Tues 19th Nov: Rescued from near-death

Jemma is such a lovely girl

I took a third cruelty case dog out of AFCD Pokfulam today, and just like the previous two now-Jemma is very sweet.  She's a bit older than the boys Billy and Robin, and has obviously been a pet as she's very easy to walk on a leash and was quite relaxed in the van too.  We know some of the dogs from this shelter had been sent there by their owners, in fact one of those at AFCD was supposed to have been reclaimed by the registered owner who has since disappeared,  but I'm still not allowed to take the dog out.  Such is the insanity of the laws as they stand, or at least AFCD's interpretation of them.   All of our dogs deserve real homes and families, but surely these cruelty case individuals deserve it more than any other.  What you see now is not what they looked like when they arrived at AFCD, and today one of the staff kept telling me over and over how emaciated Jemma had been, just days from death.  The whole case was tragic, including the minimal sentence meted out by the magistrate when it finally came to Court.  So many cats and dogs died where they lay, left without food or water to wait for help that came too late for some.  That those who made it out alive are such lovely characters speaks volumes for the forgiving nature of dogs.

Salty on arrival in August

Probably most of our adoption enquiries are for smaller dogs, which is understandable given the size of most Hong Kong homes, but still the breed versus mixed preference persists.  Salty, for example, is a small-medium size, just a year old and now a very affectionate boy.  He had a bad start in life and was a terrified wreck when found at the waterfront with a string tied round his neck and untouchable initially. Gradually he started to relax and trust, and now he will lean against your legs and ask for a back rub as well as enjoying his walks.

Zara and Zeb (left and right) in June

Zeb is another lovely little dog, the last of the "Z Litter" and the smallest of them all.  That he survived at all is a miracle in itself, as the pups were so tiny when they arrived and all had tick fever. On top of that they were infected with distemper, and in the end only Zara and Zeb made it through. Zeb now enjoys his outings to the dog park with the other Ap Lei Chau residents, and as the weeks pass he's growing in health and strength but remains a small size.

Pulse to Fun is coming up on Sunday 1st December  (just a reminder if you haven't bought your T (for ticket) shirt yet) and I think everyone can use some relief from the current difficulties and dramas.  Thanks to our many and generous sponsors we've got a great day planned, and in a safe and very lovely environment.