New lease of life

New lease of life

SINGAPORE - The dog which is suspected to have been injured by a wild boar trap is now able to hop around on just two legs.

It was only a few weeks ago that the black mongrel puppy had torn skin, exposed flesh and crushed bones.

Ms Irene Sng was with a few friends feeding stray dogs in a forested area in the west of Singapore when they found the injured canine, which they named Duncan.

On Tuesday morning, Ms Sng took Duncan to the Mount Pleasant Animal Clinic Medical Centre at Clementi to have stitches from the amputation of its right front and hind leg removed.

Ms Sng, 35, a tutor, said: "It was very lucky. When we first brought Duncan to the vet, it was in critical condition but it's moving around now."

The six-months-old dog is now with a boarding kennel in the Lim Chu Kang area waiting for a home.

"I usually visit Duncan once a week. My friends also visit him too. Sometimes, I'll just go when I'm free," Ms Sng said.

She is trying to find a good and caring home for Duncan, but it has been a challenge so far.

"It's very hard to find a home for Duncan as it's 'handicapped' and needs someone very committed to take care of it," she lamented.

Ms Sng and her friends are very grateful for the contributions from members of the public and have so far raised around $5,000 to pay for the dog's surgery and other medical fees.

"If Duncan doesn't find a home soon, we'll have to spend a lot of money on the boarding kennel fees, which is $20 daily," she said.

LONG WAY TO GO

Duncan has a long way to go before it is fully rehabilitated as even though it is able to move around without help, it loses its balance and falls occasionally.

Within a month, the dog will be undergoing physiotherapy and hydrotherapy so that it can build up its muscles and be able to carry its own weight and walk.

Dr Simon Quek was one of the veterinarians who operated on Duncan.

The 40-year-old said that the canine was doing quite well and that it did not need a dog wheelchair or any walking aid.

"It's looking good (for Duncan) and we were quite confident after the amputation that it would be able to walk again," he said.

He added: "Duncan's still very young. Usually when dogs grow up with a disability, they are able to adapt quite well."

jaslim@sph.com.sg


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