28. "The government wants all dogs neutered"

"Now the Government wants all dogs neutered or dog owners will get fined," Mrs Lim commented when she brought her Shetland Cross for the 6th booster vaccination. She had received a vaccination reminder card. This Shetland Cross had a luxurious coat, tricolour with black dominating. He looked very handsome and so much like a "miniature" Shetland rarely found in Singapore.

"No," I interpeted the December 2005 regulations to her. "The AVA (Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority) has introduced a new regulation. It has increased the dog licensing fees for intact male dogs to around $70 per year, on par with the female dogs. Previously, the fees were around $20.00 for male dogs, neutered or not."

Many owners are reluctant to neuter dogs nowadays. The AVA had its 2nd yearly education and exhibition at Ngee Ann City in downtown Orchard Road to promote neutering as a means to reduce the stray dog and cat population. Concomitant with this exhibition was the announcement of the new regulation.

So, would she neuter her male dog to save $50 per year in licensing fees?
Was her dog licensed? A penalty of $500 fine would be imposed if an owner is caught with an unlicensed dog. I did not ask her.

Mrs Lim said, "Please check the big lump on the groin, near the right thigh." It was a swelling of around 2 cm x 2 cm. I pressed the hard lump. The dog whined and turned to bite me.

"Do not worry," Mrs Lim said. "My dog does not bite."

What could this lump be? A tumour or an infection?

"Did your dog jump onto people's legs or mount objects like cushions?" I asked.

"Sometimes. He likes to jump down from the sofa set."

I told Mr Lim to let me know if the lump becomes smaller in size after a course of antibiotics 2 weeks later. It was hard to know whether it was a tumour or an infected blood clot. There were no signs of lameness or pain according to Mrs Lim.