Extreme Cruelty!

hisoka SG

the recommendations also pretty funny leh they recommended the gu put the dog in aircon... isn't the recommendation abit too expensive?

anyway poor dog and the 3k sounds pretty little considering the owner was warned quite alot and the guy was rich

sbst275 SG

Inhuman

BabyLover SG

Sept 2, 2005
Heated debate

Case of arctic dog which died of heatstroke due to owner's neglect angers animal lovers, who wonder if such dogs should be allowed here
By Chong Chee Kin

STRICKEN by a skin condition, Wiskey, a one-year-old Siberian husky, was about to be put down by its owner.

Another arctic dog - an Alaskan malamute - was not so fortunate. It died after being left out in the hot sun and deprived of water by its owner, 30-year-old events manager Lim Bee Leong.

That Mr Lim was fined $3,000 last week, when he could have been jailed for neglect, did not sit well with animal lovers.

A day after news of his conviction broke, broker Jill Hum started an online petition appealing to the Attorney-General's Chambers to seek a deterrent sentence. The petition, which has so far gathered more than 2,800 signatures, closed yesterday.

PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

The two cases have also opened up a bigger issue: Should arctic dogs like the husky, malamute and samoyed even be allowed into Singapore?

Bred for the harsh arctic climate, these dogs have a double coat of fur, which means that they are ill-suited to the heat and humidity here. So ill-suited, some dog lovers believe, that an import ban should be placed on them.

This arctic dog was saved

PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

ONE-YEAR-OLD Siberian husky Wiskey was ill and plagued by a skin condition before the Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) stepped in to care for it, saving it from being put down.

Now, it is recovering well under the care of ASD volunteer Roger Wong and has been fitted with a protective collar to prevent it from scratching its wounds.

Arctic dogs like Wiskey are bred for cold climates. They have a double coat of fur, which means that they are ill-suited to the heat and humidity in Singapore.

The number of licensed dogs here has been rising steadily in recent years, up from 39,200 in 2003 to 43,000 this year. Of this number, about 700 are arctic dogs, the vast majority of them Siberian huskies.

At present, only aggressive breeds like the akita, pit bull and the mastiff are banned here because of the potential dangers they pose to humans. But ASD president Ricky Yeo believes arctic dogs should be banned too.

'Ideally, arctic breeds should not be in a hot and humid climate like ours,' he said. 'The high humidity causes problems for their skin, which becomes a breeding ground for parasites and mites.

'We cannot fathom any reason why these dogs should ever be in our environment. They serve no practical purpose other than aesthetic,' he added.

Ms Hum agreed. 'Sure, they are beautiful. I would love to own one too, but I think it's too cruel to keep them here knowing that they will never be completely comfortable in this climate.'

Their opinions will inevitably draw howls of protest from most owners of arctic dogs, but at least one has voiced his approval.

Former zoo chief Bernard Harrison, who owns a malamute and a husky, agreed that keeping the dogs here is 'crazy'. 'They are simply not designed for this kind of weather,' he said.

Mr Harrison, now a zoo consultant, adopted the two dogs five years ago at the request of his friends because his home in the Upper Thomson area has a large compound that allows plenty of room and shade for them.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said the decision whether to ban arctic breeds should be left to the authorities, albeit after consultation with the SPCA and veterinarians.

Ms Deirdre Moss, SPCA's executive officer, noted that no country had ever banned certain dog breeds because they were not suited for the weather there.

'Whatever happened to the Alaskan malamute could happen to any dog in similar circumstances - subjected to the hot sun without shade and without any water.'

Owners of arctic dogs like Mr Melvin Sim, who owns a husky, agreed.

'A husky, or any arctic dog, can be happy if the owner knows how to take care of it. It would not be fair if all arctic dog owners are punished because of one negligent owner,' he argued.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it is not uncommon for arctic breeds to be kept here and in other Asian countries.

Mr Madhavan Kannan, head of AVA's Centre for Animal Welfare and Control, said: 'These dog breeds have been kept in Singapore for many years and they can adapt to our climatic conditions. Generally, owners should keep them in cool surroundings in view of their thicker coat.'

But Mr Lim, who has now moved out of his Bukit Timah terrace house, did not - and his malamute paid the price.

[email protected]

kopiosatu SG

my ex-colleague has 2 huskeys and a chihuahua. All well taken care of.

BabyLover SG

Sept 4, 2005
Hot dogs

Arctic dogs are the latest pet craze, but if you can't keep them cool, don't buy them
By Sherwin Loh

To KEEP his three huskies happy, longtime dog groomer Owen Sim has three 42-inch industrial fans on at full blast 24/7. Water containers are also topped up with fresh water constantly for Dancer, 10, Wolfie, nine, and Red, eight.

ARCTIC CIRCLE: Mr Hubert Tan with Hakan, one of three huskies he owns. While a dog may be man's best friend, in the tropics, a husky's best friend is an air-conditioner set at extra-cool. -- JOYCE FANG

'When the weather gets very hot, I give them cold water and add ice to it,' says Mr Sim, 37, who runs pet grooming centre Best Friends in Telok Kurau Road.

Such cold treatment is necessary to help arctic dogs do well in Singapore's tropical climate, say their owners.

