Fri 20th April: Situation critical for Molly and Oscar

Molly (left) and Oscar now URGENTLY need a home

It's really quite baffling that despite repeated posts and the story being shared many times, even worldwide, that we have only had one potential offer of a home for Molly and Oscar, and that's from Phoenix, Arizona.   The situation is now critical as the family are flying out of Hong Kong on Monday 24th, and there is nowhere for these two lovely dogs to go.  Surely there must be a home in Hong Kong, even a foster, willing to take them?  They are such sweet dogs with no behaviour problems, friendly to dogs and people, young at two years but old enough not to need training.  So why have we had no response?   Please, this isn't a case of a family abandoning their dogs, it's a very sad situation of a family being torn apart by a totally unexpected diagnosis of Stage Four cancer and the urgent need to get to the UK while the father/husband's medical condition still allows (and even that was touch-and-go).   Please email me if you can help as these are our ex-HKDR puppies and they mean a lot to me.  My email is sallyandersen@hongkongdogrescue.com.

Joey

Last weekend's HK Doggie Dash for pugs and sausage dogs was a great success, and although too late to be a competitor we do have a long-haired dachshund available for adoption.  This is a popular breed but often not the easiest, and it should be remembered that dachshund is German for badger dog as they were bred to hunt badgers.  All terriers and hunting breeds retain some of their original traits so it's not surprising that they have a reputation for being a bit naughty, and I suspect most dachshund owners are nodding as they read this.  However, their strong character is what people seem to like, so hopefully Joey will have some offers.  He is eight years old and doesn't seem to be keen on poodles, but as with all dogs adopted from HKDR our very experienced trainer Cactus is always available to help.   Please complete the Adoption Questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com if you are interested, but we will only consider experienced dog owners and would prefer those who are familiar with the breed.

This location is pure paradise for dogs, and you can experience it too.

Details and registration for the Lamma Adventure Day are about to be published, so remember to keep Saturday 12th May free and be prepared to have the most amazing day out for you and your dogs.

Thurs 19th April: Late birthday gifts

This was Shelly when she first arrived

I was so happy today when I passed by the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre and saw the new Sheltie, Shelly, playing with the puppies.  She had looked like the poster girl for depressed and dejected ex-breeder dogs when she first arrived, with her head hung low and refusing to eat or even move.  We had assumed she was really ill, but what a change has taken place.  Although still a bit shy when there are lots of people around, Shelly is like any normal happy young dog now. 

Shelly has become like a puppy

If you are interested in adoption please complete the adoption questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt), and we would love her to be with another dog to help her progress and learn from him or her.

I took six puppies out of AFCD Pokfulam today, two slightly older ones of around three months and four babies, and all of them have tick fever.  I was so sure that at least the young ones would be good to send to the weekend's puppy adoption events but no, they will all need to wait until they are better.  Anyway the four little ones are staying at Ap Lei Chau which means they can be seen any day of the week, while the older ones were sent to the Tai Po Homing Centre.  They were picked up at the Chai Wan Cemetery where apparently there are lots of stray dogs living, and one of them is undoubtedly related to a previous litter taken from there (and also with tick fever).  Now-Jammy joins Melba, Toastie, Whiskers and Foxy, four once-shy doglets who have been doing really well now that they have lots of volunteers and other dogs to play with.  They have a very distinctive look, which happens when a family of dogs living in one area mate with each other and start to create their own "breed".

My birthday gift from Whiskers N Paws!

My birthday was a week ago, but my asked-for gift from Whiskers N Paws was only collected today - a mountain of dog chews.  The boxes filled the back of the van, so the dogs are going to be kept quiet and happy for some time to come.  I also dropped off a few when I was at AFCD for the long-termers there, those that are kept as testing dogs for anyone wanting to apply for exemption from having to keep large dogs on a leash (www.pets.gov.hk/.../proper.../dogs/large_dogs.html.).., or those like sweet Stubby (now adopted) who have become embroiled in a legal wrangle and have to stay as prisoners while the case rumbles on.  These dogs have done nothing wrong but the system, if it can even be called a system, makes animals the victims .  I hope the chews give the dogs something to enjoy for a while.

