Weds 11th March: More new dogs arriving

 This is just going to be a quick update to mention some new dogs that are due to arrive at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre today, and I've attached photos with as much information as we've been given.  I have to add that many times these details aren't entirely accurate, but for now that's all we have.   Once the dogs have arrived they'll be assessed, given names, licensed (with rabies vaccination) and checked by a vet.  If you're interested in adopting any of them, please complete the questionnaire as a first step: www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/.

Of course we already have many other dogs who have already been through all of the checks and vaccinations, and we'll be sharing an updated photo album of them on our Hong Kong Dog Rescue Facebook page. You can also check long-term volunteer Harryn's Instagram @h_dogsister for lots of lovely shots of the dogs, both inside the Homing Centre and at the dog park.

Some dogs are lucky enough to be in-and-out, even if the "out" is just to be taken in for fostering.  We knew that Border Collie pup Cora (Kora), and Golden Retriever pup Finn, wouldn't be staying for long, and sure enough both found wonderful homes very quickly.  You can take a look at their photos and videos on Instagram @why_i_foster, as well as others that will be staying in this great foster home in the future. 

Another newcomer that I thought would ne in-and-out is a small Samoyed boy, 2 years old, and now called Sam.  Although very friendly, we found out that Sam wouldn't be suitable for a home with young children when he didn't like the hair behind his ears being cut during grooming.   I hope this won't be a deterrent to him finding a home, as many dogs have sensitive parts, and the knots may have been painful. 

As always, an adoption from our Tai Po Homing Centre is always special, and this time it's Dani who was chosen.   The mixed breeds, or mongrels, are so often overlooked, but they are almost always far easier than the breeds.  I just wish there was the same excitement and flurry of adoption enquiries for  these beautiful dogs as there are every time we have a Golden Retriever or a Border Collie. 

Tues 3rd March: A sad update, and more new dogs

 In my previous blog I wrote about puppy season, and the fact that we'd taken in a litter of six young puppies, as well as a further ten that had come from a home of sorts.  By that I mean they weren't born to a stray mother, where there's the biggest risk of infectious diseases like parvovirus or distemper.  As it turned out, the six babies quickly developed symptoms of parvovirus (commonly referred to as simply parvo), so we had to arrange to move them into 24-hour care vet hospitals.  Not only is this a challenge due to the lack of isolation space in most clinics, but also full-time care, and although the SPCA could accept four of the pups we were left with two that also needed to be admitted to another vet hospital. 

As of today, sadly three of the puppies have already died, so we just hope that the surviving three will make it through.  As a virus. there's no actual treatment for parvo, just supportive care and luck, plus the puppy's own immune system playing a big part in the chances of survival.  The financial burden of these outbreaks is also a major challenge, especially when we're forced to use clinics that don't offer charity discounts. 

The good news is that the other ten puppies are all fine, and we've already seen three being adopted.   We do take care to quarantine all new dogs and puppies, so no others were affected by the parvo puppies.

Today we also took in four new small adult dogs (Nicky, Nora, Noddy and Noodle), with other additions being direct surrenders from their owners (a bichon and a chihuahua). Cavalier King Charles Hester was also returned after a failed adoption, and not at all the poor dog's fault.  

We were also asked if we would accept a young Samoyed boy, and I posted his photo on Facebook expecting a good response.  However so far no suitable home has been offered, so please let us know if you're interested.

Mon 23rd Feb: New puppies, and adoptions

With the Chinese New Year holidays finally over it's time to get back to the normal routine again, which will hopefully mean more families ready to bring a new four-legged addition into their home.  We have so many to choose from, all sizes and age, and I was (sadly) reminded when looking through the photos of the Tai Po dogs shared on our HKDR Facebook page, that many came to us when they were just babies.  Their siblings will have been adopted, but there always seems to be one leftover for no reason other than bad luck or timing, and it's a reminder that life can be very unfair.  We never lose hope that these lovely dogs will get their chance one day, but until then we promise to do our best for them.

This includes outing whenever possible, such as the traditional CNY Hike with volunteers, and everyone had a wonderful time in fantastic weather. 

 It must be puppy season again, although I think that's pretty much all year round really.  We had two requests to accept young pups over the weekend, and while we can't agree to every such request, as we happen to have the space at the moment we agreed to take a litter of six as well as a lone puppy girl.  They're too young to be adopted as singletons, but we need foster homes (in pairs), so if you can help please start by completing the foster form at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/volunteer/fostering/.  

