Thurs 31st May: Rain is coming - hooray!

There were so many dogs needing to go to Acorn today that we had to have two van runs, and now I'm trying to sort out in my head who arrived, who left, and where they came from.

The 3 poms from the shelter seem to be doing better

We have quite a few new dogs, including a further two from the closed-down shelter, this time a couple of medium-sized mixed breeds who have been sent to Tai Po.   There's also a young miniature pinscher and a young(ish) poodle, both sweet boys, and a ten year-old smaller-sized poodle boy I picked up from AFCD today along with a singleton puppy girl.  The poodle is now called Rocket because he is fast and hated being in a crate or confined in any way, and all of these arrivals are now at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.

The Shelties were very scared when they first arrived

We are now pretty full at the new Centre, so were happy to say goodbye to the two Sheltie girls after they had been desexed today.  They have started to come out of their shells and are such sweet dogs, and now they will always be together.  The adoption photo will be posted later.

Although all of the dogs that are kept in the free-running front section of the Homing Centre are friendly, both to people and other dogs, having the size and weight difference of a small puppy or senior bichon and a truck-like bulldog can be challenging, and although funny in a way because it's only in play, the staff have their work cut out rescuing the little ones from being squashed.  I'm only ever there for a short time but I can see it's like running a kindergarten full of kids, and having to make sure that nobody gets hurt.

Winkle in the corner already knows how to use the toilet tray every time

One of the observations I made while watching the dogs at Ap Lei Chau was that even the smallest puppy, the only healthy one from the "Rubbish Litter", knows how to use the toilet tray.  She ran over to it after finishing her meal, and Iris told me that all of the mixed breeds were automatically toilet trained, something I have seen for myself with my Lamma puppies.  They instinctively use the newspaper, whether they have been living wild in Chai Wan Cemetery or come from a home environment.   This is what puzzles me about crate training, when it comes naturally to a puppy to use one special spot as a toilet area and to keep everywhere else clean.   It seems very odd to me that anyone would want or need to reverse that natural behaviour by shutting a puppy in a crate or cage, and that's why we don't like or recommend it.

There's some happy news coming from Tai Po, although I'm going to save it until everything is confirmed.   More than anything it's the dogs staying there that are in need of homes, and there are so many super-sweet and lovely ones.  I just wish they could be given a chance to show how amazing they are.

I never thought I'd be looking at the weather forecast and feeling happy about seeing black clouds and rain forecast, but I am.  However if the rain is heavy on Saturday we may not be able to hold the Heal puppy event in Sai Ying Pun as there's no shelter at the moment.  Please check our Hong Kong Dog Rescue Facebook page for updates on that, but regardless of sun, rain or storms we will be at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday. 

Weds 30th May: If adoption is free. it's a lie

Rocky arrived today

The bulldog arrived at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, and he already has a home to go to all being well.  He's a young boy, surrendered because of a new human baby and the seemingly inevitable move to Public Housing, or at least a No-Dogs building, the same as a young shiba inu who is also coming to us soon.   As always, if you are interested in adopting any dog or puppy please complete the adoption questionnaire on our website first.  It's not a commitment to adopting, it just helps us to recommend the most suitable dog for the home, situation and environment, as not all dogs will be a good match.

Please complete the questionnaire for this shiba

The small dogs have a very comfortable environment to stay in now, and if they are young(ish) and without behaviour problems then they will find new homes quite quickly.  It's the larger dogs at Tai Po that often have to wait, sometimes a very long time, so any adoption from our big Homing Centre is always cause for celebration, especially for the mixed breeds.  Today we are all very happy for Jeremy as his adoption was confirmed after a short trial, and as always I wish more people could see how lovely, sweet and friendly the mixes are.  We have all colours, ages, energy levels, coat types - everything in fact.  Please think about these dogs when you are looking for a new family member, and they will love you for ever in return.

Doesn't (black) Jeremy look happy? 

A word that is very important in all aspects of life is discernment.  There are all sorts of people and companies offering this and saying that, much of it untruthful if not blatant lies, and everyone has to navigate their way through a lifetime of deciding who they should believe.   I'm saying this because there is an organisation that claims that they have purebreed puppies for adoption, and for free no less!  Yes, the adopters have to hold up a board saying the words "Free Adoption", when the truth is actually something very different.  It's a scam, a lie, because of course it's not free, it's just that this bunch of ciminals ask for money to be given to a third party in advance so that when "adopters" go to pick up their "free" puppy no money changes hands.  Not only that, but they have stolen the name of another group and just added an extra letter, and their "adoption" questionnaire is a direct and exact copy of our own HKDR questionnaire, only with the names removed. How blatant does a company need to be to get away with such behaviour?

