Should the size of your property or if you have a domestic helper determines your eligibility of dog adoption or affect the quality of your pet’s living standard?
Two weeks ago, I saw a posting on an Animal Welfare Group (AWG) FB page urgently looking for a fosterer/adopter for a husky.
I was informed that the Husky is reactive to other dogs and has separation anxiety. When he was in the previous fosterer’s home, he barked the whole night, scaled the babygate and destruct some stuff in the flat.
I responded to their plight. The founder of the AWG contacted me and placed the Husky in my home. She told me that to be fair to us, we will be given first priority should we decide to adopt the dog since we so readily rendered our help. Their volunteer dog trainer who has been working with the AWG for past years was also present then.
When I first met the Husky, he was malnutrition and his coat had a heavy stench of his excrement. Even after his bath because he was covered in excrement for so long in his former abode. I decided to bring him to a dog groomer for a proper shave down.
Our bonding with the Husky grew day-by-day as we have very engaging activities and interactions. He became part of the family. My daughter and I spent a lot of our time and hard work to nurse him back to health. The dog trainer, whom we truly appreciate, played a huge part in guiding us to train the Husky. He gave us a lot of useful pointers to help the furkid ease into the new environment. At the end of the first week, the Husky showed remarkable progress, developing into a well-balanced, affectionate and obedient dog. We kept video log of his daily progress.
Meantime, the AWG Founder listed and sent me a set of criteria for adopter which we have worked towards fulfilling all. A couple of days later, she informed us that due to overwhelming response on FB she will assess us with other potential adopters. I begin to sense amiss… didn’t she said we are to have first priority? Why did she run Adoption Drives to promote the Husky to others? Thus, I began to question what have we not done well or lacked. She then privately revealed to me that her criteria revolves around the size of the property and if the household has a domestic helper. I felt deceived and queried further on her goal setting, transparency of assessment and her initial assurance that we will be given TOP priority to adopt the Husky, since so much hard work and positive progress. It is disruptive and stressful for the dog to change handler and living environment when it has already settled well. She told me it won’t take long for the Husky to adapt. I voiced that it’s detrimental to his progress but she ignored. I asked her aren’t we to have first priority to adopt the Husky? She then emphasised that I’m only a fosterer and rebutted that I was ‘out of line’ to ask her on how she does the assessment and denied she ever said I will be given TOP priority.
Throughout the two weeks that the Husky was in my care, I have expressed on several occasions that I want to adopt him and shared daily video logs with the AWG Founder and the dog trainer, keeping them updated of the furkid’s achievements. However, the AWG Founder proceed to run adoption drives on 3 Nov 1pm-4pm at Punggol Park Dog Run and 10 Nov 2pm-4pm (she turned up unapologetically at 2.30pm having me and the Husky waited under the scorching heat). The poor furkid was put under such tremendous heat for long hours. Yet, encouraged other potential adopters to walk the Husky. Have you ever tried walking barefooted on concrete or tarmac at park connectors between 2pm to 4pm? I brought water to hydrate the dog and mist his coat to keep him cool.
The uncertainty has posed much distressed to the dog and my family. My daughter and I started to grief the loss of the Husky each time prior to the so-called ‘adoption drive’. I decided to demand an answer and spoke to the AWG Founder. We wish to understand what was it that we don’t qualify to adopt the Husky. She could not justify her decision apart from saying that she placed more emphasis on the size of the property and the fact that we do not have a domestic helper to cope with the Husky’s separation anxiety.
I was dumbfounded by her response. First, the dog was rescued from a landed property. A bigger space does not necessarily mean better care. Besides, if the AWG Founder had thought that I was not suitable to foster/adopt the Husky, why did she allow the dog to stay in my home in the first place. Also, I have explained to her that my home is situated within close proximity to Punggol Park and I walked the Husky daily, 3.9km each time early morning and sunset (to avoid the heat) and a shorter distance before he goes to bed.
Second, I am disappointed by the AWG’s lack of transparency. What is more infuriating is that the AWG Founder had decided against the strong recommendation of the dog trainer volunteer who had followed and witnessed the dogs positive change in behaviour since day 1. Third, I hope that having a domestic helper or not is not the AWG’s primary consideration in deciding whether a person is suitable to adopt a dog or not.
The message that the AWG Founder is sending is that persons without a domestic helper are not suited to care for a dog. Isn’t working on the root cause to eliminate the dog’s anxiety issues more effective than hiring a helper as a solution? What happens when the domestic helper returns to hometown? How much distance does a domestic helper walks a dog if not sits at the pavilion at the park toying their mobile phone till times up and walk the dog home?
Recently, my left wrist was punctured 2 holes by an aggressive Beagle at the Dog Run. The dog had displayed instability outside the enclosure and the handler proceed to release the dog immediately upon entering the main enclosure. The Husky was on leash and we were mingling with other dogs when the Beagle came charging at him. I fended the Husky and the Beagle bit us both. The Husky suffered minor injury. Will the domestic helper fend your dog with her life?
My job allows me time flexibility which I am able to provide much attention and care to the Husky and it’s evident in our video log how well he has improved.
Nonetheless, I hope that the AWG Founder can see beyond the material needs and focus on what is truly important for a dog – a loving family who cares for him.
(Kindly share my story. We don’t know what other channels to seek our grievances. Truly appreciate 🙏🏻)