Tues 13th Dec: More puppy fosters needed!

A misplaced needle caused paralysis for this tiny tot

We got two more breeder dogs today, an eight-month white poodle and a one year-old Yorkie, both with health problems of course since breeders don't give away their money-makers.  For the poodle we're hoping it's another case of a badly luxating patella as that can probably be fixed, while for the Yorkie we were told a misplaced injection went into the spine and caused paralysis.  We will have to get both checked out of course, and see what needs to be done, but it seems there is a never-ending supply of damaged breeder dogs that need help, and that costs money.

You may be wondering how breeders like this get away with it and why they haven't been reported, and the answer is that there isn't just one location or one breeder, and getting one raided would just result in the others going even deeper underground and not allowing any dogs to be rescued.  So for now we will just keep doing what we can and taking the dogs that are lucky enough to be given their freedom.  If you can help with vet costs or fostering those that need surgery, or could even consider adopting in the hope that surgery and/or treatment will work, please let us know.  Just remember the bulldog Zippo, now Bentley, who has made an incredible comeback from his paralysed state and can now run and play just like any other young dog.

Zippo Bentley made an amazing recovery

I went to AFCD to take out the second rottweiler cross, a girl this time and a very sweet and beautiful blue/black colour, as well as the last of the Stanley Barracks ten.  I had left him until now because he was so scared and I really wasn't sure if it was "curable", but one of the AFCD dog catching team, who is a very nice man and a real dog lover, showed me that there was no aggression by putting his arms round the dog and hugging him. In fact I often ask the AFCD staff, especially the kennel workers, to tell me if a dog is friendly because they are the ones who clean and feed and have close contact with the newcomers.  I don't know if the Pokfulam Centre is particularly lucky, but the AFCD staff there are always friendly and welcoming, and very happy to see the dogs taken for homing.

Jolene and lookalike Otis are lovely dogs

I was told the Stanley Barracks dog had a (Chinese of course) name which translated into Four Seasons, so sticking with the theme I called him Winter.  The female is now Jolene, a name I stole from one of our adopted dogs, the one who only loves her squirrel toy.  Jolene has been reunited with her brother Otis who has been at Tai Po since last week, and they are both very lovely dogs.

There another dog at AFCD which I'm very keen to take out, but there is a slight problem in that she is a mother with her five kiddies.  When they first arrived I was told someone wanted to take them out and had requested that HKDR sign the release form.  However when I learned that there was no home, only a shelter destination, for the family I refused to sign, and to cut the story short the mother and her puppies will now come to us.  However since I had first said I would take them, thirteen babies have been rescued and sent to foster homes so we urgently need more puppy fosters for these five four-week olds so I can then take the mother.  The pups are gorgeous toddlers, and although they would ideally stay with their mum for another couple of weeks they are old enough to eat on their own and can be sent to foster as a pair and a trio.  If you can accommodate some little guests until they find permanent homes, please contact Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com, thank you.