Fri 10th March: Mixed breeds are just as beautiful and worthy

Adopted!

Before anything else I need to say that the two vizsla boys have been adopted, so for the many people who wrote expressing interest I'm sorry, they have already got a home.

Of course I'm happy for the dogs because they must have had a horrible life and were extremely thin and in poor condition, but I feel worse for all the sweet and beautiful mixed breeds that  so few people are interested in even meeting.   A breed label is what counts, and yes, the vizlas were extremely lovely but so are many others who have waited many years and are still waiting.

I took one of the puppies from a gorgeous litter to Acorn today to have his due vaccination, and I was asked how come such a beautiful pup hadn't been adopted yet?  In fact not one of this litter of Bizzy, Boomer, Bruin, Bruno and Bonzo has found a home so far, and I can't understand it either.  Sure they're big, but they're far easier to handle than a poodle puppy for example.  They're good natured and placid (for young puppies) and are far more suitable to be with young children than a hyperactive and needy maniac pup (and yes, we're getting such a poodle on Sunday).

Beautiful Bruno 

Before going to Acorn with puppy Bruno, I went to AFCD Pokfulam to take out one of the remaining Stanley Barracks dogs that I'd been visiting as much as I could, giving yummy treats to gain his trust. Although these dogs are very sweet, being confined alone in a (relatively) small kennel when they have lived freely as a family group is terrifying.  As with all dogs, the ability to run away is so important and it's why dogs that are on leash can be aggressive, when off leash they are fine. Running away is an instinctive reaction to fear , and if you can't run you have to fight.  When adult dogs are large sized and you don't know them or how they will react, of course being careful is important, so you can't just go into a kennel and assume the dog will happily walk out with you.  I know the Stanley Barracks dogs have always been around humans, but even with sweet Winter (now adopted) he was so scared in kennels that it took some time to get him out.

Finally it was time to take now-Stanley out, and by this time he was happy to see me and the dried liver treats he knew I would bring him.  He's now at our Tai Po Homing Centre, leaving just his mother still to take out of AFCD, at least until the next batch of Stanley Barracks dogs appear.

Sesame has been in foster since he was a baby and know all the house rules

We also had a new intake of puppies from AFCD Shatin, two of which also went to Tai Po as they are a bit older, while five had nowhere else to go but Lamma.  We really seriously need to start homing some of our puppies, and I can honestly say they are super-sweet and lovely characters who would fit into any family.  Quite a few of our puppies have been in foster homes for some time now and are fully toilet trained and ready for a new family and life.  Puppies like Sesame, who also knows how to sit, stay and give his paw.  He's playful with other dogs and great with children, and he loves cuddles and tummy rubs.  These slightly older puppies are ideal for busy families who want a puppy but may not have the time for babies who need basic training.  Come and meet Sesame, Wigbert and Dylan, as well as many youngsters too.

Shiba inu boy Maru now at Ap Lei Chau

There was also a young shiba inu in the Shatin group, and I'm sure there will be another flurry of interest for this boy, as challenging as the breed can be.