Mon 17th Oct: Leaving and arriving

Speedy leaving HKDR@Elgin

 I'd mentioned Speedy's adoption yesterday but he actually left HKDR@Elgin today, so I can share his going home photo now.  With only two adult dogs from that particular intake left, we moved the small puppies who also came as part of the same group from Kennedy Town over to Elgin Street, so you can meet them there now. 

I heard from Cam, who's running the show over at HKDR@Elgin, that the puppies have already been busy trying to dig an escape tunnel through the walls, which actually made me laugh because I can just imagine them plotting and planning.  In fact the walls downstairs at Elgin Street are quite soft so it's not as though the puppies were drilling through solid cement, but it's always good to remind everyone who doesn't understand about puppies that there's no such thing as a quiet, independent and laid-back one.  They're all dependent on their carers and friends, whether or not they're actually siblings, and keeping a young puppy alone and without companionship is very damaging to their healthy development.  Their "bad" behaviour is not done out of spite or malice, it's simply natural curiosity and play.  To punish a puppy for anything innocently done is wrong, and it's up to the humans in the home to make sure that anything valuable or chewable is put out of reach.  Wood and soft furnishings are very attractive to a young puppy, as they're not able to tell the difference between a stuffed

These 3 puppies have moved to Elgin Street

toy and a sofa cushion.  Don't blame the puppy if your shoes are chewed when it's you that hasn't put them safely away.

This little poodle lady came today

As always there are surrendered dogs to write about, and today's new arrival was a fourteen year-old poodle whose old lady owner had moved into a nursing home. We obviously need a foster or adopter who can give this poor tiny girl a new home, as the Homing Centre will be completely overwhelming.  Please email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com, or complete the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/.  At least with a dog of this age you can be sure that she won't chew any of your things, or demand anything more than your care and companionship.

This shiba boy is due on Tuesday

Another dog is due to come to us on Tuesday morning, a young shiba inu that was found wandering but without an identifying microchip.  This boy is estimated to be a year old, but of course we know nothing about him other than his finder/temporary carer told us the dog had no behaviour issues.  I will say that as a shiba we wouldn't recommend him to any inexperienced adopter. 

The poodle and shiba are both coming to us for understandable reasons, however there are two cases of dogs adopted from HKDR that we were asked to take back as if we had just lent them out temporarily. One of those dogs was adopted by a very wealthy man who instructed his staff to deal with getting rid of the dog while he was out of the country.  Despite this man's huge wealth, he refused to make a donation to HKDR if we took the dog back, and in this case - very luckily - an individual who heard about the situation took the dog in.  The other case involves a dog who was again promised a home for life, and we're waiting to find out if this particular owner is going to be willing to provide for the dog's care if we agree to accept him back. 

When you adopt a dog, you do so with the promise of a home for life. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, that means exactly what it says.  If you think that adopting from an animal rescue organisation means that you can just send the dog back when it's no longer convenient, think again, or be prepared to pay a meaningful amount that will cover the cost of the dog's care in the future.