Fri 31st Dec: Goodbye 2021

 As expected, the adoption numbers for December were lower than previous months, and this happens every year as plans are made for Christmas, even including flying to other countries, which currently means having to do three weeks in quarantine when returning.  It's obviously not the best time to be considering bringing a new dog or puppy home, but hopefully we'll see a surge after the holidays. 

Tai Po Homing Centre:

Gretel (Multibreed puppy)

Hansel (Multibreed puppy)

Annie (Multibreed)

Dopey (Multibreed)

Robert (Multibreed)

Tinsel (Multibreed)

Pilot (Husky)

Tate and big sister Tiana

Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre: 

Palmer (Terrier cross)

Percy (Multibreed)

Chester (Terrier cross)

Pixie (Multibreed)

Yoshi (Shiba Inu)

Lennox (Dachshund)

Tate (Multibreed puppy)

Tod (Multibreed)

Scribble (Terrier cross)

Taki (Shiba Inu)

Preston (Multibreed)

Paxo (Multibreed)

Archie (Multibreed puppy)

Whiskers N Paws:

Crumpet (Multibreed puppy)

Lula (Multibreed puppy)

Toyah (Multibreed puppy)

Adopted from Foster:

Brownie (Labrador)

Talia (Pomeranian cross)

Liz (Terrier cross)

Kia (Multibreed puppy)

Nancy (Multibreed puppy)

Amy (Multibreed puppy)

Our Forever Dogs:

Kit (Ap Lei Chau)

Spicy (Ap Lei Chau)

Judy (Ap Lei Chau)

Marvin (Tai Po)

Genie (Tai Po)

Howie (Tai Po)

Tufty (Lamma)

Rescued Dog (Total: 40)

From AFCD: 15

From other sources: 25

Total adoption number for 2021:474

Total incoming dogs for 2021: 562

You'll see once again that the number of dogs coming in far exceed those going out, with the year's total for adoptions being lower by 88 than our arrivals. You can deduct a few for our "Forever Dogs", meaning those who died without ever having experienced the luxury of having their own family, but in general it's a worrying trend. 

As always however, we can't turn our back on those innocent animals in need, and that meant six new puppies arriving today.  I worked out from their teeth that they must be three weeks old before the age was confirmed by the rescuer, and at this age the pups are able to eat mushy food and lap milk by themselves. That makes taking care of them a lot easier than having to bottle-feed, and we do need foster homes (in pairs) if anyone can help out.  Please email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com, or if you have previously fostered puppies for us and already know how it all works, you can just go to our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre directly to pick two puppies and all of the food etc.  

I wish all readers of my blog, as well as adopters, HKDR supporters and dog lovers in general a very Happy New Year!  In these uncertain times the unwavering love of our faithful four-legged friends is more important than ever, and of that you can be sure. 

Thurs 30th Dec: Coming to the end of a busy year

Tinsel in September when she first arrived

 More than any other adoptions, I love to write about those from our Tai Po Homing Centre because there are so many lovely dogs waiting there to be chosen.  I can't even say which out of the hundreds I could especially recommend because there are too many "Top Dogs" now, but I wouldn't even have thought about Tinsel as being one of them because when she first arrived she looked like a well-chewed carpet, half bald and in a sorry state.   So when the Tai Po team told me that Tinsel had been chosen I was really happy, but also surprised because the image in my mind was still of that scrappy little thing.  However now her coat has grown back in and she's a different dog in terms of appearance, and with her sweet nature and petite size she had become a Top Dog after all.  The paperwork was completed today and Tinsel will be picked up on Saturday, so I don't have an adoption photo to share just yet, only one of her when she first came to us from AFCD in September.  

Paxo's adoption is confirmed

Ap Lei Chau's adoption rate is always much higher due to the fact that the smaller sized dogs, as well as young puppies, stay there, and today was really quite busy with a lot of potential adopters visiting, as well as many online enquiries.  I know that at least one dog will be leaving on Saturday, but as always I'll keep the name a secret until the Adoption Agreement is signed.  I can, however, confirm that Paxo will be staying in his trial home where he went to see how he and the cat could get along, and it seems it's all going well.

Finn is one year old 

 

We took in a new dog today, a young French bulldog called Finn, and he has a skin problem that needs to be checked on Friday.  If you're interested in adopting him please complete the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ and we should know what the results of his skin check are very soon.  

