Mon 20th Jan: The puppy story continues

Baby Wilf and Adele on Sunday 

As promised, here are the additional photo albums from Sunday's new photography volunteers, with many thanks to all for such lovely results

Puppy Adoption Day 19 January 2020 - Part 2 

(Alex Chao)

Puppy Adoption Day 19 January 2020 - Part 3

 (Eddie Holder)  Puppy Adoption Day 19 January 2020 - Part 4 (Ava Chan)

These photos really help with finding the puppies homes and families, and if you see any that you like but they don't have names attached (it takes quite a long time to edit all the shots) please just send the photo and say "that one".

There will be no Sunday puppy party this weekend

As another reminder, there will be no Whiskers N Paws afternoon this coming Sunday as the store will be closed for Chinese New Year, but you can still meet lots of puppies at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre throught the holiday period, from 10am to 6pm, and I will be there on Sunday afternoon to help with puppy enquiries.

Today was quite a drama-filled few hours, with the story of new mother Scarlet, foster milk-mother Cara and the so-far-nameless baby girl continuing.  I'd had another sleepless night thinking about the situation after Scarlet started to produce milk and was acting as though she was anxiously searching for her baby, while Cara was being exceptionally caring but wasn't producing much milk.  By morning Iris and I were trying to decide what to do for the best, not wanting Cara to lose "her" baby but feeling Scarlet also needed to be able to suckle the pup.  As Cara and pup were in a foster home close to Acorn and I was taking two of my Lamma dogs there anyway, Iris brought Scarlet along for a "let's see what happens" introduction.

Cara's immediate care saved the puppy's life

Scarlet has a relaxed mothering style

While I was in Acorn's waiting room I was getting messages and photos showing that Scarlet had immediately taken over the pup's feeding, even though she wasn't a gentle mother like Cara had been.  That was good news, but then who would have full-time custody of the infant?  As it turned out the answer became clear when Iris noticed that Cara was feeling quite warm and had an abnormal discharge.  It was lucky I was just down the road with Murphy and Stardust, as Iris was able to bring Cara over and have her checked out immediately.  As a result Cara had emergency surgery to remove the infected uterus, which saves us having to arrange it at a later date, but it was a risky operation as she also turned out to have tick fever.  At least the question about the puppy was answered, and Scarlet stayed behind in the foster home to take over full time feeding and care of her daughter.  We were so lucky to have been offered this foster home, both for the location and the great care and attention that was given to Cara, and now Scarlet, not to mention the baby.

Kit is the first of his litter to go home

Some puppies are born lucky, and I know when the time comes to find a home for Scarlet's daughter it will be easy as she's a poodle cross, almost a designer "breed".   We also didn't need to 'sell' the smaller-sized litter that included Kit, Gabby, Tinker and Lottie, as their size and incredibly gorgeous looks attracted many enquiries.    Kit was the first to be adopted, and he left the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre today.

The Fab 4 when they first arrived

I talk a lot about our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre as that's where most of the adoptions take place, where the puppies stay if not being fostered and where our office is located.  It's also the hopping-off point for the sampan I take from my Lamma hideaway, so the obvious place for me to go to.  However our Tai Po Homing Centre is the main location for our HKDR dogs, and there are around four hundred hopefuls living there and waiting for that special day to arrive.  We have all sorts, breeds, sizes and ages at Tai Po, all bigger than small and older than babies, but still gorgeous older puppies who moved there from Ap Lei Chau, plus medium-sized adults that were just a bit too big for the small Homing Centre.

It seems to be the husky-dumping season, as another one will be coming from AFCD to add to young adults Sabre and Misha, both of whom are still waiting for the right kind of home for this demanding breed.

Not many homes are suitable for a husky like Sabre

More puppies will also be coming to Ap Lei Chau on Tuesday, so if anyone has time and space to foster please do contact Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com for details.