Mon 30 April: It's almost Lamma Day!

Bentley doesn't even come up to your knees

New dogs arrive all the time, so if you are looking for a  family member please check back daily if possible.  We took in a very small one year-old mixed breed today for example, a total suprise that we weren't expecting at all, but this sweet boy is probably a beagle mix at a guess - but then again maybe not.  All I can say is that he's very small but already somewhat overweight for his young age, and knowing a beagle's appetite for anything at all that could remotely be considered edible, I'll stick with that breed.  We know his story and he hasn't been badly treated, he's just a victim of the too-common lack of commitment when it comes to dogs, or any animal really.   At just a year he has already been in two homes so this third one must be his last and forever situation.   If you are interested in any of our dogs or puppies, please complete the Adoption Questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt) before asking for further details or to see if a visit is possible.

Leo wants to be the only child in the family

There is also a seven year-old poodle needing a new home after the arrival of children in the family.  Leo is scared of the fast moveements and high energy of young kids, as a lot of dogs are especially smaller breeds, and although he hasn't bitten anyone the parents are concerned that he is very unhappy.  Re-homing isn't what they ever wanted or meant to do but they feel so sorry for Leo that they feel this is the kindest option.  Again please complete the Adoption Questionnaire if you are interested in adoption.

In the very early days at the quarry

It's almost time for The Lamma Adventure Day on Saturday 12th May, a unique event that's a special treat for the dogs more than anyone else, except of course we're sure the humans will love it too.   The location is the old Lamma Quarry, a huge area that was turned into a natural parkland after the quarry closed.   This is where I used to walk my dogs back in the old days, when it was almost a secret from everyone  and there was nobody else around.  Later on it was discovered by a few cyclists, and then the whole area was closed off when it was leased from the government by the YMCA.   I was very upset at losing my paradise for dogs especially when the weather was hot and there was no more swimming in the lake, something all of the dogs loved.  So this is a very special event for me, one day when the dogs can go back to enjoy the most amazing and wonderful free-running, swimming, playing and relaxing, all within a safe and dog-welcoming environment.   Don't miss this opportunity if you have dogs who love to run and be free, because there are really very few places like this in Hong Kong.

Please sign up so we can arrange ferry numbers

By popular request we decided to make this a Bring-Your-Own-Picnic event, so there will be no food available on-site other than what you provide yourself.  There are tents and marquees if you want to have lunch under cover, or bring a blanket and have a real picnic in the open.  We wanted to make this day as free as possible, so apart from some fun games there are no restrictions.  However as we anticpate that the dogs will be running around if you have a dog that doesn't like other dogs, or a larger dog that could be a problem with little ones, please use your common sense and either don't come or keep your dog leashed.   The area is vast so there's plenty of space for every dog to be able to run without even coming close to any others, but please no fighters!

Ticket is only $250 per person including round-trip private ferry fare from Central Pier, and it is free-of-charge for dogs!

This is a unique and first-time-ever event for people and their dogs to enjoy an incredible private paradise without any interference from outside.

Purchase your ticket now: https://hongkongdogrescue.com/lamma-adventure-day-registra…/

There have a been a few questions about the Lamma Day, such as is there a way of leaving early rather than waiting for the ferry ride back to Central, and there is a regular ferry service from Sok Kwu Wan but it's about a forty-five minute walk from the location.  We should be able to arrange sampans to ferry participants across the bay if required, but we can't negotiate fares.   If there are enough passengers wanting to make their own arrangements, I'm sure a sampan would be happy to hang around and act as a ferry.

Sun 29th April: Quality over quantity

Chowder's happy face says it all

Two older puppies were sent from Tai Po to Whiskers N Paws for the afternoon adoption session, and both were adopted with Chowder going home quite early on and Inky at the very last minute.  Both of the homes are lovely and we're all very happy to say goodbye to our puppies knowing that they will be loved and have a great life.   The same applies to younger Pippa, who has actually already been in her home for a couple of weeks but the formal paperwork was completed today, and without Pippa for an adoption photo.

Inky has disappeared in the eveing light :-)

There were also a couple of Two Presents birthday donations from very sweet young children who wanted to share their good fortune with the HKDR dogs, so thank you to Ava and Myles.

