Mon 22nd April: Never-ending surrenders

 It seems that most people have no idea what working in animal rescue is like, judging from the number of requests we receive from dog owners asking us to find a new home for their four-legged family members.  There seems to be an assumption that it's really very easy to re-home adult (mongrel) dogs, never mind that there are literally thousands of them in the many shelters across Hong Kong, not to mention at AFCD Centres.  

Why would we still have around four hundred at our Tai Po Homing Centre, even including a lovely and friendly labrador, if adopters were pouring through our doors looking for such dogs?  Even super-sweet and young Gabby, with her amazing personality and short stubby legs, can't attract more than fleeting interest before becoming just another dog that nobody wants.  How can people be so callous in their abandonment of a loyal and loving dog, a family member that has done nothing wrong other than to be surplus to requirement when things change?

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Today was more about such surrender requests than adoption enquiries, and the worst of all are from people who adopted puppies from other organisations but then expect HKDR to take them in as adults. Can these people have any idea what it's like to receive these emails, the ones that say how sweet and lovely the dogs are but the family are moving/leaving so the dog needs to find a new home?  I so often regret checking emails before going to bed and seeing surrender forms, and the various excuses for abandonment.

To everyone who wants to dump their dog(s), please pay a visit to our Tai Po Homing Centre and see what the situation is, especially during heavy rain.  Choose the place where you think your dog(s) can fit in, and will be happy.  I can guarantee there is no such magic welcome for any poor dog that arrives confused, scared, and wondering what they have done wrong. 

Adoption is for life, and barring the very few genuine cases, there is never a reason to give up on a dog that has no choice or options.  THINK before you adopt.