Thurs 19th May: What's happening?

Cantopop singer Pakho Chau

So what's going on behind the scenes at HKDR at the moment in terms of fundraising?  One way or another we have to find the money to cover the huge monthly overheads of looking after our six hundred dogs and all of the other costs of running such a big organisation, and it doesn't happen by magic.  Most of our fundraising "staff" are volunteers like Andrea Chung and Jamie Nunn, both of whom work for nothing on behalf of the dogs. Volunteer Vivian Chan is the organiser for our big November event, Peak to Fong, and our only paid events employee is Eva Sit, who also has many other job titles and responsibilities within HKDR.   It's a constant challenge to find the time and the resources to keep the donations and income flowing in rather than out, and I'm immensely grateful for the hard work and dedication of all of our volunteers, as well as the sponsors and donors who offer invaluable support.

Some of the fundraising efforts come in the form of campaigns such as this Qeelin  ‪#‎LoveYourBuddy jewellery collection, where a percentage of the sales of the Wang Wang collection will be donated to HKDR.  ‪#‎LoveYourBuddy‬ is kindly supported by three famous dog lovers – Hilary Tsui, Pakho Chau and Laurinda Ho, and the campaign runs from June 1st until August 31.  More details can be found on our Hong Kong Dog Rescue (HKDR) Facebook page from today and during the promotion period. 

This chihuahua pendant is part of the Wang Wang collection 

Our first ever Flag Day takes place in July, on the 27th to be exact, and we are asking for volunteers to help us on the day itself, as well as having the sticker sheets available to buy now. 

You can buy your flag sheet (minimum donation: HK$300) at:http://hongkongdogrescue.com/event/flagday2016/. Every dollar will go towards HKDR's mission of saving, rehabilitating and re-homing abandoned dogs in Hong Kong.

We also need many volunteers to help us sell flags on July 27 (Wed) -- please register at http://hongkongdogrescue.com/event/flagday2016/ if you can help. Dog owners are welcome to volunteer with their dogs.

"Game of Bones".  Dinner is coming. 

For events that you can actually attend, we have a (dog) Pool Party in the planning stage for 25th June, as well as our big post-Summer Gala Dinner "Game of Bones" taking place on Saturday 1st October.  Details will be posted as they are confirmed, but please mark the dates now.

There has been a lot of reader interest in the Cap139b Animal Trader Licensing reforms, so I'm sharing this information from the AFCD website.

"We would like to inform you that the presentation document related to the recent briefing sessions on the Cap. 139B amendments is now available on our AFCD website.
We have also uploaded the draft training syllabus for licensed dog breeders, traders and staff.

http://www.pets.gov.hk/en_business_3_1_5.php#btop

If you have any enquiries about these documents, please email
Cap139B_amendment@afcd.gov.hk "

Weds 18th May: Please help to find Mira

Amanda with her new and forever family

The best part of any day is hearing that a dog has been adopted, and it's even better when it comes as unexpected news.  I had met new girl Amanda on the day she went to Acorn for desexing and I could immediately see what a beautiful and very sweet girl she was, so I shouldn't have been too surprised that she was quickly chosen.  Still, luck always plays its part as we have many lovely dogs who wait a long time, and for Amanda she just happened to be in the right place at the right time for the right family.  I'm sure she will be as loved as she deserves to be.

When adult dogs come to us from AFCD and without any information other than whether they have been surrendered or found stray, meaning abandoned, and their photos and details are posted, I often wonder whether their ex-owners are watching.   Amanda was picked up as a stray but she has clearly been a pet dog, and from her behaviour not badly treated either. Do her previous family care enough to wonder about her, or does that fact that she was simply turfed out to fend for herself mean they have no interest?

Living the life!

All of our dogs have a story although for the most part we have no way of knowing it. Adopters often come back to us and ask for more information but it's very rare that we have anything to share.  Still, it's never too late for a new beginning, whatever age the dog is, and best friends Branston and Pickle are proof of just that.   Surrendered to AFCD from the same home and already as seniors who should have been enjoying their last years in comfort, the bonded pair were lucky enough to be taken to an amazing new home together and this is their update:

I don't wanna go out!

"I wanted to give HKDR a quick update on how the senior boys we adopted back in January are doing, in case if you are wondering.

