Fri 30th June: A sad dog's tale

I started this week by thinking I would have at least one day free to take care of personal needs, like going to the supermarket to buy my own food and so on.  However as each day starts it becomes apparent that there will be no such time, and now here we are at the end of another week, and even half a year, and still haven't managed to sneak in a few hours to myself.

Callum was due his second vaccination

Today I had two puppies that I needed to get to the vet for due vaccinations before Sunday, and that was all I had scheduled until the ex-breeder schnauzer arrived late the previous afternoon.  These dogs are usually microchipped but are sent to us without any records or license, so the first thing that needs to be done is to go to AFCD to get the dog scanned, given a rabies vaccination if due (which it almost always is) and have myself registered as the official Temporary Keeper.

The ex-breeder schnauzer is now Bowie

Of course there is the inevitable checking of newcomers when I go to AFCD, and apart from two very happy and friendly puppies, there was a four year-old poodle girl.  The story I was told was that a young girl had bought this puppy and then kept it in a cage.  She had subsequently had a baby, and the dog just sat there, the skin problem that it had had since it was first bought getting progressively worse.  Eventually the mother of the girl/young woman took the poodle away, quite rightly saying that it deserved a proper home where it would be at least allowed out of the cage.  The poodle was first taken to another organisation where it was rejected, so it was taken to AFCD.

Kit was completely ignored for 4 years

I was warned that because the poor dog had never been out of the cage it was quite nervous, but actually she is desperate for affection and very sweet.  Her skin is probably due to the very typical poodle allergy and is chronic, meaning long-term, and the skin has thickened over the four years so it now looks like an elephant's skin.  We can treat any superficial infection and change Kit's diet, but the changes to the skin may be permanent although at least not infectious.

We ask all potential adopters to complete a questionnaire for good reason, and it's to weed out the type of adopter who thinks that caging a dog (and a crate is the same) is acceptable, and so is leaving it alone all day and never or rarely walking it.  A dog is a living, thinking, feeling and intelligent animal, that would naturally live in an extended family group.  A dog is not a solitary animal, and however much anyone says that they get used to living alone, what choice do they have if that is the way they are forced to be?  Many home-alone dogs end up with anxiety and depression, and obsessive/destructive behaviour that is treated by giving dog valium (calming drugs).

The fact is that if you are out at work all day, which many if not most people are, and there is nobody at home to be with a dog, then you should not have one.  It's not right or fair and I don't care how much a dog is loved, that love is only available on the owner's terms meaning for very few hours a day.  Dogs need company, exercise, socialisation, training and the opportunity to run and play with other dogs.

Tatum last year

I had a very sad job to do at Acorn today, where Ap Lei Chau dog Tatum had been sent once again, this time because she had lost the use of both of her back legs due to cruciate ligament rupture.  The first leg had been lame for some months, but with the second leg going the same way it had left Tatum completely unable to walk.  That in itself wouldn't be an insurmountable problem as surgery can fix cruciate ruptures, but Tatum also suffered from a debilitating and chronic intestinal problem that meant she was wasting away and losing weight rapidly.  A volunteer was kindly home-cooking special meals that Tatum loved, but nothing stayed inside her long enough to make any difference. When Dr Tony looked at Tatum today both he and I knew what the only kind option was, and I held her in my arms as she very quickly and painlessly slipped away.  I know that Tatum was very much loved by Ap Lei Chau volunteers and she will be missed, but that is life and the inevitability that it's not always for as long as we would like.

Bertram left his lovely foster home today

Now for some good news:  beautiful Stanley Barracks boy Bertram was adopted today, so I now have only Rufus left from that generation to find a home for.  In the meantime he is more than happy staying with his foster family, so I have no concerns about waiting for the right adopter to come along.

The new Yorkie also left our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, and I hope more will be adopted on Saturday to make space for the next batch that are due on Sunday afternoon.

Rufus can wait for the perfect family