I'm writing this on the last day of 2021, a year that has been quite a momentous one in many ways, some good, but more not.  I don't need a crystal ball to predict that early in 2022 the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre will close and the Kennedy Town Homing Centre will open, a move that wasn't our choice but which we will make the most of.   Work has already started on the Homing Centre side, as the office and "Red Dogs" will be in another nearby location, again not what we wanted but there was no available site large enough to accommodate everything under the same roof.  You can read about the progress here of course, as well as everything else as it happens. 

Weds 29th Dec: Five new arrivals

The only girl in the litter of 5

 The five orphaned puppies were dropped off to be picked up by their two foster homes, three going to one and two to another, and you'll be able to follow the triplets and their progress @why_i_foster (on Instagram).  I love the way very young puppies' ears are stuck on the side of their heads rather than on top, giving them a teddybear appearance, but this will quickly change as the pups grow. 

We received a very lovely and funny video of another pair of foster puppies, Thor and Loki, also given refuge as newborns rescued after heavy rain, and you can watch it here.  

If you're interested in offering Loki a home please start by completing the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ 

Tues 28th Dec: Our Foster Coordinator needs help!

Five 10 day-old orphans

 I've often mentioned our Foster Coordinator's name and stressed what an amazing job she does as a volunteer.  In fact Cindy's contribution to HKDR is huge, and has grown so much in the past year or so with all of the puppies coming in from various sources that it's become too much for one person to handle.  I know that on the few occasions when I've taken over for a day or so it's been a non-stop job keeping up with all of the foster homes, arranging food, vaccinations when due, making appointments for adoption interviews and dealing with vet appointments, some emergencies.  With the news today that there are five more orphaned puppies whose mother died last night (not from any infectious disease) and urgently needing foster homes, Cindy has finally admitted that she needs support from a second Foster Coordinator, and in case you might be willing this is what we're looking for:

A mature person who is completely bi-lingual, able to remain calm in a crisis and willing to be on call (email or Whatsapp) every day.   The volunteer must be organised and able to keep proper records, and have the time to deal with multiple and pretty much non-stop messages.  Ideally the volunteer wouldn't have another full time job, so this would suit someone who stays at home and has a lot of spare time. 

Obviously Cindy will offer full training, while the Homing Centre staff are always on hand to help with information and whatever else is needed.  At HKDR we work as a close team, everyone supporting everyone else, and I'm also always available as part of that team. 

I don't want to burden Cindy with yet another task, so please email me as a first step if you are really serious about taking on this important (an unpaid) role.  Cindy has been a volunteer for many years, and although her dedication is probably exceptional we do need someone who can promise long-term support, meaning not just a few weeks or even months.   My email address is sallyandersen@hongkongdogrescue.com if you have the time and willingness to give Cindy the support she badly needs.  

Bun and Blini in foster

We have so many puppies already in foster homes and growing fast, like the @typhoon_k_puppies and the four siblings Blini, Bun, Baguette and Brioche.  For all adoption enquiries please email Cindy (again) at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com, or complete the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/. 

As a reminder of the older puppies available, here's the photo album from Sunday again  Puppy Adoption Day 26th Dec 2021.

Taking care of so many dogs and puppies costs a lot of money, and we're always grateful for donations to help with vet costs and other such unavoidable expenses.  If you can donate even a small amount here's our bank details (with many thanks in advance).

Bank: HSBC 匯豐銀行

Account Name 戶口名稱: Hong Kong Dog Rescue Limited
Account Number 戶口號碼: 741-263776-838

Mon 27th Dec: Please don't get a dog unless it's for ever

 I wish I could write only about adoptions and other happy news, but unfortunately these days it's more about dogs being abandoned than the other way round.  Today started with a message about a dog that was adopted five years ago as a puppy, but she had become "too time-consuming" so the family wanted to "return" her.  How can you return something after five years?  Even if it was a handbag rather than a life you'd be laughed at if you tried that.  

The number of dogs being given up is reaching epidemic numbers, and it's certainly no laughing matter, not for us and certainly not for the dogs themselves.  It's tragic and really very upsetting to have to deal with these poor animals, so scared and confused about what is happening to them.  There are times when I really feel despair about the casual attitude towards dog ownership, and how little it means to so many.  I want to think that things will improve, but it's hard to believe that they will in the foreseeable future, so we would far rather keep the dogs with us until the right home is offered than let them go and have them returned at some point. 