I would like to name this group, those breeders masquerading as a dog rescue charity, but I know in doing so I will be sending them business.  If there are people happy to buy puppies from pet shops then those same people will also be happy to pretend that they have "adopted" to make themselves feel and look better.  So no, I won't expose these crooks, even though there are already many people and even media who know what's going on, I shall just look forward to the day when their faces will be shown on Apple Daily as they are marched into court.

The reason I'm writing about this if I'm not going to name them, is because I would like to ask anyone who has experienced being scammed by this group to get in touch with me, and you can do that by emailing sallyandersen@hongkongdogrescue.com.

Tues 29th May: Three little geriatrics

Poor old dogs from the closed-down shelter

I haven't been able to do much hands-on rescue work so far this week, but we did take in the poor shelter dogs today, three ancient poms who are a full decade older than the ages we were told. I'm waiting for confirmation of exact age as given on their licenses, but it's closer to twenty years than ten, a good example of how long these little ones cans live.   It's really very sad to see them now, and if they still have the capacity to be aware of their surroundings they must be wondering where on earth they are.  Our new Homing Centre is very comfortable but it's not home, even if "home" has been a shabby shelter somewhere.

The two girls will go home together :-)

While these three geriatrics were being settled, we had a potential adopter who came to see the two new Shelties, both of whom are still quite shy but warming up gradually.  I'm very happy to write that I have just received confirmation of their intended adoption, and as a pair.

Hercules is out of the sun at last

Adobe is still waiting

Otto gained weight and looks great now

Also, and at long last, Hercules the Alaskan malamute left Tai Po for his foster home, while the youngest of the Dobermans, Otto, was also taken home for a trial with the resident dog, also a dobie.  We still have Adobe and Dorset, two very sweet and lovely Dobermans, as well as the husky Frederick who really quite urgently needs an air-conditioned place to stay.

Otto when he came to us as a very skinny boy

I never thought I'd be happy to see rain forecast for the weekend, but I think everyone is gasping for relief from the heat even if it means getting wet.  We have the puppy afternoon at Heal on Saturday, and Whiskers N Paws on Sunday to look forward to, and we'll be there whatever the weather.

Pebble at work

The puppy shown on the Saturday poster is Pebble, now fully vaccinated boy who is currently staying at Whiskers N Paws full time as a guest.  He's often invited to help out in the office, which is helping him overcome his natural shyness.  We've already seen a huge difference in his confidence and behaviour, especially if you happen to have a tasty treat to offer.  Maybe this weekend he will find his own forever home and another lucky puppy can take his place.

Mon 28th May: Huskies and bulldogs in the heat

Frederick's face say it all...... I'm too hot!

If everything goes according to plan our lovely Alaskan Malamute Hercules will be on his way to a foster home by the time you read this, thanks to a great response to our Facebook pleas for somewhere for this big boy to get out of the heat.   Husky Frederick is also in similar need and I hope we can make good use of the potential Hercules foster offers and move Frederick too. Hong Kong is the wrong country for any of these cold-weather dogs, and even the regular hardy local breeds must be suffering in this terrible heat.  We have big industrial fans for the outside dogs, at Tai Po and Lamma, but really only air conditioning helps.

2 year-old bulldog coming on Wednesday

Of course there are also short-haired breeds that can't tolerate the heat at all, and we'll be taking in another young bulldog on Wednesday, a two year-old boy.  Luckily we have a full set of air conditioners at Ap Lei Chau so he'll be comfortable, but if anyone is interested in taking this boy home please complete the adoption questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt).

We're also expecting the shelter dogs on Tuesday, some small some larger, although we don't know what condition they'll be in.  Hopefully not too bad.

I don't know where these dogs have been staying since this photo was taken

The theme this year is Sarge'n'Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club

Eva and I had a meeting with our Gala Event organiser Nicole today, and while October might seem like a long way off there's a lot that we have to sort out well in advance.  It's a really big and special event that requires meticulous organisation, and as this year is also our 15th Anniversary we have to make even more of an effort.  If your or your company are interested in sponsoring in any way, whether auction prizes, services or products for the Goody Bags, please contact nicole@hongkongdogrescue.com for information and details.

