Thurs 30th Nov: A handy new staff member

I keep telling myself I really should start taking more photos when I'm out and about, but then forget to do so.  I was at Tai Po today with my phone firmly in my bag which was in a locker, so I will have to rely on the shots that others take and send me, including some of the new beds I had bought recently and which were delivered to the Homing Centre today.  I'm always trying to find alternative and better ways to make the dogs comfortable, but most dog houses and beds last a very short time given the number of dogs that use them, bounce on or chew everything.  I decided to try the metal human beds that I have in my own home, having long since given up on anything wooden, and found what I think will work.  Time will tell, and it could be weeks or months,  hopefully not just days.

The real reason I was at Tai Po today was to meet with our new Maintenance & Repair man, Wolfgang, and he will have plenty to do around the site fixing and building and all those sorts of jobs.  I think and hope it will take a load off the shoulders of May and the rest of the Centre staff and they can concentrate on looking after the dogs and dealing with adopters, and it's something that I've been wanting for a long time.

Linus is one of a very special litter

Another reason for going to Tai Po was to take puppy Linus to hand over to his foster family, where hopefully he will be staying for ever.  Now I have to find a home for his sister Betty, a beautiful and very sweet girl too.

Beautiful Betty

Often when would-be adopters come to meet the dogs or puppies they are expecting an instant bond or connection, but that rarely happens.  Some dogs, like Dorset the Doberman at Tai Po, will be your best friend the moment she meets you as she is an incredibly soft and loving dog, but most will take time to warm up.

Dorset treats every stranger like her best friend

  When the puppies are on the terrace at Whiskers N Paws they are interested in playing,  not in stopping to chat with the human visitors, so it's often difficult for adopters to know the personality of each pup.  That's where I come in, because I do know them and can try to advise on a suitable match.  However even I was happily surprised to receive the update and very sweet video of the puppy Blanket, adopted last Sunday, because she wasn't one that liked to be picked up or, it seemed, to be keen to interact.  But what a difference a home has made, because now Blanket (new name Guinness) is more than happy to play and be part of the family.

Blanket loves her new family and they adore her

Even dogs being interviewed by already-resident dogs are rarely instant best friends unless they're both puppies.  It takes a while for friendships to form whatever the species, so again it's the Homing Centre staff who know the dogs best and whether they are likely to fit in with the established family group.  It's not fair or realistic to expect dogs to understand why they are being introduced and that they are supposed to immediately like each other. 

One of the many things that our HKDR trainer Cactus does is to explain to adopters who already have dogs how best to introduce the newcomer and the already-resident dog.  It can be very easy or it can take time, as dogs have their own complex personalities just as humans do.  There are a few dogs that really don't want a friend, but in most cases they really enjoy having a companion of their own kind, or another animal like a cat.

Candy easily found another home

We had a long list of would-be adopters for corgi puppy Candy so we were able to contact the next name on the list after she was returned by her first home for being too active, and she left Ap Lei Chau again today.   It would be nice if I didn't need to state the obvious, that puppies are full of energy and will chew and play bite and all of the other puppy things, but even people who have had dogs before forget that this is the way youngsters behave, and it doesn't really settle down until a dog is considered to be fully adult.  Physically, and depending on size, that's anything between a year and eighteen months, but based on my own experience over the years I would say a dog doesn't really mature until it's three years old.

When Rafi knows you he is the smoochiest boy ever

As easy as it is for purebreeds like Candy to find new homes, it's the mixed breed puppies-returned-as-adults that struggle.  At Ap Lei Chau we have Tara and Nancy, and most recently Rafi, now in foster with my neighbours.   He will be at Whiskers N Paws again on Sunday, but it's hard for the young adults to catch the eye of potential adopters, particularly as they may not like being touched by strangers at that age.   The best chance for older puppies and these returned adults is to meet potential new families away from the mayhem of the puppy afternoons and in a quieter environment.  So if anyone would be interested in meeting Rafi any day of the week, please let me know ad I'll arrange it.

Weds 29th Nov: Boris the 2 year-old bulldog needs help

Coco-now-Gigi and new brother Jax

The adoption of the pointer girl Coco, now Gigi, was confirmed today, and looking at the photos you can see what the immediate attraction was as the dogs look like peas in a pod.  Jax, a mixed breed, was adopted from us as a puppy a couple of years ago and grew into a beautiful adult who seems to have accepted his new sister very easily.