It will be 4 months next week since we’ve brought Branston (English bulldog) and Pickle (pug) home and both of them have settled in fabulously.  Pickle has since had two major procedures that have transformed his life for the better. First, within the first month, he’s undergone a big surgery to remove 3 sizable bladder stones and had his spleen removed due to a large tumor.  He then had an emergency blood transfusion. His red blood cell count was dangerously low due to tick fever. Through it all, the awesome team at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Wanchai has taken great care of him. Pickle now no longer pees every 30 second. He’s as energetic as a 14 year old can be and will follow food around unconditionally.

Meanwhile, Branston came to us with severe eyes, ears and skin infection. Everything’s been treated.  His eye sights are back, his ears are no longer smelly and oozing with scary looking gunk, and his skin is perfect.  At 12 years old, he is now the king of the couch and the AC is perpetually set to a temperature of his liking.

The boys are amazing. They are gentle and loving and they bring so much joy to the household. Thank you for rescuing them out of AFCD and for entrusting the boys to me.

I’m attaching 2 recent pix for you. One is from a weekend outing, the other one is Branston being silly when he didn't want to go out for a walk... 

Last but not least, we wish for a good home for all the doggies out there!"

Please share this poster

Branston and Pickle are two very lucky dogs, but not the only ones who have had their lives saved by wonderful adopters.  This other case is, however, very sad and poignant, as just after I had received a short but sweet update Mira went missing during a walk on Lantau and seems to have vanished into thin air. We need everyone's help in sharing her poster as it seems likely that she has been picked up by someone who doesn't realise her family are frantically searching for her.

"Today is the first anniversary of Mira’s joining our family. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to offer a home to Mira. Both Mira and Bella (also an ex-HKDR dog) are the love of our life.  We couldn’t imagine life without them." 

Just a day after receiving this photo Mira went missing

Tues 17th May: Going in pairs

Will Jill be staying for ever?

It has quietly been a good time for young couples, and by that I mean doglets and puppies going home in pairs, even if they are only trials or fosters.  On Sunday Jill and Athena were both taken when the potential adopter just couldn't decide between them, and so far they are both doing really well.

Beautiful Athena

Martin has been in a few foster homes and they all loved him

Today is was the turn of Banjo and Martin, who were offered a long-term foster in response to my plea for help with the older and larger Ap Lei Chau residents. We were all over the moon about them staying together as well as knowing that they were going to a lovely home with lots of space, and a garden.   As this is a foster and not a permanent adoption, both dogs will still be available and will be featured on our website dog profiles, and hopefully the experience of a family life will give them a better chance of finding their forever homes.

Banjo is big but very sweet and easy

The third pair haven't gone yet but should be picked up from their current foster home before Sunday's Whiskers N Paws afternoon, all being well.  I don't want to mention any names so as not to jinx anything, but you will know as soon as the puppies leave.  This is a proper adoption too, so there will be no need to worry about who might be coming back.

 Now I'm wondering if there might be a chance for some of my lovely Lamma dogs, those that are still young but who have missed their chance of finding homes.  I'm thinking of those like Poker, one of a fairly large litter all of whom found loving homes except him.  There was no particular reason, just bad luck, as he was just as sweet as the others.  Now he is one of the quieter members of that particular Lamma group, and is often bullied.  I would so love him to be able to find a home of his own, and I can promise that he is a kind and gentle boy who will be no trouble.  If you think you would like to meet Poker with a view to adopting him, please let me know by emailing sally@hongkongdogrescue.com, and maybe one by one I can help my Lamma friends.

Poker is such a sweet boy who just needs a chance

Mon 16th May: Parker and Rudy

Goodbye Parker, lucky boy

Two dogs left our Tai Po Homing Centre today, although in very different circumstances.  Parker took the usual and favoured route of adoption, and I'm sure he'll do really well as he's a lovely boy.  He got his name because he was abandoned in a dog park as a doglet and was one of the lucky ones that we were able to take in.   Now his story is complete and yet another file can be closed, joining the thousands of others from previous years.

