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| Of the Ap Lei Chau puppies, Camilla and Lilac hated their Sunday experience |
Following on from Shadow's first-time success at Whiskers N Paws last week, Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre Manager, Iris, decided it was time to give other shy dogs a chance too. One of those was Shadow's sister Lilac, and the other a beautiful girl called Camilla, along with Nando who was also making his debut at the Sunday afternoon "party" on the terrace. These older puppies have been with us for a while but had come with tick fever, which needed to be treated of course, and subsequent demodex which is a common result of a weakened immune system. Luckily a dog's immune system develops as it grows, just the same as a human baby, so these early puppyhood health issues don't plague a dog throughout its life, but having had tick fever can be a problem with importing to countries like Australia. Adopters who are planning to go (back) to Australia at any time should ask about any history of tick fever and/or have a blood test carried out on adult dogs in advance of any travel. If there are tick fever antibodies present it's better to know in advance rather than wait until the last minute.
However serious tick fever is, and it can kill if not treated, there is another fatal disease which appears following heavy rains such as we have been experiencing recently. That is leptosporosis, and new cases are popping up with alarming frequency at the moment. Although not confined to any specific area it's most commonly affecting dogs who walk from the Peak down to Pokfulam, as infected water carries the "lepto" virus down the mountain along the numerous streams and channels. There is a specific vaccine that is available against the disease but the best way to keep your dogs (and yourself, as it also affects humans) safe is to avoid these areas, or at the very least keep away from the water.
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| You can see the panic in Camilla's eyes |
Going back to Whiskers N Paws and the older first-timers, it wasn't a great success as far as Lilac and Camilla were concerned. Lilac suffered from a bad case of stage fright which meant pooping with fear so often that I had to put her into a crate for some peace and quiet. Camilla quietly hid herself in the bushes, and it was only later when someone noticed she wasn't around that she was spotted. When an attempt was made to get her down from her hiding place she jumped behind the planter boxes into the narrow drainage area behind, and it took a lot of time and effort to coax her along the drain to a door in the front where a crate had been strategically placed. I think a bit more time is needed before these two are ready for another visit.
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| Most pups love Sunday afternoons |
It seemed that it was going to be another fruitless afternoon in terms of adoptions, but at the last minute little foster pup Lucy was chosen. Siblings Creamy and Goldie were taken for fostering together, and they are doing so well in their temporary home with older and adopted Stanley. Please let us know of you can foster a puppy as it makes such a difference to their lives while they're waiting for their forever homes. Take a look at the photos on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hkdogrescue/photos/
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| Tim is just one of the puppies who would love a foster home |
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| Lucy went home at least |
Wellie was the lucky boy at our own Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre and the smile on his face says it all: "Yes, I was chosen!"
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| Wellie's big smile says it all |
Thanks to today's Two Presents donor, Sebastian, for sharing his tenth birthday with HKDR and the puppies. If you want to know more about this great sharing idea, please visit www.twopresents.com
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| Thanks for sharing Sebastian |
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