At HKDR we provide all foster parents with everything that's needed in terms of food, beds, bowls and fencing, so we just ask that a safe and comfortable space is provided until the puppies can be adopted. 

I'm always happy to write about adoptions, and as usual these usually take place at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, 13-15 Wai Fung Street, where the puppies and smaller dogs stay. Fergus, Freddie, Buster and Ernest were some of the lucky ones, while Colin was chosen at our Tai Po Centre.

If you're ready to adopt, please complete the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/, thank you. 

Fri 13th Feb: Back after a long break

I hadn't realised it's been a month since my last post, but I've been away and time passes so quickly anyway.  Things have also slowed down quite a bit, as happens every year when Chinese New Year's approaching and so many people are leaving for vacations abroad, or just taking time off at home.   Remember to pick up our HKDR Red Packets while we still have stock!

Fisher, Giselle, Edison, puppy Holly and poodle Felix are some of the smaller dogs that found homes since my last blog, while we took in quite a crowd of new arrivals, both at Ap Lei Chau and Tai Po.  Please keep checking our Facebook and Instagram pages for photos and details of new dogs, or browse the full list at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/dogs/.  

Almost all of the Tai Po dogs are young adult mixed breeds that we've taken from AFCD, and every one is a reminder that while baby puppies are small, cute and adorable, they quickly grow.  While that might sound obvious to most sensible people, it's clear that still too many don't consider this fact when adopting.   Most of my Lamma dogs are now fifteen years old, and that's the length of time you have to consider when bringing a puppy into your life and home.  Smaller dogs generally live even longer, so if you're getting a puppy because your children want one, please think ahead and imagine how old they will be when the dog reaches the end of its natural life. 

Fundraising is an important part of running any charity, and especially when we have so many dogs to take care of on a daily basis, from puppies to seniors.  Whether it's basic feeding, monthly tick, flea and heartworm prevention, or expensive vet visits and surgeries, we can never sit back and relax.  Staff also need to be paid, as well as rents, and even though we keep everything to a bare minimum it all adds up.   If you would like to support our work, please visit our website at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/donate/ for all donation information, as well as details on our monthly sponsorship options via the Life Saver Club.  Please also consider donating your Lai See back to the dogs and puppies that rely on your generosity while waiting to find their forever families. 

Tues 13th Jan: One very special adoption amongst quite a few

 We had a happily busy weekend for adoptions, with quite a few dogs finding their forever homes.  The delightful brother and sister pair of Hansel and Gretel (now Peanut) were two of them, each going their separate ways to lovely families.

Small adult Bonnie was adopted at Whiskers N Paws, while new puppy Pesto, who came to us only recently along with two assumed siblings, was taken home after the Sunday Puppy Party. 

There are lots of other happy adoption photos which you can see below, but I want to talk about the small dogs that are still waiting for homes and are currently staying on Lamma due to lack of space at the Homing Centre.  Two of these are assumed sisters Maisy and Lemon, and I strongly suspect that one of them may be the mother of Hansel and Gretel.  They're the same small size, and shape, and with the same very happy and friendly nature.  They're also young, although unfortunately Lemon tested positive for heartworm when she arrived (one of the large intake including the many French bulldogs).   

Willy is another from the same intake, and he's a gorgeous terrier type, probably a Jack Russell cross, small and very friendly.  He's shown on his way back from Acorn after being desexed. 

There was a very special adoption at Tai Po, and while of course all adoptions are special, this one has a story attached.  Some time back we were contacted by a vet who said that a man had brought in a healthy young dog to be put to sleep for no good reason, and finding out that Ruffle had been adopted from HKDR the vet contacted us.  Of course we took Ruffle back, grateful to the vet for having let us know.  By chance the ex-girlfriend of the man who so cruelly wanted to end Ruffle's life spotted her on our HKDR website, and immediately offered to take her back.  The reunion was a very happy one, as you can imagine, and Ruffle is now safely back home.

I'm going to be taking a couple of weeks off from today when I fly to India for a holiday, but I'll still be online and in contact as usual.  Please expect delays though, as hopefully I'll be relaxing by a beach somewhere! 

Please keep checking our Facebook page for news of new arrivals, but also remember that we already have plenty of lovely dogs of all sizes waiting for homes.   You can browse through the full gallery at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/dogs/ if you want to see them all.