Visiting Karuna

Karuna was a very old female stray dog rescued by Chong in a dying condition. She had been bitten and attacked by a pack of wild dogs and when rescued, could not even move. We thought she was already paralysed. 


To cut a very long story short, Karuna was sent for treatment and her medical treatment and spaying was jointly sponsored from our funds and the temple where she was rescued.


Upon discharged, Karuna went back to the temple, but I felt sorry for her being so alone at the temple, so I asked my mother if she would like to foster Karuna.


Mum said ok, so Karuna went to live with my parents in Bukit Rimau.


I visited Karuna yesterday and she has put on weight. Mum says Karuna is so very well-behaved. She doesn't demand much and appears to be so grateful to have a home again (we suspect Karuna is an abandoned pet as she had already been spayed - we opened her up only to find she's been previously spayed). 


Karuna doesn't shake when Mum bathes her, but only does so away from Mum so that she won't get wet. She is also quite a guard-dog, she barks when strangers come to the gate.


Mum is happy with her and says she is really good. Karuna is still up for adoption. She is estimated to be about 12 years old. She is arthritic and has a few skin lesions, not your ideal pet, but should anyone out there like to give an old girl a home, please contact me at chankahyein@gmail.com.  

We'll get her nails cut this weekend.

Visiting Karuna

Here are some pictures taken over two trips to my mum's place:

 Hi, Karuna!

 My children and husband, meeting Karuna for the first time.

 My mum is concerned why Karuna sits this way (look at her hind legs). She cannot seem to stretch her legs out. But I think it's a small worry for such an old dog. Still, I'll ask the vets when I next see them.

 But she can sit this way, which looks more comfortable.

 There's no need for a cage because my mum would just leash her at the grille when she goes out to buy groceries, which is just for a short while.

Friends and companions to each other.

Karuna gets a walk to the park every morning or evening. She gets chicken and rice for lunch and kibbles for dinner. My parents are vegetarians, but my mum specially cooks chicken for Karuna and Karuna also gets to eat their wild rice with barley. Organic stuff....

Karuna has put on weight, too.  

Hey Karuna...see you soon!

Karuna is still up for adoption. If interested, please contact me at chankahyein@gmail.com.

Karuna has a surprise visitor

Adelyn Yap wrote to me offering to help look in on Karuna as well so that it won't be so taxing on any one person to keep checking up on her. 


So, Adelyn went a-visiting this evening, after work:


Hi Dr. Chan,

I went to temple ard 7pm just now. Did some praying and then went to the back n saw Karuna. I got her a rawhide bone and a toy. I wanted to take her for a walk but there is no one around for me to ask for permission. Perhaps it's dinner time. I changed her water (from the sink i assume) and played with her. Poor girl was literally begging me to take her for a walk! I gave her a rub on top of her head & neck and she likes it. After 20 mins, i left and she was barking non stop :( I told her i will visit her again soon, either tomorrow or the day after. That's why i m still keeping the toy n did not give it to her yet.

Regards,
Adelyn

Karuna is an old dog and she LOVES to have company.

She is currently all alone at the back of the temple. 

If you live in Subang Jaya and you are confident in handling an old dog (ie. you have no fear in you), please do visit Karuna at the Buddhist temple in SS13. Daytime visits would be good too, as the temple is open to the public. Karuna is at the back of the kitchen. Do please help to change her water bowl and give her fresh water. If you are not confident about taking her for a walk, please don't. We cannot risk having her run away (like Citta!) as the wild dogs there might attack her again and this time, it might be fatal.  

We are also helping the temple look for an adopter for Karuna. I know it's a very long shot, but let's try, shall we? 

We suspect Karuna is a former pet as she has already been previously spayed. She loves the company of humans and even the vets found her very sweet and adorable.  

She IS...an adorable "elderly lady"! 

Taking Karuna for a walk

I decided to take Karuna for a walk this morning, with the permission of the vets.  The vet's assistant told me Karuna would get all excited, but only for two reasons - walk and food.  Since she had already been fed, I decided I would take her for a walk.

 Okay, girl.  Enough of showing that sad face.  You're going for a walk.

 Here we go.  She's so happy and she's not even limping.

 The wounds are healing very well.

 She has got these lumps all over her body.  They are adenomas (benign tumours, which may become malignant later?  We won't know.)

She's curious and happy, sniffing everywhere, and walking quite fast too. 

 All dogs love various kinds of smells!

 You see all the adenomas?  They are everywhere....it's may be also due to old age.

 That's quite a big one there, underneath.

