Mon 30th Sept: Cover boy Domingo

Oslo and Helsinki

Five newcomers arrived from AFCD in the morning, including the husky puppies.  I'd been wondering how old they really were because it seems very strange that anyone breeding such dogs would give them to AFCD rather than selling them, and they're only two months as we'd been told.  Now called Oslo and Helsinki they went straight to a foster home, as did the other pair of small-sized and very cute mixed breed pups, Guppy and Tuna.  Luckily one of our regular and very reliable foster homes had space for these two because Guppy seems to have tick fever and Tuna has ringworm (fungal skin infection) on his leg so both can be treated.  The fifth dog is a very sweet medium-sized adult who was sent to Tai Po, and she has heartworm so that's another additional vet cost on top of Guppy's "liquid Gold".

This sweet young female went to our Tai Po Homing Centre

Gretel looks comfortable already

Another small dog left our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre today, and this time it was Gretel who was taken for a trial to see how she and ex-HKDR dog Whitey-now-Gandalf, and the resident terrier, got along.  Gretel and Gandalf had come to us at the same time and we assume from the same place, and it seemed as though they remembered each other and I think it will help Gretel settle.  From the photo we were sent she already looks as though she's made herself at home, and that's lovely as she was a scared girl when she first arrived.

As every Hongkonger is aware, Tuesday the first of October is a Public Holiday and a day when travel will be challenging with the closure of many MTR stations.  However our Homing Centres at both Tai Po and Ap Lei Chau will be open as the dogs need feeding and walking and the premises cleaned, so if you're a registered volunteer and can get to us please come as usual.  Potential adopters are also welcome to come and meet the dogs, especially at Tai Po where we have so many waiting for homes.

Domingo (r) is a cover boy!

Foster homes are valuable to us, not only as they provide a safe and comfortable environment for dogs and puppies, but also because it helps the puppies' development and socialisation skills to be in a normal family environment.  Our Foster Coordinator Cindy sent me this photo today showing our puppy Domingo on a magazine cover with his foster mother.  Domingo is the only one of his litter still waiting for a home, and even the interview is about him.  What a star! If you are interested in adopting Domingo, please email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com to arrange a meeting.

Sun 29th Sept: A great weekend - thank you!

Several readers felt sorry for Bumble but she has her family now

Following the sucessful day on Saturday and the sad face on Bumble as the only one to return to the Homing Centre, we've had quite a few offers of a home for her.  Thanks to all those who sent emails today but Bumble was adopted this morning so she already has her new family.  There are other small dogs still in foster homes and some seniors at Ap Lei Chau, like Primrose and Cribbage, so I'll be posting information about them after Cindy has been in contact with their foster parents to check on their status.

These photos were taken 1 month ago 

We also have smaller sized puppies in foster homes, and while they're available for adoption they're still not 100% fit after suspected tick fever.  Two, Jammy and Marge,  have already had their adoptions confirmed and will be staying where they are, so at this moment there are four available.

Zara is one of the Z puppies

Also at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre are the three surviving smaller-sized "Z puppies", Zena, Zeb and Zara.  That any from this litter are still alive is nothing short of a miracle and testament to their inner strength and fighting spirit, as they were very tiny babies when they first came to us with tick fever.  That was at the time when the distemper virus struck with devastating effect, and we lost two of the "Z" puppies to it.  Zena, Zeb and Zara are still very much alive after months of treatment and regular blood tests, and it's almost time to say they're safe to be put up for adoption.

Sweet Farley's adoption left a vacancy at Whiskers N Paws for Baxter 

Eliza was chosen by our photographer Christine

We didn't have too many young puppies at Whiskers N Paws today (more are coming on Monday) but it was still a lucky day for three older puppies.  Eliza and Kerry will both be staying in their respective foster homes, while Farley's adoption left a vacancy for Baxter to move in at Whiskers N Paws.  Rodger So was back to take wonderful photos of the afternoon's event Puppy Adoption Day 29 September 2019 - Part 1, with a second album by Eliza's adopter Christine coming soon.  One other regular older puppy was also adopted by her foster family, although we don't have any photos of Petra's official "staying here" moment yet.

Zara typed her own note: "i am   acutlly  happy  for .   the   Dog . s

love, Zara "

Kerry has been such a good girl her foster family are keeping her

We were also thrilled to have three TwoPresents donations throughout the afternoon, so thank you to the lovely children and their parents for guiding them in the direction of sharing their birthdays with HKDR and the puppies.