We had two new volunteer photographers at Whiskers N Paws today, so a double set of lovely puppy photos for you to look at from Tiffany Cheung

Puppy Adoption Day 29 April 2018

and Yvonne Chan:

 

 Puppy Adoption Day 29 April 2018 — at Whiskers N Paws

Published by Semirah Darwin · 45 mins · 

All photos by Yvonne Chan

Myles was supported by his older brother for his donation photo

Thank you Ava!

We knew Peanut the Yorkie wouldn't be with us for long, and sure enough he was adopted today from the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.  I'm so used to writing the address as 21 Main Street it's pretty much automatic, but very soon that will change to 5 Wai Fung Street, a quiet road off Main Street which faces a (human-only) park and is very close to the Ap Lei Chau dog park.   Our volunteers will have walked past the building many times on their way to and from the Homing Centre, and have seen all of the renovation work going on.  Very soon that will become the new Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, and we still need strong volunteers to help this coming Thursday with moving furnture and most of the stock and bedding from the old place to the new.  Please email Ka Yan at kayan@hongkongdogrescue.com if you are able to pitch in.

Peanut was with us for just a shrt time as expected

Sat 28th April: Our amazing mixed breeds

Dogs and volunteers at the HK01 event today

A group of dogs and volunteers from Tai Po went to the HK01 Kwun Tong waterfront event today, where Hilary, Ora, Doris and Jeremy behaved brilliantly, acting as perfect ambassadors for our lovely Homing Centre residents.  I've said it a thousand times before but I'll say it again, there is no reason why mixed breeds should be overlooked or be considered any less worthy of a loving home than any purebreed.

Ora is just the best and sweetest girl

All of today's dogs have fantastic temperaments, and the latest addition, Ora, who has been with us only a short time, is the sweetest girl imaginable.  She had obviously been in a home before ending up at AFCD, and I hope there is another family waiting for her.  These dogs are so amazing in their acceptance of current circumstances, and their love and loyalty for the humans that have let them down so badly.  I'm just happy that we have so many volunteers who are able to give some of that love back while the dogs are with us.

Sunday is of course Whiskers N Paws day, and we'll have a couple of adoptions guaranteed when puppies taken for a trial will have their formal paperwork completed.

Come and meet the puppies!

The puppies think Sundays are for playing

The newly-arrived Yorkie wasn't adopted today as we had thought, so there this adorable four year-old boy is still available, as well as cute and funny Lucy, a shih tzu girl with bags of energy and a wonderful happy personality.

Hurry if you want to adopt little Peanut

Lucy is just 5 years old

Fri 27th April: Hoping for a busy weekend

Figgy Mark I was adopted in March

The second version of Figgy was picked up from AFCD today and sent to Tai Po to join the other older puppies who are already at the big Homing Centre.   Being around so many people works wonders with those who haven't experienced a home life in their first few months, and there's been a huge change in all of the more timid ones like Toastie, Melba, Whiskers and Foxy, the first litter that arrived from the Chai Wan Cemetery. 

Recent Tai Po  recruits Jammy and Ivory

I hope to be able to take the new litter of Lantau babies out on Monday but we need fosters or for a few of the current Ap Lei Chau puppies to move to homes so we have space there.   This litter are very different in looks from the black-and-tans that we have had so many of recently, and I think it's time for some variety.

Judo is a perfect family dog

Judo, the small dog from the day before joined Figgy Mark II in the drive to Tai Po, and if you're looking for a fantastic and very easy family member please take a look at her.

We also took in a young Yorkie at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre but I think he'll be adopted before most of you have even read this.  If you're looking for small dogs they come in all the time, but the younger ones leave just as quickly.

Peanut should be adopted on Saturday

On Saturday a group of our Tai Po dogs will be heading off to Kwun Tong for a small event, and I'm sorry that I can't tell you too much as it's all in Chinese.

Of course I'll be at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday as always, 2pm to 5pm, so see you there if you're looking for lovely, happy and friendly puppies!

Thank you 香港01 for the invitation! Come find us at Kwun Tong Promenade next Saturday (28th April), 3-5pm!

