Tues 29th Nov: Adoption is for Life

Brie and Baguette

I love this photo of just-adopted pug Ivory, now called Brie to match her Frenchie "brother" Baguette. It's doubly rewarding to know that she came to us from AFCD, a throwaway pet who has now started a wonderful new life.  Seeing these two just makes me smile, as do all of the adoption photos and follow-ups we get from the families who made the decision to adopt.

Ivory-as-was leaving Ap Lei Chau

In fact as part of the move from this year into next and the hope that every New Year brings, we will be changing our HKDR tag-line from "Adoption Saves Lives" to "Adoption is for Life". These few words carry a joint message, the first being that adopting a dog or puppy means committing to the rest of its life, and the second meaning that adopting literally does mean a life saved to that lucky animal.

Fletcher quickly found a new home

Most of our dogs and puppies come to us from the government's AFCD Animal Management Centres, although not all.  One of today's adoptions came about through one of our adopters telling me about a Westie she had taken in, initially on a temporary basis but after some months as a surrendered dog.  I'd known about Fletcher for a while, having seen him at Acorn and Whiskers N Paws, but it was only when the now ex-owner finally agreed to sign over the paperwork that I posted Fletcher's photo. I knew there would be a lot of enquiries about him, which there were, but by the evening I had chosen a family who had been waiting for this breed for a while, and they happened to have the ideal home and lifestyle for just such a dog.

Coincidentally I was also helping on another case during the evening, which meant having to constantly interrupt my sofa-sharing dogs in their in-front-of-the-TV snoozing.  (In fact they seem to be asleep but if a dog appears on the screen they are all suddenly wide awake and watching intently). This other dog was a King Charles spaniel that had been picked up in Wanchai, and the finder had asked me for help in tracing an owner.  I posted the photo on our HKDR Facebook page and within a short time received a message from a friend of the owner who was still out searching the streets.  I was able to connect both parties and the dog was eventually returned.

This sharpei girl is currently with the breeder

The other day I posted a happy follow-up story about sharpei Gertie who had come to us from a breeder, and now there is another young sharpei girl from the same place needing a home.  I don't have any direct contact with any breeders (because of course I would report them) so all of these cases come via a line of intermediaries, but I believe this is the same breeder that Zippo-now-Bentley also came from, and the litter of sharpei pups a few months ago.  Anyway, this new sharpei girl is eighteen months old and I need somewhere for her to go before I can get her.  Please let me know if you are interested.

Talking of Bentley, here's an update from his adopter on his progress:

Bentley walks all the time when he's at home. He no longer scoots. So much so that the sores on his behind where he was dragging himself have healed. He runs. Bounces. Lunges and jumps all over the place. His braking mechanism involves throwing his hind legs in front of him to stop. He's very playful and quite mischievous.

Short walks with our helper start out with the rear harness and end under his own steam. Longer walks with us and the other dogs are in the wheels and he's a rocket now. Endless energy and no discomfort.

The vet is optimistic that he'll continue to gain strength in his rear legs. 

I also really think that the wheels have put his spine in a straight position allowing him to remember the position he should be in in order to walk. His hind legs go like lightening when he's in his wheels even though his feet are in stirrups.  

When he is being quiet and in bed with us on his back, he gets his spine gently massaged which he likes.