An Unbreakable Bond

Fashion icon Daniel Boey shares his passion for responsible pet ownership and advice on adopting rescue dogs.

- Melody Bay

He may be a creative director, fashion icon, TV personality and author but Daniel Boey’s favourite role is undoubtedly that of being a pet parent to his dogs Leia, Luna and Leo that he rescued from a life of neglect and abandonment as he is pro-adopting instead of buying. They now enjoy peace and happiness with Daniel, who has become a prominent advocate for responsible ownership and has written such educational books as We Adopted: A Collection of Rescue Tales and How to Train Your Hooman: A Doggie Handbook by Leia.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO ADOPTING RESCUE PETS AND WHAT HAS YOUR JOURNEY BEEN LIKE SO FAR?

I adopted Leia from Voices For Animals in 2017. It was a chance encounter at the shelter that led me to her, and I believe she chose me. Leia’s had many health issues, including alopecia and severe skin allergies. She also had to have two surgeries on her hind legs. The tremendous battle to gain control of these issues brought us closer together.

Three years on, I fostered another dog – she had been bought and abandoned during the Covid-19 situation at 11 months old – and named her Luna. As she and Leia got along like a house on fire, I gave her a permanent home. The latest member of our household is Leo (short for Leopold), a 13-year-old who used to be called Ciro. He was at death’s door when I rescued him and took him to a fosterer in November 2020.

Unfortunately, he ended up in hospital just months later. After that, I took him home and nursed him back to health myself.