Thurs 26th April: Fosters needed again

It feels like my visits to AFCD are so infrequent these days, but I dropped by today to hand over licenses of adopted dogs for change of ownership and discovered that the dog catchers had been busy on Lantau.  There was a new litter of young puppies as well as a couple of adults, all traumatised having just been brought in, and as all animals have to stay for four days in case someone claims them I hope they will have settled a bit by next week.  The babies are about four weeks old at a guess and I'm already wondering where I can keep them, so if anyone can foster please let Cindy know at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com.  At this age they must be kept in pairs at least.

The new puppy looks exactly like now-adopted Figgy

There was also another puppy from Chai Wan Cemetery, and I knew the location before even having it confirmed as the pup is identical to a previous one from the same place - Figgy.  I was going to take this singleton out today but we had no crates in the van so I'll pick him/her up on Friday.

Judo is a medium size and very easy

There was also a lovely medium-sized adult that had been surrendered, and I was told her family had surrendered her last year but had claimed her back.  They live in a No Pets home but obviously love their dog, but this time it was me who took her out.  I called her Judo and she is a very sweet girl, seven years old and clearly a family pet.   She weighs just over fourteen kilos, small for our Tai Po Homing Centre although a bit big for Ap Lei Chau, but as it was getting late in the afternoon and there would be no time to settle her at the big Homing Centre, Iris and Andrea agreed to keep her overnight at Ap Lei Chau.  Can anyone foster this lovely and very easy girl before she has to go to Tai Po?  She is calm and obedient, one of those smart little dogs who would fit in any home perfectly.

Adobe, both handsme and sweet natured

I had been expecting some adoptions at Tai Po last weekend that ended up not happening as all potential adopters dropped out one by one for various reasons, so I hope this coming weekend will see some action.  It's been a very strange time as previously if we had purebreeds available, and really sweet-natured ones at that, they would have been adopted very quickly.  However Dorset and Adobe (dobermans) are still with us, as well as Hercules the Alaskan malamute, Frederick the husky and the pointer siblings. There is also the two year-old Malinois waiting to find a new home, even though he's not at Tai Po yet.  Visit our Facebook page to see videos and updates on many of our available dogs and puppies: www.facebook.com/hkdogrescue/

2 year-old Malinois boy

Weds 25th April: Three big events

Registration is now open for the Lamma Adventure day, so please make sure you are ready for an amazing outing and sign up quickly as spaces are limited due to the ferry restrictions.  After several requests to make this a picnic opportunity, we ditched the idea of lunch on board the ferry and went along with what people wanted, so it's a BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic) event.  Details of what you will need will be sent to all applicants, but pack a lunch, blanket to sit on, and what you would normally bring along for a relaxing day out and away from all the usual shops and restaurants.  There is a drinks machine on site for the humans but you might want to pack a bottle of water for the dog(s).  I know my dogs used to drink from the lake but the water is brackish (half fresh, half salt water), but fine for swimming.

It’s Dog Wonderland! Join us at this big outdoor event on Saturday 12th May to help us celebrate our 15th Anniversary!

This Lamma Adventure Day if for you and your dogs to enjoy whatwere you want, whether it's racing around freely in the vast open area, swimming in the lake or having a relaxing picnic in beauty of the natural seaside environment.

Ticket is only $250 per person including round-trip private ferry fare from Central Pier, and it is free-of-charge for dogs!

This is a unique and first-time-ever event for people and their dogs to enjoy an incredible private paradise without any interference from outside.

Purchase your ticket now: https://hongkongdogrescue.com/lamma-adventure-day-registra…/

We are going to have so much fun with this Gala Event!

It's a few months until the Annual Gala Fundraiser in October, but I'm so excited about this particular year's event because it's going to be quite different from previous galas.  The sponsorship deck for "Sarge'n'Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club" is now available for anyone interested in sponsoring or donating prizes or services, and you can contact our event organiser Nicole Boisvert at nicole@hongkongdogrescue.com for details.  Please ask Nicole about tickets too as we are happy to start reservations.

The second and final part of the move to a new Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre will take place soon, and we'll need strong volunteers to help us shift the remaining furniture, stock and whatever to the new place, just round the corner. Please email Ka Yan at kayan@hongkongdogrescue.com if you are free, able and willing to help on Thrusday 3rd May.

