Tuesday 31 August 2021

Tues 31st Aug: More in than out for the month

 While writing this post I've got one eye on my phone as I'm waiting for a message to let me know about the small dogs that are expected to arrive (on Wednesday) and how many there will be.  We had to ask driver Ming to switch his regular day off so he's be available to meet Catherine (from Catherine's Puppies) in Sai Kung to pick the dogs up and bring them back to our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, so by the time I've finished writing I may have some updates for you. 

Olive looks pretty shabby right now

While we regularly collaborate with Catherine's Puppies we also do the same with Kirsten's Zoo, and today picked up a cat for Kirsten from AFCD as I was there anyway to have the new terrier-type dog licensed.  Her name is now Olive, and although she's got bad skin and dry eye she's not as old as we thought she would be.  I had to estimate her age as she wasn't microchipped, and I made her five years old.  It's not easy to be accurate about an adult dog's age so it's always guesswork, but Olive's teeth only have a small amount of tartar and the bad skin is a result of her having lived as a stray, so five it is. She's a very sweet girl, and once her skin and general condition has been sorted out she'll be a fantastic family dog.

As Olive moved in, three-legged Joshua moved out of the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.  It's taken a while, not only because Joshua needed surgery to remove what was left of one front leg, but also because he was quite scared when he first arrived and it took some time for him to settle.  He's gone to the best home possible, but I'm saving that information for later. 
Joshua has good reason to smile



Luke's littermates?

As well as the anticipated large number of dogs being picked up this morning (latest news is they're on their way), we're also taking in some puppies that we think are Luke's littermates. 
Luke arrived a few days ago


It's the end of another month and I'm looking forward to the cooler autumn days ahead (although wondering if we're going to see any big typhoons before that happens).  The number of dogs adopted during August was 33, but as you'll see we took in 38.  The totals don't include those dogs that have died from old age, sickness or - in the case of at least one Lamma dog - cobra bite (RIP Hershey). 










Tai Po Homing Centre:

Louie (Multibreed puppy)
Mason (Multibreed)
Pilot (Husky)
Moose (German Shepherd)
Peppa (Multibreed)
Olav (Husky)
Amanda (Multibreed)
Shimmer (Multibreed)

Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre:
Domino (Multibreed)
Sylvie (Multibreed puppy)
Leonard (Dachshund puppy)
Cubby (Pomeranian)
Aggie (Multibreed puppy)
Chia (Multibreed puppy)
Dotty (Multibreed)
Pearl (Multibreed)

Whiskers N Paws:
Percy (Multibreed puppy)
Chippy (Multibreed puppy)
Chimney (Multibreed puppy)
Axel (Multibreed puppy)
Carly (Multibreed puppy)
Suzy (Multibreed puppy)
Charlie (Multibreed puppy)
Angus (Multibreed puppy)


Foster Home:
Echo (Multibreed puppy)
Rex (Multibreed puppy)
Nova (Multibreed puppy)
Toby (Multibreed puppy)
Muffy (Terrier cross)
Beryl (Multibreed puppy)
Junior (Poodle)
Meg (Multibreed puppy)

Dogs taken in (Total: 38)
AFCD - 8
Owner surrender  - 30


Monday 30 August 2021

Mon 30th Aug: Who can do things like this?

 Phaedra, the cocker spaniel that was found abandoned and with a badly injured paw is doing well and the wound is healing nicely, so all we need now is a home for her.  (Here's her story in the SCMP https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3146492/no-excuse-abandoning-pet-dogs-hong-kong-tougher ).  Although still young her early treatment and resulting mistrust means she's not suitable for a home with children, but I think and hope that she'll be fine once settled and bonded. 

Leo loves his weekly swims

Looking at the American cocker, Leo, who's been at the Home for Small Delinquents on Lamma and how he's changed so much is proof of how even the most damaged of dogs can heal mentally and emotionally.  Leo was still an older puppy when I took him from AFCD but he had real behaviour issues that meant he wasn't even suitable for our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, and the last resort for these types of dogs is Lamma.  Now all of the small Lamma-based dogs are happy and well-behaved, a big change from their fearful and mistrustful early years.

Abandoned on the hillsides - who could do this?


