Starting with the good news, and not knowing what to expect first thing in the morning, the two young puppies that are staying at our Kennedy Town North Street Centre were fine and eating well, as were the pair that went straight to a foster home on arrival. It's too early to say they have escaped being infected with parvovirus because there's an incubation period, so we'll take it day by day until we can say for sure that they're in the clear. Of the two puppies that were sent to Concordia, one is also doing well and eating (always a good sign), while the other is still struggling a bit, but getting all the supportive care that's needed.
And just like that, as I was writing the update on one group of puppies another litter suddenly appeared, left outside our Tai Po Homing Centre and we will URGENTLY need foster homes. If you can help, please start by completing the foster form at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/volunteer/fostering/ , or if you are already a registered foster parent email me directly at sallyandersen@hongkongdogrescue.com (our Foster Coordinator Cindy is away on holiday at the moment). As always we will provide whatever is needed for the puppies whether it's food, toys, beds or fences. We just need your time and some space in your home.
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| Todd just before adoption |
These youngsters reminded me that the "Rain Babies" will soon be available for adoption, and in turn that brings me to my next subject which is the commitment of adopting, regardless of age. Today we had two return requests from recent adopters, one for a puppy and the other an adult. We will always take dogs back in these situations, and in fact for a third case today we were the ones asking that another dog be returned after we found out that the home was not a happy one (for the dog).
Todd is the puppy that we were asked to take back because he's too soft to be a guard dog, and we knew that at the time of his adoption. So for a family looking for an older puppy who is going to be "too" sweet and friendly, please think about Todd.
Everyone should know that having a dog is a lifelong responsibility that can be difficult at times. It means taking the dog out for walks every day, playing, training, feeding, grooming as necessary, and seeing a vet if needed. There are bound to be times when these things are a chore, for example if you're tired, sick or want to go on holiday, not to mention expensive when it come to vet bills, so please think of these things before bringing a dog into your life and home. If you aren't absolutely sure that you can commit to years of care, then consider fostering instead. Obviously things happen in life that can't be anticipated, but that's a different situation.
If you adopt a puppy then you have to anticipate all of the stages that a puppy goes through before becoming an adult, and these include the baby biting and chewing, and the "teenage" rebellious period during puberty. It can be challenging, just as raising a human child is, so if you don't want to have to deal with this then skip to the next stage of life. You will still have a full lifetime to enjoy but without the (sometimes) headache.
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