Weds 2nd Aug: Giving small dogs a chance of rehab

Bomber is the next dog in line for rehab

There used to be a facility for rehabilitation, the Lamma Home for Small Delinquents, until it was forced to close a few years ago, a story some of you may remember.  During the years when the home was available for housing small dogs with behaviour issues, many came and stayed for as long as necessary before being re-homed after they had changed their ways.  The method was simple, and just involved giving the dogs space and time to drop their defensive attitude.  Once they knew that they could go about their daily lives without interference and with no expectations of any kind, they could relax and begin to change.

We have quite a few dogs now at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre that would have been sent to the Lamma Home for Small Delinquents for rehabilitation, but as it is their behaviour deteriorates the longer they have to be confined to keep volunteers and visitors safe.  This problem has concerned me for a long time, as there seemed to be no answer if we couldn't get the dogs into homes with experienced fosters who understood that all they needed was space, and to be left alone.

Finally an opportunity came along for a new Home for Small Delinquents, although it can only accommodate a few dogs at a time.  The lucky few that have moved into this home have proved exactly what I have always said is true, and their behaviour has changed so quickly and so dramatically that it's hard to believe.  Poodle Nobby and peke cross Banjo are two of the "patients" who are now so happy that they have no interest in biting and only ask for cuddles and affection (which is given in small amounts).  I can't say that they wouldn't revert to previous behaviour if they were put back into a stressful situation, but I can say that in the right home with the right family there's no reason why they couldn't be perfectly suitable companions.   Once one of the current dogs finds a home, another one can be moved in from Ap Lei Chau, and hopefully we'll see the same success rate as before.

Nobby is a changed character 

Nobby, being a poodle, is very smart, inquisitive and full of energy.  He likes to jump up on things so he has a good view of what's going on, and if there's a person he can sit beside, even better.  He was an angry boy at the Homing Centre but there's none of that now, and he gets on very well with the other dogs he lives with.  He would do well in a home where he gets lots of nice walks with interesting things to see, and where he can be very much a part of the family.  Of course we have to say no children because of his past behaviour, but in an adults-only home he would be fine.

Banjo makes me smile

Banjo is such a funny boy, a mix of peke and something else, and he loves to attach himself to one special person.  Once chosen he will want to have endless cuddles and sit on that person's lap, and be around him or her all the time.  That's very much a peke personality, but Banjo is much more mobile and active than a peke, and since his summer haircut given today by Iris, you can see his little legs working as he runs around so happily.  Banjo would do best in a single parent home where he could get all the attention and be the only pet.

Fat Fred with friends on Lamma

One dog that came to Lamma a long time ago and is still here as he is big enough to live with the other dogs is Fred, the beagle/basset hound.  He came to us as a young dog while we were in Pokfulam, and while he has always been a very happy and friendly boy he got into trouble because he used to jump up at people while out on walks.   When we opened the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre Fred was too big to stay there, but not the right type or size to go to Tai Po.  So he ended up staying on Lamma, but really it's time he found a real home.  He's ten years old now, overweight, and he deserves a proper family.

If you are able to offer a special home to any of the smaller dogs that need rehab, please let me know (sally@hongkongdogrescue.com).