Sun 30th June: Disaster at Ap Lei Chau

We had a disaster at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre today after taking in another group of six small dogs and one puppy that came from who-knows-where, but probably the same place as all of the others judging from their looks.  They were also without microchips, the same as all of the previous intakes, and luckily Acorn Vet Hospital had some time to see the dogs immediately so rather than wait until after the holiday on Monday we chose to send them today.

The missing terrier is circled here

First of all the puppies had to be dropped at Whiskers N Paws, then our driver Ming went back to the Homing Centre to put the new dogs in the van for the drive to Acorn.  It was as the dogs were being put into crates that one of them shot past and out of the door, and despite being followed by a group of volunteers he (or she) disappeared.  By evening there were still no sightings, and the worry - apart from the obvious - is that as the dog has no microchip, if it's picked up by someone and checked at any vet or even SPCA, there's no registered owner (both SPCA and AFCD have been notified).   Ironically we understand most of the dogs have been desexed, which is good but also adds to the mystery of where they come from, and I believe this terrier is one that has already been done.  I hope so, but the priority is obviously to find him/her and get him/her back safely.

We assume the terrier is still on Ap Lei Chau somewhere, perhaps up in the Larvotto area (the big high-end residential complex) so the search will resume on Monday and any help that can be offered would be gratefully accepted.

Jerome leaving Ap Lei Chau the happy way

One lucky dog left Ap Lei Chau in the proper way, with an adopter.  Jerome the schnauzer was surrendered to us with a large growth dangling from his back leg, and it was as annoying to him as it was unpleasant to see.  We obviously had it removed and tested, and it turned out to be benign, and Jerome was obviously very happy to be rid of it too.

These 3 puppies stay at our Tai Po Homing Centre

The older puppies at Whiskers N Paws were mostly the new intake from AFCD, and they had a great time playing on the terrace even when it started to rain.  In fact they'd been having a nap when the wind started, and it woke them up and gave them renewed energy to begin racing round again.   We had three new photographers offering their time and skills today

Puppy Adoption Day 30 June 2019 - Part One 

(All photos by Edwin Datoc)

so there are three albums for you to browse through (and three albums for me to try to add names to).   

 Puppy Adoption Day 30 June 2019 - Part Two  (All photos by Shannen Kyle Buxani)

Puppy Adoption Day 20 June 2019 - Part Three 

(All photos by Laura Ballarin)

Unfortunately there were no adoption photos to include, although one young puppy was adopted at our own Homing Centre and we're very much hoping that there will be more on Monday.  Remember we are open every single day so you can come any time.

Sat 29th June: Sunday Pet Expo closed down

Everyone was anticipating a very busy day on Sunday

I have to begin by letting everyone know that there will be no Pet Expo on Sunday as advertised, after the police informed all exhibitors today that the HKCEC will be closed due to the 1st July ceremony taking place on Monday, and the anticipated protests.   As much as I try to keep politics out of this blog, I have to say I was stunned to receive the news from our team at around four thirty in the afternoon, finding it hard to believe that such an innocuous event could so suddenly be shut down, leaving exhibitors and charities like HKDR with piles of merchandise in readiness for the biggest day of the Expo on Sunday, and so much potential revenue lost.  The Pet Expo is a big thing for us, one of the important events in the calendar for fundraising and promotion, and everything is planned months in advance.  I'm sure that there will still be many people unaware of the closure who will be turning up at the Exhibition Centre on Sunday expecting to be enjoying a day of shopping for their pets, and will instead find the doors firmly closed.

After the announcement about Sunday was made there was a mad rush to try to clear as much stock as possible, so anyone who made it to the Expo before it ended at 9pm probably had a great time picking up bargains.  Nobody will be allowed back inside until Tuesday morning to take away displays and unsold merchandise, and we do still need volunteers to help with that.  Please let Eva know if you can lend a hand at 10am on Tuesday by emailing eva@hongkongdogrescue.com, thank you.  Thanks too to all the volunteers who signed up to work at our stand and did a great job over Friday and Saturday.