Thank you for sharing your birthday Gaia

Thank you so much Shayna!

Sat 28th Sept: Great work at WeWork!

Okra went home as soon as she arrived 

There were eight adoptions at the WeWork event in Central today, so I'm just going to list them all and add the photos.  The first to leave was young adult Okra, and her family was already waiting to take her home when the van arrived.  I already know that she's fitted right in and everyone loves her.

Nugget is adopted

Little Noggin going home

Poppy leaving to start her new life

Peppa and her new daddy

Look at Greta's thank you kiss, so sweet!

Over the next two hours it was pom Nugget,  puppies Greta and Peppa, Poppy and Noggin, so towards the end only Hazel, Box and Bumble were left.  I was remotely involved via a group Whatsapp and jokingly said that with fifteen minutes left there was still time to find homes for the remaining three, and although Bumble ended up going back to the Homing Centre the other two were adopted.

Hazel's turn came right at the end

Box will be going to work at WeWork every day

Poor Bumble found the afternoon overwhelming

Dororthy is still waiting for that special moment

Also still available and returning to their respective foster homes were Dorothy and the sweet sisters Angel and Beauty.  I'm sure that individually the lovely little dogs would easily find homes but their rescuer wants them to stay together, and as long as they can stay in a foster home I'm willing to try. As I've said many times before two dogs isn't double the work, it's half, as they keep each other company and also play together. 

We had three volunteer photographers at WeWork today, as well as others who were on hand to take care of the dogs while they waited to meet potential families.  Thank you to all, especially as it meant I didn't have to be there myself.  Take a look through these gorgeous photos:

 Puppy Adoption Day 28 September 2019 - Part 1 — at WeWork (LKF Tower)

All photos by Edwin Datoc

https://www.edwindatoc.net/

Puppy Adoption Day 28 September 2019 - Part 2    (Yvonne Chan)

Puppy Adoption Day 28 September 2019 - Part 3 (Joanna Wong)

While one year-old Bumble will be staying at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, Dorothy, Angel and Beauty will be back at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday to see if it will be their lucky day.

Fri 27th Sept: Huskies and Stan

It's been a break from the usual routine this week and I haven't been to AFCD once, although staying in touch to see if there was any urgent need to pick up dogs or puppies.   On Monday we'll be taking in a very unusual pair of puppies, and by that I mean a breed who more often comes to us as adults who have been abandoned when their owners realise how much time and work is involved.  I'm talking about huskies, and the two boys coming are just two months old and will be called Oslo and Helsinki.   We will obviously be selective in re-homing knowing that most Hong Kong homes aren't suitable for these lovely but demanding dogs, which is why one year-old Pilot is still with us at Tai Po despite the many applications we had to adopt him.

Stan is an exceptional dog, just a year old

I have to mention another dog who's still with us but should really be in a home by now, and that's Stan, the ex-Stanley Barracks dog.  Stan has become incredibly attached to our driver Ming, and will follow him everywhere.  After Stan's visit to Acorn for a vaccination today, Ming was dropping crates and puppies off at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre while Stan wouldn't let him out of sight.  I had to hold Stan's leash so he could go back and forth from the van to the Centre behind Ming, and then stand and wait, head tilted for the sound of Ming's footsteps while he was inside. This is a very special dog who will be a devoted friend and companion if he is given the chance.  We all love him and can't wait for the day he's chosen, even though Ming will miss his friend and Stan will pine for Ming for a while.

Tiffany and sister Campari as puppies at Whiskers N Paws

I had a visit to my Lamma home in the morning - or rather the bay, since my house is off-limits to visitors - to do an interview, during which a few of the dogs came by to say hello.  The weather was perfect and the setting ideal, and I was prompted to comment that these dogs have the best possible life being free to do as they please.  This select group of a few spend the afternoon on the beach, swimming or just hanging out, and their lives are as close to natural as it's possible to be.  By nature most dogs are easygoing, as Tiffany and Campari are, and it's the freedom to choose which makes them that way.  If they feel uncomfortable with strangers they just stay away, and if they want to they come to see what's going on.  Tiffany loves everyone and is happy to greet all visitors, while sister Campari is very sweet but prefers to watch from a distance.  Most pet dogs are forced to adjust their natural behaviour to fit in with humans, and that includes being washed and groomed, spending long hours alone and being walked on a leash.  I won't even get started on the "babyfication" of small dogs who even have their hair dyed, are dressed up like children and pushed around in buggies.  It's just amazing how tolerant dogs are of the way they're treated, and how willing to adapt to our crazy lives they are.