Tues 24th April: Let us make the match for you

Hailey, the cat and Pingu, proven sweet and easy

Still desperately looking for homes for wonderful and very sweet dogs Molly and Oscar, as well as Hailey, Pingu and the cat, I have been inundated with adoption enquiries for the new border collie, almost all totally unsuitable.  That means there are plenty of homes for adult medium-large dogs, but they only want a difficult and tempamental breed which requires much more exercise than most are willing or able to give. I need to ask what it is about this border collie that meakes him so appealing?  He's not a puppy and he's not a particularly easy dog, so is it just the breed name or the fact that's he's good looking?

Molly and Oscar are proving to be very easly dogs in their temporary home

Too true to be funny

It saddens me that not one of these poential homes is willing to consider a more suitable type, size or energy level and I'm constantly reminded of a funny-but-not-funny post I saw on Facebook recently, because it's really too true. We will keep looking for the right home for Morgan.

In the meantime we have four hundred dogs at our Tai Po Homing Centre, many also purebreeds like Hercules the Alaskan malamute and Adobe, the doberman, with more small dogs and puppies at Ap Lei Chau.  These are dogs that we know and can introduce to suitable homes where they will fit in and be a good match for the situation and environment.  It's what we do and we're good at it.

Mon 23rd April: A sad state of affairs

It seems sending Molly and Oscar overseas is the only solution

There are times when I feel enthusiastic and optimistic about the way things are going, and other times when nothing seems to be working.  I expect that's a general summary of most peoples' lives and overall I know I'm very lucky, especially when compared to, for example, Molly and Oscar's family who left Hong Kong today for an uncertain future back in the UK.  However, finding a new home for the two dogs has proved to be a real challenge, far harder than I had expected given that they are both young, healthy and are loving and sociable dogs.   Perhaps it's the fact that there are two of them, but even so the lack of any real interest has been puzzling and sad.

Pingu-Otis is 9 years old now, Hailey a few years younger

Given this situation on top of the many other dogs that are being surrendered or abandoned on a daily basis and end up at our already-crowded Tai Po Homing Centre, I was less than impressed to receive an email from someone who had adopted two dogs from HKDR some years ago, one as an older puppy (Hailey) and one as a young adult (then Pingu who was re-named Otis).  I knew that the adopter had moved to Macau and had assumed that the dogs had gone along with the family, but I was wong.   It turned out that the dogs (and a cat) had stayed in Hong Kong with the mother/wife while husband/father started afresh in Macau, and now the animals need a new home - by the end of April.  Given that May is just a few days away and the situation had been known for some time, to say I was furious would be an understatement. 

I would hate to separate Hailey and the cat

Leaving my personal feelings of anger aside, it's the dogs and cat that are the innocent victims of this sad state of affairs so I want to help them.  However, with having had no luck at all with a new home for Molly and Oscar I'm not feeling too optimistic about finding somewhere for these three, but I will try.  Hailey has always been an incredibly sweet girl, medium sized, and it seems she and the cat are very close friends.  Pingu-Otis is a funny looking dog with a long body and short legs, but he and Hailey are best friends who have enjoyed each others' company for many years.

Realistically finding a home for all three as a family is going to be very hard, but I would love to keep Hailey and the cat together if at all possible.  That means taking Pingu away from his long-term friends, but that's what happens when humans dump their responsibilities on rescue organisations, and with just a few days to find a solution.

The family of three

If you can help please complete the Adoption Questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt), whether it's for Hailey and the cat, Pingu-Otis, or Molly and Oscar.

Sun 22nd April: Step one of Molly and Oscar's new life

Molly on her way to their new foster home

The day started with Molly and Oscar moving to a foster home, with the help of kind volunteers who picked the pair up and made sure they arrived safely at their destination.  Luckily the dogs have found a great temporary place to stay so they were having too much fun to think about losing their family, and I think this break will help when it comes it finding them their forever home(s).  This current arrangment is not going to become a permanent one, so we still really need an adopter who can offer two relatively large-sized dogs a new home for life.  They are lovely characters and very sweet, and at only two years they still have a long life ahead of them.  Looking at the photos and videos of them walking to their new "hotel" I was impressed at how well behaved they were, especially given that they weren't with people they knew.