Barlow was today's surrender

Barely a day goes by when we don't have a new arrival at our Tai Po Homing Centre, and today was no exception.  The dog in question is now called Barlow, and he's nine years old and highly unlikely to ever be adopted given the number of beautiful, sweet, young and friendly dogs that we have staying at the Homing Centre and still with no homes in sight. 

If I sound angry and upset it's because I am. I live with many dogs that have been with me since they were puppies, and most of them are well into their senior years now at thirteen, fourteen and even older.  I fully understand that it can be difficult, time-consuming, even annoying sometimes, but if you bring a dog into your home and life you need to think about those things before doing so, not afterwards.  When a dog is old and needs special and extra care it can be exhausting too, but nothing lasts for ever and those weeks or months of having to get up during the night will soon be over and just a memory. 

If you want a dog that is forever young, then foster don't adopt.

If you want a dog that will never chew your furniture or pee on your carpet, don't adopt a puppy.

If you prefer to spend your life lazing around rather than walking then get a cat, not a dog. 

If you want a puppy for your children to play with while they are young, then just don't. 

A dog is for life, not just for as long as it's enjoyable or convenient.  Think before you adopt. 

Sun 26th Dec: Thank you for your gifts and donations

 I knew there was a reason why I keep at least some extra-warm clothing tucked away at the back of the wardrobe, and I certainly needed them today.  Thank goodness too for heat-generating dog bodies, each one a mini radiator and proving there are times when having a house full of dogs can be a bonus.

Archie has a home!

We had quite a few visitors to Ap Lei Chau today, one of them resulting in the adoption of puppy Archie,  and another meaning the last two of the "B" puppies, Bliss and Bob, left to go to a foster home.  We're expecting more potential adopters over the remaining days of the Christmas holiday so keep reading for more happy news (I hope!).

All four are in foster homes now

Thank you to everyone who donated gifts for the dogs and puppies, as well as the HKDR humans, and you can see in this lovely video how much the Ap Lei Chau residents enjoyed their bones: https://www.facebook.com/hkdogrescue/videos/909774879733420

20 of the Tai Po seniors will enjoy these beds

There was also a delivery of twenty donated cosy beds dropped off at our Tai Po Homing Centre, and these will be allocated to the seniors who need them more than others.  Also from my own experience, the younger dogs see these as giant toys to be dragged around and pulled apart, so only the more sedate will be snuggling up in their much-appreciated Christmas beds.  

As expected it was a quiet afternoon party for the puppies at Whiskers N Paws, but it's always worth it for their sake as they love their playtime on the terrace.  Many thanks to this Sunday's volunteer photographer Kevin Chan for donating his time and skills, and you can see the lovely results here Puppy Adoption Day 26th Dec 2021. All of these puppies are waiting for homes, so if interested please start by completing the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/

Sweet and petite Raisin is still waiting

Sat 25th Dec: Christmas Day

Wilson with Santa at Whiskers N Paws

 With it being Christmas Day there weren't any adoptions to write about, although there were quite a few potential families visiting the Homing Centres, as well as some extra volunteers who offered help on their day off, for which many thanks.  

I know I felt the temperature starting to drop during the night, and with the very cold few days ahead of us I think the Tai Po dogs that are due to be taken out on Boxing Day are really going to enjoy their hiking.  If you're a registered volunteer you can also apply to take dogs out for the day, although we try to keep our top dogs at the Homing Centre so they don't miss out on being seen by would-be adopters that have come to meet their new family members. Remember we're open every single day of the year if you want to meet the dogs at either Homing Centre, just please complete the adoption questionnaire before visiting (www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/)

Bagel with Santa 

The puppies will be at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday, 2pm to 4pm as always, and you can see the two current store residents, Wilson and Bagel, shown here with Santa, and I assume asking for homes as their Christmas wish.  These are both lovely boy pups who are at the perfect age for adoption, so please go and meet them at the store any day of the week during opening hours.  On Sundays they're joined by younger playmates, including those lucky enough to be staying in foster care so not available to meet at the Homing Centre on a daily basis. 