Every HKDR dog's dream

We seem to have had a run of dogs being adopted and quickly returned, and it has created a real problem at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre in terms of space.  Even the six month-old corgi puppy Candy came back, not for any reason other than she was too lively, something that any puppy adopter must surely expect.

Yes, puppies are full of energy

Boris is becoming seriously depressed and needs a home PLEASE!

Boris the bulldog is starting to suffer anxiety-related itchy skin after he was returned, and we really need to move him into a home or foster very soon.  Some dogs just can't deal with being in a kennel-like environment and Boris is one of them.  We were told he doesn't like children but at our Homing Centre he's been very sweet, and there must be many child-free homes for young bulldogs like Boris so please get in touch or come to meet him.  He is really a lovely boy with adults and very affectionate.

The beagles are also too energetic to be penned, and it's not fair on them when they are lovely dogs with no behaviour issues, just a need for exercise and company.

We're at the end of the month and beginning to countdown to Christmas and the New Year.  It seems almost impossible to believe that a year has flown by in the blink of an eye, but it's true.  Look out for news on December fairs and events as there's going to be a lot happening during the month, and I know that Whiskers N Paws always puts on a great show for the holiday season including Operation Santa Paws, a wonderful gift donation scheme.

🎈Date: 25Nov – 20Dec
Drop-off: Whiskers N Paws, Horizon Plaza 10/F, Ap Lei Chau

Operation Santa Paws has already begun!

I really hope Scout and his family will find homes soon

Tues 28th Nov 17: A couple of small Lamma dogs

My working days are a bit different this week as I am, or was, expecting the contractors to turn up at Lamma to finish their work (no show again) and I'm waiting for confirmation of a puppy interview at Ap Lei Chau on Wednesday, my usual day off.  I'm back at Tai Po on Thursday, so everything else will have to fit in when there's time, but before you know it it will be Sunday again and Whiskers N Paws.

Corgi Topper is ready for a home

I want to mention a couple of the dogs that are currently staying at the Lamma Home for Small Delinquents but who are actually very adoptable and don't really have behaviour problems.   Like just-fostered Cooper, Topper is a corgi who had guarding issues when he first came to us a few years ago, but he has since dropped all of that and is a pretty easy, if overweight, character now.  Due to his past we have to say no to a home with young children, but other than that there are no restrictions.

Puddle is a smaller sized mix of sorts and very active

Puddle is a mix of sorts and a very active girl who enjoys playing with the other dogs and running in the garden, and she was sent to Lamma just because she was unhappy at the Homing Centre.  I wish all of the dogs could have the space that's available on Lamma so they could have a holiday, but the number has to be restricted to just a few at a time.  If Topper and Puddle find homes we can send over other dogs who need a break.

There are FAQ (frequently asked questions) that I hear regularly, and one of them is how do we pay for the upkeep of six hundred dogs and all of the considerable overheads?  The answer is that it's a non-stop and ongoing challenge, hindered somewhat by the false statement that HKDR are a rich charity and we don't need donations.  Just the food and vet costs for all of our dogs amount to hundreds of thousands every month, and because we are a No Kill Organisation we have many seniors who require expensive end-of-life care  (currently Tai Po dogs Louise and Cynthia are receiving special treatment, with Roger also the same although luckily in a foster home).   The many breeder dogs that we have been taking in almost all need surgery on top of everything else, and there is no free vet service.

Eva is an invaluable staff member, here at Peak to Fong

Eva is the staff member who handles most of our fundraising and events, and she works incredibly hard at it.  In fact there's a lot that even I'm often unaware of, such as this link on the Crown Motors website  http://www.toyota.com.hk/tc/new-toyota/latest-promotion/adoptionisforlife/

Another FAQ is how and why I started HKDR, and it was completely unintentional, at least as far as ending up with such a large organisation is concerned.  I only meant to help a couple of dogs at a time but events took over and here I am.  I was almost completely green in terms of dog knowledge, and had learned the hard way about things like heartworm, my own three rescues dogs having become infected due to lack of any prevention.   Even now I enjoy learning more, and with so many dogs we do see a large variety of weird and not-so-wonderful things going wrong.

Mon 27th Nov: More happy adoptions

Tai Po adoptions are always special 

 Adoptions from our Tai Po Homing Centre are always good news because we have so many dogs there, and too many have been with us since they were puppies.  Dorothy was one of them, so seeing the photo of her getting ready to go to her new home was a lovely surprise today, and I just wish it could happen more often.

