Thurs 12th May: Cherry is missing

Cherry is medium sized and has identifying white paws and a purple collar

I saw this post on Facebook and didn't realise at first that it was our ex-Cherry from Tai Po.  We have volunteers out looking rght now, but please keep an eye open for her too and call the number shown if you see her, or post a message on our Facebook page.  Time is essential as she will be moving, and a delay of even thirty minutes will make a big difference:

"Missing dog:-( I was in Magazine Gap Reservoir 2.5 hrs ago and another dog who was off it's leash attacked my two dogs. Unfortunately Zanna managed to wriggle out of her harness (despite me tightening it before I left home). She has been spotted by some hikers along Dutch Lane heading towards Black Link. If anybody spots her please urgently call me on 60117092. I've been searching for hours. She was only adopted on Saturday so will be very nervous, although she is a very gentle dog normally. She still has her collar on her with her tag. Yours traumatised:-("

Every lost dog is important but this is doubly so, not only because it's Cherry but because there was a tragic end to another missing dog's search today when also ex-HKDR Heidi was found dead on Bowen Road.  We don't know at this point if she had been poisoned but the police were called and are carrying out tests.  This must not happen to Cherry, so every second counts. 

I was back at AFCD today and was saddened to find many kennels filled with newly arrived dogs, both surrendered and caught by the AFCD dog catchers.  It's always the sweet and easy semi-owned dogs, often belonging to older villagers, who are the victims if someone calls AFCD to complain about strays, because there is no difference as far as the dog catching team is concerned.  If there's a dog off leash and without an owner in sight, then it will be taken.  Consequently the result of this particular raid on Lantau were two obvious pets, one a senior and very sweet lady, the other a younger dog but also very friendly. They probably even approached the dog catchers to say hello on seeing them. 

There was a surrendered young male in another kennel, and a sweet female who was found wandering in the Aberdeen area wearing a collar but without a microchip.  I was hoping someone would come forward to claim her as she is a lovely dog, but she has been put up for re-homing now.

There was also an older German shepherd, a big and friendly boy, and looking at the row of lovely dogs all looking back at me expectantly, and with hope and trust in their eyes, was really very hard. What do you do in such a situation, when turning away and saying no means death? 

Waiting for a wash and a dental

I left, for today anyway, with two small dogs who had been surrendered and were in more urgent need of veterinary attention.  One was a Maltese, middle-aged but completely blind, and the other a ten year-old schnauzer who turned out to have suspected tick fever.  He had to stay overnight in hospital but the Maltese is already at our Ap Leu Chau Homing Centre and waiting for a much-needed wash and