| 1219Singapore
cross bred puppy with Ascarid roundworms, pet health and welfare educational for animal lovers,
from Asiahomes
Internet Tips For Animal Lovers, sponsored by AsiaHomes Internet.
Last Updated: 22 October, 2002 The orphan puppy nearly got mortar-bombed "This puppy 'loud-sai' (passing loose stools)," Officer Cadet Ken said in Hokkien, a Chinese dialect of the baby boomer generation. "I can't just leave it alone to die or to be stepped on by soldiers." He found this woolly brown cross-bred puppy inside the last of the few bushes of mortar-bombed and soldier-trampled Peng Kang Hill which was used for military exercises. We were at the foot of the Peng Kang Hill, preparing for assault on the enemy position somewhere up the hill. A heavy back pack and overcome by extreme weariness after forty-hours of trekking from Changi Point to Jurong. It was pitch dark at 4 a.m. No stars in the black sky. No clouds. I wondered how the Platoon Commander could find the correct location to charge up to. Well, he must have had made a reconnaissance. We would just follow commands blindly. Dew settled on our faces and started to rust the barrel of our M16 rifles. That would be the inevitable need to clean up the rust inside the barrel after every exercise. We had to oil the barrel to prevent rust. We were eighteen years old but we were now soldiers. The night breezes chilled us and the sky was angry with streaks of lightning. We felt vulnerable as lightning strikes do happen in open spaces but soldiers on exercise do not look for cover from the element. This would be the last test before passing out parade for officer cadets. The troops were assembled. My Section Leader had counted that eight of us had reached our meeting point. Mortar bombs flashed their red light as they exploded on the opposite ridge. An assault troop was throwing grenades into the bunker of the enemy. Well, not real enemies as this was a military exercise. "Fix bayonets," the Sergeant commanded. My section charged in to clean up the bombed out enemies. "The Platoon Commander will not be pleased with you straying from your objectives of the military exercise," I said. "In any case, where would you put the puppy when you have to hold your rifle to charge up the hill?" To every problem, there was a solution for OCT Ken. He threw away the poncho, the rectangular aluminum can and dry food rations inside his back pack. He could not leave the stray puppy to die as there might be a flood when the thunderstorm broke. The puppy's mother must have been frightened off or had been shot by the government dog catchers as Singapore developed into an urban jungle. In any case, this puppy was around five weeks old and would die on his own. Ken smuggled the puppy inside amongst his green T-shirt and was ready for the military exercise. It was hard to imagine unless you were present when I said that the pitch darkness blinded us. We could not even the person in front as we charged up the hill following the person in front. One soldier stumbled as he stepped into a hole and those behind fell like dominos. Ken was nimble and he did not fall. H's puppy was safe as he held onto the back pack. We managed to reach the top of the hill. We fired blank bullets at invisible enemies on the left side. The crackling sound did not sound like the real thing but we were too tired to care as we finally reached our spot to rest. The Platoon Commander ordered an inspection of the back pack at the end of the exercise. The soldiers had to display every item in the back pack on the grass on the denuded hill slope. What would Ken do now? Would he be disciplined since he did not have an incomplete set? "Puppy for inspection, Sir!" Ken said loudly as he stood at attention with hands behind his back and two feet at ninety degrees to each other, when the Platoon Commander came to inspect his depleted back pack. Fortunately for Ken, he was not penalised with extra duties during his off-days.  The infantry camp was no place for the puppy. It was sent to the Dog Unit, treated
for worms and vaccinated by the Army veterinarian. PICTURES OF A TYPICAL PUPPY WITH INTERNAL WORMS
Ken left the Army and became a dog person. More precisely, a groomer, pet transport and
boarding person. He was known as Groomer Ken to those who used his services. The last I heard from him was that he wanted to set up the
best pet
crematorium in Singapore for pet lovers who want to keep the ashes of their
pet. Would he be able to change the mindset of an established
bureaucracy with his original idea? |
