It seems we can hardly catch our breath after patching up and repairing the damage from one typhoon before we're on to the next. At least today's isn't as ferocious as Ragasa, but it was enough to bring down a big tree at our Tai Po Homing Centre, which came crashing down onto a shelter roof. Fortunately no dogs or people were injured, and only the roof needs replacing.
On top of the typhoons, we're still trying to get the kennel cough situation at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre under control, and while most of the dogs and puppies are recovering, we can't risk bringing in newcomers who will almost certainly be infected and start everything up again. For that reason, when we were asked if we could accept a group of poodles, we had to secure foster homes before saying yes. Initially we had big response, but as quickly as they came in the offers of a temporary home were withdrawn. Finally we had enough confirmed fosters to give the go-ahead for the poodles to come, and they all went straight out again, with one lucky doodle being instantly adopted. Gunner is now called Ginger, and is obviously no longer looking for a home. We also have quite a few poodles at Ap Lei Chau also available for adoption if you're looking for this breed in particular, or just a small dog to join your family.
Adoptions are still ongoing at Ap Lei Chau, and Tai Po of course, and there are plenty of dogs and puppies to choose from. As always please complete the adoption questionnaire as the first step in the adoption process, and you can find it at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/.
Other than the dogs and puppies that have been affected by the cough and runny nose that are the symptoms of kennel cough, our vet bills have been astronomical as each individual case has to be assessed and treated, some of them needing to be hospitalised. Just when we seem to have got our finances under control and back on track, we've been hit with huge monthly invoices which need to be paid. In addition to the financial burden, the staff and volunteers are exhausted with all of the extra work involved in giving extra-special care, attention and medication to all of the dogs and puppies.
These outbreaks occur from time to time, and come out of the blue. There's nothing that can be done other than to wait it out until the virus has moved on, but we will still need foster homes for the next groups of incoming dogs until it's safe to keep them at our Homing Centre again. If you can help, please complete the foster form at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/volunteer/fostering/, but please only offer if you can genuinely take in a dog or puppy until it finds a home. There's a lot of time and work involved in assessing each application and the to-and-fro messaging and arrangements, and frustrating when it comes to nothing in the end. As a reminder, our Foster Coordinator, Cindy, is a volunteer who isn't paid for the many hours of work that she puts in for the dogs and puppies, and the workload at the moment is very heavy.
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