Stubby was one of the innocent dogs rounded up and kept at AFCD

I also came to the bottom of one of four boxes of Stella & Chewy's food, another birthday request from my dogs, Murphy especially, who are crazy for this dry raw food.  I found a card when I took out the last packet from the box that I must have opened from the wrong end, so thank you to Dickson from Stella & Chewy's, who is also a Tai Po volunteer.

My dogs go crazy for Stella & Chewy's

Weds 18th April: Every life matters

Sadie (left) and Aria

There was happy news from Ap Lei Chau today as two of our small-sized residents were adopted together.  Sadie came to us quite recently while Aria has been with us for a while now, and I've always wondered why as she's an adorable little girl with no behaviour issues.   Anyway now she has a home and a lovely one too, so it was worth the wait.

I'd agreed to take in a beautiful little puppy that had been found dumped at a garbage collection point, and it arrived in the morning in an already very weak condition.  We sent him straight to Acorn but the poor little mite was already dead by the time he reached the clinic.  As a token of his time here I will post his photo, and as a reminder that every life counts.

We will be holding another "Sai Ying Pun Saturday Puppy Afternoon" this Saturday again at HEAL Animal Wellness and Rehabilitation, 10 Second Street. Come meet our adorable puppies there from 1pm to 4pm!

Every life matters.  RIP little pup. 

Also as a reminder we have our fortnightly (every two weeks) puppy adoption event at Heal this Saturday, and I'm very happy to say that Milla (top right) won't need to be there as her adoption has just been confirmed.  However there are plenty of others to choose from, and if you can't make Saturday then we will be back at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday.

Milla's adoption is confirmed :-)

This photo shows only a fraction of the area where the event will take place

One more reminder, we have the Lamma Adventure Day coming up very soon (Saturday 12th May), and we do need to have an idea of numbers so we can book the appropriate-sized ferry to accommodate humans and dogs in comfort and safety.  I can promise that this is going to be a day to remember, as the location is stunning, unique and not open to the public.  The open area is huge, with plenty of space for dogs to run freely and to swim in the lake, and we will allocate separate ends for small and big dogs so nobody has to worry.  Please email eva.loo@hongkongdogrescue.com to register your interest.

Tues 17th April: Running late again

Lyra and sister Avery will be reunited once again

I'm running a bit late today, not because I had the luxury of a lie-in (in my dreams!) but because I've been busy trying to reply to emails and messages about various dogs such as puppy Lyra being returned yet again (don't ask), the ongoing urgent case of Molly and Oscar, and the discovery that an ex-HKDR puppy-now-adult was dumped at a shelter last year and needs rescuing again.   All of these are the typical day-to-day cases that suddenly crop up and need dealing with immediately, and then the time passes and I realise I haven't even started writing my blog.

Puddle went for a trial adoption today

I brought Puddle over with me from Lamma today for an adoption interview, and dropped her off at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre where her favourite volunteer was happy to look after her as long as needed.  Luckily Puddle passed the interview stage and was taken home for a trial with the resident small dog, who apparently looks just like Puddle's Lamma friend Banjo, also waiting for his chance of a home.   Like so many of these little dogs, Banjo has his quirks, but he is such a happy boy compared to his days at the Homing Centre.  Now that he has space and freedom he enjoys playing with other dogs and is very affectionate - quite clingy really - with his human friends, and his quirk is that he is so desperate not to be alone that he bites the shoes of anyone leaving. It's quite funny really as he doesn't bite flesh, just the shoes that have feet in them.

Banjo is a very cute and funny boy

Toby is the black-and-white poodle, and his new friend was also adopted from HKDR

Another lucky small dog who had his adoption confirmed was ex-breeder poodle Toby, who has been staying in a foster home following his treatment for heartworm.  The timing was perfect as  his foster family are leaving Hong Kong for good, and Toby would have needed a new place to stay.  We're always sorry to have to say goodbye to our fantastic fosters when they go, and this particular home has helped many dogs while they were waiting for adoption.  If you can do the same please do contact Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com.

