I'm not sure how many of you wrote to the Ombudsman after his office invited the general public to submit their views, but I hope there will be enough to create some changes. I won't hold my breath, but seriously the system seriously needs overhauling as so much has changed over the past couple of decades that the current laws are totally inadequate. The supply of puppies (and other animals) flooding the market, for want of a better word, means that there are always huge numbers being abandoned. I have spoken to other organisations and everyone is saying the same, the situation is out of control and nobody can cope with the requests for help in taking in unwanted puppies and adult dogs. Whereas previously we would have a waiting list for small dogs, now we have so many young and lovely hopefuls. Potential adopters come to take a look, but leave again if we don't have exactly what they have in mind. I could understand if the dogs are old or sick, or if they have behaviour issues, but these are very cute, sweet and happy youngsters.
Most of the dogs coming in are smaller sized and go to our Kennedy Town Centre, and every week there are more and more. Today there were two new arrivals, one being a one year-old corgi girl, very sweet and playful, and the other a spaniel-cross type, only slightly older.
We also accepted a Malamute boy at our Tai Po Homing Centre, with a husky girl also coming soon.
Every one of these dogs has a sad story, with the corgi having been left at a dog hotel and never picked up (same as the Malamute), while the husky's owner has serious dementia and can no longer care for his dogs. In the latter case of course it's nobody's fault that the Malamute needs a new home, but in most cases of dogs becoming homeless it's due to the fickle nature of the people who bought puppies and then after even a short time decided they no longer wanted them.
There's no guarantee that any adopter will stand by their promise of a home for life, but at least we can do our best to make sure that everyone understands that they need to consider the next fifteen years (or more), and a dog isn't just a toy for the children or for entertainment while it's convenient.
I keep writing the same thing over and over, and that's because it's so upsetting to be asked to take in so many dogs while knowing the chances of them all finding forever homes is so low. Catherine's Puppies has asked if we can help with finding an adopter for a massive dog, and I mean really huge at around 90kg, but who on earth brought a puppy this size into Hong Kong, or allowed its mother to have puppies? It's madness, complete selfish insanity.
I need to take a deep breath and calm down, but something has to be done to stop the endless breeding and smuggling when there are already so many homeless dogs.
That said, if you want to offer a dog a forever home please start by completing the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/.
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