The reason I'm talking about Phaedra again is because we were asked if we could take in another small stray, one who's been living in the hillsides of the New Territories and relying on the volunteer feeders that go out looking for puppies that can be taken and any other dogs who are tame enough to rescue.  It's shocking to know that even small dogs are taken by their owners and dumped in the middle of nowhere, but I know it happens as we've taken in even chihuahuas abandoned in this way before.  The new dog is scheduled to arrive at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre around midday on Tuesday, and I'm fully expecting that he'll have heartworm and probably tick fever too. 

Pearl has her new family

There may, and I'll confirm it when they're on the way, be more small dogs coming on Wednesday, so it was good that another one left Ap Lei Chau today from the previous group.  This one is Pearl, a very sweet dog and also young.  

For all adoption enquiries please start by completing the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ 

Sunday 29 August 2021

Sun 29th Aug: Before, during and after adoptions


 
Angus was the lucky WNP puppy


Angus was the only adoption at the event itself but that didn't mean that there weren't a lot of potential adopters who came to meet the puppies, and shortly afterwards I received an email from one of them saying they had fallen in love with Meg, one of the foster puppies making their debut today.  

Meg at WNP




Thanks to Elena Mathew for being the volunteer photographer at  Whiskers N Paws today, as well as the Photography Coordinator who organises the schedule for the Sunday afternoon events (in case there are any photographers reading this who would like to donate some time and skills). Here's the album of today's puppy party for you to browse through  Puppy Adoption Day 29th August 2021.

Shimmer is a beautiful girl

I'm not sure if it was a coincidence or planned, but two sisters were chosen at our Tai Po Homing Centre.  They are the Campsite Dogs from Cheung Chau, comprising a mother and her daughters, all looking very different from each other as often happens.  Shimmer left today to start her new life while Glitter will go during the week after her adoption paperwork was completed to seal the deal. 

Lyra 














I can't ever explain what it is about a particular dog or puppy that attracts someone to adopt.  I know I love the fuzzy look myself, but there are others that make me melt too, like Lyra, one of the three sisters that recently came to us.  Maybe it's her big ears and spindly long legs, I really can't say.  It's lucky that, as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, meaning everyone has a chance to be loved. 

Saturday 28 August 2021

Sat 28th Aug: Funny noses

Luke

 The two newborn puppies, both girls, arrived at Ap Lei Chau just in time to be picked up by their foster parent, thanks to Cindy as always for working hard to make sure this happens.  The slightly older puppy boy is now Luke, and also arrived but without his kitten friend, as the rescuer had decided to heep him.  Luke's nose looks as though it might have been injured at some point in his short life, but whatever happened it's healed and won't be a problem. 


Two newborn sisters





Sheldon's nose had been slashed with a knife

I mentioned Luke's nose because we took in another dog at Tai Po today who'd been deliberately attacked by someone with a knife who'd cut now-Sheldon's nose.  He was treated at a vet clinic and luckily the wound healed and he was brought to Tai Po, just as a potential adopter was there to meet the dogs and spotted Sheldon.  He's now scheduled to go to his new home next week. 
Sheldon, all better now


I completely forgot to share this yesterday, so I hope many of you noticed the post on our Hong Kong Dog Rescue (HKDR)
 page anyway. “Nicky & Me” - An online fundraising talent show organised by a group of caring young students premiered on Saturday, and you can watch the show here : https://youtu.be/fzlD9yp3Clo

All donations will be going directly towards HKDR to help save lives!

 
Cricket


Sunday is, of course, puppy day at Whiskers N Paws
 2pm to 4pm, and if you're planning on being there to meet the puppies and to choose the one you're going to take home, please get there early. Cricket seems to be the popular girl at the moment and she's the last of little Candy's litter, and as has happened so many times before when it's the right time for a dog or puppy then it seems many people want them at the same time. 
Cricket's mother Candy




Sunday will also be the first time for the "M" puppies who've been in foster care since first coming to us.  Usually first-timers are a bit nervous as they've never left the home they've become familiar with, so I hope the rain holds off and the puppies can enjoy running around on the terrace.  Either way they'll all be there. 
Meg demonstrates how she can eat and nap at the same time




Friday 27 August 2021

Fri 27th Aug: Newborn puppies need a foster home, and more updates

2 newborn rain rescues need a foster

We have another pair of rescued newborns urgently in need of a foster home together, with the message coming in last night along with a couple of adorable photos of an also-rescued puppy and kitten pair.  The puppy looks old enough to stay at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre and the kitten will go to Kirsten's Zoo unless anyone wants to adopt them together?   Please complete the adoption questionnaire if this sounds like something you'd like: www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ and if you can foster the newborns contact Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com.
This puppy and kitten are best friends

 Adorable little Dotty was today's lucky dog, although I should also count just-surrendered senior labrador Coach as he was collected by his foster family a day earlier than originally planned.  We were all happy about that because the weather was atrocious, and I was stuck on Lamma because none of the sampan drivers wanted to venture out. 

