Weds 17th Nov: Looking for a new home

 My head is full of so many things that I have to stop and think about which month it is now as I type in the date. Someone pointed out recently that I'd written September instead of November, but I'm not surprised because I'm suffering from a brain tsunami brought on by trying to carry out multiple jobs at the same time.  Today I was out again with some team mates looking at a potential new site for the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, but while on paper it looked amazing it turned out to be a disappointment. We ended up walking the streets just trying to spot those distinctive property agent signs on any building that looked remotely possible, but most spaces are too small or just not suitable for dogs.  I can't count the number of times I've been excited about one space, then finding out that for one reason of another it won't work.  

In fact I was thinking back over the years and how many places and plots of land we've been to see all over the New Territories, Outlying Islands and Hong Kong Island, and every single time there's been a reason we haven't been able to move ahead, usually objections from villagers or the various Government Departments that have to give their blessing.  When we were evicted from the Pokfulam Kennels we occupied up until 2010 (and the site is still empty), we were given a ten year lease on a wonderful plot of land on Lantau, a dream site we thought.  However one by one the objections started coming in, and in the end the land sat there unused until the ten years expired.  Thankfully we were offered the Tai Po house and land at the very last minute, and we're still there as you know. 

Maybe the Dog Angel will deliver a similar gift for the small dogs in the form of the perfect site for a new Hong Kong Island Homing Centre to replace our current (and much loved) Ap Lei Chau home. 

The problem with me being out all day is that I can't reply to all but the most urgent of messages, which means having to deal with everything in the evening or early the next morning.  Unfortunately many people seem to think we have an automated answering service and expect an instant response to email or messages, but the truth is there's just me, very busy staff who need to take care of the dogs, or volunteers. 

Theo is now Miru

Theo was the lucky dog for today, and he now has the new name of Miru.  

Gyro is tiny so is vulberable to injury

Just as an update on some of the other recent, and not-so-recent arrivals, Gyro, the poodle I called the Tiny Terror, is definitely not living up to his name and has been nothing but sweet and affectionate since soming to us, although he does have spinal pain which is what we assume caused his previous aggression.  For that reason he can't be with other dogs or children, who might inadvertantly hurt his back.

Phaedra takes her green toy everywhere

Cocker spaniel Phaedra is really enjoying her life now, and her fear of strangers and subsequent barking is slowly disappearing as her trust in humans grows.  In fact we all love her and the way she carries her green toy around everywhere.

Max is just a year old

I suspect Max, the new poodle boy, is actually a labradoodle, not only because he's bigger than the usual poodle size, but also because unfortunately he has hip dysplasia.  This is common in labradors, and subsequently labradoodles, but less so in poodles. Max is seeing Dr Tony at Acorn on Thursday, and I'm assuming he'll be needing surgery one one or both sides.