Thurs 5th May: Your urgent support is needed

This has to end NOW!

I'm going to start with a meeting I attended in the evening and work backwards, because there is an extremely important issue which urgently needs everyone's support.  This is to do with the Proposed Amendments to Cap139b, the Animal Trader laws that currently allow free-for-all breeding and selling of pets, privately and commercially.  We have finally reached the stage where there is a real possibility of the new laws to be passed, but we need everyone to write emails of support to the Executive Council (Exco) before the Cap139b proposal is sent to the Legislative Council (Legco). Please send your emails by today to the Executive Council at exco@ceo.gov.hk,  stating who you are, which animal organisation you are from or support if applicable, any experience you might have had in animal welfare/rescue field and why you support the Proposed Amendments to Cap139b. You can also cc Ko Wing Man, Secretary for Food and Health, which is the related Government Bureau at sfhoffice@fhb.gov.hk  Please mark it URGENT in subject box eg:   URGENT – Support for amendment to  CAP 139b with regards to dog trade and breeding.

To summarise the basic points of the Amendments, there will be three licenses required for all breeders and/or traders (sellers).  These will cover home breeders, commercial breeders and one-off sellers (and there is a good reason for that last category) and nobody will be allowed to breed or sell dogs without having one of these licenses.  That will also cover all internet sales and those who post litters of purebreed puppies for "adoption", because every advertisement must include the license number.

To obtain a license there are conditions which must be met to cover the housing of all dogs, and this will mean no more cages with wire floors, and adequate space for all sizes.  It will bring an end to those poor pet shop puppies cramped in cages where they can't stand or turn around.

There will be a lower and upper limit to the age of females having puppies, and the number of litters they can have in their lifetime, as well as the males who are kept for breeding purposes.

Remember, there are currently no restrictions on anyone to have as many breeding dogs as they want and in whatever space they have.  Females that are still far too young themselves (these are the unsold puppies) are forced to breed until they are completely worn out, sick or dead.

Opponents of the Cap139a Amendments say the new laws don't go far enough, but looking at what protection the dogs have now and the proposals I can tell you that that it make a huge difference to the lives of thousands of dogs now living in pitiful conditions, and with no hope of anyone being able to do anything about it.  It seems quite incredible to me that any Animal Welfare groups or supporters can be trying to block these Proposed Amendments from becoming Law and finally forcing the breeders and pet shops to clean up their act.   I've seen first hand what is currently allowed and I've seen the Proposals in full, and they are really quite comprehensive and acceptable.

The beagle was was found inside this buggy is dead now, and maybe it was a happy release from a life of hell

I can use one example of why these Proposed Amendments to Cap139b must go ahead, and that is the case of the beagle-in-a-buggy that I wrote about in a recent post.  This dog was found strapped into a buggy with its mouth clamped shut with one of those awful muzzles, and was there for ten hours before it was taken away.  I followed up on the case with AFCD, where the beagle was sent to, and was told there was no microchip so no possibility of prosecuting anyone for cruelty or abandonment, and since the dog was considered to be unsuitable for re-homing it was put to sleep.  That is the end of that poor dog's life and story, and God knows what kind of awful experiences it endured.  The proposed new laws won't change terrible owners, but at least they will ensure that nobody can sell a dog without a microchip and a registered owner.

Enjoying the ride

I wanted to keep another case quiet, for the animal's sake, but it seems that AFCD themselves gave the information that an older puppy who had recently been surrendered had been taken out by me today.   The reason why I didn't want it known was because the ex-owner had declared that the puppy was aggressive, dangerous no less, and yet neighbours who knew the dog said that wasn't true.  I had tried to take the puppy out the other day but it was still waiting for the vet's assessment, and today I was told that it was free to go having been found to be healthy and friendly. Indeed he was rolling on his back wanting to have his tummy tickled even before we left the Animal Management Centre, and he loved riding in the van even if he wasn't so keen on the destination (vet clinic).

I think the problem is, or was, that there is often no allowance made for the fact that dogs aren't machines that come off a factory conveyor belt and that, like humans, they all have their own personality.  That applies to mixed breeds especially, and sometimes when there are two dogs in a home comparisons are made.  Dog A, usually but not always a female, is sweet and docile, while Dog B, often a male, is rowdy and "naughty", especially during the "teenage" period which is the age when most puppies are given up for bad behaviour.  The puppy in this case is at that stage in his life when he isn't a baby any more and yet not an adult either.  For all animals this is a time of change and uncertainty about their place and role in the family, pack, tribe, or whatever is applicable, and just like the teenage human years, it will pass.

When in doubt, sit in a plant pot

I also took a poodle from AFCD Pokfulam, a sweet black girl who was, very typically, excited to be leaving yet unsure about what was happening.  Her response to these mixed emotions was to sit in a plant pot, looking so cute that I had to take a photo.  Anyway she (without a name so far) is four years old and a very sweet girl.

The Malinois was thin and scared, but a sweet young boy

There were more dogs and puppies from AFCD Sheung Shui, including a very young and lovely Malinois, offered as a kind of compensation for the beagle-in-a-buggy that I failed to save.   Being a breed I expect he'll be on is way to a new home soon, which will be good of course, but sad at the same time as there are so many mixes that will be far less of a challenge than this scared young boy.