Fri 24th Dec: A short post for Christmas

 Merry Christmas everyone!  This will be a short post as I have to dash to get everything done before heading off for Christmas lunch, so it's really a message of thanks for the donations of treats for the dogs, and the human staff and volunteers, all of which has been very much appreciated and enjoyed.

We will be open over the holidays, the same as every other day, and yes, the puppies will be at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday from 2pm to 4pm as usual.  If you're looking for a puppy to adopt and can't make it on Sunday you can still meet many of them at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre any other day, or in their foster homes by arrangement via Cindy by emailing foster@hongkongdogrescue.com.

We still have a week left of 2021, so I hope we will be able to boost the adoption numbers for the month of December and make it a record year's total.  

I'm sure you don't need reminding that the temperature is going to drop quite dramatically, so if any of you registered volunteers can help at the Tai Po Homing Centre with putting out the warm bedding and getting coats on the dogs that need them, please do spare a couple of hours of your time.  We have been taking in far more dogs than usual this year, particularly over the past couple of months, and it's becoming more and more of a challenge for the staff to take care of so many.  More than anything of course, we would love to see the dogs leaving the Homing Centre for good, to start their new lives as family members.  

Thurs 23rd Dec: Yes we're open over Christmas!

 

The second group of puppies arrived as expected, and they're now all checked, vaccinated, and either in foster care or waiting for offers.  They seem to be the same age as the other six pups we took from AFCD, so even though they're not siblings I also gave them "B" names to remind myself that they are a similar group.   As always all puppies are available for adoption at any time, although for the younger ones (under eight weeks of age) they will need to have another puppy on a foster basis as a playmate and sleeping companion until they're old enough to cope on their own.  Please contact Cindy, our volunteer Foster Coordinator, if you're interested in fostering or adopting a puppy that's already in a foster home. Her email address is foster@hongkongdogrescue.com.

A lot of people are asking if we're open over the Christmas weekend, and yes, as always we're open every single day of the year because the dogs have to be taken care of regardless of holidays.  If you're looking for a dog or puppy to adopt please start by completing the adoption questionnaire and waiting for a reply before coming to meet any of them.  If you have submitted the form and haven't had a reply, please check your Spam.   The questionnaire is at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ 

Talking of Christmas, if you would like to give a gift to the dogs we're especially happy to accept food (preferably canned as an addition to the basic dry kibble) and good quality treats, meaning dried meat rather than the strangely scented and rubbery stuff many pet shops sell. 

If you're looking for gifts for human friends, we have a big selection of T-shirts and other branded merchandise at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, as well as a huge box of dog toys for sale (dogs need presents too!).  You can also still pick up some wine, even if there are only a few boxes left, and don't forget the original Chinese paintings which make unique gifts, especially for friends and family in other countries.  You need to ask for these as we keep them safely in the office and away from the dogs and puppies. 

Weds 22nd Dec: And just like that we have 10 more puppies

The 'B' Babies

 Just after I had agreed to accept some "hillside" puppies I received a message from AFCD Pokfulam about six beautiful babies that were ready to leave, and of course I said yes to them too.  I can't decide whether they should be nicknamed the Chunky Monkeys or Chubby Bubbies because they're gorgeous rolypoly pups, two boys and four girls.  We need foster homes in pairs for this six, and for the four that are coming on Thursday, so anyone who can help please email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com for information.  We do get offers of foster care for single pups, but as I have explained many times before it's important that puppies have a sibling when they're very young, and it's also much easier to take care of a pair than one.   We provide everything that's needed, including food, bed, bowls, baby gate etc, and these youngsters are old enough to eat by themselves so there's no bottle feeding involved. 

Standing view of the "B" pups

The "Hillside Four" (shown in the video) appear to be around the same age as those that came from AFCD, and they have been with their mother until now so they're also in good shape and well fed.  I was told that they were in danger of being taken for eating and that there were men actually out looking for them, and whether that's true or not I do know that dogs and puppies are eaten in the winter.  

