I have a feeling we're going to be busy over what used to be called the holiday season, although the year has been one long off-work period for many, and I think teachers have barely set foot inside an actual classroom before being told to work from home again. I've tried not to mention that "thing" that has turned everyone's world upside down, and although it's meant a steady number of adoptions I know that animals rescue groups worldwide are braced for a huge number of pets being abandoned once life returns to (even roughly) how it used to be. Please do think very carefully about the long-term commitment that having dog means, because there are already too many homeless dogs as it is.
Most of our current available puppies are those that were rescued during bad weather when they were very young and tiny babies, and I love to look back at the photos of them when they first arrived and to see how they have grown. India was adopted today, and although her litter came from AFCD they were also very young at the time.
We still get lots of adoption enquiries for shiba inu puppies, and apart from the fact that we don't have any I can't understand the popularity of this breed after so many people who went out and bought such puppies from pet shops discovered the truth, that these are not easy dogs. Of all surrender requests the shiba inu stands out as being the most common, and always because of biting. Before you write in and tell me your shiba isn't like that, I know, there are always exceptions, but these are tough little dogs who are strong-minded, independent, obstinate and certainly not lap dogs. I find it very upsetting that we have to say no to all such surrender applications now, because finding suitable homes for these dogs has proved to be impossible. I assume the shibas we turn down are either abandoned or surrendered to AFCD to be put to sleep.
The sad thing is that treated correctly they're absolutely fine, a fact that can be proved by the two shibas currently staying on Lamma, one with me and one with my neighbour. They have a large outside space to patrol and the freedom to do pretty much what they want, and having this kind of life they're no trouble at all. They're affectionate when they want to be, and that works for both sides. Both Damson-aka-Dau Dau (female, below) and King (male, left) have been adopted and subsequently returned, because neither can tolerate living inside as regular family pets.
If you have a large outdoor area and would like to adopt either of these shibas, please complete the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/
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