Ace Ventura In Singapore: Man With More Pets Than One Could Imagine

Community Feature - Mr Wong Kah Fai isn't a Pet Detective per se, he is an avid animal lover. Proof? Evident from the number of different Pets he has! "I loved animals from a young age. However not having a place of my own had it's complications. It all started after I got my own apartment." This penchant for owning different types of Pets had humble beginnings— two love birds, and a Cat. 

Dot, one of Mr Wong's many Chinchillas

Having signed-on with the Singapore Navy for 10 years, Mr Wong did not have the luxury of indulging in his love for animals before; he was aware he would not be available to provide enough attention or care for them. A change of job brought about the ultimate opportunity for Mr Wong— his family of Pets expanded. His current home houses a Dog (Tiramisu), a Cat (Happy), a Rabbit (Ashee), a Guinea Pig (Oreo), a Macaw (Zazoo), and four Chinchillas (Dot, Ken, Tin and Mickey). And if that isn't quite the collection for you, there’s also an aquarium full of vividly red Parrot fishes and an Arowana.

He Has The Most Participating Pets At Events

It may be expected that such enthusiasm for animals may well be a nightmare for someone else (at the thought of all the responsibility), but Mr Wong takes great pride in ownership of all his furry, feathered and finned companions. 

Happy the Cat, but she responds better to "Mei Mei"

We made our acquaintances during Pets Carnival @ Kallang Trivista, 2017. In case you were wondering, it isn't tough to spot this regular Pet event goer—  Mr Wong can be seen pushing around a Pet pram to fit his Dog, Cat, Rabbit, Guinea Pigs and even crafted the handle into a roped perch for his Macaw. 

We Visit His Home

The best and most uncanny observation we made was how all his Pets could get along with one another. Just how does one manage to achieve that harmonious behaviour? We were well aware that animals of various species may not get along well with one another, and at times, hostility to their own kind is inevitable too. To answer just that, Mr Wong graciously invited us to his home for an exclusive meet-and-greet with his Pets during their weekly play time. This weekly activity does not just serve the lone purpose of letting his Pets mingle, it is also an opportunity for him to spend more time with them.

Hi Ashee!

 Prior to that, the intricate process of introducing them to each other isn't as inhumane as one might expect. When asked, Mr Wong said:

"You'd have to take note of the different personalities breeds have, I avoid having breeds that are more inclined to hunt. Also, I do not force them to mingle right away, you have to get them used to each other's scents. My scent included too!" - he added with a laugh.

But it was no joke, he painstakingly swapped around fleece or towels to-and-fro individual Pets' homes before giving them a wash. A repeated process which he picked up off from how people in other countries reared pet Sugar Gliders.

"Have you heard of Sugar Gliders? This is one way of getting them used to each other, a method I read up on before obtaining my Pets."

Try to spot the all-white Cat underneath the fan

This of course, requires copious habitual routines incorporated into his daily life. Thereafter, he would slowly introduce the Pets to each other individually, not forgetting close supervision during which— a point he stresses deeply. Mr Wong admits that he may not be an expert on animal behaviour, however, through experience and successfully bringing about the harmonious relationship between his various Pets, we couldn’t but accept the fact that he’s done a pretty good job with his own companions.

Sharing Equal Love For All His Pets 

The compelling love this man has for his Pets is evident from the countless amounts of photographs and videos he shared with us while we were at his place— Some Pets that have already passed on, footages of their funny antics caught at the right moments, even those that dated as early as when he first obtained them. Each of which still brings a smile to his face.  

Are you looking at me?

“I’ve had a Corgi that passed recently, and it wasn’t due to negligence, all of my Pets that have passed on had complications due to old age. They’ve lived a long lifespan before leaving me.” – said Mr Wong with a slight nostalgia in his expression.

Responsibilities That Come With

With a myriad of Pets under his care, the immense amount of responsibility in keeping the home clean for his Pets is inevitable. Truth be told, Mr Wong takes a vacuum through his home all the time, and everyday if possible.  

Oreo chilling in a Pet-bed

"Sometimes I have just vacuumed, and minutes later i find clusters of hair or fur drifting along the floors again. It's never ending, but there's no choice..."

Sending each Pet to the groomers would surmount to a costly sum as one might expect, so instead, Mr Wong attends Basic Grooming courses to maintain his companions' hygiene.

The Experience?

What the team took away from this trip was an experience quite unlike any other; if you were ever invited to Mr Wong's place, you can expect: 

It was tough to get everyone to stay still for a shot

The very sweet and affectionate Doggo Tiramisu greeting you for pats at every chance she gets, kitty Happy enjoying peacefulness in a corner, Zazoo the Macaw squawking and flaunting his wing span, perched atop a cat condo. Bunny Ashee and Guinea Pig Oreo having fun in the play-tunnels (appearing once in awhile to give you a little sniff), and a curious, scuttling army of four Chinchillas, Dot, Ken, Tin and Mickey, so fast— we'd dare you to try and tell a couple of them apart in just one day!