Tally is homeless for Christmas

I know that some potential adopters claim HKDR is too fussy about the homes we let our dogs and puppies go to, but today's Tai Po surrender is the perfect example of why we ask so many questions and are stricter than most other organisations.  Tally was adopted from another charity, presumably as something to amuse the children for a while, but on reaching adolescence he became too much for them to want to deal with.  The reason for that was because he was barely walked and the family, adults included, had no idea about dogs or their needs, and had apparently been given no information about the licensing requirements which means Tally hasn't had his rabies vaccination yet.  That's something we'll be left to do, as well as everything else.   

Adopting a puppy means taking that life into consideration for the next fifteen years or so, not a few months or a couple of years, and not until the children lose interest or you leave Hong Kong.  Please don't do what Tally's adopters did, and think long and hard before you commit to adopting.  

Tues 21st Dec: Winter Solstice and an important announcement

 I realise this is coming a day late, but I hope you all enjoyed a Happy Winter Solstice with friends and family.  I also hope it was an auspicious day to be signing the leases on two new properties which will become the new small dog Homing Centre and the office-plus, the "plus" being the "Red" dogs, shy dogs and anyone else who doesn't fit in at the Homing part of the operation.  We didn't plan it this way, and in fact didn't want to split the two different sections of the Hong Kong Island HKDR Centre, but after searching for many months we couldn't find a space large enough to accommodate everyone, at least in a dog-friendly area that was also accessible to staff, volunteers and potential adopters.  It was frustrating finding a fantastic property as far as the dogs were concerned, but nowhere near an MTR or even on a regular bus route, or another great space that didn't allow dogs. 

How the new Homing Centre looks right now!

So where did we finally choose to move to (I know you're asking)?  Kennedy Town is the answer, which means that the Ap Lei Chau (ALC) Homing Centre will become the KT Homing Centre once we have fitted out the currently bare space, and that will take a couple of months.  For now you can continue to visit us at 5 Wai Fung Street, a place that we will all be really sad to leave. 

Some of you will remember that big day back in May 2010 when we made the "Big Move" from Pokfulam to Tai Po, and how a convoy of volunteers with cars lined up along the road as we filled each one with dogs for the drive to the new space.  That was a day I'll always remember, and when the time comes I imagine we'll be asking for the same, except with fewer and smaller dogs to move the convoy will be less dramatic. 

The dog on the bag of food represents the real dog that will be Preston's "brother"

One dog who won't need to be making that move with us is Preston, a wonderful little boy who was born with a nose defect, but it hasn't affected him at all.  That's just one of the great things about dogs, they don't have mirrors or care at all about how they look, or anything that we humans would consider to be a handicap, they just accept everything and get on with living their best life.  You can see the video on the HKDR Facebook page showing happy Erin and Beemer, both missing a leg but not being in the slightest bit bothered. (https://www.facebook.com/hkdogrescue/videos/1049655602493688).  Both Erin and Beemer are waiting for their forever families, as well as many other smaller dogs and puppies at Ap Lei Chau. 

Mon 20th Dec: Taking a new dog or puppy home

I'm sharing this again because although everything is explained at the time of adoption, and again in the free booklet given to all new adopters, in the excitement of the moment most, if not all, of what's explained is immediately forgotten.  Our trainer Cactus is available to all HKDR adopters for advice, however with her heavy workload she can't always reply immediately so I will help as much as I can in the meantime.  The one thing everyone needs to remember is that to a newly adopted dog the home, environment and people are all strange and unknown.  It's rare that a new dog or puppy will instantly feel settled and happy, and it can take weeks for that to happen.  Please be patient and give your new dog space and time before rushing out to the groomers for a wash and haircut, or even more importantly a nail trim.  Many of my own Lamma dogs that have lived with me for years just hate to have their nails cut, so don't expect any new dog to feel differently. 

Please read the free adoption booklet

Here's another thing.  Do you let your dog(s) sleep on your bed?  Of course I do, and there are times (like now) when I'm very grateful for warm bodies to cuddle up to.  It seems strange to me that there are homes that don't even allow dogs inside the house, let alone the bedroom or the beds themselves, because dogs are social animals that naturally live, and sleep, in groups for safety and security.  There's nothing more sad than a lone dog who is left outside to sleep in a dog house or makeshift shelter while the human side of the family stay snug indoors.  

Apart from anything else, for homes that keep guard dogs rather than pets it's much more effective having the dog inside rather than in the garden where they can easily be poisoned or drugged.  A dog is also far more likely to be instinctively protective if it lives and sleeps as part of the family, even if it's not actually in the bedroom.