Later in the day I went to the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, and was reminded to mention that we still have boxes of wine for sale at the ridiculously low price of $50 a bottle or $500 for a case of twelve.  Please take a look when you visit if you like a glass or two of wine in the evening, as every bottle bought is a donation to HKDR and the dogs.

I've raided volunteer Harryn's Facebook page for photos of the small dogs and puppies that are staying at the Homing Centre, many of which will be going to the WeWork adption event on Saturday.   The poodle shown in Google, a very sweet girl who was surrendered to us today and she'll need her paperwork sorted before she can go to a new home, but she's available to meet at the Homing Centre if you would like to.   Poodle Pretzel is also there (wearing the jacket), although he's not suitable for a home with children.

Thurs 26th Sept: Our "upstairs" Ap Lei Chau dogs

I was in the Ap Lei Chau office today and noticed that the number of dogs living there has grown, despite the fact that they are sent to Tai Po on a regular basis.  The specially allocated space upstairs at the Homing Centre is used as a kind of assessment and halfway house for dogs that come to us and aren't immediately ready for re-homing, but there comes a point and time when they have to move on.

Salty was found with this string round his neck

Current residents include little Salty who was found in a state of complete fear at the waterfront where I get on and off the sampans, and we assume he came from a fishing boat.  Initially he was untouchable, but now he's a very affectionate and playful young dog who loves human attention.  The transformation has been quite incredible, and seeing him today and how happy he is made me think he's really ready for a home.  He's only a year old and very puppy-like, presumably having had no real puppyhood to speak of.  He's small-medium sized and is probably best suited to a home with no other dogs, or at least only small dogs as he is still intimidated by larger ones.

Gumbo is a cheerful boy

Gumbo is another young dog, also a year old and a shiba inu, the most popular breed in Hong Kong judging from the number of them I see around.   This breed can be challenging and when Gumbo first arrived as an older puppy he had serious food guarding behaviour, and while that has been moderated to a level that's not really a problem any more, we wouldn't home him with children.  Away from food Gumbo is happy, playful and affectionate, and ready for adoption.

We all love Jack because he's so sweet

Jack's only problem is that he's shy with strangers, but when he knows you he's a very loving and affectionate medium-sized dog.  If only someone would give him a chance they'd quickly find out what a great little dog he is.

You will remember the story of Hailey and Otis, who were left tied up outside SPCA in Wanchai and then sent to AFCD where I found them.  They are both lovely dogs, and funnily despite Otis having bitten in sheer panic when the SPCA staff member went to untie them from the railings, he is the most outwardly affectionate of the pair.  Hailey is just very sweet and loves affection, but it's Otis who will come and lick your hand when you go into the room.

Blake is the one being hugged

Blake has been with us since he was a young puppy, and unfortunately for him he developed an allergic skin problem which didn't help his adoption chances, and then he needed surgery on both of his wobbly knees.  Fate hasn't been kind to Blake, but again he's a very sweet dog, now a year old and really ready for a home of his own.

I'm sure you don't need reminding that we'll be back at WeWork in LKF Tower on Saturday, 1pm to 4pm, and I'd like to mention three foster puppies who'll be there hoping to meet their new families.  Hazel and Peppa are sisters, and very sweet as well as being pretty, while Greta is a super-smart girl who'll need lots of exercise and mental stimulation to keep her entertained.  She's going to make someone an amazing family member, and while I wish it could be me of course someone else will be the lucky one

Greta is really very clever and has loads of energy

.

Peppa

Hazel

Blake as a doglet busy in the office

Weds 25th Sept: Finally a day for my Lamma dogs

Fluffy Buffy pre-shave

I was finally able to make use of my day at home without being glued to the computer now that the gala event isn't taking up so much time, and got round to grooming fluffy Buffy who had started to resemble a giant black pompom.  I'd tried a few times before but she kept running off, so today I was determined to get the job done, which I did.  Unfortunately for Buffy my grooming skills meant that what was intended to be a trim ended up a full shave and a huge bag of black fur to throw away, but I think it's an improvement in comfort at least.

Preparations for this year's P2F (Pulse to Fun) are in full swing and it's been encouraging to see the enthusiastic response from potential sponsors, many of which have already confirmed their support and participation.  Please save the date for this year's Repulse Bay event - Sunday 1st December, and remember this is a family day for you and your dogs.