Happy Oscar

Joey isn't good with all small dogs

Before talking about the puppies at Whiskers N Paws  Puppy Adoption Day 22 April 2018, there are other dogs that need to find new homes, and I would prefer that the dachshund go straight from his current family to a new one rather than come via our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, although we will take him if there are no offers.  Knowing how popular dachshunds are, and long-haired especially, I was hoping that Joey wouldn't have to stay at the Homing Centre because I'm told he doesn't like all other dogs and some poodles in particular, but he is sweet with people.  If you would like more information on Joey or would like to meet him, please complete the Adoption Questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt).

Malinois boy 2 years old

There is also a two year-old Malinois in need of a new home because he and his brother don't get alone.  Sibling rivalry is a well known problem between dogs from the same litter when they become adults, and it is recommended that if a pair of puppies is adopted they aren't related.  A lot of people feel it's a shame to break up sibling puppies, but in fact it's the best thing to do.

Little Tarmac is now Morse

Gorgeous Tarmac was the on-site lucky puppy at Whiskers N Paws, and he is now called Morse.  He (and his sister Trilby) surprised me when I took a look at their teeth recently and discovered that all milk teeth had already been replaced by a brand new adult set, so rather than being young puppies these two are at least five months, if not coming up for six.  Tarmac is really quite small and both have a very dachsund-like face, so it's possible they have that breed in them.

Milla's adopters came back (without Milla) to complete the adoption paperwork after having picked her up from the Homing Centre for a trial last Monday, and Pippa, who was also taken on Monday had her adoption confirmed (via email) too.

We had a new volunteer photographer at Whiskers N Paws today, so thanks to Rodger So for helping out and getting many great shots of the puppies.  More will be uploaded later by photo coordinator Semirah Darwin (even though she's currently on holiday).

Avery takes a break at the water bowl

There was another family very keen on taking a puppy but they left saying they needed to talk to their helper first, but then ended up going back to our own Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre and taking Avery for fostering with a view to adoption.

Although we never intended keeping puppies at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, it's really worked well for everyone as they are available to meet every day of the week.  Older puppies like Inky, Monty, Sidney and Chowder are staying at our Tai Po Homing Centre and are also available to meet (and adopt) any day of the week between 10am and 6pm.

Cello taking a break from playing

Willy and Cello are lucky enough to still be in their foster homes, so they both come fully prepared for a home life.  Please contact Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com to meet these lovely six month-olds.

Willy and Inky playing

Sat 21st April: A mixed bag of news

There were two events today, one being the Puppy Adoption one at Heal in Second Street, Sai Ying Pun, and thanks to Venus Leung for the lovely photos Puppy Adoption Day 21 April 2018

Pebble's fat ear will be sorted for Sunday's puppy party

You may notice that little Pebble's ear looks swollen, and this is called an aural haematoma and it's caused when a blood vessel within the ear flap bursts and the blood becomes trapped.  Luckily with puppies it's easy to deal with and usually doesn't recur, while with adults the ear often keeps refilling and surgery is needed.  Even then the dogs can end up with a crumpled ear, which doesn't look pretty but it's only superficial.

Ear hematomas, also known as auricular hematomas or aural hematomas, occur when blood accumulates in the flap (or pinna) of the ear.

HKDR were back at this year's Inter-School Equestrian Challange

The other one was way out in Lo Wu at the Saddle Club where the annual Inter-Schools Equestrian Challenge took place.  As always we were kindly invited to have a stall there, and again thank you to our trusty volunteers for being there throughout the day to help promote HKDR and sell our merchandise.

Shelly was adopted today

There was more happy news from our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre as Sheltie Shelly was adopted, and also little bichon frise Diamond had her adoption confirmed after a short trial.  In return we accepted a senior poodle (eleven years) and a peke the same age will also be coming soon.  On Sunday we are expecting a lovely pom too, so as fast as dogs leave there are others to take their places.

This pom is due to come on Sunday

Poodle 11 years old came today

We have also just taken in a one year-old border collie, a gold variety that I honestly didn't know were for real having only known the black-and-white traditional colouring.

Gold border collie

We already have someone interested in the border collie, but for now nothing immediate for Molly and Oscar except a place in a home boarding facility and a sponsor to cover the cost for ten days.  At least the dogs will enjoy the countryside, which will help get them through the trauma of losing their family, and of course they have each other which makes a huge difference.  However we are desperately in need of a home in Hong Kong, failing which we will have to send Molly and Oscar overseas, something we prefer not to have to do.

Molly and Oscar leave their home on Sunday