Weds 31st Dec 2025: End of the year

 I included the year in the date shown in the heading, because of course this is the last day of 2025 and looking back I'm sure there's a lot to talk about.  However, I'll leave that to the newsletter round-up, otherwise this blog will be a very long one. 

What we're currently dealing with is still the large number of small dogs we took in following the death of their previous owner, who although very wealthy did little (nothing) in terms of routine care for the puppies he constantly bought.  We've been taking the dogs, mostly French bulldogs, to Acorn as and when we can get appointments, bearing in mind it's the holiday season as well as a time of year when people regularly get flu, or similar.  Unfortunately several dogs have heartworm, and only a couple had already been desexed, which is why there are some mixes amongst the breeds.  

I have five such dogs staying on Lamma, and today I took the three girls to Acorn, two small-sized sisters and a little pug, all adorable and extremely sweet-natured. One of them (Lemon)  has heartworm, so she'll start pre-treatment medication before having the worm-killing injection.  Pauline the pug is very young and playful, but she has already lost one eye, presumably due to the fact that all of the forty dogs were together so fights were inevitable.  One thing I can say is that every single one of these dogs is very friendly to humans, so they were definitely well-treated in that sense.

Although we're open every single day of the year, even during severe typhoons, our Homing Centre staff have to take days off and holidays just like everyone else.  That's meant we've been short-staffed for the past week or so, and I've been trying to respond to all emails and enquiries myself.  That's not such a problem when it's for general questions and adoption questionnaires, but I can't answer specific questions about the dogs themselves.   So if you're waiting for a reply, please bear with us as it may take longer than usual to get back to you with the information.

For all adoption enquiries please start by completing the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogsrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/, and to help us with the mounting costs of dealing with the dogs and their vet bills, please consider making a donation which is currently very much needed.  You can find all donation options at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/donate/ .

I wish you all a very Happy New Year, and much happiness in 2026, especially for all the dogs in need of loving new families!

WEDS 24th DEC: A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

 We've had some lovely adoptions in the last few days leading up to Christmas, and by that I mean for special dogs who needed more than the usual luck to be chosen.

I include two shibas in that category, with Anki being very shy and Kira having post-distemper twitching in her legs, a condition that was very severe when she first arrived.  Now with medication, exercise and swimming, it's far less pronounced, but we're extremely happy that these two girls have their own homes now.

Long-term foster dog, Bibs, was one of our "Red" dogs while with us, so that's another very special adoption that was finally confirmed. 

Okra is only a medium size, but she was sent to Tai Po when she first arrived as we didn't have the space at Ap Lei Chau and she was just that little bit too big for the small Homing Centre.  She was also quite shy, but over time she became more confident, and she's now in a wonderful home with ex-HKDR golden retriever Toast.

Perhaps the best adoption of all was that of Gideon, who at almost sixteen years of age proves that a dog is never too old to find that special person or family.  Gideon has been fostered by his now-adopters, so it's probably a case of formalising his family membership while there's still time, but it's a wonderful and very happy occasion for everyone who knew him.

Younger girl Anya was also adopted from Tai Po, and while not as noteworthy as Gideon's adoption, we're always delighted to see the larger mixed breeds going home.

There was no waiting required for the German shepherd puppy we took from AFCD, as he had several good homes offered.  It was really a case of the first application being the successful one, so it was an easy in-and-out case.

I was at AFCD Pokfulam today with the five new dogs that are currently staying with me on Lamma, and going there was a reminder of days gone by when I used t visit a few times a week to choose the dogs and puppies that I would take out.  Things have changed a lot since then, but there are still too many dogs that end up at the four government Animal Management Centres, whether surrendered by their owners or picked up as strays.  The lucky ones will be accepted by HKDR or one of the other animal NGOs, but many will be destroyed.  There are smply too many dogs and not enough homes, and still nothing being done to try to deal with the situation. 

