The Electric New Paper :But some ask why go through so much trouble
By Ho Lian-Yi
15 June 2009
AN online plea for funds for a helpless hit-and-run victim isn't unusual.
Just that this time, the victim wasn't human, but a dog.
The plight of Whitefeet, a brown mongrel which lost most of the flesh around a paw in an accident earlier this year, attracted $1,290 in donations.
But aid and sympathy were not the only responses elicited by the post, titled 'Fund raise (sic) for HIT & RUN victim', which was first put up on Hardwarezone forums in April.
It's just a dog, wrote one netizen. Why not raise funds for humans? Others questioned the fuss. Just put it to sleep, said some.
But the fundraisers, childcare teacher Angel Lim and secretary Jasmine Ho, both 35, persevered.
Said Madam Lim: 'To me, the dogs are not only dogs, they are living things. They have lives.'
She has been looking after Whitefeet and six other strays in a temple along Old Woodlands Road for two years.
The owner of Kong Hou Sua Temple, known as MrZhang, had found Whitefeet whimpering in a drain near the temple on 19 Apr, she said.
When the temple owner discovered its injury, he called Madam Lim.
For three days, Madam Lim tried to tend to the dog's wounds herself. But Whitefeet's condition worsened.
She decided Whitefeet had to see a vet.
Miss Ho helped by writing online appeals for money.
When Madam Lim finally took Whitefeet to AMK Veterinary Surgery at Sembawang Road, she said she was scolded for not seeking treatment earlier.
Whitefeet may need to have its foot amputated, she was told.
To make matters worse, the dog - believed to be about seven years old - had heartworms, a parasitic infection.
Mr Adren Lim, 35, a display artist, donated $400.
Why? 'Animals don't talk, they don't voice out, while less fortunate people have charity organisations or MPs to help,' he reasoned.
Miss Delphine Goh, 33, a tele-sales coordinator, donated $50 because, she said, money isn't a concern when it comes to saving animals.
They were among 21 donors who responded. But it turned out that even the $1,290 in donations was not enough. The treatment cost $2,762.
AMK Veterinary Surgery, however, decided to absorb the rest of the cost.
Owner Dr S Thiruchelvam, 59, said his policy is to give strays a flat 20 per cent discount. But he decided to give the fundraisers a one-off discount of more than 50 per cent.
Whitefeet stayed at the clinic for 45 days, an unusually long period.
Mellowed over time
At first, it was fierce. But over time it became very tame and friendly, said Dr Thiru.
'All the clinic staff came to adore it,' he said.
Whitefeet's paw was saved, but he was too old to be treated for heartworm. He was discharged last Saturday.
But the crisis is not over. The temple refuge of the dogs is due to be demolished at the end of this month.
Now Madam Lim is worried about finding homes for the seven large dogs.
She approached six other temples and a number of animal organisations, to no avail. She's still hoping that others may offer aid.
Miss Ho put up another thread on Hardwarezone looking for homes on 19 May. They also tried putting up adoption notices in private estates around Singapore. There has been no response.
The dogs are too big for HDB flats, Madam Lim said. Also, they are not pedigrees, and some are old.
The best option would be to house the dogs in a kennel. But the prices are prohibitive - as high as $2,000 a month - unless Singaporeans are willing to reach into their pockets once more.
# Interested in adopting or sponsoring the dogs? You can contact Madam Lim at garfieldodiesnoopy@yahoo.com.
