Even after $60k in vet bills and going into debt, S’pore couple couldn’t save their dog
Mr Jackie See and Ms Judyvein Cheng bought french bulldog Wangcai as a four-month-old puppy in 2018 from a local backyard breeder. PHOTO: COURTESY OF JUDYVEIN CHENG
Judith Tan
Correspondent
Published
Sep 16, 2024, 05:00 AM
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SINGAPORE – French bulldog Wangcai started life with a slew of chronic health issues.
First-time dog owners Jackie See and Judyvein Cheng bought the male dog as a four-month-old puppy in 2018 for $4,800 from a local backyard breeder.
Soon the married couple discovered Wangcai had mites, stomach issues, a yeast infection and rashes.
For all the treatments, the couple emptied their savings. Not only that, they also sold their Housing Board flat in August 2023 to clear the credit card loans they took for Wangcai’s medical bills.
Not wanting to give up on Wangcai’s memory, they used some of the proceeds from the sale of the flat to continue their holistic pet food business “as part of Wangcai’s legacy and hopefully to help the pet community using alternative solutions”.
The tragic experience did not stop the couple from loving another dog.
After a year of grieving, they adopted another French bulldog on Christmas 2023 – Bean Bean, a former breeding dog from animal welfare group Voices for Animals.
“Having been through the experience with Wangcai, we believe we will be able to care for Bean Bean better,” Ms Cheng said.