Sembawang (pronounced serm-bah-wung) Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS) will be the new home for Shasta for the next 30 days.
Visiting Hours are:
Mon - Fri: 4-6p
Sat: 2-6pm
Sun & Public Holidays: Closed
4pm, Jan 22, 2008.
My first visit to SAQS. Shasta was transported here from the airport probably around noon.
I had to "check in" when I arrived at SAQS. I was given a handout which contained "rules" (which is something I definitely have to get used to in Singapore... everything has RULES) for my visits at SAQS.
Earlier, before I got there, Jessica had inform me about something regarding booking time slots for runs. I wasn't quite sure what she was talking about. So, I enquired about it. I was told that I could book a 15 min time slot so that Shasta could go out for a run in a fence enclosed dog run (see picture). One can only book these time slots a maximum of 2 days in advance. Since today was his first day there, he did not have a time slot, however, if there was an available slot, they would inform me and I could take him out for a run. There were also no available slots for the next day (wednesday) but I reserved one for Thursday.
Honestly, I had a preconceived idea of what this "quarantine place' was going to look like, and it was not very pretty. I envisioned this place to be run down, dogs in under size cages just waiting their time of 30 days to be done. Pet owners keeping their poor pets company in a confined area. I don't know. It just didn't look pretty in my mind.
I was VERY mistaken. This place is NICE!! Granted, it is not home and will never be, however, it is much nicer than the kennel in SF that we place Shasta in when we are both out of town. That place in SF, Petcamp, charges US$42/day (current conversion of US$1 = S$1.43). They place the dog in a CAGE that is not very big, and the dogs get to come out and roam twice a day for an hour at a time. SAQS charges S$600+ for 30 days in a non air-conditioned room and S$900+ for 30 days in a air-conditioned room, which works out to be about S$30 and change per day. It is a steal.
SAQS places the dogs in a room about 4ft by 6ft and has at least 10ft ceilings. Jessica had selected an air-conditioned room (obviously) for Shasta and I was surprised that each room had it's own air conditioning unit. Yes, one air condition unit per 4x6 room. The facilities were extremely clean and the staff are extremely nice. A very big departure from most other customer facing businesses in Singapore.
I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised.
When I first saw Shasta, he was very excited. He couldn't stop running around in circles. Not even 5 mins into my visit, a gentleman whom I believe is in charge of all the kennels, opens the door and informs me that if I want to take Shasta for a walk, there is a dog run available right now. DEFINITELY... I put a leash on, grab his favorite toy and off we go to the dog run.
He does his business and then we play for a few moments. He is not used to the weather and not even 5 mins later, he is done. He sits by the entrance and refuses to play no more. I have NEVER experienced this with him in SF. I believe the only person who might have experienced something similar to this was Jon when he took Shasta along for a jog. Otherwise, if we are just playing with his toy, he has never not wanted to play, and definitely not after 5 mins. So, I bring him back to the room and he is panting like he just ran 5 miles with Jon. I'm not kidding. And this day was a cloudy day, in fact, it had rained in other parts as I was traveling here.
LOL... Jessica says that it is just like me.
Well, since that episode was short, we proceed with the next thing. I had bought him some treats and so we started with that. I spent about an hour and a half there with him and that was the first day at the "quarantine place".
The above pictures were not taken on the first day. They were taken on the second visit to SAQS on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2o08.
More updates later....
Sat: 2-6pm
Sun & Public Holidays: Closed
4pm, Jan 22, 2008.
My first visit to SAQS. Shasta was transported here from the airport probably around noon.
I had to "check in" when I arrived at SAQS. I was given a handout which contained "rules" (which is something I definitely have to get used to in Singapore... everything has RULES) for my visits at SAQS.
Earlier, before I got there, Jessica had inform me about something regarding booking time slots for runs. I wasn't quite sure what she was talking about. So, I enquired about it. I was told that I could book a 15 min time slot so that Shasta could go out for a run in a fence enclosed dog run (see picture). One can only book these time slots a maximum of 2 days in advance. Since today was his first day there, he did not have a time slot, however, if there was an available slot, they would inform me and I could take him out for a run. There were also no available slots for the next day (wednesday) but I reserved one for Thursday.
Honestly, I had a preconceived idea of what this "quarantine place' was going to look like, and it was not very pretty. I envisioned this place to be run down, dogs in under size cages just waiting their time of 30 days to be done. Pet owners keeping their poor pets company in a confined area. I don't know. It just didn't look pretty in my mind.
I was VERY mistaken. This place is NICE!! Granted, it is not home and will never be, however, it is much nicer than the kennel in SF that we place Shasta in when we are both out of town. That place in SF, Petcamp, charges US$42/day (current conversion of US$1 = S$1.43). They place the dog in a CAGE that is not very big, and the dogs get to come out and roam twice a day for an hour at a time. SAQS charges S$600+ for 30 days in a non air-conditioned room and S$900+ for 30 days in a air-conditioned room, which works out to be about S$30 and change per day. It is a steal.
SAQS places the dogs in a room about 4ft by 6ft and has at least 10ft ceilings. Jessica had selected an air-conditioned room (obviously) for Shasta and I was surprised that each room had it's own air conditioning unit. Yes, one air condition unit per 4x6 room. The facilities were extremely clean and the staff are extremely nice. A very big departure from most other customer facing businesses in Singapore.
I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised.
When I first saw Shasta, he was very excited. He couldn't stop running around in circles. Not even 5 mins into my visit, a gentleman whom I believe is in charge of all the kennels, opens the door and informs me that if I want to take Shasta for a walk, there is a dog run available right now. DEFINITELY... I put a leash on, grab his favorite toy and off we go to the dog run.
He does his business and then we play for a few moments. He is not used to the weather and not even 5 mins later, he is done. He sits by the entrance and refuses to play no more. I have NEVER experienced this with him in SF. I believe the only person who might have experienced something similar to this was Jon when he took Shasta along for a jog. Otherwise, if we are just playing with his toy, he has never not wanted to play, and definitely not after 5 mins. So, I bring him back to the room and he is panting like he just ran 5 miles with Jon. I'm not kidding. And this day was a cloudy day, in fact, it had rained in other parts as I was traveling here.
LOL... Jessica says that it is just like me.
Well, since that episode was short, we proceed with the next thing. I had bought him some treats and so we started with that. I spent about an hour and a half there with him and that was the first day at the "quarantine place".
The above pictures were not taken on the first day. They were taken on the second visit to SAQS on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2o08.
More updates later....
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