Asking about new puppies that cry during the night, or even adult dogs that don't sleep very well, are two common issues that our trainer Cactus deals with on a regular basis, and she also recommends allowing a puppy to be able to sleep in a room alongside one of the human family, even if not actually on the bed.  It's a total myth that this creates dominant behaviour in the dog, and all it does is to allow everyone to enjoy a good night's sleep. 

Sun 19th Dec: Testing the DNA tests

Scribble

The adoptions at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre started almost as soon as the doors opened at ten o'clock, and Scribble was the lucky girl who was chosen to go home.  Actually the family had already met her and others on Saturday,  and had emailed their choice before coming to take Scribble home.  I'm really happy for this sweet dog because her previous family had so cruelly abandoned her at AFCD when they left Hong Kong, and I wanted her to go to a new home with children again. 

Taki

Of course all dogs have good reason to deserve a second chance, like shiba inu Taki, an ex-breeder dog who was discarded due to the scars and wounds on his legs.  These were presumably caused by the conditions the dogs were kept in, perhaps lying on rough concrete, and we're just happy that we can save at least some from such a terrible life.   Taki has a lovely home now, and the family plan to leave Hong Kong for the USA in the next year or so and will of course be taking their dog with them.  

One of the "K" litter today, the next generation of "Edibles"

Bejamin Po was our volunteer photographer at Whiskers N Paws today  Puppy Adoption Day 19th Dec 2021, and as expected it wasn't a busy couple of hours for adoptions even if the puppies didn't care and just enjoyed their two-hour playtime.  There was a happy end to the afternoon though, as the foster parent of youngsters Ripple and Wavy, rescued as newborns during heavy rain, confirmed that they would be staying.  Hooray for Failed Fosters and double adoptions! 

Back from foster to Ap Lei Chau

As Ripple and Wavy upgraded from foster status to adopted, three other foster pups were returned to our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre (with thanks to their foster parents for taking good care of them when they were babies).  These are the "W" litter, so you can meet them any day of the week now. 

"I am the person who adopted Lemon (who is still called Lemon, by the way) from your Tai Po branch in about June. Thought you would like to know she has settled in well and 

is healthy and happy. I am still a bit puzzled as to how I finished up with such a huge dog, which was not what I was looking for at all, but Lemon has won my heart with her intelligence and affectionate personality."

I received an update on another one of "The Edibles" litter, this time Lemon, and I was able to share the DNA test results for her brother, Ziti, with the adopter.   In fact someone else had sent me the DNA results for her adopted dogs Luna, and it got me wondering about these tests.  When they first became available some years ago and I'd seen some of the results, they were too far-fetched to be believable.  I think the problem was that the database of breeds was too limited, so all of the rare Chinese breeds that Ziti has as part of his DNA wouldn't have been included.  Anyway I decided to test the test, and to use my Lamma dog Griffin to do this.  The reason I chose him is because I'm pretty sure that he is part German pointer, so it will be interesting to see if his results show this breed in his DNA make-up.  I'll let you know.

Griffin's sisters as puppies with a German pointer

I try to avoid reading the news too much as it's usually too depressing, so I'd missed this story about another vanload of dogs and cats that had been intercepted en route to pet shops (I assume) or buyers. This time the animals were taken by AFCD rather than robbers, but I understand they will have to be kept in quarantine for four months, so it's still not a happy outcome. (https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/11/237155/Van-surprise-as-51-dogs,-cats-rescued?fbclid=IwAR0OywjGzMH3HmKq581xhYZAcMH-eH7jYn4RIdVYhmM19PCo8s0max-L638).  

Sat 18th Dec: Choosing the right match for your lifestyle

Annie has a home!

 It's funny, but the older Tai Po dogs seem to be finding homes faster than the younger ones, or even the puppies that are staying there, and today it was Annie's turn.  I think more people are realising that choosing a dog that has passed the puppy stage, and even the energetic young adult years, means having an easygoing companion that doesn't put too many demands on your time and lifestyle.  All they want is regular meals and walks, a soft bed, long snoozes and treats when available. 

Tod leaving Ap Lei Chau

Tod is a young adult who also found his forever family today, and he leaves behind his many playmates at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre who are still hoping to be chosen. 