Sweet Dotty has a home


While Dotty left the Homing Centre poodle Milo was arriving.  He'd been abandoned on the street without a microchip to identify any owner, and while AFCD had guessed his age as being around six years, the vet at ALCVC said he was younger, no more than four based on the condition of his teeth. 
Milo arrived at Ap Lei Chau


There were also several potential adopters visiting our Tai Po Homing Centre, meaning hopefully some good news coming soon, as well as the now almost-inevitable new arrival.  This was the older puppy from AFCD I mentioned yesterday, and his name is now Rocket due to his supercharged energy. 

You can also sponsor an HKDR dog be included



Rocket's a typical teenage puppy









I need to mention a few other things which aren't directly dog-related, although of course everything is about the dogs in the end.  The first is a reminder that the deadline for submissions to our 2022 Cube Calendar is looming, so if you want your dog(s) to be included please make sure you get your applications in by the end of this month.  If you don't have an adopted dog but would like to sponsor one of our many dogs-in-waiting to be featured as Dog of the Day you can also do that.  Here's the link for both options https://hongkongdogrescue.com/2022cubecalendar/

We also took in a delivery of wine today which we'll be selling at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, and these always disappear fast so head down there before we sell out. 


While you're at the Homing Centre you can still buy the Chinese scrolls that we're selling for the ridiculously cheap price of $500 each or $1000 for three, and these are all very old or even antique paintings. 

All buyers so far have been delighted with their paintings

Thursday 26 August 2021

Thurs 26th Aug: More dogs and donations

The 12 year-old lab at least has a foster home

 The senior chocolate labrador was dropped off at our Tai Po Homing Centre today, and thankfully there was a response to my plea for a foster home and the old boy will be moving out to his new family on Saturday. 
The handsome boat boy

Also continuing the never-ending stream of arrivals, we took in a new dog from the Pokfulam AFCD Animal Management Centre, a big and handsome boy who had been living on a fishing boat until being surrendered.  Almost all fishing boats have dogs on board, I assume as security guards, and I don't know why this particular one was given up but I'll try to find out. 

The poodle is around 6 years old


On Friday we'll have a further two dogs coming from AFCD Sheung Shui, one of them being the poodle I'd mentioned in a previous post, and the other an older puppy who'll go to the Tai Po Homing Centre.  AFCD staff told us the puppy's very friendly, as is almost always the case with these dogs.  Only the poodle is probably going to have to join the "Red" gang, meaning he has some behaviour issues, without doubt due to previous poor care and training.  

Poodles aren't born "bad", but their high intelligence and need for companionship, exercise and mental stimulation means that if they don't have that as puppies and during adolescence, they can quickly develop problems and defensive behaviour, meaning they bite.   We assume, given the many adoption enquiries I get we have to reject,  that as a puppy this poodle was left alone all day and expected to entertain and train itself.  Of course that's not possible, and I'm sure there are smacks and threats when the puppy fails to teach itself how to behave in a way that pleases the owner. The fact that this poodle boy was found wandering on the street speaks volumes, and what typically happens is that someone buys a puppy from a pet shop or breeder, then tires of it after a while and passes it to a friend who subsequently gives it to someone else and so on, until finally nobody wants the dog and it's left on the street.   Having seen these types of poodles so many times over the years we know that once they trust you they're fine, but for obvious reasons they can't be in homes with children or inexperienced adopters. 

Storing the Buddy Bites donation

Dodging the rain that seems to come out of nowhere, we took delivery of an amazing 800 kilos (!!) of donated Buddy Bites  food for our Tai Po dogs, which is a fantastic help when it comes to feeding hundreds of dogs.  This donation is thanks to everyone who buys Buddy Bites and as a result has some extra given to HKDR for every purchase.
Plenty of bones to go round



I also have to once again thank growsFresh  for another huge donation of organic bones which my Lamma dogs really enjoy.  Thankfully there's plenty to go round so there's no squabbling over who gets them!

