this week or next while we work through their longterm plan.
Do email projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg if you can offer a place for 1 or 2 of our 8 during this period, and better yet, a permanent home so they can finally get off the streets that could not even offer them a small little wish - to live a simple, safe and carefree life.

The cute and pretty one

always gets chosen first? Well, quite the case. Not all the time, but most. Here is Niu Niu as W calls her - the chosen one who stands out for her good looks - golden coat and sweet face like a mix-Golden Retriever. She enjoys the comfort of the air-con office and extra TLC and I believe extra treats from W cos she is the chubbiest.

Niu Niu in office while her sibling stands just outside.

Here we have Patch boy whom we took to sterilise yesterday. Patch boy was shy and adorable. Yup, could have been stressed during his first car ride but three quarters into the journey, I felt the weight on my forearm getting just that bit heavier and heavier (he was resting his head on my arm) ... and his head drooping lower and lower ... haha ... our little fellow was dozing off to sleep! Funny boy. Both are back at their farm now. Will check on them again very soon.

And here is Yo Yo, the newcomer to Toto's pack some months back whom we found with a huge gaping wound on his back. He is all well and dandy now and has found his place among his kind.

Yoyo all healed


Yoyo few months back with big wound

It is with dogs like him and the rest, whom we know, by face and name, that blurs the line between objective efficiency and subjective attachment. Hand work and heart work.

Sense of excitement, anxiety and fulfilment

pervades moments with our dogs today. Just this morning in our first time after what might be the longest deliberation and detachment, if you will, from the core dogs of V's management, we brought two puppies for early-age neutering.

As I write, our black/white boy and cream-coloured girl are probably sniffing around the darkness of the clinic, with a knowing trepidation that they'll go under the knife tomorrow. Sterilisation, vaccination and microchip.

Our sweet-natured black/white boy showed steadinenss en route to the vet's -- the first time he's steadied by human hands, first car ride, first time out of home. We had a tussle with our cream-coloured female who was a little fiesty to be egged into the cage and as always pinches my heart, traumatised by what happened today; shoved into the carrier, inertia during the car ride and all the discomfort associated with the opposite of what she's been used to at the farm, a dog born to be free, nested among her social beings.

Great thanks to E and pals for going down with us, and actually getting hold of our cream-coloured female. E's pal managed to loop his leash around the oblivious puppy and got a firm hold of her =)

This evening, picked up two bags of veterinary-diet kibbles and delivered them to V's house. I'm sure they'll come in handy and be finished very soon.

Eager to hear about our two puppies tomorrow. Let's see.


Our black/white male pup. Periodically turning around at red lights during the journey to the vet's to carass him on the snout and head, he demonstrated the collected spirit and innocence of an ideal family pet dog.