Archie, Lacey and Raisin

Sunday is Whiskers N Paws day, and which of the puppies will be lucky this week?  Please start by completing the adoption questionnaire if you're thinking about adopting a dog of any age, and let us help you with suggestions of who would be the best match for your home and family.  You can find it at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/

Fri 17th Dec: Happy news day

Sugar and Sandy leaving Concordia Pet Care

 Some happy news to start the day as new puppy Luke and the little sisters Sandy and Sugar went off to foster homes until they're ready for adoption.   Of course any foster puppies can be adopted at any time or age if they are going to a home together, or where there's already another dog willing to provide company for any youngster.  It's really so important for a puppy to have companionship and a playmate as they grow and develop.

Hansel will have a very happy Christmas

Another older puppy found his forever home today as gorgeous Hansel left the Tai Po Homing Centre to start his new life as a family member.  In fact after posting his photo and a video on Facebook and Instagram there were several offers of a home for this sweet boy, so his adopters rushed straight over to make sure they were going to be the lucky ones. 

Hansel has been with us for a while so it just goes to show that we have so many beautiful dogs waiting to be chosen, and all you have to do (if you're looking) is to go to the Homing Centres to meet them.  We do post all of the dogs and their profiles on our website at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/dogs/, but we can't do the same for everyone on our social media pages. 

New boy Alton

As Hansel left Tai Po, the two dogs from AFCD were dropped off by Ming the driver.  They're both young and very sweet, so again we hope that they won't have to wait too long before moving out again.

New boy Dino 

I wrote yesterday that it's almost inevitable that dogs coming to us from the New Territories will have heartworm, and while the two Tai Po dogs haven't been tested yet one of the two poodles that also came from AFCD Sheung Shui tested positive for the disease.

This 8 year-old poodle boy has heartworm

We're so happy for Tizzy

There was some really positive news about Tizzy, the French bulldog girl who was so kindly offered a foster home after she turned out to have an aggressive form of cancer on her leg.  Not only did her foster parents give Tizzy a home, they have also covered the costs of chemotherapy in the hope that it could extend her life.  We had been told the cancer was untreatable but the chemo seems to be working, and the ugly tumour has shrunk in size considerably.  We're thrilled for Tizzy, who is still a very young dog, but we're also incredibly grateful to her foster parents for loving Tizzy so much that they wanted to give the (very expensive) treatment a try.  

Can you see the resemblance to Ziti?

I wrote the other day about Ziti having had his DNA tested and finding that he's a quite an exotic mix of some very rare and ancient Chinese breeds, and looking at photos of another litter of six rescued foundlings who are now old enough to be adopted, I can see a strong resemblance.  It's of course quite possible that Ziti's litter and these "K" puppies are related, because the rescuer who finds them covers  one specific area.  If there are stray dogs that are breeding, and the puppies grow and survive long enough to have puppies themselves, then you start to see a similar look in all dogs in that particular location.   These "K" puppies are very lovely, and they have all lived together in the same foster home since they were just a few days old.  If you're interested in possibly adopting one (or two) of these puppies, please start by completing the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/

Cindy can send photos of all six to potential adopters, although I'm not sure she can indentify each by name!

Thurs 16th Dec: No Christmas relief for the unwanted

 For a while today I thought we were going to be hit by a big typhoon next week, but checking the latest updates it now looks as though it might just be rainy.  I really wasn't looking forward to having to prepare for anything more serious so I hope nothing changes.  Who thought we'd be even thinking about typhoons at Christmas!

What never changes are the dogs that find themselves suddenly homeless, and at any time of the year.  Two more young adult mixed breeds are going to be arriving at Tai Po from AFCD Sheung Shui on Friday, with two older poodles from the same Animal Management Centre going to Ap Lei Chau.  I'm fully expecting that the two larger dogs will have heartworm, an almost inevitable condition with any dogs from the New Territories.  Even at this time of year there are mosquitoes out and about, and it's these annoying insects that carry so much disease, including heartworm. 

Luke was
today's new puppy arrival 

Today's new arrival was a young puppy boy, also from AFCD (Pokfulam), so we'll be needing a foster home for him if anyone's willing.  Luke's not sick, but we don't have any other puppies of his age and size that we can put him with.

