Sat 14th May: Nothing in life is free

Tilly stops to chat with Isobel and Spotty

The days just fly by, and now it's the weekend again and time for some adoptions I hope.  I didn't get my usual Saturday at home today as I was out in the New Territories, but regular Lamma volunteers Vivian and Justine came over to entertain the troops in my absence.  It was the perfect day for beach and swimming adventures, something the dogs really love.

I saw on someone else's Facebook page that there had been a post on a Chinese Group page inviting comments and opinions on the various Animal Rescue groups, and of course HKDR got the usual critcism along with everyone else.  One of the most common remarks I hear is that HKDR is a rich organisation which doesn't need donations, but of course that's just not true.  Much of our time and effort is spent in fundraising for the simple reason that it costs a huge amount of money to take care of the hundreds of dogs we have taken in and have promised a home for life.  It's not enough to provide the most basic of accommodation and the cheapest of food if you are running a rescue organisation, especially when many dogs spend years, if not their whole lives, with us.  We're not one of those terrible hidden-away shelters where the animals are kept in cages and rarely, if ever, given the opportunity to get out, never see a vet or are properly liensed.  We want more than that for our dogs, and most of all a home at the end of the day.

Becoming a successful animal rescue organisation doesn't happen by chance or luck, it requires hard work, dedication and determination.  It can never be a part-time job or something that you do for just a while if you are going to be able to survive.  You have to accept that your social life is over and holidays a thing of the past, and that there are seven working days in every week.   There are so many animal groups after the same thing whether it's adopters or sponsors and donors, and as the old saying goes, if you snooze you lose.  So when you see a successful organisation that seems to be so "lucky" and gets all the breaks, believe me there is nothing that is free in life or anything that just drops in your lap without a lot of blood, sweat and tears behind the scenes.

Who will be lucky enough to take Debra home?

Now my focus is once again on Sunday's puppy afternoon at Whiskers N Paws, and I am delighted to see the sun out for the weekend despite the grim weather forecast.   I'll see you there if you're coming to find a new four-legged friend, and if not I hope your dogs will be enjoying a day out and having lots of fun.

Maybe one of my Lamma brothers will find a home on Sunday