Tues 30th Jan: What day is it?

Gorgeous Cosmo is only a year old 

 My mind seems to have been scrambled by all of the dramas, incoming dogs and whatever else is happening, and even though the week's barely started I have already lost track of which day it is.  To begin with, and as I wrote yesterday, I had to get my dog Zola to the vet as an emergency, and that meant other plans for the van being rearranged.  It wouldn't matter so much if it wasn't for the fact that the van had been booked in for servicing, which will take the rest of the week, so I was lucky in the sense that at least it was available in the morning.  Tragically, however, Zola has collapsed by the time she arrived at Acorn, and her life ended there. I'd had no inkling that there was anything wrong, and looking through some recent videos I'd taken of the dogs playing in the garden, I could see Zola with her tail up and wagging along with all of the others. 

The rest of the day seemed to follow on from how it started, so unfortunately I don't have any happy stories to share, only frustration that all potential adopters seem to be heading off for the Chinese New Year break and won't be taking any dogs home until they get back.  Thank goodness for foster homes is all I can say, because without them we'd need to build three layers of floor for the number of dogs we have at the moment.  

Actually it's not entirely true to say there's no happy news to share, because adoption from HKDR doesn't end when the dog or puppy goes to its new home, but continues with support from our very experienced trainer, Cactus, for as long as needed.  Richie was adopted as a young puppy but returned as an adolescent, apparently because he grew too big.  He stayed at our Tai Po Homing Centre for quite a long time until being chosen by another family who had already adopted from us.  Because Richie had previously been abandoned, he was terribly insecure about it happening again, and couldn't bear to be left alone.  Following advice from Cactus, and with a lot of patience from the adopters, Richie's behaviour and separation anxiety has totally changed:

Richie was adopted last October 

"Hi Cactus, I just wanted to send you an update for Pich (formerly Richie) and his separation anxiety. After 3 months we were finally able to leave Pich home alone without him panicking/barking nonstop. Previously we could not leave him for even 30 seconds without someone home or he would bark nonstop. Thankfully everyone in the family has been patient with working out schedules so that someone could always be home with him or we would bring him out with us. He went just about everywhere in Hong Kong a dog can possibly go. Aside from the obvious outdoor adventures he joined us at restaurants, our office, waiting outside ballet classes, the grocery store, and went to school pick ups and drop offs! 

Then this week it seemed something just changed for him mentally and during our "training" he was somehow totally calm when I left him so I felt comfortable to leave him. My helper was with the kids at a nearby house for a playdate so she checked on him in secret frequently and he was totally fine! 2 hours later he was totally content when everyone came home.

The same thing happened yesterday as we had about an hour of overlap in schedules and he was home alone. I asked a neighbor to check on him and once again he was totally fine the entire time.

We are thrilled! Not only for the sake of having a bit more flexibility with our schedules but also for Pich because it seems he is really settled in now with us :) He is also much more comfortable when we are home to go around on his own - no longer following me nonstop or crying outside the door if I'm in another room. 

Thank you for the support !!"

In case you aren't joining the mass exodus from Hong Kong, which has apparently already started, and in answer to the same question that is being asked, yes, we are open every single day of the year.  That includes all holidays, typhoons and anything else that may make you think we will close our doors for the day.  The dogs need to be fed, watered and walked, and the Centres need to be cleaned, so as long as there are people there to handle all of these necessary tasks, we welcome adopters too.   Please just make sure you have completed the adoption questionnaire in advance, at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/. 

You may also wonder why I've been so quiet about the potential move to a new Homing Centre, and that's because we're still waiting to hear back from the owner of the property.  It's difficult trying to make plans when you don't know where you'll be, and for everyone who initially contacted us with offers of help, please don't go away as I still hope you'll be needed!