We hear so many awful stories about dogs and their lives, even worse when they have been adopted from HKDR and then end up needing to come back for one reason or another. One such dog is due to be returned on Friday, although "returned" is the wrong word when we're talking about a puppy that was adopted years ago and has suffered emotional abuse for so long. I don't know what mental condition the poor dog will be in at this stage, but I'll write more about the story once she's safely back with us.
Many of the dogs are picked up from the street, having been thrown out by their owners, licensed or not, when they have become too troublesome. For example we will be taking in a young French bulldog boy from AFCD next week, found as a stray and with a happy and friendly nature. His issue is that he needs daily eye drops, obviously too much bother for some.
The super-sweet poodle boy that also came from AFCD, and again was picked up from the street, has clearly been treated like a baby from puppyhood and the result is that he behaves like one. He is clingy and needy for cuddles, which while sweet in a way this is not how a dog should behave. Zorro is still young so he can learn new behaviour like how to enjoy walks and play with other dogs, but treating a puppy like a doll (before throwing it out) is just another form of cruelty.
We have another older puppy, a Yorkshire terrier girl, who has been held at AFCD since she was a young puppy and part of a cruelty case. The system requires that all such puppies or dogs are held as evidence until the case is heard in court, so poor Devon has basically been a prisoner for many months.
Miniature Pinscher Urban was also found on the street, without a microchip so without any back story. You can see his photo here, as well as the many other Kennedy Town dogs that are available: Small dogs available for adoption (Kennedy Town- Dec2024)
What's clear in all of these cases (and there are too many to detail) is that people buy puppies when they have no idea how to take care of them, or anything about dogs in general. Education is obviously important, but the truth is that not everyone wants to listen. Dogs are intelligent and emotional animals that by nature live in family groups, yet so many lead miserable and solitary existences. Not long ago I received a message from someone who was complaining about the fact that we required all potential adopters to complete a questionnaire, and how she wasn't prepared to do that. Quite simply, with no information about a potential home we wouldn't let any dog be adopted, and even then it's no guarantee that a dog will be safe and well cared for (see first paragraph). Thankfully the majority of our adopters are kind and honest, and they love their dogs, but those that slip through the net are always upsetting.
The happy news is that border collie girl Oona has found a new home. She was also from AFCD, surrendered at just a year old when her owners left Hong Kong and didn't want to take their dog with them.
Also leaving our Tai Po Homing Centre after a short stay was Usher, one of the small-medium sized "overflow" dogs that we had to send over from Kennedy Town when we were so crowded there. Usher is now BaoBao, and he has a wonderful new family who have adopted from HKDR before.
We have so many lovely young dogs, all sizes, and in most cases we really have no idea of why they ended up homeless. What we do know is that they deserve a second chance, and after so many thousands of happy stories since HKDR was founded in 2003, we also know that given the chance these dogs make perfect family members. Please take the first step of completing the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ if you want to change a dog's life forever.
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