Here are some of the many successful adoption we have here in SPCA.

The thick layers of ‘fungus flakes’ caused her fur to be oily, giving off a foul smell.

As a pet care counsellor and fosterer, I received a call from SPCA, asking me if I was willing to treat this puppy. Feeling so glad that I had the privilege, I took the chance. However, I was told that it would only be for a trial period. There was no way to tell if her fungus was due to genetics or negligence. If her condition didn’t improve, she might have to be put to sleep.

When she first came to my house, she was no longer than a sheet of A4 sized paper, weighing just under 1kg. precious was itchy all over and flakes just kept falling off onto the floor. Most of her time was spent sleeping. The sight of her skin gave me little confidence of her recovery. Her treatment was intensive over the next few weeks.

She had to receive an anti-mite jab every week. On top of that, she was on daily medication and had a medicated bath once in every four days. I also placed her in an air-conditioned room eighteen hours a day to minimise her skin contact with the humidity in the air.

After a week, Precious later developed eye ulcer in her left eye due to a pre-sustained cut which made her treatment even more tedious. She was warded during weekdays and would come back to me on weekends for two weeks. Eye drops had to be administered every twelve hours while eye gel was to be administered every six hours, even into the night. Despite all these, tiny, little Precious put up a brave front. She didn’t cry nor bark throughout the whole ordeal.

The vigilant staff at SPCA kept close watch on her and made her recovery fast. Other volunteers were also there to help make things easier for us in every way that they could. When Precious was back for a medical review, the vet and staff were overjoyed and pleased with her progress. She did not have to be put down. Throughout her treatment, lots of patience was involved. Proper care and hygienic environment were necessary to ensure that these conditions would not recur.

Now after two months, little Precious is 21 inches, weighing 3.5kg. Throughout the time we cared for Precious, my husband and I have always treated her as family. That was why we have decided to adopt Precious, to give her as much family warmth as possible.

I am sure she feels it. We hope that under our care and supervision, Precious will grow healthily, covered with the warmth of a family.

Pet Care Counsellor & Fosterer,
Amanda Loh

SPCA thanks Amanda for her care and patience in treating Precious and for giving her a new lease of life.

As I was a gift, he didn’t want to take care of me anymore, so he brought me to the SPCA. He was already my second owner and I was only 1.5 years old! At least he brought me to the SPCA instead of abandoning me like many people do.

When I came to the SPCA, everyone saw that I was emaciated and in bad condition. I could hardly stand because I was so weak and had lost patches of hair all over my body due to malnutrition. My teeth were covered in tartar and people were surprised that I was as young as I was because I looked so much older.

I was so scared when I was placed in my kennel. There were large dogs and so much noise all around me. What had I done wrong to deserve this? I stayed in the far back corner of the kennel for the first week so I would feel safe. I wasn’t hungry because I was so scared and couldn’t chew hard food so the kind SPCA staff would moisten it and hand feed me. I tried to eat, but was too frightened because I was in another new surrounding by myself.

After a month of trying to help me gain weight and get healthy, the SPCA staff thought it would be best if I was fostered out to a person who lived in a quiet environment and had time to spend with me. One of the weekly volunteer dogwalkers heard about me and because she loved Chihuahuas, welcomed me with open arms.

My new foster parents were surprised how skinny I still was when they picked me up (I had gained some weight) and could count all my ribs and see the bones in my spine! The first two days that I spent in my foster parent’s house, I just slept. It was so nice to be in a quiet environment on a fluffy bed. They fed me puppy food five times a day so that I could slowly gain weight.

Then my foster mom saw that I was chewing on my tail a lot – she brought me to the vet who found numerous sores on my tail. Twice a day she put cream on it to help it heal. She also had the vet take a blood test to make sure that I didn’t have any other diseases – luckily, I was all clear! After that, I went to the vet every other week for a check-up. I didn’t like it but knew that each week I was feeling better.

After a few days, my foster mom took me outside in the grass to get some fresh air and play. I had never been let out before and was quite scared and would freeze. If I didn’t move, I thought I would be OK. I didn’t know what grass, leaves, or wind was. There were so many new smells! I didn’t know what it was like to be a “normal” dog and run and sniff and play.

Over the span of four months, I learned so many new things. I learned to play with other dogs (I copied a lot from my foster mom’s other dog) and run around outside and love life. I now love to chase bugs and anything that moves!

My fur has all grown back in and I have a beautiful, shiny black coat. My white fur, which was once pink due to malnutrition, is now a gleaming white and people always compliment me! I can also now chew hard food and eat really well. I have doubled my weight to 2kg and have loads of energy and love to run around.

