Fri 4th May: The new Homing Centre is coming together

Panda as a young adult in 2014

I was up at Tai Po today visiting the Homing Centre and saying hello to the many dogs still there that I have known since they were very young puppies.  It's incredibly sad that after so many years they have never been chosen while others have come and gone, although at least several long-termers have hit the adoption jackpot this year.  Still, there are far too many that are overlooked for no reason at all other than they are one of hundreds. 

Panda, for example, was the cutest baby, totally adorable, but he had the bad luck to be adopted at that age by a family who had no idea about puppies and their natural behaviour so he was returned as damaged goods.  That's the saddest thing about returnees, that they come back to us with a reputation, and maybe even real damage caused during their first formative months.   How a puppy is treated and trained in that incredibly important learning period will imprint on their brains for the rest of their lives.

Bossy is still with us after many years

I completely forgot to mention a dog at AFCD that I know many people will be clamouring to adopt as he is that most loved breed of all, a golden retriever, and only a year old at that.  I was told he has a problem with his back leg but I don't have specific details, and the sooner I can get him out and to see Dr Tony Matthews at Acorn, the better.  This is a very sweet dog, desperate for attention of course, so if you are interested in offering a home please complete the Adoption Questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt). 

There's intense activity at the new Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre as the contactor is under pressure to get everything done before the dogs move in, and everyone is feeling stressed.  I'm sure there'll be adjustments in the weeks after occupation as we see that some things could be better placed, the same as happened after we first took over the current and soon-to-be-vacated Homing Centre. 

The new Homing Centre taking shape

There will be some new puppies at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday, with other previously-seen of course, and they will also be at Heal on Saturday.  It's time Willy and Cello found their forever families as they have been in foster homes a long time. 

Cello is the last of her large litter and it's time she found a home