I'm feeling very sad about the loss of one of the "Rubbish Pups", those found dumped in the rubbish collection point in Western.  There was one who had immediately stolen my heart, the smallest and skinniest of them all, and in my desperation to make them better as quickly as possible I agreed to giving Berenil injections for the tick fever after they weren't improving.  If it works it's brilliant, but there is a risk of it affecting the brain and that's what happened with Saucy.  I could kick myself for letting it happen, and now this little girl has lost her life and I feel terrible. 

Sun 27th May: Holidays ahead

Every year there are periods when we see a major slowdown in adoptions, and especially puppies, due to the approaching summer holidays, and today we found out that it's already started.  Not the actual exodus itself, but the planned getaways that mean taking on a puppy right now isn't going to work.  Of course the pups that are at their perfect adoption age now will be well past that stage after the summer, and hopefully they will meet other familes who are staying in Hong Kong for the hot season, or who can make alternative care arrangements.  Timing is everything when it comes to puppies finding homes, and it explains why I have so many leftovers living with me on Lamma. 

Trilby (l) and Carlo are friends at the Homing Centre

Luckily there are now only two older puppies still waiting, best friends Willy and Cello, although I keep forgetting Trilby as she always fooled me into thinking she was younger when in fact she's six months too.  She's such a sedate and quiet dog with a distinctive dachshund-like face, but today for the first time I saw her playing with the others.  It wasn't for long and she soon retreated to the shade of the bench but it was lovely while it lasted. 

Willy and Cello are best friends

Ivory (l) joins Margaux-now-Cello (right) in her home

Ivory went to a foster home last Sunday and was adopted today by the foster parent's friend, who had herself adopted puppy Margaux the previous weekend.  Ivory and Margaux (now also Cello) had enjoyed their play dates so much that they are now officially "sisters".  Ivory came to us as such a scared girl and her transformation has been quite remarkable.  The short stay at Whiskers N Paws as a live-in guest helped for sure, but there must have been a sweet and loving puppy under that veneer of shyness all the time.

Sailor and Benny went to a foster home

Although there was only one on-site adoption, two of the Chai Wan Cemetery puppies, now recovered from tick fever, were taken for fostering with Martha making the third, and cuddly baby Wonton also went to a foster home.  Older puppy Bertie (brother of Anna staying at Whiskers N Paws) had been pre-booked by his now-foster, so there were quite a few pups who didn't have to return to Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre or Lamma.

Wonton is the cuddliest of puppies

Martha is as sweet as she is beautiful

This week's volunteer photographer was Helen Kwok and here are the lovely results Puppy Adoption Day 27 May 2018

Sat 26th May: Molly and Oscar happy news

Alice Lau took this lovely photo of Molly and Oscar

I've been holding back on posting any updates on the two dogs, Molly and Oscar, whose family had to make a sudden and unplanned move back to the UK when the father/husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and very sadly died within a short time of their return. 

A sad reminder of Molly and Oscar's first family

Molly and Oscar had been adopted from HKDR as puppies, and they were only two years old when the message came that they would need to find a new home, but despite all efforts there was not a single offer or even a glimmer of interest.  The dogs were moved to a lovely home boarding facility where they had lots of fun, but it could only ever be temporary.  Finally a lovely family said they would like to meet Molly and Oscar, but as they had never had dogs before they needed time to get to know the dogs and to see if they could manage a pair (also having two very young children).  Visits were made so both sides could get to know each other, and finally a date was set for a trial period in the home.  The dogs were settling very well and I was asked to recommend a trainer to make sure everyone was doing the right thing, and shortly after (trainer) Alice Lau posted this lovely photo of Molly and Oscar saying what sweet dogs they were I received confirmation of their adoption.  Obviously I'm thrilled as well as relieved, because there have still been no other enquiries so this had to be the right home for them - and it was.

Cello always empties the water bowls

Maybe it was just a dream or wishful thinking, but I thought I heard some rain in the early hours of this morning.  Either way by the time I got up it was hot and sunny, and that's the way it stayed.   It's going to be another scorcher at Whiskers N Paws by the looks of it, and we'll be busy filling the water bowls so Cello can dig the water straight back out again.  Maybe a bigger "pool" is needed, but not as much as homes for the puppies.

