Since animals cannot speak for themselves, animal welfare advocates and rescuers are a godsend for making sure they get the help they need.
However, as animals that need help far exceed the number of people who actively help them, rescuers often find themselves with more dogs than they can handle.
Ms Valerie, an independent dog rescuer in Singapore, recently reached out to MS News in hopes of providing treatment for five disabled puppies in her care.
She wants to give them the care they need, but costs are piling up, leaving her with only enough funds to provide continuous therapy for three dogs.
Ms Valerie has been actively rescuing ex-breeding dogs and their puppies from irresponsible breeders since 2020.
Currently, she has five puppies under her wing: Togo (seven months), DouDou (14 months), Rou Yuan (four months), Tang Yuan (four months), and Maya (three months).
These dogs are mostly mixed breeds – including Maltipoo, Bichonpoo, and Pomsky – and one mini Shiba Inu.
All of them have varying degrees of congenital patellar luxation (PL) or joint deformities.
Ms Valerie said her oldest rescue dog, DouDou, a Bichon Frisé and Poodle mix, was taken from a breeder who couldn’t sell him.
He had been rehomed twice, but was given up after he fell ill during his home trial days.
After landing at the hospital, DouDou was found with severe PL, tested positive for tick fever and E.coli, and has suspected immunity issues.
Ms Valerie also admitted she took in her last two rescues even when she knew her hands were already full, as she felt sorry for their circumstances.
Regarding Tang Yuan, the fourth of her current rescues, she shared: “I didn’t want to take him initially as I got my hands full with the three. But I saw Tang Yuan kept getting his feet trapped by the playpen mesh.”
And when he pulls, it hurts him. I couldn’t turn away from his suffering.
Ms Valerie said that she had taken in the puppies in hopes of finding them loving homes.
To cover their daily needs, vet visits, procedures, and hydrotherapy sessions in the meantime, she uses the adoption fees she had collected from the previous, successfully rehomed dogs.
However, adoption rates have dropped significantly, making it increasingly difficult for her to sustain these expenses.
“My biggest concern right now is raising enough funds to continue their hydrotherapy,” Ms Valerie shared.
Image courtesy of Ms Valerie.
With consistent hydrotherapy, the pups have a chance to improve their joint conditions, hopefully reducing the need for surgery.
However, with all five dogs needing this treatment, the costs are high. Each dog needs about S$540 for six hydrotherapy sessions over three weeks.
For all five to receive regular therapy, Ms Valerie would need S$2,700 every three weeks, excluding the pups’ transportation and other medical expenses.
Image courtesy of Ms Valerie.
Right now, Ms Valerie can only afford to send three puppies for regular hydrotherapy sessions.
She told MS News that she is aware that there are plenty of fundraising appeals out there, but she urges the public to consider donating to these rescues.
These are still young dogs with their whole lives ahead of them. I want to give them every possible chance to walk, run, and enjoy life with as little pain and limitation as possible.
Ms Valerie explained that the recent closure of kennels had flooded the market with dogs needing homes.
She claimed many kennels and pet shops have begun putting up dogs for adoption without proper screening and lowering their prices to entice adopters.
This, as well as some animal welfare groups offering free adoptions, has significantly impacted adoption rates for her rescue dogs with medical needs.
“Previously, I could rehome two to three dogs per week. Now it is a maximum of three dogs every two weeks or so,” Ms Valerie shared.
“For me, rescue work is not choosing which dog is adoptable to rehome, but helping the ones that need it most,” she said.
“That’s why I couldn’t ignore these dogs.”
However, the rescuer is also aware of the huge responsibility that comes with adopting disabled dogs.
Additionally, she stressed that prospective adopters must be ready for hydrotherapy and possible surgery costs.
Image courtesy of Ms Valerie.
Besides her five rescue pups, Ms Valerie is helping a local kennel rehome over 70 dogs until it closes in March 2027.
“The kennel refused to sell their dogs to other breeders to continue breeding life,” she shared, adding that dogs from that kennel consistently show good blood test results and are generally healthy.
Those interested in donating to Ms Valerie’s rescues, or adopting them or any of the 70+ other dogs, may contact her at @chippy.and.daley.dcorgis on Instagram or on WhatsApp at 8222 2082.
Also read: Thinking of getting a pet? Here’s how to find reputable cat & dog breeders in S’pore
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Featured image adapted from Ms Valerie and @chippy.daley.dcorgis on Instagram.