FEBRUARY 19 — About six years ago, I saw a picture of a wounded, black puppy on my Facebook feed. The little mongrel had been rescued by a group of volunteers but they were running out of funds and space to keep and treat him.

These generous Samaritans were desperately seeking a foster — failing which the little creature would have ended up at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) where unwanted dogs are put down if nobody wants them due to their lack of space.

Perhaps I was not able to stand the idea of this dog, who had already cheated death once, ending his life in a crowded shelter but I found myself volunteering to put the little mongrel up.

I was only meant to keep him in my flat until a more suitable home was found but of course I never let him go. This was one of the very best decisions I have made in my life.

That tiny injured mongrel grew into the most intelligent and loving friend I could ever have imagined. He’s brought me and my family so much joy.

It can be argued that Singaporeans are mongrels too as they are a hybrid mix of ethnicities and cultures. — Picture by AFP

And yet because he is a mongrel — or pariah dog in the vernacular — he’s extremely lucky to have ever made it off the streets and into a home. 

In 2015, authorities in Singapore put down almost 1,000 strays (the vast majority of them mongrels) and we can expect the 2016 and 2017 figures to be rather similar.

No one wants mongrel dogs, particularly stray mongrels and so they are rounded up and eventually exterminated because no one will take them in.

I am sceptical of self-declared dog lovers who reserve this love only for pedigree puppies — they all deserve our affection.

A cute pet is great in an Instagram snapshot but a mongrel isn’t going to impress the neighbours or get you more likes I suppose?

So, many of our trendy cafes and upmarket private housing neighborhoods are filledl with Huskies, Retrievers and Scotties, wholly unsuitable for our climate but our own Singapore specials are left to haunt the edges of industrial parks, dumps, and cemeteries until someone finds them and, eventually, puts them down.

Far too little love is shown these humble indigenous mongrels which is deeply ironic because I think there really is no better emblem for Singapore and Singaporeans than this dog.

Aren’t Singaporeans mongrels too? We are a hybrid people, an eclectic mix of ethnicities, cultures and races.

We don’t have ancient aristocracies or pure blood lines but whatever our origins we’ve been deposited on this island and made the most of it.

Like our mongrel brethren we’re resilient, adaptable and in our own way we are beautiful.

I take pride in being a Singaporean mongrel and I sincerely hope more of my countrymen would endorse this view because what could be more patriotic than adopting the most Singaporean animal imaginable — a local pariah dog, the Singapore special.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.