I can't help thinking that Rudy is probably in a better place now

Rudy's final chapter didn't have the same happy ending after he was rushed to Acorn in the morning after being found pretty much unresponsive, and never regained consciousness.  He had been with us since the very early days of our Tai Po occupancy although not many volunteers would even have known him as he was one of the very timid dogs who avoided human interaction.  A large part of me believes these types of dogs, who never accept being domesticated, should be living free even if it means a short life, and although it was Rudy's real heart that gave up, maybe his emotional heart did too.

Paddy pre-makeover

Our new Maltese boy, Paddy, went to Whiskers N Paws today for a complimentary makeover today, and although he is totally blind he is a very sweet and happy boy.  We have no way of knowing how long he has been unable to see, but dogs that are born blind or lose their sight at an early age are no different to other dogs.

Roley has absolutely no idea that he can't see

  My born-blind Lamma dog Roley even has better "eyesight" than his seeing counterparts, and nothing escapes him.  It amazes me that he knows if I am holding something, however small, and can chase and retrieve a stick or ball with 100% accuracy.  Jeremy, on the other hand, suddenly went blind quite recently at eleven years of age and he is still really struggling to cope.  Overnight he went from a very healthy and fully active dog to one who barely walks more than a few tentative steps, and I have to lead him in and out of the house for his toilet needs.  It's very hard for me to see him as he is now and I can only hope that he will eventually gain some confidence in his other remaining senses.

Although it's not exceptionally hot at the moment, I need to remind everyone about the dangers of leaving dogs in cars, even in the shade.  There have already been a few cases of this happening so far this year, and no matter what the outside temperature is, when shut inside a car it only takes a very short time for a dog to suffer heatstroke and die. Please don't leave your dog inside a car with the windows closed, or even sightly open, as it's a terrible way for an animal to die.   If you see a dog in a car like this please call the police, or even break a window if you can see the dog is already in distress.

Sun 15th May: Lost dog Mira

Don't you love it when the weather forecast is so completely and totally wrong?  Instead of rain and thunderstorms it was a perfect day for the puppies at Whiskers N Paws and everyone had a great time as usual (except Etta, who was very unhappy and we will need to investigate why).

Sammy and Beefy have discovered the joys of the plant boxes

Brothers Beefy and Sammy are like peas in a pod, and as they are getting older it's so funny to watch them hatching plans together and disappearing off into the bushes to discuss tactics.  They are so close to each other it would be lovely if they could be adopted as a pair, and dreams sometimes do come true so who knows.

One adopter couldn't decide between doglets Jill and Athena, and in the end had to take both home to see how they fitted in.  It's no secret that we are hoping that neither will be coming back, but at least they will both have a chance to enjoy a home life for a while.

We hope Petra will be able to stay

Baby pup Petra was taken home to see if there was any problem with allergies, so again we're hoping that all will be fine and she won't be back.

Poodle Maya found a lovely home today

"Pot Poodle" Maya left the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre to start her new life, and I'm sure she and her new family are going to be very happy.

Volunteers from I Share Pet 愛分享義工服務

Over at Tai Po we had a team of volunteers from I Share Pet 愛分享義工服務 helping out, and they did a fantastic job putting up heavy metal shelving and all sorts of heavy duty things.  This is a great volunteer group who do wonderful work, and they need some recognition.

Some urgent help is needed in finding lost dog Mira, who disappeared while on a walk on Lantau.  Sadly and ironically, I was just about to post the happy one year anniversary update in Mira, who has settled so well and is very much loved.   Please help if you live on Lantau or hike over on the island.

Mira is lost and urgently needs your help

緊急尋迷你史納犬莎犬 MIRA

客人史納莎狗女Mira, 於今天 (15/5/2016) 早上九時半於大嶼山地塘仔郊遊徑 (近寶林寺)歩行時走失，當時她身上穿著紅色胸帶，煩請各位朋友多留意！如有任何資料，請盡快與我們聯絡。謝謝！

LOST DOG 'Mira' FROM Tei Tong Tsai Country Trail, Lantau Island
Our client's dog, Mira ran out this morning, Sunday 15th May 2016 at around 9:30am in Tei Tong Tsai country trail, Lantau Island.

Mira is a miniature schnauzer, with black-silver hair, has long eyelashes. She's wearing the harness without leash.

