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!