Going back to the five dogs I had with me today, they're all small, young and very sweet. Two of the girls are a mix of something, possibly terriers, and they are now Maisy and Lemon.  The little pug girl is adorable, and her new name is Pauline, while long-haired Jack Russell cross Willy is slightly older at four years, and pug/Frenchie Bear is five.  As soon as there's space at Ap Lei Chau they can move back, but for now they're very happy on Lamma.  I'll try to get photos over the Christmas holidays, but they're so desperate for cuddles that it's very difficult. 

I'll be at home with all of my dogs over the next three days, including three sick or incapacitated seniors who need special care, so I'll take this opportunity of wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! Don't forget that our Homing Centres are open throughout the holidays and on every other day of the year, so if you're interested in adopting please start by completing the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/.

Dogs and puppies should never be given as gifts whatever the occasion is, but if you've already decided that you want to give a dog the gift of a home, then any time is fine. 

Sun 20th Dec: Dealing with mayhem

 I'm sure everyone following the HKDR story will know by now about the intake of around thirty small dogs who suddenly found themselves homeless when their owner died.  To be honest, this situation is probably the best thing that could have happened to the dogs in the long term because their previous home was far from ideal or idyllic, and in fact was pretty bad, even if it would be unfair to say that they had been badly treated.  It was more a case of total ignorance, so we're trying now to catch up on long-overdue basics such as licensing, vet checks and treatment as needed, as well as finding good homes as quickly as possible.

Some of the French bulldogs have already left to start their new lives, as well as the two beagles and a poodle cross.  Five dogs came to stay at my Lamma base, simply because there was no space at all at Ap Lei Chau, and they're very happy having space and freedom to run around as they wish.  They're very friendly too, especially the little one-eyed pug girl (in case anyone is a fan of this breed). 

I'm happy to say that other dogs are also finding their new homes, not only the recent intake, and that includes large-sized puppy Dooby, an absolute sweetheart.

Sidney and Kaspar are another two lucky dogs, as well as Kew and Dingle, a pair of senior poodles surrendered together, and who were adopted as a pair.

Husky Bella, who was about to become homeless, also found her new home before having to come to Tai Po, although adopted-and-abandoned husky boy Pilot wasn't as lucky and he's now at our Homing Centre. 

With so much happening, as well as having several sick seniors at home who need quite intensive care, Christmas has crept up without me noticing, and I can't believe it's only a few days away now.  As always, out two Homing Centres at Ap Lei Chau and Tai Po will be open throughout the holidays, so even if you're not looking for a dog to bring home please feel free to drop by with gifts for the dogs or our very hard-working staff and volunteers.  

If you're in a position to adopt, please start by completing the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/.

Thurs 11th Dec: AN EXTRORDINARY SITUATION

 I've said it many times before, that life is never dull at HKDR, and once again we have a situation that will mean asking for your help and support.  The story is that someone who had a insatiable shopping habit, which included buying puppies as well as luxury designer goods, died unexpectedly, leaving behind around forty dogs.  The man lived alone other than having domestic helpers to care for the dogs, and he had no family to take over.  Without an employer the helpers had to leave Hong Kong, and the dogs have ended up in a (not very nice) shelter in the New Territories.  

After a meeting yesterday I agreed that we would help the dogs, all small I believe, taking them bit by bit as we try to find them new homes.  On Friday we'll start by taking the first group of ten, and hopefully we can go back before too long to rescue some more.  As soon as we have details and some photos we can start looking for new homes, so please look out for that information on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

It's not the best or easiest time for adoptions with Christmas and the New Year being so close, and that means a lot of potential adopters leaving Hong Kong for their holidays.  However we have had some lovely adoptions, with the Tai Po dogs being the happiest because they're almost all larger sized mixed breeds.  Odette was one of the lucky ones, with Cino being another, but there are so many more lovely dogs who are so deserving of a home.

We also have two huskies needing new homes, one a surrender while the other was adopted from HKDR some time ago and was picked up by AFCD as a stray.  These cases are always extremely upsetting, as you can imagine, and although AFCD said they were unable to contact the owner (who's no longer in Hong Kong), I had no trouble at all doing so.  It's quite extraordinary, but in the AFCD world there's no such thing as email, and only phones exist.  I have suggested many times over the years that dog licenses should include email addresses, but that has fallen on deaf ears.