Singapore 1st Guide Dog
This is SO exciting. Read today's chinese newspaper and there's an article on Singapore's first guide dog for the visually impaired. Kendra the Labordor.
Ever since studying occupational therapy, and with my interest for dogs, this had been one of the things that i wished would happen in Singapore. Even though, currently we don't have any centres that can help train dogs to become guide dogs, having Kendra is a very good first step. However, before we can have more guide dogs coming in, it is important to raise public awareness and for public places to be accessible for the guide dogs. Otherwise what's the use of having guide dogs when the visually impaired person can't go to so many places, or when people shunning/complaining about guide dogs.
Isn't it a good idea to have guide dogs? Like the article I found over the internet, for female handlers, it will be safer for them to be independece than rely on strangers (whom may be dangerous. Of course not all of them are, but whytake the risk?) And with the help of the guide dogs, the people with visual impairment will be like having another pair of eyes to help them look out for danger, thereby easing thier mobilty around the community.
Not sure if you have watched the movie Quill. The movie shows the strict training that a dog has to undergo before passing as a guide dog. Not only the dog has to work hard, so does the person who is going to work with the guide dog. The person has to learn the basic command, how to live with the dog (i.e. washing the dog, clear the poo, feed the dog etc). Both dog and human have to go through "obstacle courses" that depict real life situation. And the most important word here is "TRUST". Yup, there must be trust between both of them. The dog hand his life to the human and the human hand his life to the dog as well. The human animal bond here is STRONG.
Just a little reminder: I read from somewhere that when guide dogs are on their leash, try not to disturb them, unless you have the permission from the owner. The dog is on duty (and it's a serious job that they are holding) so even if you try to go "here doggy doggy" I think it will just ignore you. Hahaha.
Ding dong! if you are interested to know, other than guide dogs that help to guide people with visual impairments, there also are other Service Dogs that help people with other form of disabilities. Such as people with seizures, people on wheelchairs, people with hearing impairment etc. The service dogs are there to help increase the independence of people with disabilities in verious aspect of their life. :)

McMug's photos. Hee hee... please let me know if you want to use the photo(s). Thank you :)

Red Eye
Yesterday noticed McMug's left eye was red and was tearing quite a lot. A lot of dried tear stain. It had been like this on and off for quite some time and yesterday the eye seemed very red. So decided to bring him to the vet today.
He seems to know that we are bringing him to the vet as he appeared very anxious on the way to the vet. He just whined and placed his head down between my knee when he lie on my lap. And when it was he turn to go into the vet room, we had to carry him in. Sigh.
Anyway, the vet dropped a few drops of eye dye into both his eyes and yup, it showed that he got a minor cut in his left eye. Fortunately it's nothing big. Poor little fellow, it must be irritating to his eye. So we paid and got two cream for his eye.
Something however is nice to hear. The vet commented that Mug was very fit. Hee hee. That's something about him that we are proud of. He is trim and fit. Hohohoho... he has got good life. Yeah... no doubt about that. But he really need to get rid of his bad habit of snapping( yah, I think the word is snap, he don't bite people) at people when he got irritated. Hmph. Hard to teach him, but we just got to try.

Dog Show

Today went S'pore Expo for lunch with dad, mum and uncle. And suprisingly, there's a dog show organised by Singapore Kennel Club. Heh heh, what a coincident (but too bad McMug was not with us). We saw dog of different sizes, breeds and temperment. Hahaha... Saw a St Bernard for the first time in my life, I mean a real life one. Whooohooo... really BIG! And of course from the dogs that turn up, one will know what is the hot favourite dog in Singapore. For medium, small size dog, the latest trend is Snauzer, and for big dogs will be golden retriever and husky/malamute (oh well, I still can't differentiate between these two breed).
And erm... frankly speaking, some dogs really had good life. How would I know? Hey, just look at their body shapes! I must say, some of them really need some trim and fit programmes. And just look at the variety of dog food/accessories/grooming products on sale! Yup, I won't miss the chance to do some shopping for McMug. Miss place his nail clipper so got him a new one. His old and tattered "mini-squeeky soccer ball" was thrown away few months ago, so we bought him a new one too. (He was playing with it once I gave it to him. He looked so cute when he chases after the rolling ball)
Oh, and there are all these championship going on. Best breed and most obedient blah blah... While we watched the border collie following all the commands given by his (or is it a her?) owner, I told my dad "McMug can never do that... hahaha" What for anyway, some command are not so "functional" for a pet daily life. Not like McMug is a guard dog you know. As long as he can follow simple "sit", "down" and "no" (this command usually given when he tries to eat litter he found when he goes for a walk) that should be good enough.
Oh, and we met our neighbour with his Snauzers. He entered them for the best breed I think. Sadly, they didn't won anything today. Nevertheless, I think his dogs are still very fine dogs. Not that I know how to judge, but they are cute and friendly!
I hope the next time I can bring McMug to a dog show too. Not to enter competition, but to join in the fun. Perhaps he can sign him up for the "Just for fun" category competition. That would be nice too. My uncle said soemthinfg with much truth: All owners out there thinks their dog is the best.
And yes, I totally agree. To my family, McMug is the best. Hee hee...