Wednesday 25 August 2021

Weds 25th Aug: New arrivals and an urgent foster home needed

 It's arrivals rather than adoptions I'm going to start with today, as well as an urgent call for a foster home for a dog that's due to arrive on Thursday.  He's a senior chocolate labrador, twelve years old, who was  left behind when his family moved to Scotland from Hong Kong.  He's apparently healthy, and no doubt a typical labrador in temperament. We don't want this poor old abandoned boy to have to stay at the Homing Centre and there must be a family who can take him in.  If that's you please email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com to let her know your situation.  We're looking for a home as soon as possible, thank you.

Suzy left Whiskers N Paws today


Petey's about 4 months old














The other arrivals aren't in need of foster homes as they can stay at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, or we might send puppy Petey to Whiskers N Paws to take the place of Suzy, who went home today.  He'll need a health check and vaccination first, but I'm sure Lucy will need a new friend to play with. 

Young boy Pipkin


The two other new dogs are small and young, so we're not anticipating a long wait until they find homes. Again they'll have to be checked over by a vet before anything else, but we're assuming that they're healthy. 

Pearl needs a haircut



If you and your dogs like to get out in the evening to socialise, there's an opportunity to spend some time with other dog families on Thursday evening at

HKDR x BubbleMe x DEAD& International Dog Day Event
🐾No Diggity, Just Dogs 🐾

For all the dog lovers and owners, come and celebrate Dogs Day with us on 𝟮𝟲𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒖𝒈𝒖𝒔𝒕 at Dead& LKF! Bowls of water, pet snacks and treats will be available for the doggos and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to HKDR 😉
Feel free to come say hi!⁠

Tuesday 24 August 2021

Tues 24th Aug: One more lucky Tai Po dog

Amanda has her family now

As always I want to start with the good news, and that's the adoption of sweet girl Amanda from our Tai Po Homing Centre.  I wish I could convince more people how truly lovely the mixed breeds or mongrels are, and that it's not only the golden retrievers that make perfect family dogs.  As the saying goes, you can never judge a book by its cover, and you should also never judge a dog by the name allocated to its particular breed. 

Cocker spaniels used to be a very popular breed in Hong Kong, but these days we rarely see one and it was a surprise when now-Phaedra turned up after being abandoned so cruelly.  She's on the mend now and her injured paw is healing well, so she's looking for a home.  However, unlike sweet-natured Amanda we wouldn't let Phaedra go to a home with young children because she does have some food-guarding behaviour, possibly and even probably due to under-feeding as a puppy, but also part of the typical cocker spaniel temperament.   If you're interested in adopting this young girl please complete the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ 


You're probably all aware that the situation with people leaving Hong Kong and not wanting or being able to take their dogs with them is reaching crisis point, and every day we're receiving emails asking us to take dogs in.  It's not only a matter of space and money as far as the charity is concerned, it's also the trauma that the dogs will face that's just as much a concern.  While we feel that HKDR's Homing Centres provide a far better environment than most other rescue organisations, there's no escaping the fact that a dog coming from a home where it's lived as a family member, and with all the comforts and security that provides, will be in complete shock when suddenly thrust into life at Tai Po.  Admittedly, those dogs that have come from really bad homes and situations are very happy with their new friends and freedom but I'm not talking about those cases, I'm talking about the much-loved pets. 

So what's the answer, apart from asking potential adopters who might be leaving Hong Kong to think really carefully about the cost and difficulties of flying a dog to another country.  That doesn't really help those who adopted when things were much easier, although it's still not impossible to overcome the problem if you're prepared to pay for a charter flight, or wait the few months it might take to secure a regular commercial slot.  (Please do your own research for charter companies as there are many available). 

As far as HKDR is concerned, we have a surrender application form on our website which needs to be completed as a first step, although submitting the form doesn't automatically mean we can or will accept the dog, even if small-sized dogs are almost always accepted because they are much easier to re-home.  If we agree to take the dog then there will be a surrender fee to pay, which varies according to circumstances but which takes into account the fact that HKDR will have to take care of the dog for what could be the rest of its life.   

However asking any rescue organisation to take your dog should be the last thing you do, not the first.  Before doing that you should make every effort to find a new home yourself, and that means asking friends, work colleagues and anyone else you can think of, especially if you plan to fly your dog over once the current situation has eased.  Of course you need to be careful about handing any animal over to strangers, and I would strongly suggest that you use our HKDR adoption questionnaire, or that of any other organisation, as a guide to the questions you need to ask.  We get lots of totally unsuitable homes offered which we have to reject, so please don't allow your dog to end up in one of these situations.  