Dorset is a very gentle lady

Dorset the Doberman is one of the sweet older ex-breeder dogs that is waiting for a home of her own, and she's looking so much better then the sorry state she arrived in. 

Two previous ex-breeder chocolate labradors also had to wait a long time before being chosen together, and now they are enjoying the time of their lives in a loving home with toys galore and the comfort of soft beds.  It gives me immense pleasure to see this pair and receive their updates, knowing that they had spent nine years being used as money machines and now I want Dorset to have the same.

Baylee and Toni have the life they deserve now

Hooray for sweet Walter!

It's almost December but we have a couple of days left to promote our long-stay dogs, less one of them who was adopted today too.  Walter looks well settled already!

🌟 November is our Adopt-a-Long-Termer Month!🌟

We will be featuring a different HKDR Long-Termer every single day on Facebook and Instagram throughout the month and standard adoption fees will be waived for all of our Top 30 long-term dogs during this November period. All of them are wonderful companion dogs aged from 6-12 years old, in perfect health and with lovely characters!
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You can read their stories and profiles with the hashtag: #HKDRLongtermer. Please complete the Adoption Questionnaire on our website if you can offer a home to one of them.

All dogs deserve a home, and it’s time these long-termers had their chance!

For fans of Dobermans I had a surrender request from someone who has a one year-old male which she can't handle, and as we can't have this dog at our Homing Centre this dog I will just mention it in case anyone is interested.  Please contact me at sally@hongkongdogrescue.com if you have the time, space and experience to adopt a nice but strong Doberman who has been mis-trained and is now quite fearful.

Wizard's family are all set for Christmas!

I have talked a lot about the poodles we have in foster homes so I'm pleased to be able to announce the adoption of little Wizard, now happily part of a loving family.  There are many more available to meet who aren't staying at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, so please ask if you are interested.

Sun 26th Nov: An amazing free gift offer for Christmas

We had a new guest photographer at Whiskers N Paws today and you can see her beautiful set here Album Puppy Adoption Day 26 November 2017 All photos by Mary Dimitropoulou of Mary Dimitropoulou Photography

Not only was Mary Dimitropoulou kind enough to come to our Puppy Afternoon but she has made a very generous Christmas offer of a free photo session for the next five puppy adopters, each worth $1500, including three digital files.  That's a fantastic gift for any family, and you can see Mary's work for the National Geographic here  http://m.yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/profile/1422586/#/photos/

This offer will apply only to the first five Whiskers N Paws puppy adoptions starting next Sunday, just in time for Christmas.

We tried out the new Adopted board today

Blanket and Target were the two lucky ones today, and even though they were too early for the full photo session there are a lot of lovely shots of both pups included in today's set.

Target made sure this family noticed him

Baby Twix was lucky to be taken for fostering, and older pups Laura and Bina went back to their respective foster homes at the end of the afternoon where both are doing extremely well.  However I really need a foster for Betty, as her brother Turner is also in a foster home and second brother Linus will be going this week so that will leave just her.  It's important too that at this age Betty gets socialised and starts her basic training, and she is such a beautiful puppy that I'm amazed she hasn't been chosen yet.  I can't wait to see how she turns out as an adult because she has such an unusual colouring and lots of spots and dots over her body.

Laura's brother Harvey is another older puppy who needs a home or a foster, and I would be so happy to see him settled.  He's a lovely boy, very gentle and easy, so please let Cindy know if you have space in your home for any of the puppies.  Email her at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com for information of how fostering works.

Harvey is a sharpei cross as you can see by his little ears

Betty (left) , Turner and Linus

Rafi's kisses for his puppyhood foster daddy

There was a very touching reunion during the afternoon when Grace's foster parents met up with their ex-foster Rafi.  He had been with them as a baby puppy, before his adoption and subsequent return as a young adult. In between he had been in another foster home and he is now staying with my neighbours on Lamma and their two ex-HKDR dogs, but his loyal nature - very typical of a sharpei - means he never forgets where he has been happy.  It was quite incredible to see how Rafi immediately went and threw himself at his ex-fosters, and I know he would make the most amazing lifelong family member for anyone willing to give him a chance.

