FREE MIKEY THE TETHERED DOG!

Once upon a a time, maybe 4, 5 years ago, there lived a family of 3. A husband,his wife and a grown up a son. They lived in a semi detached house with a huge compound that was tiled up except for a little patch of grass that measured 5 by 6 feet. at 22, Jalan Pergam 488298. There was a burglary recently in their neighbourhood and pot bellied disgusting looking Mr X ( the husband) became worried. There was a big mango tree situated at the front of his house next to his gate. He thought hard about how to deter burglars from coming into his house because the area at the mango tree was rather dark and anyone could just climb into his house unnoticed.

Hmm.....hmm....hmm.... this INCORRIGIBLE man thought,...I know he said! I shall go get myself a dog and tie it next to the tree, viola! That would surely deter robbers from climbing into my house! Smart little me, he thought to himself. Well, of course we all know that there are electronic gadgets ( CCTV) that can fulfil this purpose, Mr X did not care, he was very determined to get himself a street dog.

Mr X managed to get himself a young dog, from where, none of us know. Perhaps he got it from a shelter, a factory, SPCA, hmm... the options are endless.

Mikey thought he was being rescued (from where ever he came from), when he got out of Mr X's truck, he smiled, wagged his tail and hung his tongue out. Wow! Finally I am home he thought happily. But alas!!,, poor poor Mikey, was pulled straight to a pole and cling cling cluck clasp he heard. He was chained to a pole! He couldn't run away, in fact he couldn't walk more than 4 feet from where he was tied to..Mikey thought "what has happened to me?!" He barked frantically barking for help, "what Sir have you done to me, why am I chained up, I cannot move, help!" Mikey barked and barked...............and Mr X shouted at him to SHUT UP! Mikey barked till he became tired and laid down to rest.

Mikey was noticed by many residents in the neighbourhood but no one cared enough till a few concerned dog owners came knocking at Mr X's door. They asked him why Mikey was chained up. Mr X reply was Mikey liked to dig the grass, but one outspoken dog lover told him that Mikey could be trained and that the dog need not be chained up perpetually. He said , :Ahhh, whatever it is, it's ok.That dog is used to it." AND HE WALKED AWAY LEAVING the dog owners standing at his gate speechless and nonetheless worried as hell for Mikey.

Soon after, one of the concerned dog owners came back undeterred now with her own sister and 2 poly students. Their mission was to speak with Mr X and offer to walk Mikey, hoping that in time to "educate" and change Mr X's mind. The response to the volunteers was HOSTILE! The wife was unhappy that the volunteers came to her house and said, ' Go away, what do you people want? The dog goes out to walk, go away or I'll call the police!"

Feeling frustrated and helpless the volunteers left.. there was no other way to help Mikey but to report his situation to the authorities.

Mikey named by me, is tied to the same pole after 2 long years. Emails have been sent to AVA 3 times, and each time it is the same kind of reply albeit from different people. Emails were sent recently to Ministers Tan Chuan Jin, Desmond Lee, Mr K Shanmugam and MP Yeo Guat Kwong ( responsible for heading the Animal Welfare Review Legislation), not one of these ministers who have previously joined in activities organised by ACRES and graced adoption drives with their presence uttered a single comment about Mikey's RIGHTS.

Would Mikey if he could speak our language tell us whether he would prefer to be chained up or roam freely in the compound? How long more does he have to be tied to a pole? No Minister will stand up for Mikey, it"s obvious that Mikey will be chained up till the day he dies.

True progress in animal welfare cannot and will not begin if the government doesn't ban these kind of practices. True progress in animal welfare will not begin if we can't even treat our house dogs (+ cats )with some decency. True progress in animal welfare will never happen if we don't STAND UP UNITED AND SAY NO to ANIMAL CRUELTY.