There are honestly no easy answers or solutions, and we will try out best to help whenever possible but there are also those who are taking advantage of the situation to get rid of their unwanted dogs. 

Monday 23 August 2021

Mon 23rd Aug: The teenage puppy

Puppy Cricket at WNP on Sunday

Most puppies are adopted when they're still fairly young, and that age comes with its own set of challenges which include playbiting, toilet training and the chewing of furniture and other things.  Our trainer Cactus is always kept busy replying to adopters who think their puppy is naughty when in fact the behaviour is perfectly normal and to be expected.  

However there's a second challenging stage which I've written about before, and it's another subject that keeps Cactus busy as she reassures adoptive families that this again in normal "teenage" puppy behaviour. So to help both Cactus and adopters I'm sharing this very informative and helpful advice from the RSPCA in the UK.  Note: If you want to skip both the baby and teenage challenges of adopting a puppy, we always recommend our young adults who are more stable in their behaviour, and yo can meet many such dogs at our Tai Po Homing Centre.

Managing your puppy through adolescence

What age is adolescence in dogs?

Adolescence marks the change from being a juvenile to becoming an adult. In dogs, it can start anytime between six and 12 months and can end between 18 and 24 months. During this time, there are dramatic hormonal changes and a reorganisation of the brain.

Do dogs go through a rebellious stage?

These hormonal changes can make adolescent dogs appear less obedient, however, what is really happening is that they're increasingly motivated to explore, interact and run and they also have a greater need to interact with the environment around them and the people in it.

Just like human teenagers, adolescent dogs have the energy and motivation to do more. More exploration, more play, more interaction with their friends (humans and not humans!) but they lack the necessary knowledge and experience to think about and manage their actions and reactions.

Because teenage dogs are so much more energetic and interactive they can easily find themselves in conflict when they are asked to stop doing something, or simply to calm down, even in situations when they previously were 'obedient' and responded immediately. Sadly this kind of change is often interpreted by owners as the dog being stubborn or trying to assert their dominance rather than understanding that their dog is finding it difficult to control their impulsivity.

Adolescence in dogs can cause frustration

Some dogs, depending on their temperament (or personality), may become frustrated when they cannot get what they want and because this is a negative emotion it can trigger negatively motivated behaviours. This includes excessive barking, excessive behaviours like jumping up, scratching, nipping, biting the lead and even aggression.

It's therefore unsurprising that many owners report big changes in their dogs' behaviour.  Sadly, adolescence is a time when some puppies may find themselves being rehomed. However, the good news is that this period of problematic behaviour does pass and we have pulled together some top tips to help you through those teenage years.

Dealing with adolescence behaviour in dogs: Four ways to help you and your pup

Rather than focussing on how to control an adolescent dog, we need to think about how we can satisfy their physical and behavioural needs.

Research suggests that the learning ability of adolescent dogs is better than that of adults or puppies and so the best thing to do is to focus some of their energy towards structured play and exercise sessions, for example, searching games, scent puzzles and long walks in quiet areas.

We also need to think about how we can prevent situations during which our dog may be more excitable or frustrated. We can do this by providing some activities before the event or giving them something to do that can help them to cope with frustration.

1. Avoid frustration at dinner time

Dogs in general and young dogs, in particular, get frustrated when people eat. Because they also want the food and cannot participate, they may jump, bark and scratch. You can minimise frustration and its behavioural consequences by feeding your pet before you eat and then giving them something to chew or perhaps a dog puzzle while you eat.

2. Keep your pup stimulated

Not being able to get people's attention can also be frustrating but predictability is the best way to avoid frustration. Try increasing the variety of interactive games in your do's routine, such as playing with a ball or a frisbee, or even simply hiding something that your dog must find etc.

Remember to give cues about when the play session starts and when it finishes. For example, you can tell the dog 'playtime' or show a toy and when you want to finish. Just say 'finish' and throw the toy in the opposite direction or remove the toy and give the dog something to occupy himself. This is useful to minimise the frustration at the end of a pleasant activity. You can also scatter some treats or give your dog something nice to chew.

3. Don't tell you dog off

If your dog was used to playing with other dogs but started to become too boisterous or even aggressive, telling him off is only making the problem worse. Instead, try to distract your dog and remove them from the situation using a happy voice rather than a reprimand.