Mon 16th April: Two pups out but Molly and Oscar still wait

Milla

I had a lovely surprise opening my emails this morning and finding two from families who had been to Whiskers N Paws on Sunday to meet the puppies, and who were now asking about taking one home.  Luckily they were interested in two different pups, so Pippa and Milla were picked up from Ap Lei Chau today for fostering with a view to adoption if everything works out.

Pippa 

Apart from it being great news for the puppies themselves, having youngsters with sharp teeth and an insatiable appetite for play staying with the older small-sized dogs isn't the easiest situation, but from my point of view at least it works well.  Not only are the pups inside and being well socialised, they are also available every day of the week for adoption, not only weekends.

Puppy Pebble makes good use of the available soft cushions

However there is a limit to the number of beds available at the Homing Centre so we can only ever accommodate a few young guests at a time, and with a never-ending stream of puppies being born and needing help the alternate Saturdays (at Heal) and Sunday adoption events at Whiskers N Paws are still very important to us.  This coming weekend we will be at both venues.

There must surely be a home for these two dogs somewhere?

I have to keep asking for help for the two dogs Molly and Oscar who will soon become homeless due to unforeseen and very sad circumstances. 

Despite the story having been published in the South China Morning Post (http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2141332/why-hong-kong-community-helping-british-expat-raise-money)  the bit about the dogs and their plight was unfortunately edited out, and now that the family look set to be leaving Hong Kong next week there is still nowhere for Molly and Oscar to go.  Of course we will squeeze them in at Tai Po if we have to but nobody wants that, least of all the Coates family themselves.  Molly and Oscar are family dogs who are already struggling with enormous changes in their lives as the father/husband was the one who used to take them for long walks, and everything that they know has been turned upside down.  We have even had an offer of sponsorship to send the dogs to England or anywhere if a home can be found overseas, so please, share this story with all of your friends wherever they are.  We have a very short time left to do this and to help David and his family leave Hong Kong knowing that at least the dogs are going to be taken care of.

Sun 15th April: HK Doggie Dash made international news

Pugs and dachshunds competed for fastest in breed

The first HK Doggie Dash took place today with a huge crowd of supporters and spectators, and I'm told the event even made the International press!  Thanks to the organisers, especially adopters of our ex-HKDR pug Crumble, Marilyn Ho and husband Isaac, and we look forward to the promised future events for other breeds.  Lots of people have asked about corgi races and so on, so we'll be sure to let you know.

Hannah is now officially Momo

Although the rain stayed away for the afternoon, in anticipation of the downpour that never came we kept the younger puppies inside at Whiskers N Paws while the older (five month-ers) played outside.  It was such a quiet afternoon that even the visitors side of the terrace was empty so we opened the gate and allowed our pups to zoom up and down the entire length of the rooftop.  They had the best time ever, and there's nothing like watching puppies playing to make you smile.   Hannah was one of them, and she always gives me the sweetest greeting as though we are long lost friends even though we barely know each other.  She was there to have her adoption confirmed and to play with her siblings, lookalike Sidney and little Inky, and she will be back again for some of the same.

Sidney was so happy to find the gate open allowing access to both sides

It's forever for Lyra this time

Lyra has been in and out of foster homes, so it was a relief that today she was adopted after coming back once again.  It's never been her fault or anything she's done,  and it's been very strange that she was always the puppy chosen yet each time she has been returned after a week.  It's stressful for a puppy to be moved around like this and upsetting for everyone.

Today's wonderful photos come courtesy of our regular volunteer photographer Eric Tang

Puppy Adoption Day 15 April 2018 

Doberman Devon was taken home today, and she's a beautiful girl who looks nothing like her eleven years.  We still have younger Dobermans in Dorset and Adobe, and they are all lovely dogs who are very sweet-natured.

Beautiful Devon has a home for life

Two small dogs left the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre for trial adoptions, bichon Diamond and poodle Mandy, while one more dog left in a different and sad way.  Funny Benji died of something we assume was related to his brain damage, but we can't be sure as it happened during the night.  As sad as it is, the truth was that Benji would never have found a home because of his odd ways and behaviour, and maybe whatever was going on in his brain was causing pain.  We will never know, but he was loved and cared for while he was with us.

