Dr Yang, 37, who has 13 years of veterinary experience, is also the co-owner of VetMobile SG, a mobile veterinary service providing at-home medical care for pets.
While doing house calls, she recognised a gap in the care available for old and ill animals, a need that became more apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As people returned to work, she noticed a significant increase in pet owners seeking alternative care options for their ailing pets.
Some considered hiring a domestic helper or a pet sitter, but these options can become expensive over time, especially if the help is needed daily, says Dr Yang.
“I encountered many cases where owners of old animals, or animals with special needs, like those who are paraplegic or paralysed, were compelled to stop working. It was a huge mental strain, and it wasn’t healthy for the caregiver to stay home all the time,” she says.
Dr Yang also received requests for euthanasia from owners who could not manage the caregiving responsibilities any more.
“Many of these pets could have experienced a better quality of life with just a few days of dedicated care (by professionals), someone to establish a routine, maintain their hygiene, and support their well-being,” she says.
So she decided to set up Fur Folks Home, which prioritises short-term, specialised care for animals and does not offer long-term stays, to prevent issues of abandonment.
The centre provides day and overnight hospitalisation as well as services like medical bath and hygiene care, blood collection, diagnostics and wound management.
While there are other pet boarding and daycare facilities in Singapore, Fur Folks Home distinguishes itself by focusing specifically on palliative care.
Pets requiring hospitalisation or nursing services must have a vet’s referral or consultation with Dr Yang at home or at Fur Folks Home.
Owners are required to complete a form outlining their pet’s medical conditions and needs before admission.
The team at Fur Folks Home comprises 14 members, with the majority being support staff, including nurses and volunteers. Dr Yang is the only vet there.
The facility can accommodate up to eight animals for day hospitalisation and six for overnight stays.
The cost of admitting a cat for daycare is $100 a day, while overnight boarding costs $180.
For dogs, daycare ranges from $110 to $150 a day and overnight boarding is priced between $220 and $300, depending on the dog’s weight.
Housewife Junia Djojonegoro, 42, and her husband Jason Ogden, 54, entrusted Rocky to Fur Folks Home on Dec 23, 2024, before leaving for a trip.
Their 14-year-old labrador retriever has kidney failure and suffers from spinal degeneration and nerve compression, causing him to drag his hind legs.
“When his kidneys began to decline and he lost his mobility, we asked the vet, ‘How do we know when is the right time to put him down?’
“We were grappling with how much of his quality of life we should allow to decline before making that decision,” says Ms Djojonegoro, who has been living in Singapore for 15 years with Mr Ogden, a technology management consultant.
However, conversations with their vet and physiotherapist shifted their perspective.
NEW PERSPECTIVES
“We now see this as just another stage of his life, and we support him the same way we would support older family members,” says Ms Junia Djojonegoro.
To help Rocky move, the couple customised a wheelchair and stretcher. They also changed his diet and gave him supplements to support his kidneys.
Rocky stayed at the centre for 17 days, at an estimated cost of $4,500.
Counsellor Pearlyn Yap admitted her then five-year-old cat, Tobi, to Fur Folks Home for a week on Dec 16, 2024, as she was going for a trip.
At the age of one, Tobi was found on the streets abandoned and paralysed from the waist down because of an accident. Ms Yap, 36, fostered him through the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and later adopted him.
Because Tobi could not move the lower part of his body, he required assistance to empty his bladder three times a day.
For four years, Ms Yap had struggled to find a suitable medical boarding facility for him or someone to come over to help empty his bladder regularly.
“Finding someone to visit my house three times a day has been nearly impossible. Firstly, the cost is a significant factor. Secondly, not every nurse or pet sitter is experienced enough to handle this properly. That’s why I decided to place him in a facility where I truly trust the team,” says Ms Yap.
LAST DAYS
Tobi, who had been battling heart failure, grew weaker in his final days.
Once very active, running around on his two front legs, Tobi died on Dec 29, 2024, after Ms Yap took him home.
Many of the people who take their pets to Fur Folks Home have engaged Dr Yang’s house call services.
For instance, Ms Sharmian Tan’s 14-year-old Singapore Special, a mixed-breed dog, has been under Dr Yang’s care through home visits since November 2024.
Hachi has started showing the typical signs of ageing, including weak hind legs and various lumps and bumps on his body.
In December 2024, Ms Tan took him to Fur Folks Home for a series of blood tests to investigate if he had Cushing’s Disease.
The multiple blood draws would have been a stressful eight-hour process in a hospital if not for Fur Folks Home, says Ms Tan, a 32-year-old animal trainer.
“Hachi is a rescue dog, and a setting like the hospital can cause a lot of unnecessary stress for him. In comparison, it’s peaceful and calm here. Their fear-free certified staff are also trained to alleviate stress and anxiety during medical procedures,” says Ms Tan.
She adds that the establishment of Fur Folks Home marks a significant step forward for the pet care industry in Singapore.
Says Ms Tan: “Having a safe space where pets are cared for by experienced medical staff dedicated to providing compassionate support for both animals and their owners is invaluable, especially for owners who need to work, travel or take a break.”