Perkins and his sister Dorothy are both waiting for their forever homes

Moving on as I must, we'll be hoping for some adoptions over the weekend of course, if for no other reason than to get the dogs out of the heat and rain and into air-conditioned homes.  Beautiful older puppy Perkins left our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre today to go to a foster home, and while I was really hoping he would have been adopted by now at least he can enjoy having his own space, bed and toys in the meantime.  He's really a great character with a fantastic temperament, and very good looking too.  What more could anyone ask for?

It wasn't planned or expected, but more small dogs will be arriving at the Homing Centre in Ap Lei Chau on Sunday morning, with an additional two or three at Tai Po.  I agreed to take them because they appear to be from the same source as the previous dogs that came to us, all of whom were very sweet as well as being young and healthy.  Don't ask me where they have been living because I really have no idea, I only know that I don't want them to end up in some awful dead-end shelter, or worse.  It's a struggle to cope at the moment but we'll get through this slow period as we always do.

Michelle has been with me since she was a puppy

Ellen, our Life Saver Club volunteer, asked me to send a photo of Michelle, one of the Lamma dogs,   as an update for her sponsor.  It's always a challenge getting a photo of any of the dogs, but it was siesta time and everyone was snoozing so I managed to sneak my phone out without being noticed.  If you would like to sponsor any of our long-termers, please email lifesaver@hongkongdogrescue.com for details of the sponsor packages.

Siesta time for the dogs: Kim (front), Babs and Deli

Fri 28th June: Some bad luck with little dogs

At least Duster had a lovely foster home

It was the first day of the Pet Expo in Wanchai today, and while the volunteers on our stand were busy  taking care of things over there it was business as usual at our two Homing Centres.  We've had some really bad luck with some of the dogs and their health recently, with one poodle that came to us from AFCD Sheung Shui not long ago needing exploratory surgery to find out why he wasn't eating, and hadn't eaten since arriving.  Tragically he was already too weak to withstand the general anaesthetic and he died on the table, just when a seed was discovered inside him.  Duster was an adorable little boy and his foster parents were devastated, as were we all.  I need to ask some questions but have to assume that the seed was swallowed before he came to us, and maybe that was the reason he was abandoned at AFCD in the first place.

Claudia is also not at all well

The other case, and actually quite similar, is that of little pom Claudia from AFCD Pokfulam.  She too hadn't been eating and after a couple of days was so ill that she had to be hospitalised, and is currently being treated for pancreatitis with perhaps something else going on.  We can only take it a day at a time and hope this dear little dog pulls through.

This is a new look for a Stanley Barracks dog

I was back at AFCD today to take out the last of the Stanley Barracks dogs, this time a scared but very sweet medium-sized female.  I was warned that she might be aggressive but found her to be totally the opposite, and it was easy for me to slip a collar over her head and lead her out of the kennel.  Later at Acorn she submitted to the examination and blood test (for heartworm) without complaint, and enjoyed cuddles from the vet nurse.   I know she's going to be very happy to meet up with her friends from the barracks at Tai Po, as I could see her tail start to wiggle when she saw the other dogs inside their crates in the consult room.   The worst thing that can happen to any dog or puppy is to be separated from friends and family after ending up at AFCD, and I'm always asking the staff to put puppies together while they are waiting to be released.  Being alone and afraid is very hard for any dog to endure, and when it's avoidable it shouldn't have to be that way.

The Pet Expo continues over the weekend if you want to drop by, and of course we'll be back at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday with our lovely puppies. Our annual charity sale is now taking place at 優質寵物用品展 Premium Pet Supplies Expo aiming to raise some much-needed funds for the dogs. Come support HKDR at Hall 1AB, booth N09!

