SINGAPORE — Releasing animals into the wild is a custom many Buddhists follow during Vesak Day, despite calls by many not to do so, including Singapore authorities.

So why not do the exact opposite and take them into your care — in particular, furry ones such as cats and dogs, said Dr Siew Tuck Wah, president of Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD).

The animal welfare charity located at Pasir Ris Farmway rescues and rehomes abandoned and stray dogs — and there are a lot in Singapore, said Dr Siew, a cosmetic doctor who has taken a sabbatical to concentrate on SOSD. The charity also holds community outreach programmes, including pet therapy sessions at hospitals and homes for the elderly. Proof, if you needed one, that hanging out with animals can be therapeutic.

“We pick up abandoned dogs, bail out strays that have been impounded from AVA, or takeover dogs when people can’t take care of them anymore,” said Dr Siew, who frowns upon abandonment. “It’s definitely not good, especially (for dogs that have been kept) for a long time and now do not know how to take care of themselves. You’re throwing away a life and it could die of illness, hunger, or be caught by authorities and put 
to sleep.”

At any given time, the shelter houses 80 dogs, and 50 more are with fosterers. It seems like a lot, but he said there are even bigger shelters, and we’re not even counting cats yet.

The canines in SOSD’s care are in various conditions: From healthy puppies to ones involved in road traffic accidents, “the super friendly to the very timid”. Many are mixed breeds but they do get pedigrees, too, many of which are old and sick, some are from previous owners who have had to downgrade from private properties to HDBs, where certain breeds are not allowed. They also come from all over Singapore, from Tuas to Pulau Ubin.

For the past year and a half, SOSD has rescued around 40 to 50 dogs from Jurong Island, said Dr Siew, who himself started rescuing dogs at a small scale, after reading about the mass culling of stray dogs in Punggol following an attack on a jogger in 2011. He formally joined SOSD the following year and is now leading the team.

So how can one chip in? There are many ways, he said, from adopting or fostering a dog, or even signing up as a walker. SOSD has dog-walking activities four to five times a week, where volunteers come down in the mornings. One has to go through orientation and dog-handling courses first, and ensure he or she is vaccinated, too.

One can also donate to the cause or support Pet Guru, SOSD’s online pet store that helps fund the charity, which, like most animal shelter spaces here, live on a “year-to-year” basis, with the issue of landlease a bugbear. Else, one can simply share updates from SOSD’s Facebook page. “It’s very easy and doesn’t take a lot of time, but it spreads the word,” said Dr Siew.

WHERE TO SPOT SOSD

Save Our Street Dogs will be having an adoption drive on Sunday, May 22, 1pm to 5pm, at The Tea Party Cafe (Biopolis), 1 Biopolis Dr, #01-05 Amnios, Singapore 138622. SOSD’s Rehabilitation Centre is located at 22 Pasir Ris Farmway 2, Swift Singapore Block C, Unit 13/14. For more info on SOSD’s activities and how you can help, visit http://sosd.org.sg/ or https://www.facebook.com/SOSDSingapore/