Sat 16th May: A dog with nothing but a name

Hattie is staying at our Ap Lei Chau Centre

Weekends aren't quite the same any more, but as things slowly return to the PCV (pre-coronavirus) way of life we should be able to re-start the Sunday puppy afternoons at Whiskers N Paws.  For now you can still meet the puppies at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre which is open every single day of the year from 10am to 6pm.

Hattie's brother Harley

We took in a new dog at Ap Lei Chau today, surrendered by someone who had no idea of the dog's age, history, vaccination or license record or anything other than it was a female with the name Guinea, now changed to Ginny. 

Guinea-now-Ginny is quite a small dog

As it turned out Ginny did have a microchip so I was able to ascertain that she is eight years old and with an expired license.  She's quite small, about the same size as Salty, and her condition isn't the best as she has bald patches on her chest and either a urinary tract infection (UTI) or bladder stones.  Of course that will all be established when she goes for a vet check, but she's a pretty dog and a good size for anyone not wanting a larger dog.

It seems bizarre to me that someone can have a dog and know absolutely nothing about it.  Ginny had belonged to someone else who had left Homing Kong and passed her to the person who brought her to us, but wouldn't you want to at least ask some basic questions if you took in a dog?  Anyway I'm glad Ginny is with us now and can get the treatment she needs, as well as a new home.

Coincidentally I also received an email from someone who had adopted a puppy nine years ago and was asking about the license.  She said she recalled that she'd been told the puppy had been vaccinated, so could I confirm the details.  It was clear that since being adopted the puppy had never had a rabies vaccination, which is part of getting a license, nor anything else in the past nine years.  The adopter said she didn't know anything about rabies vaccinations or licenses, despite every adopter being given a folder of information and being told verbally what's required.

We all know from years of experience that adopting can be exciting but also a daunting process, and much of the information goes in one ear and out of the other.  That's why everything is also given in writing, but as even that seems in many cases to be ignored we have gone one step further and have produced an adoption booklet which contains all the information you need to know about everything to do with having a puppy or dog.  The booklet isn't available just yet but I hope by the time we get back to our regular puppy afternoons we'll have it ready.

We're hoping there won't be any allergy issues

We have a few adoptions in the pipeline at Tai Po, with one lucky dog leaving today for a trial in case of potential allergies in the family.  As with all first time dog families, our trainer Cactus will be available to help as needed, and it's really because almost everyone asks the same basic questions that the adoption booklet came about. 

This poodle will be the first to leave the Red Dog Centre

There's also another potential adoption due to take place early next week and it's something we're all very excited about because it's one of our "Red Dog" poodles.   We know these poodles behave the way they do because of their poor early life experiences and the lack of understanding of the breed. We also know that once they have built up a bond of trust with someone they're perfectly fine, as seen with all of the volunteers who have spent time with the "red" dogs.  We have always hoped that these poodles would be given the chance to prove themselves, and now it looks like the first of them will be going and hopefully leading the way for others.

Beautiful Macy also left Tai Po today, not as an adopted dog but for fostering.  It's been a long time since Macy knew what a real home was as she was one of the "Wonderland" cruelty case dogs.  I'm just happy to know that Macy can start to re-learn what a home life is, and to get ready for her forever family.