All lives are equal, even that of a dog’s. “This dog was just like a daughter to the owner. When Brother David Liu made a trip personally to access the situation, he felt that we should treat the dog as part of the family like it already is. Hence, if the owners are unable to bring it to the vet due to financial reasons, we have every obligation to do so.” – Tzu Chi’s Southeast Home Visit Volunteer Goh Eng Eng

30th November, Gigi and the volunteers, together with Mrs. Peng, visited the clinic for the very firstt time. Gigi was dragging a 2.2kg tumor and the sight is heart-wrenching.

Dr Sheng alleged that Gigi has cancer and the only cure is surgery to remove the tumour.

Even with the stench that Gigi is emitting, Brother Mok carried it fearlessly and cautiously as they headed to the veterinary clinic at Toa Payoh. Gigi looks so much better after the removal of the tumor! Dr Sheng is putting on its dog mask. 12th December-The joyous day of discharge from the hospital for Gigi. Southeast home visit volunteers brought Gigi home and according to Dr Sheng, under proper care, Gigi is expected to live for another 4-5 years.

With his comfortable level of stable income, 42 year old Mr. Peng used to lead a glamorous and well-to-do lifestyle. Nevertheless, his life took on a drastic change for the worst, when he contracted AIDS. Because of the wound on his leg, he was limping horribly; his eyesight was also affected as a result. Hence whenever he walked, tripping and falling was just inevitable. Being in no position to work at all, the burden of breadwinner then fell inexorably and heavily on Mrs. Peng’s shoulders, even with her meager salary of $1000. To make things worst, the wound on his leg was emitting a putrid odor due to further infection, and it never showed any improvements. For the past 1 year since, Mr. Peng has been thrown into a constant state of guilt and depression. 

Since the beginning of last year, this case was passed on to Tzu Chi Foundation by the Singapore Communicable Disease Centre, and since then, Tzu Chi has been providing him monthly medical subsidies without fail. However, every time the volunteers visit his home, apart from the stench as a result of Mr. Peng’s wound, they cannot help but also notice his thin black dog, which fur has unfortunately, lost all its shine. Beneath its body, it was dragging a huge 15cm by 2cm tumor, and this has left sticky blood trails on the floor, around the house. As we can imagine, the hygiene condition in the house was appalling. According to Mr. Peng, the dog was suffering from the tumor for almost 3 years now, but due to financial reasons, they were unable to bring him to the vet and can only watch helplessly as the tumor grew bigger by the day as it struggled to survive.

After several visits, the volunteers realized Mr. Peng’s wound was still not showing any signs of recovery and they attributed that to the poor hygienic condition in the house. They decided to ask Brother David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, to make a trip personally to further access the situation. Brother Liu empathizes with Mr. Peng and his dog. In Buddhism, all beings are to be treated equal, and like its human counterpart, should a dog fall sick, it should also be given apposite treatment. Thus, after the visit, it was decided that the dog be brought to the vet immediately and the cleansing of Mr. Peng’s wound will be taken care of by TIMA nurses.

A visit to the vet

On 30th November, Southeast Home Visit Volunteer, Sister Goh Eng Eng, together with Sister Ng Yean Shin, Brother Mok Peng San and his wife, Sister Seow Beng Lan, visited Mr. Peng at his house. As Brother Mok and Sister Seow have 3 dogs at home, they can also better understand dogs’ habits, hence making communication with the dog easier. 

Its name was Gigi, 8 years old for a dog. By some coincidence, it was discovered by Mr. Peng beside the lift 8 years ago and the dog had followed him home faithfully and simply refused to leave no matter what.  As a result, Mr. Peng decided to adopt it for good. For the past 8 years, Gigi has been a most wonderful companion to Mdm. Peng (Mr. Peng’s adopted mother). The whole family loves Gigi but according to Mrs. Peng, Gigi never left the house, so was afraid of strangers. Thus, to ease its anxiety, Sister Eng Eng requested Mrs. Peng to accompany Gigi to the clinic together.

Sister Seow specially took leave just to bring Gigi to the vet today. Together with Brother Mok, in their soft soothing tones, they manage to ease Gigi’s apprehension. Astoundingly, Gigi seemed to understand that the Tzu Chi people are here to help and despite being afraid of strangers, it did not struggle much. With the companion of Mrs. Peng and the volunteers, Gigi made a trip to a vet clinic at Toa Payoh.