Thurs 27th June: Frequently asked questions answered

We especially need weekday volunteers if you're available

There are the same questions that are asked all the time, so in an attempt to answer the most frequent ones here's some general information:

- Are we open on Sundays/Public Holidays?  Yes we open every single day of the year, no exceptions, not even for Typhoon 10 conditions.  The dogs have to be fed and taken care of regardless of anything else.

- Do I need to make an appointment?  No, but it's helpful to us to have the Adoption Questionnaire completed in advance https://hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/, and to have a general idea of when to expect a visit to meet the dogs.  If we know that we can decide which dogs to show that would be most suitable.  If appropriate we can also say that we don't think the home is ready for any dog, and save everyone the wasted time and trouble.

- Do we need volunteers?  Yes, we really do need volunteers, but you have to be over 18 years and be realistic about what is required.  If you come to walk the dogs wearing flip flops with bare legs you will soon find out that it isn't such a good idea.   It's honestly not that helpful to us if volunteers complain about getting their legs scratched by enthusiastic puppy claws or toes nibbled by sharp baby teeth.  We are also mostly in need of weekday volunteers, so if you are able to come on any day other than a weekend your application will be fast-tracked so you can start as soon as possible.  Otherwise for weekend volunteers there's a wait for a place in the orientation classes.

- I applied for an Orientation Class but haven't had a reply!  Our Volunteer Coordinators are themselves volunteers, as are those who lead the Orientation sessions, so unless you can help during the week there will be a delay in fitting you in to a suitable training session.  These are necessary so that the rules and safety procedures can be clearly explained.  Please be patient and wait for an email confirming your application.

- I've been bitten/scratched by a dog, so do I need a rabies vaccination?  Short answer, no.  There hasn't been a case of rabies in Hong Kong for about forty years, and it's impossible that any of the dogs or puppies that are with HKDR have the disease.  In fact, if there was ever a case of rabies in Hong Kong anywhere, and this is most likely to happen close to the border with Mainland China, it would be headline news.  All HKDR dogs over the age of five months will have been vaccinated against rabies, and the vaccination is 100% effective.

The van was busy today moving stock to the HK Convention & Exhibition Centre (HCCEC) for this weekend's Pet Expo, and as you must be aware there have been daily protests taking place in the Wanchai area so there was a long delay in unloading.  If you are visiting the Pet Expo please take the MTR and don't try to drive there, but do come along to see us and all of the great products and bargains that ae available.   We need extra volunteers to pack up and move any remaining stock and display units out again on Tuesday.  📣📣 Help! Logistics volunteers needed on Tuesday 2nd July 10am! We are urgently recruiting:

1. A volunteer van driver who can come with an empty van to help transport fundraising materials from Wan Chai HKCEC to our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre on 2nd July (Tue) 10am.

2. A strong volunteer who can help with loading and unloading the materials at HKCEC and Ap Lei Chau.

Please email Eva at eva@hongkongdogrescue.com if you can help! Thank you!

The Liquid Gold ready to be administered

It's a very diffiicult time at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre at the moment, with many puppies to take care of and staff member Andrea on leave, so if you are a volunteer and can drop by to lend a hand, please come when you can.  Tick fever puppies need two sets of medicine three times a day, and we have poodle Gavin who needs eye drops every hour, so by the time everything is done it's time to start all over again.

We would love this couple to stay together if possible

We took in a pair of chihuahuas today, and they will be going to Acorn for check-up and vaccinations on Friday.  We would appreciate a foster home for any of our dogs or puppies, but a forever home would be even better.  For foster enquiries please email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com, and for adoption please complete the questionnaire at https://hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/

Weds 26th June: A day of sorting

We were told by AFCD that these pretty little dogs were akitas

All of the new dogs and puppies arriving at either of our two Homing Centres had to be sorted and settled, fitting into space that really isn't there but needed to be found.  It's always a dilemma and we all feel the strain and pressure of taking in more when adoptions at this time of year are really slow, but faced with the knowledge that these innocent victims of human irresponsibility would otherwise most likely die, there seems to be no choice.

