Fri 29th July: Running here, there and everywhere

 I think the email situation is driving everyone crazy and  I'm really sorry for all of the blocked messages and bouncebacks, but at least enough are filtering through that I've been seeing the many enquiries about new boy Google.  It's going to be a relief to see him leave on Friday morning, which is what is supposed to be happening.

All of these are still puppies

However, just when we were getting things settled and sorted with this new group, I got the news of yet another large number of small dogs and puppies heading our way and due to turn up on Friday. At first I thought it was just a few dogs, because in my haste I hadn't expanded the message to show the complete text, and it was only just now that I checked and saw that there would also be ten puppies.  So now we're all on high alert and getting ready to receive, sort, check, and name all of them  

I have to mention again that when there are very cute, young and small dogs coming in, we also get a lot of adoption requests for them.  In many cases there are several suitable homes for the same dog, so then it's really a matter of who can come to take the dog (or puppy) home first.  It doesn't mean that one home is better than the others, it just means there's only one of that particular dog and we can't split them into pieces.   As in Google's case, he had so many offers of a home that I just hope that some of the others dogs can take his place instead.  

At the same time that we're dealing with the newcomers and everything else that happens on a daily basis, we're also in the process of moving the office from HKDR@Elgin over to the new North Street headquarters in Kennedy Town.  Just as we had to take over the downstairs of Elgin Street for new dogs that turned up, so too is North Street becoming the check-in location for incoming four-legged refugees rather than being the replacement Red Dog Centre (which for now remains in Ap Lei Chau).

It's become very clear that having several locations at the same time is a real headache in terms of staffing and having full time daily care for all of the dogs. We have a new recruit joining us at Elgin Street to run the store and training centre once the space has been cleared of all of the office equipment, and Kennedy Town Homing Centre Manager Iris is busy working out a roster of work places for everyone.  Being flexible is one of the requirements of working with dogs, because they only know that they need feeding and taking care of and have no idea that we are all running around after them making sure that all needs are met. 

Every day is so full and busy for all of the staff, so please be patient if you're waiting for a reply to an email, especially during this period when nothing seems to be functioning properly. We're doing the very best that we can.

I almost forgot to mention that we have another pug arriving, this time a direct surrender from a home, so this boy would suit those who have asked about the pair of pugs we're trying to keep together if possible.   

For all adoption enquiries please start by completing the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ and give as much detail as possible about your home and situation.