Grace has also sadly been in several homes, and she must be the sweetest girl ever

Rafi stayed close all afternoon

Sat 25th Nov: A happily busy Saturday

It was non-stop at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre today, keeping Andrea and Kathy busy throughout the morning and afternoon. 

Shiba cross Wendy was chosen to go home after her star performance at Baker McKenzie the previous evening had shown what a lovely girl she is.  She will have to get along with the other two resident dogs to finalise the adoption, so we really hope she's accepted.

I can post Wendy's adoption photo when her stay is confirmed

Corgi Cooper has waited a very long time, and I'm talking all the years since we were at Pokfulam, and finally his big day came.  When Cooper first arrived at HKDR as a young dog he had very serious food guarding issues which created a lot of problems in the small kennels that we occupied.  He moved to the Lamma Home for Small Delinquents where he stayed for years, until I lost the house and all the small dogs had to move out.  By then he had matured and changed, and a shortish spell in a foster home proved that he had given up his guarding behaviour so he came to Ap Lei Chau.  By now he was the sweetest of dogs with absolutely no problems, and even if it took almost a lifetime his (and our) dream finally came true - a real home of his own.

Cooper having a bath during Lamma days

A few families came to meet poodles Rupert and Ellie but they weren't actually taken, and there will be further meetings arranged, as well as those with the foster poodles I mentioned yesterday.

I was at Ap Lei Chau today too, unusually for a Saturday, as I had taken puppies Harvey and Linus over to meet a family who couldn't make it to Whiskers N Paws for Sunday's puppy afternoon.  Handsome Linus was the lucky boy chosen, leaving Harvey as an also-ran once again.  I really hope someone sees what a lovely boy Harvey is before too long and he can enjoy being "The One".  Meet him and all the others between 2pm and 5pm on the terrace at Whiskers N Paws every Sunday.

Lucky Linus was chosen today

Harvey with his adoring fan Betty

The young pointer girl, Coco, left our Tai Po Homing Centre today to see how she and the resident ex-HKDR dog get along, but I feel sure it will work out fine as both as laid-back characters.

Coco the day she arrived at Tai Po

Some happy news from Ap Lei Chau to round up today's post, shiba inu Nona was seen lying down to sleep for the first time.  It seems strange that that small thing should make us so happy, but it did.

Finally Nona slept lying down!

Fri 24th Nov: Gearing up for a busy weekend

Candy has her own story of course

There's going to be a mad scramble for corgi puppy Candy this weekend, as I have received many enquiries and there's only one Candy available.  I hope that those potential adopters who turn up at the Homing Centre too late for this particular dog will consider others as there are so many to choose from.

Callie comes with her baby

I do have a little surprise up my sleeve for anyone wanting a small breed puppy because there is a very young black poodle baby available.  However this little one comes with a proviso, that her mother is taken too.  How a poodle mother and her puppy came to be with us is a long story, but both have been in foster since the pup was born and she is now eight weeks old.  Please complete the adoption questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt), if not already done, if you are interested in a very sweet mother-and-daughter poodle pair.

Wendy is such a lovely girl

There are so many dogs available and a huge choice for potential adopters, but I would like to mention one particular dog who is a new arrival but such an easy and very sweet girl.  Her name is Wendy and when she came from AFCD they told us she was a shiba-corgi cross, although she looks very much like a shiba inu to me.  Regardless of a breed name, which is not important anyway, Wendy was our HKDR representative at the Baker McKenzie office in Central today, where we had been invited to give an evening presentation about HKDR and adoption.  Eva was there with a group of volunteers (thank you) and another ex-HKDR papillon we had called Butterfly, but it was Wendy who was the real star of the afternoon.  I have no idea what her story is but she is six years old and a perfect dog for any family.  Wendy is staying at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, 21 Main Street, if you would like to meet her.

Betty is going to be a stunning adult

Sunday is Whiskers N Paws puppy time of course, and I'm feeling a lot more optimistic this week about adoptions.  There will be some new additions of course, as I have been to AFCD and that has an inevitable result, but it's the slightly older puppies that I have high hopes for, those like siblings Betty, Linus and Turner, and also Laura and Bina, both in foster.

Laura loves her walks and is fully toilet trained at home

Laura has been in three different foster homes now and they have all said what a very happy and easy girl she is.  Surely the time has come for someone to sign on the dotted line and make her a permanent family member?