This small but growing group of pet lovers was in the spotlight recently when two arctic breeds - an Alaskan malamute and a Siberian husky - were found to be neglected by their owners.

The former, Max, died after it was deprived of food and water. Its owner, Lim Bee Leong, 30, was fined $3,000.

The latter, Wiskey, was abandoned by its owner and is now in the care of Action for Singapore Dogs, which finds new homes for abandoned dogs.

Angry dog lovers signed an online petition calling for Lim to be jailed as well. Others believe an import ban should be placed on arctic dogs which, given their double coats of fur, are ill-suited to the tropical heat.

But Mr Sim says caring for such dogs is not unlike tending to a Saint Bernard or Bernese mountain dog, which also have double coats of fur. And if such dogs can survive in temperate countries where the summers can be hotter than the weather in Singapore, he sees no reason why such pets cannot survive here.

But potential owners must do their homework before buying the pet and be prepared to care for it in a responsible way, he says.

Because of their beauty, arctic dogs are becoming popular with owners here. There are about 700 arctic dogs licensed here. A moderator from the local forum on arctic pets, Arcticpawzsg.com, notes that newspaper ads for arctic dogs have increased. The number of members at the site has also jumped from about 150 to over 200 in the last six months.

Most of these dogs are bred in Australia and are more expensive than your average breeds. Usually sold when they are three months old, a husky will cost you between $1,500 and $2,000, and a malamute or samoyed between $1,800 and $2,500. A Jack Russell, in comparison, costs from $800.

A malamute is generally bigger than a husky. It was originally bred for pulling sleds, while the husky was used in sled races. The samoyed, distinguished by its fluffy white fur, was also bred to pull sleds.

Dr Ng Siew Weng, a vet with 22 years' experience who operates Pet Care Centre and Clinic, says while arctic breeds are not suited for the local climate, they can be kept here as long as the owner takes proper care of them.

Administrative assistant Carole Poh, 33, who owns a nine-year-old samoyed, believes education is vital for those who insist on owning an arctic pet.

'A ban is unnecessary,' she says. 'As long as dog owners put in more effort to understand and train their pets, dogs of any breed can thrive in Singapore.'

[email protected]

BabyLover SG

No-sweat husky care

THE soft hum of the air-conditioner tells Hakan, Argo and Tasha that it's time for bed. Every night, their owner, Mr Hubert Tan, sets the air-conditioner at 17 deg C from 10pm to 6am for his three huskies when they turn in.

The dogs, aged three to eight, can look forward to another cool session in the afternoon, when the garment businessman leaves the air-conditioner running from 1 to 6pm, the hottest stretch of the day.

At other times, an industrial fan in his corner terrace house blows constantly to give the dogs respite from the sweltering heat.

Mr Tan, 49, says: 'They need an airy environment with lots of water. I'm kiasu. I also have two bowls of water for them to drink from. This way, they are kept cool 24 hours a day.'

When it is time for their walks, which take place only in the mornings or evenings, he takes along a bottle of ice water - but not for himself.

He sprinkles some of it on his dogs every 15 minutes, and lets them drink from the container.

'I don't wait for signs or symptoms that they are too hot.'

And if the weather is too hot, he even has a motorised treadmill for the dogs to use indoors.

These are not acts of over-indulgence but basic measures needed to care for arctic animals, he says.

In Mr Tan's case, his huskies are also show dogs which have been winning awards at local dog shows since 1999.

But their diet is no different from other dogs in that they eat Barf (short for bones and raw food).

He also uses a skin and coat conditioner to protect his pets from skin diseases, which they are prone to in humid weather.

Such lavish care naturally chalks up bigger bills, which the father of two declines to reveal. He admits that some items, like the use of the air-conditioner, are a matter of personal preference, but says others, like keeping a fan on, are a must.

Anyone who intends to keep an arctic breed as a pet should also do ample research and have a good dose of common sense, he says. 'I've seen owners take their huskies out for runs in the afternoon. That's ridiculous. Do you walk around in the sun in a fur coat?'

BabyLover SG

COLD COMFORT

Never shave your husky, malamute or samoyed if the animal is healthy. The fur acts as more than just an insulator, protecting them from insect bites and from when they scratch themselves. Without the protective covering, they are more prone to injury and sunburn.

Never leave them in a vehicle unattended. Actually, this applies to all pets and also children. The enclosed space of a vehicle traps heat, making the interior far hotter.

Keep them cool at all times. The best way is to have a fan on constantly so that the dogs can plonk themselves in front of it whenever they feel warm.

Dry them thoroughly. Just making sure that the fur is dry isn't good enough. The insides of the coats may still contain moisture, which can cause rashes or even parasites to breed. Run your fingers through the fur to feel for wet spots after bathing them.

Do not leave them out in the sun and avoid taking them for walks on hot days. Instead, take walks early in the morning or in the evenings, and always have water on hand. Huskies are beautiful animals to show off, but is this about you or the dog?

ditzy SG

Wah, the dog head bigger than the guy's body leh. Laughing

ditzy SG

If I treat my pet hunky like that, then I treat myself like what? Laughing

poon cho tang SG

darn, i dun even hv air con at home Laughing

BabyLover SG

Laughing

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