Last night, I went to a pub for a hen’s party. It was a most ordinary pub – one of those countless places where you sit around, choose your song and sing karaoke with friends.
Yet I noticed something very special about the pub almost immediately – I saw 2 dogs with a group of people at our next table. The 2 shih-tzus walking around on the seats. I shall not mention the pub’s name as I do not wish to get them into trouble of any sort (knowing how some people are adverse to places which are dog-friendly and determined to eliminate the already-limited places that our canine friends can go to).
When one of them walked close over to our side, I patted him. It was the first time I have touched any dog in almost a month since Dodo left. He was well-groomed and well-behaved. There was not a sound from him the entire time we were there.
This is the first time I have come across a dog-friendly pub in Singapore. To be honest, Singapore is not the most friendly place for our canine friends. There are so many places at which they are not allowed and just too many restrictions.
When I was in Europe, I see people taking their dogs almost everywhere with them. Mind you, the dogs are not small breeds. I have seen bull dog on train, Labrador under the table in pubs etc. In cafes in Australia, I have seen dogs sitting on chairs just beside the owners. It appears that most people in Europe and Australia did not seem to think it was wrong to bring dogs on public transport or that it was 'unhygienic' for dogs to be at food places. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think they have higher rates of rabies or other dog-related diseases than we do.
I was shocked the first time I saw a man with his bull dog (leashed of course) on the train in England. It was something I could not imagine happening in Singapore. What a big hoo-haa there will be if a person brings his dog on the MRT – even if it was a small dog, even if it was on a leash (or in its own pram), even if it was way more well-behaved than those screaming children making a nuisance of themselves.
Then the shock turned to envy.
In this aspect, I think our society is still very much behind the western civilizations. Just like everywhere else, I am sure there are people in Europe and Australia who do not like dogs. And yet, they are able to show tolerance for those who do. They are able to accept dog-lovers and their canine friends as part of their society.
I so wish we could have this level of tolerance and acceptance in Singapore. So many times, we have been turned away from alfresco dining areas, even though Dodo was in her own pram and did not need to sit on their chairs. So many places we could not bring her, because of all the so-called regulations and “cannots”. While we talk about building a harmonious society in Singapore, shouldn't tolerance and acceptance be the first step?
If only I had discovered this pub a little earlier. I am sure Dodo would have an enjoyed a late night out with her family members – decked out in her prettiest, chilling out and listening to them sing karaoke, in particular Deng Lijun’s songs. Deng was her favourite singer according to her Mummy, who used to play her songs for Dodo before bedtime.
Dodo’s jie-jie
Yet I noticed something very special about the pub almost immediately – I saw 2 dogs with a group of people at our next table. The 2 shih-tzus walking around on the seats. I shall not mention the pub’s name as I do not wish to get them into trouble of any sort (knowing how some people are adverse to places which are dog-friendly and determined to eliminate the already-limited places that our canine friends can go to).
When one of them walked close over to our side, I patted him. It was the first time I have touched any dog in almost a month since Dodo left. He was well-groomed and well-behaved. There was not a sound from him the entire time we were there.
This is the first time I have come across a dog-friendly pub in Singapore. To be honest, Singapore is not the most friendly place for our canine friends. There are so many places at which they are not allowed and just too many restrictions.
When I was in Europe, I see people taking their dogs almost everywhere with them. Mind you, the dogs are not small breeds. I have seen bull dog on train, Labrador under the table in pubs etc. In cafes in Australia, I have seen dogs sitting on chairs just beside the owners. It appears that most people in Europe and Australia did not seem to think it was wrong to bring dogs on public transport or that it was 'unhygienic' for dogs to be at food places. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think they have higher rates of rabies or other dog-related diseases than we do.
I was shocked the first time I saw a man with his bull dog (leashed of course) on the train in England. It was something I could not imagine happening in Singapore. What a big hoo-haa there will be if a person brings his dog on the MRT – even if it was a small dog, even if it was on a leash (or in its own pram), even if it was way more well-behaved than those screaming children making a nuisance of themselves.
Then the shock turned to envy.
In this aspect, I think our society is still very much behind the western civilizations. Just like everywhere else, I am sure there are people in Europe and Australia who do not like dogs. And yet, they are able to show tolerance for those who do. They are able to accept dog-lovers and their canine friends as part of their society.
I so wish we could have this level of tolerance and acceptance in Singapore. So many times, we have been turned away from alfresco dining areas, even though Dodo was in her own pram and did not need to sit on their chairs. So many places we could not bring her, because of all the so-called regulations and “cannots”. While we talk about building a harmonious society in Singapore, shouldn't tolerance and acceptance be the first step?
If only I had discovered this pub a little earlier. I am sure Dodo would have an enjoyed a late night out with her family members – decked out in her prettiest, chilling out and listening to them sing karaoke, in particular Deng Lijun’s songs. Deng was her favourite singer according to her Mummy, who used to play her songs for Dodo before bedtime.
Dodo’s jie-jie
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