Bina is also a very sweet girl 

Bina was also very popular when she first arrived but for some reason wasn't ever adopted, and both she and Laura aren't going to be large-sized adults.

I'm hoping for a busy Sunday afternoon this weekend

There are a lot of new Peak to Fong photos up on our Hong Kong Dog Rescue Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hkdogrescue/  so please take a look and see if you can spot yourself and your dog(s) there.  Everyone had such a great time and I'm happy to report that this was our best ever Peak to Fong result in terms of money raised.  Thank you again to everyone who contributed, from sponsors to participants and the amazing volunteers.

Thurs 23rd Nov: The sad sleeping habit of Nona

As you know, many of our dogs come to us from breeders when they are no longer wanted or able to produce puppies.  They have lived awful lives up until the moment they are finally released, and then the often-long process of restoring their mental and physical health begins.

Nona lying for the first with Iris

We took in a couple of shiba inu recently, and Iris told me today that one of them, Nona, would never lie down to sleep and remained standing with her eyes closed.  I can only think that having lived in a small cage, lying down would have meant lying in her own excrement so standing was preferable.  Can you imagine how a dog would choose to sleep standing up, knowing how much they usually love to snuggle in a soft bed?  Poor Nona, she is such a sweet lady and now that I know this about her I'm determined to find her a home where she can learn what is normal behaviour.   Iris sent me this photo of herself on the floor of the Homing Centre, holding Nona and encouraging her to lie down.  As soon as Iris stood up so did Nona, and continued standing with her head nodding and eyes closed.

Regular readers will also know that we have many poodles that come to us who are now either at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre or in foster.  Almost all poodles are highly strung, sensitive, emotional and not recommended for families with children, but ironically the ex-breeder poodles are the sweet and easy ones, even if they start off having skin and ear infections and various other ailments.  The poodles that have been in homes are the ones who have been treated like babies rather than dogs, resulting in unwanted human-type behaviours such as jealousy and selfishness displayed as guarding and/or aggression.  Some of the aggression is fear-based and much of the anti-social behaviour stems from improper training and treatment, but the result is the same.

Toffee is a real dog who loves life

Two of the current poodles who are in foster with children and have proved themselves to be lovely dogs are Toffee and Scrumpy, both from breeders.  They are lucky to be in a temporary home where they get proper exercise including hikes and swimming at the beach (weather permitting) and it shows in the behavior.

This is the life a poodle should live, not being pushed in a pram (Toffee and Scrumpy)

Scrumpy in foster

Another exceptionally sweet poodle girl is Callie, also in foster, and these three are at the top of my poodle recommendation list.  There are others who are close after having been in fantastic foster homes for re-training, but still have enough residual if occasional issues that I would be hesitant to let them be adopted with children.

Callie is a super-sweet girl

Weds 22nd Nov: Update on Amber

When one tennis ball isn't enough

It's time I wrote an update on Amber, the golden retriever who was surrendered to AFCD with lymphoma, and thanks to the generosity of sponsors was able to be given expensive chemotherapy.  Photos sent from her foster home show that she's loving life and having the best time with the resident golden retriever, and while this treatment isn't a cure it will give Amber a reprieve for an unknown length of time, hopefully considerable.

Playtime!

I was contacted today by someone who has an ex-HKDR dog, adopted a long time ago, and who is getting ready to move to Australia - with the dog of course. Unfortunately there seems to be a last-minute hitch so I was trying to help, but for anyone who has a dog here and who might be moving to Australia it's good to be fully informed and prepared in advance.  Here's the link that tells you everything that's required, and you can check for similar online information for countries like New Zealand that also have rigid rules about importing animals.  http://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/step-by-step-guides/category-3-step-by-step-guide-for-dogs 
In comparison the UK is easy, and the rest of Europe, the USA and Canada a piece of cake so there should never be a reason or excuse for not taking your dog(s) with you when you leave.

Apply via the website www.hongkongdogrescue.com

I hope everyone is enjoying the cool weather and taking advantage of it by going for long walks with your dogs.  For registered volunteers don't forget that you can take any of our HKDR dogs out for hikes or fun by completing the Hiking Form, and the Tai Po dogs especially love spending the day away from the Homing Centre.  I know my Lamma dogs are full of energy these days and are really enjoying the change in temperature, and even my barometer dog  Safari, who refuses to leave the house if it's too warm, has been up and raring to go every morning recently.