Mon 8th Jan: Dog Coats and Red Packets

5 sharpei cross puppies (Nando, Ivo, Maud, Lilac and Rosie) are in need of homes/fosters. 

I was in a panic today after realising I'd left my phone at home and the weather had suddenly worsened, leaving me at risk of not being able to get back later.  I'd set off with the intention of taking new puppies and adults dogs out of AFCD and then bringing the pups back to Lamma, but without a boat that wasn't going to be possible.   It was even worse when I saw the litter  of five for the first time and that they were sharpei-crosses, meaning that they have very thin coats and would really suffer from the cold, so rather than head straight back I went via the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre to ask Iris, the manager, if there was space for the smallest ones at least.  Of course she took them all, so now Rosie, Lilac, Maud, Ivo and Nando are safe and warm inside, as well as having proper puppy food to eat.  If you are able to foster, or even better adopt, please complete the Adoption Questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt), or email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com.

The three adults that I also took and who are now at our Tai Po Homing Centre were all originally puppies from animal rescue groups, two of them as a pair, and dumped at a year old, the usual age for boredom to set in with fake adopters.  I call them fakes because they have no real love or concern for dogs, they just want a cute plaything for themselves, or more often their children who for a short few weeks want a puppy.   We often hear complaints that HKDR are too strict about adoption requirements and I know there are other groups who are far less discerning, but even so we still get the returns and we're currently dealing with yet another such case of a puppy adopted for the young daughter and now "it's not working out", a year later.    Today's three dogs are lovely, very sweet-natured and friendly, but they still became victims of human selfishness and the "I want" society.  It infuriates and saddens me that dogs, or any animal, are treated this way, as if their lives mean nothing and they can be disposed of whenever and however.  Those of us who know and love our dogs also understand that they are fully capable of thought and emotion, and that to be discarded like this is devastating for them.

There are several reason for potential adopters to be turned down, but it all amounts to the same thing in the end, a lack of understanding of the nature of dogs and their needs.  Above all, dogs are pack animals who naturally live in family groups and are never solitary.  They rely on their family for companionship and safety, and for their very life.  In the wild a lone dog is a dead dog, and although of course pets don't need to hunt or take care of each other for survival, the need to be part of a family group is still strong.  That's why we reject all homes where the dog will live outside on its own, even though this seems to be commonplace in some countries.  As far as HKDR is concerned, dogs are part of the family and that means living inside with everyone else.  At the very least there needs to be more than one dog who will be excluded from the home so they have each other, but even that isn't really fair.

We also reject homes where the dog will be left along for long hours, and I don't care how many times I hear "but people in Hong Kong have you work you know" as that applies to anywhere in the world.  The fact is that if you work and there's no one at home to look after the dog and you can't or won't pay someone to do that, then don't get a dog. Why should a dog live a sad, lonely and solitary life just because you want a playmate for a couple of hours in the evening or at weekends? It just wrong.

Oliver is snug in his new coat

I'm always happy to know that whatever our Tai Po dogs lack in home comforts they have the companionship of other dogs and the genuine love of the staff and volunteers.  Many volunteers would love to have dogs or their own, but because they work all day or travel a lot they know this isn't right.  Being a volunteer at least allows you to be with dogs when you have the time, and maybe adopt your special one when the time is right.  Today one of our regular volunteers, Ada Lau, made a timely gift of warm dog coats to Tai Po, and just in time for the big freeze.  Thank you Ada, the dogs will be most grateful too.

Do you have a senior dog with arthritis or any dog with mobility issues? Then you might well be interested in attending this talk on hydrotherapy for pets which will be held at WOW Pet Shop n Sunday 14th Jan.https://www.facebook.com/events/158338771462261/?ti=icl

A couple of reminders, the first being that this Sunday 14th there's a free talk on Hydrotherapy at WOW pet shop, and this is taking place ahead of a new HEAL Hydrotherapy Centre that will soon be opening in Second Street, Sai Ying Pun, very close to Acorn Vet Hospital. 

We are also now selling Red Packets for the coming Chinese New Year, which as I'm sure you all know will bring us into the Year of the Dog.  Please hurry if you want these lovely designs by May So, as we sell out every year and I suspect this year they will be even more popular.