When it was time for me to go back to the SPCA, my foster mom and dad had a difficult decision to make. They really wanted to keep me but since they would be moving around a bit, they could only really have one dog. Since I had already been with so many owners, they wanted to be sure the next owner would be for life. So the only answer was to keep me in the family.

SPCA thanks foster mummy Jane Camus, without whose dedication and determination in rehabilitating Jojo, it would not have been possible for such a happy ending.

he is now firmly entrenched as a member of the family. When my bed-ridden husband cannot sleep at night due to aching joints, Gandalf climbed onto his hip joint, offering him warmth and comfort of a living hot water bottle that doesn’t get cold.

My husband finds it comforting to have “someone” keep him company during the long lonely nights when he cannot fall asleep. He also finds it such a pleasure to watch Gandalf do normal things like eat, sleep and play because cats are just so naturally graceful.

Just prior to his “O” level exams, my elder son was hit by bouts of depression. As much as I would have liked to be there for him, it wasn’t always possible because of work and other family responsibilities. Gandalf became my son’s buddy, able to sense his moods and cuddle up to him whenever he seemed moody. They bond so well that my son thinks of him as an animal version of a soul mate.

During my recovery from a major operation, I often slept in the day and Gandalf would sleep just inches from me, as if he was in some way participating in my healing. Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of taking care of my husband, working full time and bringing up two children on my own for over ten years, Gandalf would come and sit nearby or climb onto my lap. He knows that these little gestures go a long way.

My younger son appears the “rough and tough” sort, but Gandalf is able to see through him. One brush against his legs and my son’s attitude softens. After a while, we realised that one cat wasn’t enough and over time we adopted five more feline “family members”. Today, we feel that our lives are so much fuller and complete because of this. Credit goes to Gandalf who turned our lives around when he introduced us to the wonderful world of cats.

Gina Ho

I was just four months old and cute as pie when I was adopted by my two humans six years ago.I'm no pedigree, and I have some strange markings, but my humans knew a diamond in the rough when they saw one.

It was quite a shock to have a whole house to run around in after being shut in a cage for so long. My legs seemed to go all over the place on that slippery floor, but I soon got used to it, and found my way upstairs onto the comfy bed. Then, when my man-human fitted a cat flap, I was in kitty heaven! Chasing geckos, catching cockroaches. Forget Pet Busters – I was a one-cat pest extermination squad. However it wasn't all fun and games. My fellow adoptee, Itchy (we made a great pair), was sadly run over by a car. I missed her terribly.

But I wasn't alone for long. I can't understand why, but it seems I alone was not enough for my humans. Along came a cross-Persian SPCA cat, called Smokey. And then – have they gone mad, I wondered? – a dog! A big ole' German Shepherd cross that no one wanted. I chased her around the garden for the first few weeks, just to show her who was boss.

At the beginning of last year, I really did think my humans had lost the plot. All us animals were placed – quite unceremoniously, it must be said – into plastic boxes. We were put into a van and driven to a big, noisy place with aeroplanes on the ground. I was very scared, though I tried not to show it. I was glad to have my brother and sister for company.

There was lots of noise, and my ears went "pop!", and then there was a long, dark night. Eventually the noise stopped and a big door opened. The air! It was so cold! My short Singapore coat stood up on end! Finally we were loaded in our boxes onto a forklift truck – a very undignified way to travel – and delivered to our humans, who told us we were in Paris, and were en route to Normandy. The dog wagged her tail so hard her box almost tipped over. What on earth was going on?

A car journey followed, and then a new home. Some strange smells to get used to, but I soon rubbed my cheeks over everything to make it seem more like home. I slept for days it seemed, after that long trip, but then was back to my usual majestic self, ready for a spot of lap-sitting and supper.

Today, I'm no longer a city cat. I'm now a country cat, or rather Lady of the Manor. I've swapped geckos for mice, cockroaches for birds. I rather like the French cheese and bread, and I have to say French fashion is divine. I now wear a longer, fluffier coat. Much more comfortable for those long European winters!

I have a farmhouse to manage (the humans can’t be trusted) and a couple of acres to call my own. I’ve seen funny big animals called cows, which seem to prefer grass to meat; and I like to chase the furry tails on animals called rabbits. After a hard night’s hunting, I spend all day asleep in front of the fire. Well, I think I’ve earned the rest, don’t you?

I still remember Singapore with fondness. And I’ll always remember the kind people at the SPCA who gave me a second chance. From the other side of the world, thank you!

The family decided to adopt a cat from the SPCA because they wanted a feline who was in need of a home and a family. After all, their first cat had been a stray that had ‘adopted’ them by walking into their home and staying for 13 years!

So the family decided to repay their late beloved cat by helping other strays.

“I suppose we were trying to find a cat of a similar background that would form a similar bond with the family,” says Tim. Kino immediately caught their eyes because of his incredible friendliness and good looks.