Fri 8th Feb: More in than out

Teddy and Eddie are officially in the clear

We had a happy surprise today when the two puppies that had been sent to hospital with suspected parvovirus tested negative and were able to return to our Homing Centre before being picked up again by their foster parent.  In fact they are almost due their second vaccination, so we can say with confidence that they have escaped infection and just have a case of puppy diarrhoea.  Lucky Teddy and Eddie!

Returning from Concordia Pet Care with Teddy and Eddie were another two puppies that were ready to leave hospital after recovering from parvovirus, and I was at Ap Lei Chau as they were put back upstairs to join the others who had returned the previous day.  The first thing they did was to run to the toilet tray to have a pee, relieved I'm sure at not having to wet their beds.   This is natural and instinctive behaviour for puppies and just one of the reasons why I dislike cages and crate training so much.  Given the opportunity to make the choice, puppies will naturally use the same spot for toilet needs without any training required.

Pip is 4 years old and now scared of men, hopefully not for long

We seem to have been taking in dogs rather than them leaving, with miniature pinscher Pip being returned to Ap Lei Chau after a few months in his adopter's home.  Once Andrea was given the reason for his return I can only say that I'm happy he came back, not least because on the physical side he was never taken for his due vaccination nor put on a suitable diet for his food allergy, and mentally he has lost his confidence.  He is now quite scared of men so we hope he can regain his confidence before too long.

Kirin had a license but will be surrendered by his registered owner

One newcomer to our Tai Po Homing Centre will be officially surrendered by his registered owner after having been found wandering, while a stray sharpei girl is due to be brought to us on Saturday.  She doesn't have a microchip so we have no way of knowing if she is lost or abandoned, but there is already a potential adopter if the dog can get on with others.

This sharpei girl was found without a microchip

Finally, it was a very happy day for Tai Po long-termer Sander as he left for the airport to board a plane for his new life in Toronto.

Sander checking in for his Toronto flight