Gorgeous and sweet Sahara

However I do need to make it clear to everyone who expects us to happily open our doors to all in need of somewhere to stay that it places a huge burden, financial and emotional, on everyone involved.  We all want to save every single dog, but while the pet shops and breeders are churning out puppies for the eager buyers and those same "dog lovers" are at the same time refusing to consider a beautiful mixed breed, it's depressing and frustrating.  Then there are the surrender requests from people who for whatever reason, justified or otherwise, no longer want their dog(s) and think that sending them to a rescue organsation is a reasonable option.

A big smile from new boy Smithy

There's a high burn-out rate in animal rescue work, and indeed high suicide numbers too, and although I'm in no way hinting that anyone I know is heading down that road there isn't a day or night when the stress goes away.  A day off doesn't mean anything more than a day I don't actually go to AFCD or Acorn, it doesn't mean I'm not constantly doing as much as I can to get dogs into good homes, or thinking of ways to make things better for everyone, meaning puppies, adult dogs, staff and volunteers.  I'm acutely aware of the demands made on each and every person who is expected to accept what comes and deal with it.

Big boy Stan and Eva 

I'm also amazed and grateful for the cheerfulness of the staff plus volunteers and the way they love all of the dogs and puppies, and if it wasn't for them HKDR simply wouldn't exist.  I see the photos of the new arrivals and how happy everyone looks, and it makes me smile to know that for as long as they're with us - hopefully not too long - they will be fine.

Sweet new girl Icy with Gigi

Tues 25th June: More and more dogs, plus the rain

Stan from Stanley Barracks

It feels like a long time since I've had a day off to look forward to, but I'm not the only one who's feeling overwhelmed as everyone at HKDR is having to cope with the large number of new dogs and puppies that have been arriving this week.  I'd already delayed bringing in those from AFCD Sheung Shui (otherwise know as New Territories North) because we needed to clear some space at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre first, and luckily quite a few were adopted over the weekend.  However the same can't be said for Tai Po, so all of the new arrivals just have to be slotted in, and the torrential rain hasn't helped.

Best friends Icy and Stan

The Sheung Shui dogs included three Akitas and a group of four month-old puppies, while I took two of the three waiting Stanley Barracks dogs from Pokfulam AFCD as well as three more four-month old puppies, also from the barracks.   As always these dogs are very friendly, especially one white year-old girl I called Icy, even though she had a badly infected wound on her face.   The fuzzy-faced boy, who is around the same age as Icy, is so similar to the previous Stanley Barracks dogs in character as well as looks.  He's not ridiculously sweet like Icy is, but his initially cool approach soon changed once we were at Acorn and he could relax.  I have a feeling he's lived inside before because he knew how to scratch on the door when he wanted to go out, and he jumped into the back of the van quite readily, as if knowing what was required of him. Any of the previous adopters of this "breed" will know what Stan is like, which is sweet, stubborn and loyal.

It goes without saying that we are urgently in need of puppy fosters, so please contact Cindy if you are around for the summer and can help out.  Email foster@hongkongdogrescue.com for information and application.

Claudia is 12 years old but still quite lively

I should also mention a senior pom girl who was surrendered to AFCD and who is now at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.  While wondering what her new name should be, Dr Joe helpfully suggested Claw-dia, as the nails were so long.  Claudia it is then.

Mon 24th June: That damned tick fever

Luckily Baxter's anaemia isn't too serious

Tick fever, tick fever, tick fever, those damned ticks cause so many problems and it's certainly not only the stray or rescued dogs that are affected, it's all dogs.  Puppy Wilby, who has been in a foster home for a couple of weeks, suddenly stopped eating and a blood test showed his anaemia was so severe he needed an immediate blood transfusion, while another puppy I'd noticed looking a bit on the thin side on Sunday also needed to start the "liquid gold" treatment today. 