Benji when he came to us in June 2017 as a puppy

Ironically in the last weeks of his life Benji found a friend and playmate

Sat 14th April: Refreshing rain on the way

Meet newcomers Trilby and Milla

It looks as though the rain is finally about to arrive after an incredibly warm and dry March and April-so-far, and I have to say I'm looking forward to it for no other reason than the dogs' watering holes on our walks need refilling.   I'm also not at all bothered about our Sunday Puppy afternoons being affected by wet weather as the purpose-built area inside is available when needed, so please come along to meet all of the youngsters regardless.

The Pug and Dachshund HK Doggie Dash will go ahead of course, and the cooling rainfall if it comes might be welcome too, especially for the pugs.

It's been strangely quiet on the adoption front for a weekend, although we have had quite a few visitors at our Tai Po Homing Centre and I hope we'll be saying goodbye to some of our larger dogs very soon.

Molly (ex Fanta)

I have written about Molly and Oscar several times before but without any luck in finding them a new family, so as an update I want to share both the South China Morning Post article that was published today, as well a description of both dogs in David's own words. 

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2141332/why-hong-kong-community-helping-british-expat-raise-money

I really hope that somewhere in Hong Kong there is just the right home waiting as a final closure for the Coates family.  Please email me at either info@hongkongdogrescue.com or sallyandersen@hongkongdogrescue.com if you can help, thank you.

Oscar

This is from David Coates’ heart while laying in his hospital bed.

It was a happy day in the summer of 2016 when we went down to Hong Kong Dog Rescue in Ap Lei Chau and picked out Molly & Oscar as our new forever dogs. When we first adopted them, Molly was 6 months old and Oscar was 2 months old. We previously had Bella and Tigger who were also rescue dogs for 15 and 16 years and when they passed we managed 3 months then couldn't stand it anymore because we have always had dogs, a house is not a home without dogs. When we brought Molly and Oscar home we were delighted with them, they made us laugh so much and you couldn't wish for 2 more beautiful dogs. Molly is a gorgeous big soft cuddly teddy bear of a dog. She loves nothing more than snuggling into people . She has a habit of when you walk past of sticking her paw out so she can touch you, but not to trip you up, when you are nearby or when you sit down. She also loves snuggling up to her mummy when she sleeps, especially now I’m in hospital and she is confused. Oscar is a little black labradog full of energy. He loves running more than anything else. When we go out walking Molly and I walk 2KM while Oscar probably runs about 4. Both of them play so beautifully together because they have been brought up as a family. They are just a gorgeous pair even though they have such different personalities. Oscar is also very loving as whenever you come home from a walk and after he has eaten he jumps up with you and gives you lots and lots of kisses to say thank you they also do the same when we arrive home from being out even if it’s just for a few minutes. We thought we would have Molly and Oscar as part of our family as long as we did Bella and Tigger, but unfortunately in mid March this year I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer which means we have to move back to the UK ASAP. We have done everything possible to try and take them but it's just not going to happen. So although they were supposed to be our forever dogs we reluctantly have to hand them back to HKDR in the hope that Sally and her amazing team can fine some nice people to take on Molly and Oscar as part of their family. We have treated them as we do our daughter, which means no cages, no hitting, just unconditional love as they give us. They're gorgeous dogs, very well house trained and very sociable to other dogs and people, even strangers in the street. However, Oscar is a great guard dog and lets you know if anything untoward is happening around his family and home. They play beautifully together and keep each other company. We have come to realise that it is actually easier to have 2 dogs rather than 1 because they keep each other company when you are away and wear each other out. They just deserve a loving home where they will get lots of love, treats and cuddles because they are so beautiful and special. We have never had any problems with them as they don't chew furniture or anything like that-their favourite toys are empty disposable plastic water bottles (with the lid off). My greatest wish is that they can be happy, spoilt and settled within a loving family home.

When Molly and Oscar were adopted it was supposed to be for ever