Thurs 17th Nov: Hooray for Bibs

Jamie the Jack Russell

It was another full day today, starting with the three dogs that had to be picked up from Shatin AFCD, namely the Lhasa Apso, Jack Russell and a German shepherd.  After they had been dropped off at Acorn for health checks I met up with the van, bringing my old dog Cindy who had suddenly developed a lump on her leg.  Having already had two surgeries for cancer I was afraid that this was another malignant growth and she is now booked in for surgery on Monday to have it removed.  It's not a cure as such, but it's been over a year since she had the first melanoma removed so it was definitely worth it. I suspect this will be the last time she will be fit enough to undergo the knife as she is old and nearing her natural end anyway, but if it delays the inevitable that's good enough.

Peanut

I meant to pick the doglets up from AFCD in Pokfulam but the crates had been left behind and there was no way these nervous pups could travel without them.  I was about to leave empty handed when I was asked to take a look at a little dog out at the back, and ended up with (now called) Peanut, a very cute and young mix.  She didn't have a microchip so I had to estimate her age, which could be anything between one and two years old.  She'd been picked up by someone as a stray so there's no background, but she is trained and very active.

Waiting for our turn to see Dr Tony I got talking to a couple of other dog owners, and when I mentioned that Peanut was a rescue dog someone remarked that she didn't look like one.  This is the big problem we face, the impression many people have that all rescue dogs are down-and-outs, old and sick, aggressive or somehow not worthy.  Of course many are old and sick and some do have behaviour problems, but there are also the perfectly healthy, young and lovely ones too.

Rufus the Larger Apso

After our consult it was time to take the new Shatin small dogs to the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, along with Peanut and a couple of others who had been in for desexing and dental treatments.  I was keen to meet the Lhasa Apso having only seen photographs so far, and nearly fell off my chair when what I saw was a very hairy hippopotamus, nothing like the little thing I'd been expecting.  I have to laugh at these "purebreeds" that gullible pet shop customers pay large amounts of money for, because they are just mixes in reality.  Not that it makes them any less valuable in real terms because after all a dog is a dog, and they don't care what they are called or what they look like.  However this Lhasa apso is not exactly small, although he may look half the size after a much-needed haircut and be totally transformed as many are.

Bibs  got his chance

There was some very happy news about one of our Ap Lei Chau dogs, one that I had mentioned as having minor behaviour issues but just needed a chance.  Bibs was taken home just the other day for a trial, and we had anticipated that Cactus would need to spend some time giving help during the settling-in period. However it seemed that once away from the stress of the Homing Centre Bibs was no problem at all, and we are all so happy that his formal adoption can go ahead far sooner then expected.  This is what I have been hoping for, that the dogs who don't tolerate the living situation of the Homing Centre will be taken into homes where they can have peace and quiet, and relax.  Bibs is a perfect example of what can happen, so please help the other small dogs if you can.

Snooki and Sandal