Back from three rounds up and down the corridor (the rain had just stopped and the vet didn't want the paws all wet).  Karuna pooped too and it was a very healthy colour.  

She is friendly, and allows us all to pat her.  

She can already be discharged but the fosterer or adopter would have to learn how to clean her wounds.  

I came home and rang Chong, the one who rescued her and brought her to our vet.  Chong said the temple  Exco has agreed to let Karuna stay in the temple temporarily until an adopter is found.  Well, that's good news!

But here's even better news, I just had a call from my friend, and she says she would like to consider adopting Karuna!!

Are we lucky or what?  

Pray, folks, pray.....

She's going to visit Karuna at the vet's today.......pray, folks!

(I have been praying like crazy that someone would adopt Karuna.....)

Karuna is going for walks now

Karuna is doing very well.  The vets have even been taking her for walks!

 She just has this sad look, but the vets say she is not sad.  

Karuna, you always look the same in all the photos, can we have, perhaps, a different pose today? 

 Okay...that's a different pose...thank you.

Tried as I did, she wasn't really interested much in moving around.  Maybe I always visit during nap time!  


But the vet says she walks well and is healing very well.


Karuna is up for adoption....any takers?  


Karuna was rescued last week, in a very bad state, with about 10-15 severe bite wounds all over her body and a bad wound on her front leg.  X-Rays revealed that there is no major damage; in fact, she looks good on the inside.  The vets have been cleaning her wounds every day (which is all she needs).  Karuna eats very well and she is improving every day.  She is a rather "old" dog, so finding a home would be very difficult, but we are trying.  

Updates on Karuna

Our vet is very pleased with Karuna's progress.  It isn't often that I hear such superlatives from our vet, who tends to be very down-to-earth, realistic and careful in his comments. 


But Karuna IS doing very well.


All her wounds are healing and her appetite is fantastic.


One of my friends wanted to cook chicken and eggs for Karuna, but the vet advised against this as he does not want a change of diet at this point.  It might cause diarrhoea, which we all know, is most unwelcomed.  


The vet also said that Karuna is not aggressive at all; she is friendly and even though the wound cleaning is extremely painful, Karuna is patient and does not react negatively to it.  


What a great dog....

 Hey, girl!

Karuna stands for us to see.  Clever girl!

It is unfortunate that the temple caretaker is unable to look after Karuna upon her recovery as he says the wild dogs sometimes enter the temple grounds and would attack Karuna even if she could live at the back of the kitchen.  

Gosh....we now have to look for a home for Karuna and I have NO idea who can help (at this point in time).

It's not like we took on the responsibility of taking in Karuna.  We seldom take in any animal (without a rescuer) UNLESS one of us is prepared to foster the animal.  But Karuna was dying and was brought to our panel vet.  We just couldn't say "no" as that would mean we let her die.  We had to take over and give the green light for treatment.  

Can you please help us look for a home for Karuna?  We will continue with the daily treatment until such a time when we have a better plan for her.  

Thank you.

Updates on Karuna (doing well!)

Here's Karuna, folks...

According to the vets, she is doing as well as can be expected of such an old dog and one who was brought in in this state.  


The daily cleaning of the bite wounds continues.  Karuna is still weak, but she is able to walk to a corner to poo, and the best news is that she has a great appetite!


She looks pretty sad...poor thing.  I suppose that's how an old dog feels when she has no proper home or people to love her.  The bullying and attack by the pack of strays must have been very frightening and traumatic for her, what with the possible accident too (judging from the wound on her leg).  The vets said the wound can heal (no need for amputation....phew!), but it would take a long time.  


We are now looking for an adopter for Karuna (a very long shot, I know, but it doesn't hurt to try).  The vet says she can be discharged already, but the adopter must observe how the vet does the cleaning and be confident enough to do it every day.  Otherwise, we will still board her until a better time when she heals more.  


If you have the space in your heart and your home to give an old dog a safe and loving home, please contact me at chankahyein@gmail.com.


I am still hoping the temple will agree to give her a space at the back of the kitchen to stay.


Please help to forward this link....and who knows, a miracle might happen!

Rescued dog in need of fosterer or adopter...or is it your dog?

Someone rescued this dog yesterday, from a grocery store.  Apparently, the workers were ill-treating this dog and this person stepped in.


The dog looks like a lost or abandoned pet.  It was found in a grocery store in KL.


With the help of MDDB, the person has sent the dog to their vet for an evaluation and possible treatment, if any.


The person has requested that I put the dog up for adoption.  


However, I think the dog could be lost.  


Here are the photos:  (photos removed as of 15th July 2011)