And as for Mr Wong himself, he's an open minded man with enough experience and knowledge to share with you— if you're keen ☺ Thank you for having us over, Mr Wong!

You might also be interested in these:

Ten Useful Hacks For Every Dog Owner

Rabbit Life Hacks: Ten Most Useful And Easy Life Hacks

Guinea Pig Life Hacks: Eight Useful Tips For Every Cavy Owner

Ten Useful Hacks For Every Cat Owner

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Disclaimer

This article was written with informational purposes, as you know, we’d love to share our collective research and experiences as fellow Pet owners and lovers. It is not meant to alternate in any way as advice or diagnosis of Professionals. 

ThePetsDialogue claims no credit for images posted on this article unless otherwise stated. All rights go to respective owners as stated. If you do not wish for your image(s) to appear here do drop us an e-mail and it will be removed promptly. If you do wish to use any of our original published information, you are welcome to contact us! 

WoofAThon 2017 At Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park

Last weekend on 8^th July we a Pet event hosted in the park with a whole load of Doggy owners and their canine companions. This was an event hosted by the Singapore Heart Foundation, with the main attempt to set the record for longest Dog walk line, in the very green and spacious Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Did we mention this was our first time at a walk-a-thon for Doggies? ☺

Happy Red Hearts all over, can you spot them?

What Was Expected

Dogs, dogs, and more Doggies of course, but before you start wondering why is it just for Dogs, well because we walk our Doggos every day! And this event aims to prove you just how your health can benefit just from a simple walk with your Pooches. And if you have a Cat that doesn’t mind walking on a leash, by all means, you should be hopping on the bandwagon to a healthier lifestyle too!

Event overview

We were expecting just a gathering of fellow Pet owners and their canine pals, all geared up and ready for a walk, with maybe an area with food and drinks to rest and hydrate (like some sort of sports event?) But event highlights included a meet-n-greet session with Ceasar Milan’s Recruit Asia S1 semi-finalist Stephanie Keong, Fashion Parade, and Photo Booth. Pre-registration for the 2 Km Walk also entitles you a slot for the Basic Obedience Class with Stephanie.

What We Saw

This event was smacked right in the middle of Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park (Ficus Green, where the Dog Park, Cafes and McDonald’s is) and we decided to get an overview snap of the beautiful greenery and event buzz. As soon as we approached the venue we greeted with the booming voices of Mcees, laughter and chatter of people, woofs and barks, music, and strayed helium balloons (of iconic red hearts) ☺

You know there's an event when you see these guys

 Mandatory Booths

Please pardon the header, we refer to them as mandatory booths as it just wouldn’t be a Pet event without these guys. Lined up in an L-shape manner were booths with sale of products and accessories (NekoJam), gourmet Pet food (Wholesome Paws).

A Bird's Eye view of the event

Participation of Animal Shelter (Causes For Animals), Vet for Basic health screening (The Animal Doctors), Canine First Response (Dog First Aid) booth, and oh, there was also a Photobooth (Tiny Photo Singapore) for the Folks to grab a quick snap with their Doggos! Most importantly, this was a chance for event goers to set a record of “Longest Dog Walk Line” into the Singapore Book of World Records!

Get Active With Dogs and Kids

With a huge event space as such, organisers have thoughtfully included a Bouncy Castle (second one we’ve seen thus far, the other at One Furry Fiesta). Fun and games also included Bubble Soccer, and a dash of nostalgia with old school delights such as Five Stones and Jenga, both interestingly SUPERSIZED!

Kid's Fun corner

In case you have been wondering how an event organised by the Singapore Heart Foundation has got to do with our Furkids, well we've got good news! Because you may have been missing out on the health benefits your Doggo has been helping you with, just walking by your side every day! The open field was littered with informational displays to educate peeps too ☺

Arrrr! Protect the treasure chest!

How Does Walking My Dog Benefit Me?

Research and studies have shown that participation in daily responsibilities of Pet ownership can actually encourage you in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. How so? Well for starters your Pooch requires walking daily, for a little outdoor time, light exercise and even playtime. This "enforces" an average stay-home person with minimal or zero exercising habits to get off their butts and take a stroll ☺

Goodie Bag Lineup!

As you accompany your furry companion, you are actually benefiting yourself too, these health perks include:

Lower levels of cholesterol

Reduces chances of Heart Disease

Better body and mental health

There’s more than that too, check out some other ways Pets can benefit you, right here!

Who could resist some fries after an event?

Was It Worth The Trip?

You get some fun and games, set a record, entertain your family and best part of all, find out how much your Furry companion is shaping you into a healthier human. Why not?! While the weather seemed sunny at first but soon it started drizzling, that did little to deter the event buzz. Turns out the 2 km walk was still on and we couldn’t be happier.