If your dog has dog friends, you can continue to socialise them with the dogs they know and minimise the exposure to other dogs for a while. Avoiding repeated negative experiences in the presence of other dogs will help stop the problem from getting worse.

4. Keep your dog active

Adolescent dogs are energetic! Longer walks in quiet areas, lots of exploration and simply using their nose are a few of the most rewarding activities for dogs.

Some adolescent dogs seem to become more fearful and anxious and this can be the reason why they do not follow their owners' requests or even why they start to show behaviours like destructiveness, house soiling or excessive vocalisations.

It's really important that they're not punished for their 'bad manners'. Telling dogs off, shouting or using more physical methods can make dogs even more scared and worried and the behaviours can worsen.To sum up, if your adolescent dog seems to have lost his 'manners' - think about how to provide more positive activities, avoid exposing them to situations that may excite or frustrate them, avoid any kind of punishment and be patient. This phase will pass!

Sunday 22 August 2021

Sun 22nd Aug: More good news from Tai Po

 

Olav the husky has a ready-made friend

It's been a great weekend at at Tai Po Homing Centre as yet another dog left there today, husky Olav.  I'm sure both adopted huskies, Olav and Pilot, will be happy to get out of the heat and into air conditioning if nothing else, but of course they have a home and a family now. 

It's frustrating but very common that on one day there are at least two families who want the same dog or puppy, and today it was Charlie who was the popular boy.  I hope the family who weren't the lucky ones will consider the last pup in this litter, Cricket, who looks almost identical to Charlie as well.

Charlie was a popular boy

While the rest of the puppies were at Whiskers N Paws for their regular Sunday party  Puppy Adoption Day 22nd August 2021 Chimney stayed behind at the Homing Centre to be picked up by her adopters.

Chimney went home today



Jimmy Tsang was the volunteer photographer for the afternoon, and as a regular for many years (for which many thanks) Jimmy knows how to capture the puppies at their best. 

The puppies are now back at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre where you can meet them any day of the week between 10am and 6pm, but please be sure to complete the adoption questionnaire and wait for a reply in advance of any visit. www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/


Saturday 21 August 2021

Sat 21st Aug: Big day at the big Homing Centre

Lucky Mason 

 It was all about Tai Po today with four lucky dogs heading off to start their new lives.  The first of these was Mason, a very sweet boy who came to us with little Lilian, who herself was just returned to Tai Po from Ap Lei Chau.  It's sad that she had to say goodbye to her friend, but she has plenty of others she can hang out with. 

Be good Pilot!



Husky Pilot was the next to leave, and this is his second chance at adoption because of his strong husky prey drive.  He went home with strict safely warnings, so hopefully there'll be no future problems.

Moose is now Sam



Next was German shepherd Moose (now Sam), followed by Peppa (Pig), the little pink-nosed girl.

Sweet Peppa Pig

The cocker spaniel Phaedra went to ALCVC (Ap Lei Chau Veterinary Clinic) as an emergency case after maggots were found in the wound on her paw, and it was just as well because the whole foot is a mess.  Screw worm is horrible and very dangerous because the maggots eat into the flesh very fast, and there was already a big cavity in the paw.  There's also a fractured toe, as well as the poor girl testing positive for heartworm.  The good news is that Phaedra's a young dog so she should heal, and if there's anything positive about screw worm it's that the wound is clean as the maggots eat everything, infection included.  As I've said many times before, being abandoned is the best thing that can happen to a dog if it's been in a home like Phaedra's previous one.  

Lucy's planned adoption was cancelled

I make rules and then often relax them, only to be reminded of why I made them in the first place.  This is about the No Holding rule, meaning if a dog or puppy is chosen we won't hold it until the adopter is able to take it home.  Why?  Because too many times there's a change of heart, and that's what happened (ironically) to both of the puppies staying at Whiskers N Paws.  First Suzy, then Lucy, were chosen, only for the potential adopters to later back off.   In a way it's good because they would probably have ended up being returned if they'd been adopted, but it's reinforced my determination not to hold back any dog or puppy if it can't be taken home at the time.  It's just not fair to block an opportunity to be adopted if another good home is offered.  As it happens, Suzy got another chance and has found that other home, so I hope Lucy will have the same luck.   You can meet all of the puppies at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday, 2pm to 4pm, or any day of the week at our own Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.