Mon 25th April: Learning my own lessons

It's taken a while but now someone has come forward to claim this "Maltese"

As is so often the case each day brings good news and bad, and some which could fall into either camp depending on how you see it.  Someone came forward to claim the cocker spaniel-ish dog that was found wandering a couple of weeks ago, although there is confusion about who the actual registered owner is and even the breed of the dog.  The claimant says he is a Maltese, born in and brought over from Australia, while he looks very much like a spaniel to me.  Whatever he is, since he has been in a foster home and registered under HKDR with a "Temporary Keeper" status, the dog has started treatment for his bad skin and ear infection, although we have had to hold back on having dental treatment (much-needed cleaning and extraction) because I am not the official owner.  So while I am happy to reunite a dog with its long-term family, I'm not thrilled about the fact that it hasn't been properly cared for even if much loved, or that the license expired back in 2010.

Ex-HKDR Penny watches as Muesli meets the cat

The news about Muesli is definitely good as he continues to settle in well with his new family, cat included.  Although he is still only on a trial I'm pretty sure he won't be coming back, which is more than can be said for poor Lulu, adopted over the weekend and already being returned.  It's nothing to do with her or her behaviour, rather the arrangements made for her daycare while her official adopters are out at work.

Luckily Lulu has a foster to go back to

Over and over again I have seen arrangements with families, friends and neighbours fall through as the reality of having to take responsibility for someone else's pet sinks in.  It's a commitment that needs to be taken seriously, and too often it quickly becomes apparent that the person or people who may initially have enthusiastically agreed to be the babysitter have their own lives to think about and don't want to be tied to having a dog.   The same applies to adopters who say they can go home from work every lunchtime to walk the dog.  It's an unrealistic promise which also falls apart when the daily trek to and from the office leaves no time for anything else and becomes an unwanted chore.

Every time I ignore my own rules and approve an adoption for which I have made an exception I end up regretting it, and now it has happened again.   Luckily for Lulu she has a foster home to go back to, and maybe next time I'll remember what I have told myself.