We got a good short footage of the walk-a-thon, here’s a snippet of these eager Doggos, walking alongside with their Pawrents to make it to the record books! All in all, it was a muddy but pawsome day ☺

Angie Png - Face behind Angie's Pets

The Face of Angie’s Pets

As a Pet owner, perhaps the only time you’d ever get to see the groomer is naturally the time your Pets are getting a little too scruffy. Human nature brings about curiosity in not just how your favourite groomer handles your Pets, because the amount of trust a pet owner places in a Groomer or Veterinarian goes way beyond skills, you’d often want to find out more about them, as that pretty much sums up their character and personality.

Just how well do you know your Pet groomer?

  

Angie and two of her many Pets

Who Is Angie Png

Having spent two eye-opening days with Angie’s Pets, we not only got a sneak peek into the works of a mobile Rabbit groomer for an honest review, we forged a friendship and better understanding of the face behind the business, Angie Png. The business probably requires no further introduction, but we grew intrigued by her background, and how her popularity as a Rabbit Groomer flourished.

Angie at work 

  

“I didn’t have any pets while growing up, only when I was in my 30s I got my first pet, and it was a Dog.”

- Angie

Why is her story share-worthy you ask? Isn’t it intriguing that a professional like her had no background with regards to animals, and in fact does such a good job now? Well folks, that is exactly what we’re about to find out.

Does She Truly Love Animals?

We asked Angie what sparked her interest in animals, having grown up with no pets at a young age, and previous jobs in countless of industries. All except Pets. Her grooming skills were self-taught, by grooming her own bunnies and constant research. 

 “Like most kids, I’ve always wanted a Pet of my own, but my mom was a little against it. I brought home a Dog and convinced my mom that I was gonna support it, with the job I just landed.”

- Angie, on her very first pet whom passed on. She carries around a plush keychain of that very Schnauzer. Have you seen it before ☺ ?

And that did not stop there, as of now, Angie has 4 Dogs, 5 Cats aside from Rabbits and Guinea Pigs. Quite frankly, her home is almost like a barn with a smorgasbord of animals. Let’s not forget to mention, that shelter volunteers often drop by just to help out and bring the Dogs for a walk. Why so? Simply because, most of Angie’s own pets are adopted and rescued. We later found out that almost every single pet has existing health issues, such as cancer. Because of these issues, they were left abandoned or unwanted before Angie took them home.

Angie & partner Tia, with their pet Dogs.

“I feel the need of providing these animals with a safe place they can call home, and feel a sense of belonging before they pass on, in peace”

- Angie, on her home as a sanctuary for unwanted pets

Why Is She Doing So Much?

The impending question everyone eventually asks themselves about a Pet service is whether they truly love animals, or is this just strictly monetary. Angie was very frank with the fact that her business is indeed her rice bowl, but most of the money goes to healthcare needs for her Pets. And as we all know, Vet bills can be extremely costly. But what else is there to it?

“I’m transparent with everyone…I used to be a Rabbit breeder when I was much younger. But after coming across so many incidents of people abandoning their Rabbits on my shop front, I took a major shift.”

- Angie, the cold hard truth

Even groomers need some personal grooming too!

Aside from that, Angie also explained her own experience with Animal Communication, which revealed her past (apparently she wasn’t very nice to Rabbits) and that led to a life-changing moment in her career, it became her utmost motivation to be her best in Rabbit grooming. Skeptics and non-believers may tell you otherwise about Animal Communication, but we feel that it did make a good impact in this case, be it for the Rabbits, and herself. Don’t you agree?

Contributions To The Pets Community

Besides grooming, we already knew that Angie is often invited to speak at Pet events (that’s how we met her), on Rabbit Handling and Care tips. But what you may not know, is that she is a familiar face at local schools too! Children are often easily drawn to having a Pet, and given how much parents love their kids, the chances of impulsive buying or impulsive adopting are high. Giving talks and demonstrations at schools are part of Angie’s efforts to educate the younger generations on ownership responsibilities.

Educating Children on Pet ownership

“If I were extremely rich, I would want to own a huge plot of land, have my house on it, and a giant open space where animals can roam around. This place would also be open to children to come for a stay and help look after the animals, and won’t end up neglecting them. It’s not just about cuddly, furry fun, they must learn that it is a lot of responsibility too…”

- Angie, on educating the young

Angie and her partner Tia are also active volunteers at Uncle Khoe’s K9 Shelter. On their freer days such as Sunday or Family Day as Angie calls it, they enjoy a relaxing time on the beach with their Dogs, take a good stroll and enjoy a nice cooling beverage. We are all humans after all, and they sure do deserve a quick break once in a while as well ☺

Sunday Funday