Mon 10th June: The cost of good health

Pringle looks like his mother Pippa

Finally it was release day from AFCD for Pippa and Biggles' puppy, now called Pringle.  The poor little guy had been held there for a month and he's still only four months old, but luckily a very happy and resilient character who got straight into the games with other young dogs and puppies, parents included.  He's been checked over and vaccinated so ready to go to a home, but like Biggles and Pippa the terrier side of his personality is strong so he's got lots of energy and playfulness.

Pippa is still a young lady

There was another puppy taken out from AFCD at the same time, one of the "breed" I named the Shek O Sharpeis many years ago.  I thought they must have disappeared after so long, but young Oakley has proved me wrong.  I still have a couple from a previous litter I got around ten years ago, and while Chippy, Mayo and Hamburger have all since died, Bun and Beanie are fine, if still very shy.   New puppy boy Oakley isn't too timid so I hope he'll come round before too long, just as Chippy did from the Breakfast Litter.

Rumble and Ellie in a forever home at last

It seems a very long time since pug couple Rumble and Ellie first came to HKDR, as they were fostered for what seemed like an eternity before being returned.  In fact to be honest I can't even remember the full story or how they ended up back on the books and in another foster home, but this time they're going to be staying forever as their adoption was confirmed today.   Strangely yet another home had been offered recently, so it was obviously time for this lovely pair of old timers.  We do have another old pug, recently-surrendered Primrose, and while she came to us in a pretty bad condition and nails curled round into her pads, it's nothing that can't be fixed with proper care, diet and love.

Primrose is almost 12 years old and had been seriously neglected

So many dogs suffer from neglect, whether deliberate or from ignorance, and we see it all the time.  We received yet another surrender request about a pug, this time ten years old and having had no veterinary care during her life.  These cases cost money to bring the dogs back to some kind of reasonable health, at least as much as can be achieved given their past and age.

This pug is 10 years old and also not in good health

Another lucky puppy who found his forever home today was Big Ears, a German shepherd boy whose little brother Noddy is still recovering from what seemed to be tick fever.  They were both severely malnourished when they arrived, just skin and bone, so we weren't sure if the health issue was related to starvation or infection, but being the bigger of the two it was Big Ears who made a full recovery more easily.

Big Ears is adopted now

You can see from all of these cases that many of the dogs and puppies that come to us are in need of veterinary care and treatment, and often surgery too.  Vet costs are one of our biggest monthly overheads, so any donations that can help are always very gratefully received.