Dr Sheng, the vet, has been expecting Gigi and was waiting for it at the door when it arrived. He diagnosed that Gigi has breast cancer and concluded that the only cure is through surgery to remove the tumor. They took Gigi’s temperature and realized it was running a high fever. There is also a high likelihood that the cancerous cells might have spread to other parts of the body. After a thorough checkup, Dr Sheng discovered that Gigi’s heart and lungs are malfunctioning and this will make the operation extremely risky. He then gave Gigi some antibiotics and suggested to wait till the fever has subsided before proceeding with the operation. Also, prior to the operation, they felt they ought to consult Mdm. Peng’s opinion as Gigi was the world to her. Tzu Chi volunteers agreed and brought Gigi home.  

On 10th December, after a week of resting, the volunteers came to bring Gigi back to the clinic. Gigi was even thinner than before and the situation certainly does not look promising. Mr Peng added that Gigi has been having poor appetite for the past few days, and it looked troubled, almost as if it knows what is coming. Gently and softly, Sister Seow then told Gigi, everything will be fine after the operation and it will undoubtedly feel much better. Gigi also seemed to understand her.

At the clinic, upon taking its temperature, Dr Sheng realized that Gigi’s fever has not subsided and the situation definitely does not bode well for an operation as the success rate will be no higher than 30%. Tzu Chi volunteers sought Mr Peng’s opinion. It was terribly heart wrenching for him to see poor Gigi suffer any longer, and he almost decided to let Dr Sheng perform euthanasia.

However, Dr Sheng suggested putting Gigi on drip and giving it antibiotics before performing the operation the following day. Hence, Gigi was to stay in the clinic for a day.

Compassion for all beings

The operation took place at 11am the following morning. Tzu Chi volunteers went to visit in the afternoon. With the tumour successfully removed, Gigi looked so much better and at ease. When it saw Mr. Peng and Tzu Chi volunteers, it was wagging its tail gleefully to welcome. Mr. Peng then carried it out cautiously and it was tearing as it leapt into his master’s arms!

Dr Sheng’s assistant congratulated Mr. Peng on Gigi’s fast-recovering health and appetite. With a loving stroke and tears in his eyes, Mr. Peng looked at Gigi and told Tzu Chi volunteers gratefully, “Having lived with Gigi for so long, I am beyond words when I see her cured of suffering. You have not only helped me, but also my pet, where in the world can I find another such organization?”

Dr Sheng added that, due to the huge size of the tumor, Gigi has lost much blood during the operation and the scar was also rather deep. Hence, he suggested leaving Gigi at the clinic for another day for further observation. In order to prevent Gigi from licking his wound unnecessarily, Brother Mok also specially bought it a dog mask. 

On the 12th, Gigi was finally discharged from the clinic and the Southeast home visit volunteers, together with Mr. Peng, joyously brought Gigi home. After a night’s rest at the clinic, Gigi was even more active than before and according to people who have been taking care of Gigi, its appetite has recovered fully and was eating well. Dr Sheng also gave it some antibiotics and nutritious dog food, so as to speed up its recovery. Even Dr Sheng was astonished by Gigi’s amazing recovery rate.

“Even the owner almost wanted to put it to (a painless) death, but you never gave up hope and persevered. Your compassion extends beyond human to even animals. How you truly cherish each and every life is a reflection of compassion taught in Buddhism.” Dr Sheng told the Tzu Chi volunteers. He also added, fortunately the cancerous cells have not spread and now that the operation is over, if Gigi is well taken care of, it should live healthily for another 4-5 years.

A TIMA nurse, Sister Zhou Lai Hao, who has been cleaning Mr. Peng’s wounds all this while, also said gratefully, “Looking at how Tzu Chi volunteers not only help human, but even extend their helping hand wholeheartedly to a sick dog, has truly touched me.”

In Buddhism, all lives are equal, and it does not make the distinction between human, animals or others. A dog wish for none other than its master to provide stability and love and we have every reason to believe that Tzu Chi volunteers have helped to fulfill this dog’s wish in a most unique and desired way.