We're also looking forward to a busy afternoon this Saturday at WeWork in LKF Tower, Central (entrance on Wyndham Street) where we're concentrating on small-to-medium sized dogs and foster puppies, with a few extras joining like new puppy boy Noddy from Tai Po.  Please get there early if you want to have the best opportunity to meet all of them before they're adopted.

 

Tues 24th Sept: Meet our foster dogs and puppies

Dini has a home for ever

I don't normally put pressure on anyone to adopt, understanding that there needs to be a lifelong commitment to the dog or puppy in question and that the decision has to be well thought through and made by the adopters themselves, not me or anyone else.  However when Dini came to the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre with his maybe-adopter, someone we know very well and who already has another ex-HKDR dog, I did suggest that instead of just having his post-desex stitches removed she sign the adoption forms too.  Dini has done so well, opening up more and more every day and starting to behave like a normal young dog, so I couldn't imagine a better home for him (even though I would have loved to have adopted him myself).   So Dini is now a forever dog, and I look forward to seeing more photos and videos of him over the coming years.

Gretel seems settled and is eating well 

Dachshund-cross Gretel is also doing surprisingly well at the Homing Centre after moving there from Lamma, so I hope she too will soon be leaving again to become a family member.

We haven't quite finished with the Bohemian Pupsody event yet as there are more photos still to come, and this video https://www.facebook.com/hkdogrescue/videos/677335826082449/  Filmed and edited by Alex Suttie, Email: alex.suttie@gmail.com
Website: alexsuttie.carbonmade.com

It's a foster dog special day on Saturday

I love Greta.  She's very smart and full of energy

For this Saturday's WeWork adoption afternoon for smaller dogs and puppies, we decided to give the foster dogs their best chance of finding a forever home.  That means puppies like Greta, sweet Hazel and her sister Peppa, all lovely girls who are more than ready for adoption.  Greta, as you may know, is a particular favourite of mine as she has so much character and is super-smart, but she also has non-stop energy and will need a home that can provide both mental stimulation and physical exercise, and preferably another dog to play with.  I love her.  For more photos of the puppies here is Rodger So's album from W Puppy Adoption Day 22 September 2019 - Part 2

Sisters Hazel and Peppa are very sweet girls 

Young sisters Beauty and Angel need a home together

Mon 23rd Sept: New arrivals

Sailor at Whiskers N Paws

It's hard to see puppies that came to us as babies growing up and never being chosen for adoption.  The timing of their birth is so important as it can mean them being ready to join the adoption events during the busiest periods, or during the slow summer holiday months.  Often it's just pure luck that a puppy is in the right place when adopters come to visit, and I honestly have no idea why Sailor of all puppies is still with us and had to make the move to Tai Po today.   Sailor had been staying full time at Whiskers N Paws and had charmed all the staff there, but when he grew too big and became more of a doglet age than puppy, it was time for him to move on.  I hope that being a youngster at the Tai Po Homing Centre will mean he'll be noticed, as he's a lovely boy whose very easy and well-mannered.  Scrumpy and Farley are the two new Whiskers N Paws guests, and again they're lovely puppies who have been with us since they were very small.

We have the same style in a different colour 

One of today's new arrivals 

There is constant movement and re-arranging at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre as we try to make space for new arrivals, and today it was seven puppies from AFCD Sheung Shui that we needed to accommodate. 

I'd also sent a small dog, dachshund cross Gretel, over from Lamma to the Homing Centre so she could begin the socialisation process which will hopefully lead to her finding a home.  Gretel came to us still full of milk after having had a litter of puppies, so it must have been a traumatic experience for her being taken away from her babies.  She was extremely scared and anxious, which is why she spent some time on Lamma rather than staying in the Centre.  She's been desexed and fully vaccinated now so she's ready to go to a home, but I suspect it will take a while for her to settle again.

Gretel arriving on 22nd August

We have an adoption event at WeWork in Wyndham Street, Central this Saturday afternoon where you can meet puppies and small-sized dogs, as well as Whiskers N Paws on Sunday of course.

Meet small dogs and puppies this Saturday in Central

For those of you who were at our Bohemian Pupsody fundraiser on Saturday, here are some more photos for you to enjoy. Big thanks to Stacey Wong for donating her time and photographic skills to help HKDR and the dogs.  We had a great evening as you can see, and once again I have to thank the sponsors for their generous support, the donors for amazing auction items as well as the volunteers who helped with organising and on the night.

Bohemian Pupsody 21 September 2019 - Part 2 

All photos by Stacey Wong
https://staceywong.wixsite.com/slens