It's incredibly frustrating, expensive and time consuming, not to mention the fact that we can't home puppies who are affected.  I was discussing the problem with Dr Joe today, saying that there must be many strays who are infected but can live with the disease, and of course they will be carriers.   It's such a huge issue in Hong Kong, and elsewhere I assume, and it seems to get worse every year.  I can only remind all dog owners to be vigilant and to make sure your dogs are protected.  If you're worried that tick prevention products are toxic to dogs, just consider how serious tick fever itself is and weigh up the pros and cons.  Personally I would choose the prevention any day.

William, Bruno and Gabriel are chubby and healthy boys

Happily the three new puppies I took from AFCD today are all chubby and waggy-tailed, and I'm assuming they are also healthy.   All new dogs and puppies are taken straight to the vet for a check up, and if their gums looks a bit pale or they have ticks, they're given a blood test before being vaccinated.

3 previous Stanley Barracks fuzzies

There were more new dogs at AFCD today, and three of them are from Stanley Barracks.  I suspected they were as soon as I saw how sweet and lovely they were, because all of the adults and puppies that come from the PLA-occupied barracks are like that.   One is a large and fuzzy dog, reminiscent of the previous Stanley Barracks fuzzy litters but much bigger.  Of course I will take them all but that doesn't mean that they will eaily find homes, as we still have Ivory and Tusk at Tai Po despite the fact that they are also very lovely dogs.   I keep being reminded of just how many amazing dogs are waiting to be chosen, and amongst them a lot of purebreeds too.   I can't wait for the summer to be over and for people to start coming back from their holiays and giving more dogs a chance of a home.

Sun 23rd June: Making space for more

Phoenix and Julia are growing up fast too

Thankfully we've seen quite a few puppies and adults leaving our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre over the weekend, as there are more arriving this coming week and we really need to make space.  More than anything it's the older puppies that should really be in homes, foster or preferably permanent, those like Sailor, a very gentle boy, and pug-like siblings Faith and Tomlin.  Perkins is another lovely five month-old puppy with a very sweet nature, and at this age the training and socialisation is really important.   You can see their photos here Puppy Adoption Day 23 June 2019 along with the younger pups at today's Whiskers N Paws afternoon thanks to volunteer Joanna Wong who did a great job, inside and out on the terrace.

Ruskin was the first adoption of the afternoon

Brindle pup Ruskin was the first puppy adopted at Whiskers N Paws, with the three tiny babies leaving in quick succession, two black and one black-and-white.  It's hard to resist them when they're so adorable, tiny little fluffies on their short legs.

One of the Ap Lei Chau puppies was adopted just as I was getting into the van to drive to Whiskers N Paws,  so James is now starting his new life as a family member.

James was adopted at the Homing Centre

Lucas is now Charlie

Several of today's visitors and adopters had been at WeWork in Central on Saturday, including the two who each took home a scruffy terrier, meaning all three have now found homes. Congee went on Saturday, while siblings Gadget and Dribble left today.

Dribble gets car sick which is how she got her name

Look at Gadget's smile

Also in that same group of smaller mixed breeds that came to us at the same time, it was also a lucky day for shiba-alike Maple.  Please also remember the many (hundreds) of beautiful and very sweet dogs waiting for their lucky day at our Tai Po Homing Centre.   You can visit any day of the week to see them, and they'll be happy to share their love any time.

Maple is a lovely young girl

Sat 22nd June: A very full day

The grroming workshop is always very popular 

We had a very full day today as it was the start of our Perfect Pet Parenting Workshop series, this first class being Practical Grooming Skills presented by our own Iris Wu.  Although primarily the Manager of the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, Iris is also a fully qualified groomer, by now also very experienced in handling nervous dogs and those that are likely to bite.  It was a full class again, as many dog-owning families are keen to learn these basic skills.