Also in need of foster care are two gorgeous small-sized puppies, Sugar and Sandy.  I don't know whether to think of them as being lucky or unlucky, because after coming to us along with their sister Spicy they were kept separated from others due to their small size, and as a routine health precaution. Two weeks passed and the three pups were bouncing with health, until one morning when suddenly they weren't at all well.  Spicy, the largest, was the sickest despite having been the most energetic and playful one, and all three were sent to Concordia vet clinic for 24-hour care after testing positive for parvovirus. The heartbreaking news that Spicy had died came later the same day.

Small-sized sisters need a foster home

If there's anything good about parvovirus it's that if a puppy gets through the critical stage then a full recovery can be expected, and happily this is what happened to Sugar and Sandy, both of whom are now ready to leave hospital.  However due to them still shedding the virus they can't come back to the Homing Centre so we need a foster home, hopefully one with a view to adoption.  These are small-sized puppies who won't grow any larger than small-medium as adults, with Sandy being really quite tiny at the moment.   For all foster enquiries and offers please email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com. 

We still have many young puppies in foster homes who are growing by the day and will soon be ready to leave for their forever homes.   I'm going to be posting details of them all (with thanks to Cindy of course) so you can take a look and think about which of them you might like to meet if you're considering adopting at any time. 

You can also visit our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre any day for the puppies that are ready to go home now, or Whiskers N Paws on Sundays 2pm to 4pm for the puppy party when you can also meet the foster puppies.  Store residents Bagel and Wilson would love to have their Christmas wish of a home come true (check out their video on the Whiskers N Paws link). 

Weds 15th Dec: Getting close to an announcement (I hope)

There's nothing to report on the adoption front, as with Christmas very close now a lot of people are heading out of Hong Kong for family reunions, or just getting ready to celebrate at home in Hong Kong.  Every year around the world the same message is sent out from all rescue organisations, that a dog is for life, not only for Christmas, and that's as true as it ever was.  However we're still happy to see dogs and puppies leaving for new homes at any time of the year, as long as there's a commitment to forever, meaning for the dog's whole lifetime.  

I just wanted to share a shortened version of two very happy updates of recently adopted dogs, who funnily look very similar to each other.  Robbie is a smaller adult who stayed at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, while Pebbles-now-Sally was a short-time Tai Po resident.  Both have found wonderful homes and of course we're all delighted to hear how well they're doing. 

Admiral Robbie

"Robbie (but we named him Admiral Robbie) is doing well. Anyway turns out Admiral is probably 3 or 4 years old [As with all such dogs the allocated age was an estimate only] so we are feeling very blessed because hopefully that means extra years with him. He certainly can do puppy zoomies around the flat. He has come out of his shell and loves to play, and barks a bit when he hears the monkeys at the botanical gardens.  He makes us smile every day. He’s interested in other dogs as long as they aren’t super loud.   I think sometimes he must miss having other dogs around him like he had at the ALC homing Centre.

(We named him Admiral and call him Admiral Robbie because we were watching a lot of classic WW2 movies when we adopted him and he also walks like he’s on patrol. of course ALC is also by the water so that was part of it too).

Thank you for all that you are doing and all the joy Admiral brings us." 

"I just wanted to share a few holiday photos with you of Sally (Pebbles). 

Rob and I wake surf and hike - Sally joins us on the trails and speedboat 

Merry Christmas !"

The photos I chose to share have one thing in common, and it's that both dogs are enjoying being outside, going for a walk and hiking.  

Regardless of size all dogs enjoy going out for walks, not only for the physical exercise but also for mental stimulation such as seeing and smelling interesting things outside of the home.  They also enjoy socialising with other dogs and meeting other people, and all of these things are important for a dog's overall well-being.  

Dogs can't amuse themselves at home by watching television or playing computer games, or any of the other things that humans do to keep themselves and their minds occupied.  Every dog owner owes it to their dog to provide adequate time outside, and the opportunity to safely run and play off leash.  If you don't have the time to do this, then please don't have a dog. 

 I haven't been lazing around even if there are no adoptions to report for today, as I was out again with Iris at the potential new Homing Centre, looking at layout possibilities and all of the things that have to be considered.  Hopefully I'll be able to make a confirmed announcement very soon, but for now it's still under wraps.