/ In The News

Dog disappears and reunites with owner not once, but twice!

Published January 30, 2011 in In The News |
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STOMPer Richard shares with us the extraordinary story of Sable, a 10-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, who managed to reunite with his owner under the most unbelievable circumstances, not once… but twice!

The STOMPer says:

“As animal lovers, our hearts ache for those animal owners whose beloved companions go missing. Some are lucky to be found while others are unfortunate never to be reunited with their families.

“Today, on a cold rainy day, we would like to share an extraordinary story of Sable, a 10-year-old Shetland Sheepdog.

“4 years ago, Sable’s owner Mr Goh, brought him to a pet shop somewhere in Singapore (that shop is now defunct). However, Sable went missing from the shop as he escaped to look for his owner.

“Unfortunately, Sable was not to be found and Mr.Goh was heartbroken as his attempts to search for him were in vain.

“4 years later, Mr Goh, hoping to have a Shetland again, went online to look for one to adopt in the forums. By sheer luck or fate, he found the description of a Shetland strikingly similar to that of Sable’s. Sable was found in a farm at Choa Chu Kang and they were finally reunited after a span of 4 long years after hopes were dashed.

“Sable’s amazing story didn’t just stop here.

“Recently, Mr Goh’s young son was suffering from a bout of chicken pox and Sable had to stay with Mr Goh’s mother-in-law temporarily till his boy recovered.

“On this fateful morning at around 7am, Sable slipped out of her apartment to look for Mr Goh, who stays a few streets away. Apparently Mr Goh’s mother-in-law did not close the front door properly while watering her plants. At that time, it was pouring heavily.

“Then, an amazing thing happened. Petopia’s staff Jiahao, who happens to stay a few blocks away from Mr Goh, was surprised to find Sable right outside his doorstep when he was about to report for work!

“Jiahao, who had taken care of Sable during his stay at Petopia last December, suspected it was Sable as he recognised his prominent markings. Instinctively, he brought him back to Petopia.

“We quickly called Mr Goh, who confirmed Sable’s disappearance.

“We were all dumbfounded by this amazing incident of how Sable managed to trace his way back to the area where Mr Goh stayed, and miraculously found Jiahao’s apartment instead.

“Whatever the reason, on a pouring cold Sunday morning, the Petopia team is heartened to know that we have managed to help loved ones reunite once again, when the odds are so low. We salute our staff Jiahao for his dedication and quick-thinking.

“We decided to share this true and amazing adventure of a dog who not only reunited with his owner years after they were separated, but also once again, through the Petopia connection. Such incidents do not just happen in Hollywood movies. They do exist in real life.

“As we approach Valentine’s Day in a few weeks’ time, we would like to dedicate this amazing story to all animal owners and their companions who shower love on one another, in a unexplainable and inextricable bond that binds them together, through time and space.

“Sable’s adventures reminded us to never give up hope on our beloved animal companions, just as they will never give up on us.”


mypaper – “Animal lovers get perks to adopt pets”

Published November 8, 2010 in In The News, What's New |
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By Rachel Chan

FOR the first time, pet-related businesses are rallying together to promote the adoption of pets.

For four months starting from Nov 15, a vet, a pet-wellness centre, a dog-obedience trainer and pet-food distributor will dangle freebies to spur new adoptions.

An adoption card, called the Companion Care Card, will be issued by animal shelters affliated with the programme.

Those who adopt animals can use the cards to redeem a free food starter kit; a complimentary grooming session; a health check for their pets, or a 10 per cent discount on the cost of sterilisation, dental scaling or microchipping at a vet’s; and a free four-week dog-obedience course.

People are urged to adopt pets from the shelters as the animals, many of which were either abused or abandoned, would fare much better in the care of a loving family. Adoption would also help free resources and allow the shelters to rescue more animals.

The initiative is spearheaded by Petopia International, the pet-wellness centre that made news this year for offering dog-spa treatments and air-conditioned kennels for pet boarders.

Mr Marcus Khoo, Petopia’s executive director, said: “It is our way of helping those who have made a conscious choice to provide for unfortunate animal companions.

We hope to facilitate the shelters in re-homing their animals.”

The cost of rehabilitating a pet can run into the hundreds of dollars. For example, it can cost a three-digit figure to sterilise a female cat.

Some animal shelters my paper spoke to applauded the Companion Care Card programme.

“We are definitely in favour of it,” said Ms Elaine Chiam, 31, who runs Love Kuching Project, a cattery with three cats waiting to be adopted. “Our adoption rate is, on average, three cats per month at the moment, and we are confident of pushing this number higher with the programme.”

Still, most of those who have decided to adopt an animal will do so regardless of cost, said Mr Cohen Ng, 47, director of animal shelter Mutts & Mittens, and Ms Yian Tay, 35, a communications officer with Madam Wong’s Shelter.

Mr Ng said the project would benefit smaller charity establishments that cannot afford to offer such perks. Mutts & Mittens has a monthly adoption rate of four to eight animals, while Madam Wong’s Shelter’s rate is around half of that.

Compared to a decade ago, pet lovers today have many shelters from which they can adopt – or abandon – an animal companion, observed Ms Tay.

“I won’t say whether it is a definite yes or no that the programme will increase the adoption rate,” she said. “But I hope that it will push more people to adopt rather than buy.”

rachan@sph.com.sg