Thurs 27th July: Having to let go

A memory of Waldo and Minty

I said goodbye to my foster pups Waldo and Minty today as they left for their new home together, Waldo forever and Minty on a foster basis.  I forgot how attached you can get to little ones in such a short time and I was so worried about them and how they would cope with spending the afternoon at the Homing Centre and then in their new place, and concerned that they would be scared.  I needed to know that the new family would give Waldo the cuddles he loves, and not forget Minty's daily medicine, but letting go is something I have had to get used to over the years.   Looking back over the photos on Facebook and seeing so many puppies that have since been adopted, it's hard to believe and even harder to remember them all clearly.
(I received a lovely update this morning reassuring me that both puppies were fine).

Poor Chewy with a runny nose

I had to take German shepherd(ish) Chewy to AFCD to have a rabies vaccination today, not because it was due but because she's been adopted and is going to be moving to Taiwan, strangely one of the most difficult and complicated countries to get a dog into.  I heard a rumour that it was kept that way to deter people from importing dogs into Taiwan, although I have no idea if it's true.  Anyway the long process has now begun for Chewy to move to her new home, and it's a huge relief to know she will not have to stay at Tai Po any longer.  For those of you know don't know, or have forgotten, Chewy has a serious allergy to the Homing Centre and her nose runs with a thick and horrible mucous when she stays there.  As soon as she leaves, for example even an overnight stay at Acorn when she went for testing, it stopped, and started again when she returned to Tai Po.

Cocker Claudia is quite ill

The three newly-surrendered dogs went to AFCD and Acorn too, but the cocker spaniel was too ill and weak to have any kind of vaccination.  No dog that isn't healthy should be vaccinated against anything, whether it's rabies or infectious diseases, and now-called Claudia is staying in hospital for further tests and assessment. The poor girl could barely stand and had big lumps of dangling hair which had to be shaved off, and I really have to wonder what and how these dogs were living before coming to us.

It seems like a long time since the last Whiskers N Paws puppy afternoon, and in fact it will be two whole weeks thanks to last Sunday's non-typhoon cancellation.  However we'll be back again this Sunday with our lovely hopefuls, all that bit older now and many already fully vaccinated and licensed.

Max and Mini are the youngest hopefuls