Mon 24th Dec: Christmas Eve and the homeless

Christmas has arrived, and with the New Year only a week away my thoughts are as always with the hundreds - no, thousands - of dogs that are without homes, or even food, today and every day.  There's always discussion about the problem of stray or wild dogs and what should be done about them, but no animal asks to be thrown out of their home and left in the middle of nowhere to die. Even a dog that is abused by its owner will remain loyal, but that certainly can't be said of the humans who treat them as temporary commodities.  Animals are let down time and again, and are then blamed for being on the street or in Country Parks as if they are there by choice.

Dustin in front, Eva behind

Many of our Tai Po dogs are those that were adopted as baby pups then given up when no longer convenient, dogs like Dustin and Eva whose horrible adopters dumped them when they left Hong Kong.  Today Dustin was given a second chance as he left Tai Po for a trial, while Eva has made new friends at the Homing Centre so she won't miss her "brother" too much.

Baby Eva

Archie is another returned puppy who's now a year old.  His crime was to chase the birds in the garden, but he was never taken for the walks that had been promised and was bored witless.  A garden is lovely for dogs to play in, but it isn't supposed to be a place that the dog never leaves.  Luckily for handsome Archie he has a new family ready to take him after the holidays, and they have already been coming to take him for long hikes which he really loves.

Baby Dustin as he was when first adopted

With so many dogs at Tai Po it's impossible to keep them all in my mind at the same time, but when a name is mentioned and my memory is jogged, the story comes back to me.  There are really too many beautiful dogs with such lovely characters, and it's always upsetting to think of them still waiting and hoping.  They adapt to their circumstances and deal with what they have, and it's only when they're given a chance in a home of their own that you see their true nature come out.  It's lovely to receive updates from adopters with photos or videos showing the dogs as real family members, sharing lives and memories.

My big wish for 2019 is that more people will shun the pet shops and breeders and open their hearts to the beautiful homeless ones, whether puppies or adults.  There are really so many, purebreed and mixes, and all of them have a heart with so much love to give. Please don't support the cruel pet trade by buying a life that is the cause of so much suffering, and don't think that breeders in other countries are any better than those in Hong Kong because they aren't.