If you see her or have any information please contact:

Please call 92527658

Sat 14th May: Nothing in life is free

Tilly stops to chat with Isobel and Spotty

The days just fly by, and now it's the weekend again and time for some adoptions I hope.  I didn't get my usual Saturday at home today as I was out in the New Territories, but regular Lamma volunteers Vivian and Justine came over to entertain the troops in my absence.  It was the perfect day for beach and swimming adventures, something the dogs really love.

I saw on someone else's Facebook page that there had been a post on a Chinese Group page inviting comments and opinions on the various Animal Rescue groups, and of course HKDR got the usual critcism along with everyone else.  One of the most common remarks I hear is that HKDR is a rich organisation which doesn't need donations, but of course that's just not true.  Much of our time and effort is spent in fundraising for the simple reason that it costs a huge amount of money to take care of the hundreds of dogs we have taken in and have promised a home for life.  It's not enough to provide the most basic of accommodation and the cheapest of food if you are running a rescue organisation, especially when many dogs spend years, if not their whole lives, with us.  We're not one of those terrible hidden-away shelters where the animals are kept in cages and rarely, if ever, given the opportunity to get out, never see a vet or are properly liensed.  We want more than that for our dogs, and most of all a home at the end of the day.

Becoming a successful animal rescue organisation doesn't happen by chance or luck, it requires hard work, dedication and determination.  It can never be a part-time job or something that you do for just a while if you are going to be able to survive.  You have to accept that your social life is over and holidays a thing of the past, and that there are seven working days in every week.   There are so many animal groups after the same thing whether it's adopters or sponsors and donors, and as the old saying goes, if you snooze you lose.  So when you see a successful organisation that seems to be so "lucky" and gets all the breaks, believe me there is nothing that is free in life or anything that just drops in your lap without a lot of blood, sweat and tears behind the scenes.

Who will be lucky enough to take Debra home?

Now my focus is once again on Sunday's puppy afternoon at Whiskers N Paws, and I am delighted to see the sun out for the weekend despite the grim weather forecast.   I'll see you there if you're coming to find a new four-legged friend, and if not I hope your dogs will be enjoying a day out and having lots of fun.

Maybe one of my Lamma brothers will find a home on Sunday

Fri 13th May: Cherry and Sugar

Cherry back home and looking very happy

The best news of the day (actually Saturday) is that lost dog Cherry is now safely back home thanks to the efforts of our amazing volunteers, including "Auntie" Sue of course, Stella, Yanni, Xanthe, Gigi, Peony, Yanki and Siu Pang, who were out searching for the entire day and into the night. Cherry had been with us at Tai Po for a long time so she was not just "someone's" dog but "our" dog too, and that meant never giving up. Anyway this particular story is over and has a happy ending, but I have no doubt there will be others.

The volunteers stop for a roadside pizza break

In fact I'm really hoping that the smallish dog I took out of AFCD Pokfulam today is also a lost dog, and that her owner would like her back.  I've called her Sugar because she is sweet and white(ish), and although she wasn't microchipped when she was found wandering in the Aberdeen area it seems that she has been well cared for.  If anyone knows this dog and can let her owner know that she is safe and with us at Tai Po, maybe this story too can have a happy ending.   Sugar looks like a very young dog, even an older puppy, but she's just a smaller-sized adult and a lovely girl too.

Little Sugar may be a lost dog

I had a sad (for me) job to do today, something I'd been putting off for some time even though I knew that the dogs concerned would never make it to the Sunday puppy afternoons again, and that their chances of being adopted under the current situation were no higher than zero.  This is the group of now one year-olds who grew up together but who were never chosen at Whiskers N Paws, or who missed even going over on a regular basis because of the transport problems that started last year.

Aladdin became famous for a while but it didn't win him a home

Today was the day when their paperwork was moved out of the puppy folder and into my Lamma Dog files (although not before they were stolen from the table top and half chewed-up), meaning the end of all hope as far as finding homes is concerned.  Aladdin is the leader of this group, which also includes Poker (the only one of his litter left behind), Magnus, Finn, Opie, George, Tilly, Iris, Gina and Robin, the latter pair being siblings of Martin who stays at Ap Lei Chau.  One day I hope I can find a way of achieving the dream of a home of their own, but until then they will stay with me.

Martin is also still waiting for a home