How Zealous are you as a Dog Activist?

Every time I’m about to dwell on the topic of dog activist, friends always assume I’m about to stage a public demonstration to prove my point. I don’t know what exactly in our discussion conveys that notion despite my calm and collect disposition, I think. =)

In my opinion, I believe every dog lover is a dog activist in their own way. Some are just more vocal and proactive than others, while many of us will never fail to report our neighbors to the authorities if we suspect our canine friends are being neglected or abused.

Here is a recent local newspaper clipping I found very amusing. Unlike many other depressing dog news, this one has a funny twist to it and there are lessons to be learned.

Cops break gate to check on dogs’ well-being

News clipping

A dog owner was furious when police, alerted by neighbours to dogs left unattended in his bungalow, cut the gate lock and entered his garden to ensure there was no foul play.

The incident happened last Saturday at the Tanjong Katong home of Mr. Rustam Angkasa, 49, an Indonesian businessman.

They also called the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to ensure the six Siberian huskies inside were not being neglected.

The dogs were fine. In fact, they were being kept cool inside the air-conditioned house.

No one was home at the time, so the police officers stuck a note on the main door, apologising for the broken gate and asking the owner to contact them, but Mr. Angkasa was less than pleased.

Said the businessman, who is also a permanent resident: “How can they cut the lock of my house without my permission? It’s not like they do no have my mobile number.”

Two weeks before this incident, police had visited the bungalow after neighbours reported that they saw a man climbing over the gate.

The man turned out to be Mr. Angkasa.

Said Mr. Angkasa: “That’s because when I open my gate to go in, my dogs will run out. Each costs S$3,000 and they are also very dear to me.”

It turned out that he had moved into the house one month ago, after he fell out with his wife over the dogs.

Source by The Straits Times, Reported by Tanya Fong

It is very thoughtful of Mr. Angkasa to facilitate his Siberian huskies living condition since Singapore is a tropical climate country; however his dogs are no better off than those living in the wildness.

It seems to me that Mr. Angkasa is barely at home most of the time; hence there is very little human interaction. Dogs are social creatures, and as pets, we dog owners have responsibility to care for their overall well being so as they won’t be a hindrance to our daily lives and surrounding people.