Weds 30th March: The rehabilitation side

 The best part about puppies being found as newborns and being hand-raised in loving foster homes is that we know for sure that their experience of life from the start has been positive (other than then losing their mothers of course).  We can be fairly sure of their ages if they come to us with their eyes still closed, and by the time the pups are old enough to move into their forever homes they go with a solid understanding of how life in a human household works, as well as being toilet trained (for the most part).  Many of them have also learned basic commands, and the transition to new families is almost always very easy.

When dogs come to us as adults from AFCD we only know that they have been assessed as homeable, however dogs in situations like AFCD kennels don't react or behave normally.  Many are very scared, and fear makes a dog respond in different ways depending on their character.  Timid dogs become very submissive, other dogs appear to be aggressive, even if they're really not.  As dogs at AFCD are usually kept in single kennels, one thing we can't know is how they are with other dogs, and that has sometimes proved to be problematic.

If a dog is surrendered directly to HKDR we ask for background information and the reason for the surrender, as well as health and vaccination history.  It's always upsetting to get a female dog from AFCD and with no background information, only to find that she's already been desexed when she's opened up to have the surgery performed. 

3 of the "Crickets" with American cocker Leo and Piper

When smaller dogs are surrendered it's often due to behaviour problems, especially poodles and shiba inu, and this is where the rehabilitation side of our work is needed.   I've mentioned the Lamma base as being one place where the small "delinquents" stay, although many of them are only very shy, not really a problem as such.  Currently the four "Cricket" family, and scruffy terrier River come under this category, as well as the "Shy Squad" who moved from the upstairs office at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.   They enjoy having the space and freedom without any of the scary things like strangers, traffic, noise and so on.

Two shibas and Phaedra, all happy together

Those dogs that aren't shy but have behaviour that made them difficult to re-home, also find that free living, without any of the pressure to conform, remove the stressors that made them react in an undesirable way.  With shibas that's usually biting, with cocker spaniel Phaedra it's loud and high-pitched barking.  Given the right environment all of these dogs and their unwanted behaviour can be helped, and there are two particular cases that are ongoing, shiba inu Goji and Cane Corso Bucket (at Tai Po). 

Goji can happily play ball without guarding

Goji was offered a temporary home by staff member Yannie, and his behaviour has changed quite dramatically since then.  Shibas are not easy dogs to keep as pets because they were bred to be hunters, and they're extremely smart, obstinate, curious and independent.  Yannie has already found that Goji can open doors unless they're locked!  Yannie has been taking Goji to work with her, both at the Tai Po Homing Centre and the temporary office space at Elgin Street, exposong Goji to a variety of different experiences and enviroments. Now Goji is moving onto the next stage of his rehabilitation, a foster home where Yannie's work with him can be continued.

Bucket is a good boy, just very strong

Bucket's story is a sad and horrible one, so it's no surprise that he is a difficult case.  Some of you may remember that he had his ears cut off as a puppy, and was subsequently removed from his home by SPCA after neighbours reported the screaming (and the blood).  When Bucket's ears (what was left of them) had healed, he was sent to AFCD where he stayed for several months, so he was already a young adult when we took him in.  Those vital months of puppyhood development that should have included socialisation and training had been completely missed, so we ended up with a very large and strong dog who had no idea about anything.  It took two volunteers to walk him as he'd pull just one over when he lunged at passing cars.

Someone who has regularly offered help in one way or another over the years, and recently offered to pitch in a Tai Po when we've been so short of staff and volunteers, asked if she could help with Bucket's rehabilitation and training.  Kaz has now been coming regularly, getting to know Bucket and to gain his trust, and working alongside the only volunteer, Ray, who was strong enough to be able to walk such a strong dog.   It's going to take a while but Bucket is a good boy at heart, and hopefully in the end we can find a home that's just right for him.

Rehabilitating dogs that have missed out on positive experiences during their early development period takes time, and a lot of patience, but it's not impossible.  Bell the poodle was one of our "Red" dogs for a long time, and also not an easy dog, but he was given the chance of a home.  I received this message from his adopter the other day:  

Poodle Bell went from "Red" to loved

"We adopted Bell a year ago. 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for letting us adopt Bell, he is a massive part of our family and we love him so much.

He loves his life on Cheung Chau, some days we go up in the hills, while others we go into the village, he often walks with his bigger brother and sister. Sometimes Bell, Joseph [another ex-HKDR poodle] and me get the same ferry to and from Cheung Chau, just because Bell likes the ride.

I tried to write you a letter on Saturday, but it wasn’t very good and have realised if I wait until I have written the perfect letter, you will never know how grateful we are to have Bell and Joseph in our lives." 

Not every dog is perfect to begin with, but every dog deserves the chance to become someone's perfect companion.