The next workshop in the series is "Happy Dog Parenting" teaching the basics of positive training and dog behaviour. The presenter will be our own very experienced and qualified trainer, Cactus, and you can sign up using this link if you are interested in attending http://hongkongdogrescue.com/workshops/happydogparenting/

Marina is a wonderful puppy, well chosen

Before leaving for our adoption event in Central today, sweet older puppy Marina was chosen for adoption and I was so happy to get the message as Marina has been overlooked despite having the most gentle and loving personality.  This family made a very good choice.

It was a bit of a drama getting the puppies and a few small adults to the WeWork venue in Central in the afternoon, as the first van that turned up to drive us there had no air conditioning in the back, and that's essential when you are transporting animals.  It took a long time to arrange a second van so we got to Wyndham Street much later than planned and the crowds were already forming so it was a challenge to set up the fencing and everything else.  Next time we'll have a better idea of what and how to do things, but regardless of the chaos it was a happy and successful event with three puppies going home and one of my favourite scruffy terriers, the female Congee.

Toby now has a big husky brother to take care of him too

Adorable Congee going home

Funny little Pringle found his forever home

Thanks to Yvonne Chan for a lovely set of photos  Puppy Adoption Day 22 June 2019 — at WeWork (LKF Tower) and to Mana Slow Fast Food for providing the very tasty and healthy wraps ( I know, because I took one home for my evening meal).  Huge thanks also to the volunteers who turned out to help, and thank goodness they were there as they were really needed and did a great job.

If you're looking for puppies to adopt we'll be back at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday, or you can visit our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre any day of the year to meet them all.

Thankfully we had a great turnout of volunteers for the WeWork event

Hard to spot, but puppy Gunner is there somewhere

Fri 21st June: Moses and Cooper

Beautiful GSD Moses in the van 

I happened to be in Wanchai when the barricades in Gloucester Road were being put in place, and as anyone on the roads of Hong Kong Island probably knows traffic was pretty bad everywhere else as a result.  It meant that I was late to pick up a beautiful German shepherd from AFCD, too late to take him to Acorn but it wasn't too important as now-Moses had been surrendered with his vaccination record.

No diarrhoea now

Like the previous German shepherd, Cooper, the reason for this lovely boy being abandoned at AFCD was because he had chronic diarrhoea, a condition very typical of the breed.  Many German shepherds have EPI, a pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, but Cooper's test came back as negative for this genetic problem and his digestion improved tremendously after changing his diet and adding a couple of inexpensive supplements.  Having been told that there was another German shepherd at AFCD with the same issue as Cooper, in advance of him being released I had already taken in some appropriate food (as opposed to the very cheapest kibble provided) and by the following morning the diarrhoea had stopped.  As you can see from the photo taken on Saturday morning at Tai Po, Moses doesn't have any digestive problem, he just needed to be fed something that agreed with him.  This incredibly handsome and very sweet dog is five years old, and his ex-owner said he had always had diarrhoea.  How sad is that?

Cooper is a big baby, also long-haired before his shave

At five years of age Moses is older than Cooper, who is only just a year old, but both are lovely dogs who need new homes.  Please visit our Tai Po Homing Centre to meet them, or complete the Adoption Questionnaire on our website (www.hongkongdogrescue.com, under Adopt) so we can suggest other dogs that we think would be a good match.

See you later in Central

On Saturday I'll be venturing out to Central for our adoption event at WeWork in LKF Tower (entrance on Wyndham Street).  Assuming there are no big traffic problems I'll arrive with the small-sized dogs and puppies at 2pm and will be there until 5pm so you can enjoy cuddles, a drink and some yummy heathy food too.

That means that there'll be fewer choices available at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre during the afternoon but obviously we can't bring everyone to Central so the place won't be empty for sure.