We have lovely puppies of all ages so please come along to meet them all, 2pm to 5pm on the terrace at Whiskers N Paws, 10/F Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau.  Take a look at last week's photo album for an idea of who's available, plus some new babies not yet seen 

Puppy Adoption Day 20 May 2018

Wonton is a real cuddler

Fri 25th May: Shelter eviction underway

It's been a crazy kind of week and I'm looking forward to at least a Saturday with no dramas, new dogs or vet visits. Sunday will be Whiskers N Paws of course, but hopefully that will only bring good news.

The pups were back at Acorn today for another blood test

For today there were two litters of puppies to go to Acorn to have their blood taken again to check their red cell count, and happily the new youngsters are slightly improved though not by very much. At least the numbers are moving up instead of dropping, but they will have to go back on Monday for another blood test and I always feel so sorry for these puppies and their poor needle-punctured necks.

We have a whole collection of "Figgy Pups" now

The second litter finally had their first vaccinations after a few weeks of waiting and testing, and I think at least a couple of them are ready for Whiskers N Paws.  They're from the same extended family as the other Chai Wan Cemetery puppies, most of whom are staying at our Tai Po Homing Centre with a couple lucky enough to have been adopted.  They all look so alike, being either tan with cream facial markings or the white-and-bits colouring of (adopted) Figgy.

Jammy is one of the alternative style of Chai Wan puppies

Also at Acorn today was the new intake from AFCD Sheung Shui: two Yorkies, two Shelties and a lovely mixed breed girl who looks a bit like a small rottweiler.   I suspect all of the small ones are ex-breeder dogs, and one of the Yorkies tested positive for heartworm.  How I despise these digusting breeders and their complete lack of concern for the dogs' health and wellbeing.  To them the dogs are nothing but money machines, and I just wish people would stop buying and giving them a reason to stay in business.

2 Yorkie girls

The two Sheltie girls

Pebble and Anna, the two puppies staying at Whiskers N Paws full time, were also at Acorn having their third and final vaccinations, so they are now ready to start going out for walks.

Ozzie and Oona

Also in the van, which was totally packed as you can imagine, were the two fuzzy dogs from Tai Po, Ozzie and Oona.  We'd been waiting for their licenses to be sent from the person or group who had originally rescued the dogs and had them microchipped and rabies vaccinated, but with nothing having arrived after a couple of months we took matters into our own hands by getting Temporary Keeper status at AFCD.  That means AFCD will contact the registered owner for an official surrender agreement and new licenses can be issued in my name.

Shelter  eviction underway

I've written before about the number of private rescue groups and shelters that operate under the radar,  and often illegally in the sense that the shelters are on Government Land.  These are all well-meaning volunteers who are trying to help the homeless animals but they underestimate the cost and manpower needed to provide food and care for the dogs and cats.  Even an organisation like HKDR can't find any space that can legally be used for kennels as all land is zoned as agricultural, meaning nothing can be built on it.  Applying for change of usage takes years, even decades, and it's an out-of-date system that goes back to the times when the New Territories was indeed all farmland.  We are always incredibly grateful for our Tai Po site, a private property which was offered to us back in 2010 when we had to leave our Pokfulam kennels.  Without Tai Po HKDR would have had to close down and the thousands of saved lives would never have happened.

Shelter dog coming on Tuesday

The latest victim of  Government Land ruling is a small shelter that has been illegally occupying a small village site, and we will be taking in the dogs that have now been made homeless (not that the shelters was much of a home to be frank).  There are also thirty-odd cats that are being rescued, but our concern is for the dogs.  The first few will come on Tuesday, with some more a few days later.

Another shelter victim

Thurs 24th May: More new arrivals due

The one alone in the corner is healthy

I picked up the five baby pups who were found in the rubbish from AFCD today, but not only were they stick thin but also very sick with tick fever.  On top of that they have demodex, mites under the skin, which at least isn't infectious but it doesn't help.  Strangely one of the puppies was healthy, both in terms of red cell count and also skin, so this one is an indication of how the others should look once better.  It was lucky in a way that we didn't have any foster homes lined up for the litter as they will have to go back to Acorn on Friday to see how they are responding to treatment, but the lucky exception could be adopted at any time.  They are staying at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre at the moment, and I'm hoping they will recover quickly, from the tick fever at least.  Demodex takes some time to eradicate.

