Fri 1st Oct: Time for cooler weather I hope

Now that it's October I wonder when it's going to get cooler and walking the dogs is something to enjoy rather than being a sweaty chore.  That's how I feel about it anyway, but as I keep saying, taking a dog out is something you have to do regardless of how you feel or what the weather's like.  Even if it's too hot for a long walk, having a routine is what dogs like best, and you can almost set your watch by a dog's behaviour if you have a set schedule, as they'll let you know when it's time for a walk, a meal or anything else that you normally do.  

Laura was today's lucky pup

We had a lot of visitors today, as expected on a Public Holiday, but nobody seemed to be quite right, either from our side or the other.  It's initially disappointing, but at the same time we want both sides to be happy.  We get a lot of adoption enquiries from people whose lives are pretty full and with varied work times, so a dog would be expected to fit in with a similarly unpredictable schedule.  Depending on the dog's personality this might work fine, but it can also result in anxiety in a dog that's not a social butterfly and exceptionally outgoing. Please do think carefully about the time you have for a dog, not only now but in the future, taking into account that the average life expectancy of a dog is around fifteeen years.  Adopting a puppy for your children means that the "puppy" will still be around when your children have grown up and have left home, and many dogs are surrendered for just that reason, most recently the German Shepherd Floyd (who luckily quickly found a new home). 

At least there was one little space vacated at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre as puppy Laura left for a short trial with the resident dog, so I hope that all works out. 

Kobe's grooming session with Iris

I had to make a sad decision about little poodle Kobe in the afternoon, as despite a short rally after the blood transfusion his condition was still bad enough that he wasn't expected to last the night and I didn't want him to suffer.  Kobe's early life was typical of so many other small dogs in that he was kept in a cage for his first five years, and his behaviour was subsequently so affected that I had to fight to be allowed to take him out of AFCD.  He stayed at the "Home for Small Delinquents" on Lamma, where like all of the other dogs with similar behaviour issues, he gradually let go of bad memories and became a sweet, affectionate and playful little poodle.   I feel very sad that his time has come to an end, but happy that his last few years gave him a life that he enjoyed, without fear or pressure. 

A recent photo of Kobe and friends