Thurs 20th June: Puppy season in full swing

The new pups look very much like our previous Kitten Litter

I knew I shouldn't have said anything about taking Friday off because that's definitely not going to happen now, thanks in large part to the fact that I had to spend the afternoon at Acorn with a new litter of puppies all of which needed blood tests because of suspected tick fever.   Actually the initial blood test doesn't confirm that the puppies have the disease, it just shows that they are anaemic and that's a strong indicator that they are infected.  Most of the puppies that are born to homeless mothers will have fleas and ticks, and I suspect many don't survive because of these parasites, intestinal worms included.   All of these new babies now have to be treated for both tick fever and ringworm (fungal skin infection not actual worms), so it's an added burden on the already over-stretched staff at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.  If anyone is willing to foster these little pups (and they really are small), please let Cindy know at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com.  They will need to be taken back to Acorn for regular checking but HKDR covers all vet costs as well as food.  To help identify the pups and their littermates once they get older, I have given them all "Z" names, like Zeb, Zack, Zara etc, so they will be referred to as the Z Litter.

Puppy season is in full swing now and there are more being born than can possibly all find homes.  It's seeing all of them at AFCD and on Facebook that makes it so hard to have any understanding of how so many people still support the breeders or pet shops and the suffering of the mother dogs, epsecially when so many of these "pure" bred puppies are anything but.  We have the most gorgeous small-sized puppies available for adoption, and if I see one more enquiry for a shiba inu or corgi pup I think I will scream. 

Slipper as a baby

I met one of the small pups that was recently adopted by her foster parents at Acorn today, and I think Slipper remembered me but maybe she's just a very happy and friendly little girl who was lucky enough to be rescued when she was very young and to have found a lovely home.  It's always interesting to see how these babies grow, and I've met several of the small-sized puppies-now-young-adults since they were adopted, and it's true to say they are all beautiful dogs with great personalities.  I think the fact that they were never in pet shops and were rescued when very young has played a large part in this, because no puppy is born bad or aggressive, they are made that way by their early treatment and experiences.  If puppies are given the time, attention and love they need as youngsters they will grow into well-rounded and happy adults, it's as simple as that.

Sadly not all of the puppies that are adopted are treated well, and certainly many of those that are bought.  We see the results in our "Red Dogs", the poodles and other small breeds that have behaviour issues due to ignorance of every dog's basic needs and poor training.  It's a battle but we will keep trying to educate as many people as we can.

Weds 19th June: Things are hotting up

Teddie Mercury

It's not only the weather that's hotting up right now, but also our "Bohemian Pupsody" fundraising event which is already coming together in a very exciting way.  It's not taking place until September but with a few of the organising team taking a summer break, as well as sponsors and other supporters also leaving for the month of July or even longer, we have to get as much done as we can before then.  We've come up with a whole new feel to the event so be prepared to have a great time, and if you want any information about sponsorship or even early ticket purchase please contact Gary at gary@hongkongdogrescue.com.

Puppies and yummy food, what a great combo

In addition to the established adoption venues such as very long-term supporters Whiskers N Paws and more recently Concordia Pet Care, we'll be at WeWork in Central on Saturday with a collection of puppies and smaller-sized dogs, as well as healthy and very tasty eats by Slow Fast Food Mana available.  As I'm going to be there myself, in addition to my regular Sunday slot at Whiskers N Paws, I'm hoping to take Friday off but I'm not holding my breath about that.

Otto morphing into Barry

Of course our Homing Centres at Tai Po and Ap Lei Chau are open every single day of the year if you want to meet the dogs and puppies at either location, and it was older puppy Otto's lucky day at Tai Po today.  He's the last of a large intake that came from AFCD at the same time, and from the sound of the news from his new family he's already settled in and made himself very confortable in his new home.  His name is now Barry.

Handsome new boy Gyro

While Otto-now-Barry was leaving, another dog arrive at the Homing Centre to take his place.  Now Gyro, this is a sweet boy who had been living at a construction site or similar, so while he's never had a real home he's used to people and is very friendly.  As with all of our new arrivals I can only wish him luck and hope that his time with us is happy but short, and that soon he will be living the dream just like all of the others that have been and gone before him.