Emmy is sweet, playful and very affectionate

After having just recently taken in some dogs from AFCD in Sheung Shui, including the funny and very sweet bulldog Emmy and gorgeous Fuzzy, we will be getting another group on Friday, this time two Shelties, two Yorkies - all girls, and probably ex-breeder dogs - and another mixed breed, also a female.

If you are interested in adopting any of these dogs PLEASE complete the adoption questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt) before asking for details and meetings. 

One of the shelties

Weds 23rd May: Buzzy is a girl!

Buzzy is a girl and gorgeous!

Buzzy is as lovely as I knew she would be, and note I say "she" because she turned out to be a girl instead of the boy we were told.  Anyone who takes this lovely dog home from our Tai Po Homing Centre will be very lucky and as I wrote before, this type of coat is good for anyone with allergies to dogs.

10 year-old Soda was in and out

Also previously mentioned, the golden retriever who arrived in the same AFCD group as Buzzy was also adopted, and although that's good news it's sad that a ten year-old dog is snapped up because of the breed.  Not many seniors are in and out that fast.  Still this is a lovely and very sweet girl, and fully deserving of a home so I'm not complaining.

Jami with Coco

Another new-this-week dog also found a home, this time from our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.  She is Coco, now Sammi, who was adopted by one of our long-term supporters Jami Gong of the TakeOut Comedy Club.  Jami has helped us many times over the years including taking part in several Peak to Fong events and organising two HKDR fundraising Comedythons, 24-hour Stand Up Comedy shows.  His previously-adopted dog Lucky is still with the family, old and not too well these days, but I know there are still some volunteers who will remember Lucky from our Pokfulam era.

Coco became Sammi once home with the family

On Thursday I'll be taking a new litter of young puppies out of AFCD and need foster homes please.  I'll take photos and post as soon as I can, but in any case please contact Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com if you can temporarily look after a couple of little ones.  They will be at Whiskers N Paws this Sunday, 2pm to 5pm, if you are interested in adoption of course.

Every Sunday 2pm to 5pm

Tues 22nd May: Buddha's Birthday

Dogs really do have memories of events and people that have affected them, and sometimes they are good memories but often not.  Some puppies that I have barely known as babies before they were adopted still greet me like a long-lost mother when we meet again at Whiskers N Paws, while some dogs retain negative associations and hate me.   I can understand it when whatever happened is obvious, but it can be so subtle that I really can't recall any incident that triggers the reaction.

I took this photo of a very scared Lara at the vet clinic where I picked her up from

Lara, for example, was adopted from HKDR as a baby puppy and subsequently abandoned on the street when she was about seven months old.  Luckily she was spotted hanging around  a rubbish bin looking for food and was taken to a vet clinic in Aberdeen where I went to pick her up.  She was really very scared at that point and refused to get out of the hospital cage, so I had to drag her out forcibly.  She has never forgotten or forgiven, and I'm sure she still associates me with her experience of being abandoned and everything that happened afterwards.  She doesn't like or trust me one bit, but I can understand and don't take it personally.

Blanco has lots of human friends but I'm not one of them

Another dog who really hates me is Blanco the poodle/bichon, but in his case I have no idea why.  I can't recall even having much to do with him let alone any incident that could have triggered his quite violent response to just seeing me, but it's there.  I have learned to stay out of his way.

Yogi as an older puppy at Ap Lei Chau

Some of you may recall I had to spend a few days in hospital a couple of years ago, and while I was unavailable to do my usual work one of the volunteers, with our then-driver Hing, took three puppies out of AFCD.  They turned out to be very scared puppies, born wild and what we refer to as "hillside dogs", those dogs who are so often seen and reported to me as lost pets.   We tried keeping the puppies at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre to see if they could become used to people, as many do, but their fear of humans was too deep-rooted so they now live on Lamma with me.  There was one boy in this litter who was such a cute and fluffy baby and he ended up being fostered by one of our volunteers.  He was called Yogi, and from a very young age this dog hated me with a vengeance.  I have to admit this is one case that I really don't understand no matter how hard I have tried to think back to any time that I could inadvertantly have scared or hurt him, but I wasn't even there to take him out of AFCD and pin him down to be microchipped.  So I will never know why Yogi holds a grudge, but whatever the reason he was adopted today by his foster parent and I really don't care if he hates me.

The point of these stories is to highlight how important it is that puppies are treated and trained with kindness, because they will never forget and it will shape their whole future.

Yogi is a very handsome adult now, and adopted!