Tues 22nd Oct: What's a doglet?

Lilo 

The young beagle girl I mentioned yesterday was brought to our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre in the morning, and I had to take her to AFCD and Acorn as we weren't given any paperwork at the time (as it happened they were brought later in the day).   Lilo is a lovely dog although really non-stop and very talkative, giving her opinion on everything we passed during the drive to Sai Ying Pun as she shared the front seat with me and looked out of the window.  She already has a few offers of a home so hopefully she'll be leaving us by Wednesday as she really needs a lot of space, exercise and attention, with preferably another dog to play with.

As much as Lilo made me laugh for the short time I spent with her, I have to admit that I'd find it hard to cope with such a demanding dog and I prefer more of a laid-back and independent character, which the mixed breeds tend to be.   Although many of my Lamma dogs love attention, they're happy with a passing scratch of the ears or a few minutes of conversation and back rubbing, after which they go back to whatever they were previously doing.  By now most of them are well past the adolescent stage and have settled into mid or even old age, but I still remember their "teenager" period very well.

The teens for a dog is when I call them doglets, older than a puppy but not yet an adult, and it's the age when most dogs are given up for "bad" behaviour.  Suddenly the cute and adorable pup turns into a monster, at least from the owner's perspective, and out it goes.  This very good article I saw today on Facebook best describes the typical canine teenage behaviour, which is exactly the same as the hormone-driven turmoil human teenagers experience as they move from childhood into adolescence:  https://www.thegoldcoastdog.com/adolescent-dogs-the-teenage-stage/?fbclid=IwAR1pHgyCANsQlRCP_MrqRZrMT6sIDFZUBg5UB0poMwnoLyJDwOeFPy5wy6E

One of the unexpected aspects of the doglet period is that a previously confident puppy may go through a fear period, which again I think can equate to typical human teenage lack of confidence.  Many adopters think this relates to previous abuse but that's not the case, it's a natural "coming of age" thing.

What To Expect

Here are some of the common things you might start noticing when your dog enters the teenage stage:

• Some noticeable changes to behavior. Your dog may no longer come when called, despite listening previously. Things your dog use to know come and go. You will need to be creative at times. You MUST be consistent, as this is where training counts.
• “My dog seems to be more curious and seems to test the boundaries.” I hear this a lot and I would say this is an accurate description of what you might notice. 
• Behaviors that you found acceptable or cute when your dog was a small puppy are now unacceptable. Your dog may also become more persistent in these behaviors, worsening the problem.
• You might see your dog gets overstimulated more easily (a lack of impulse control). This might include becoming mouthy when excited or even excessive humping. You might even notice things like your dog, who once walked nicely on leash, is now becoming an excessive puller. 
• Your dog’s behavior towards other dogs might change. They might become more pushy, frustrated or even seem to attempt to square off with other dogs. 
• Excessive amounts of energy…need I say more? Your dog that used to relax and settle after a walk or playtime is now restless and won’t settle down. (Pro Tip: I usually like to give a bone or frozen food stuffed puzzle after playtime. This may help your dog relax, and eventually fall asleep.)
• Changes in sleep patterns.
• Secondary fear periods may appear. Things that a dog is familiar and unfamiliar with all of the sudden become scary. 

Mon 21st Oct: Please THINK before getting a dog

This poor little dog was surrendered to us today

We accepted a small dog today, a very sad case of what seemed like a tragic combination of abuse and inexperienced veterinary treatment.  The pom/spitz cross had broken its leg somehow and the surgery to fix it had been so badly done that we'll have to ask Dr Tony to see if he can repair the damage.  Everything about it was a mess, including using the wrong size screws, and the truth is that not all vets are good surgeons and you need to make sure that you choose one with experience.  Even Dr Tony can't perform miracles so we don't know if the leg can be saved.  On top of that the dog has a big sore on its head, again from what we don't know, but the now ex-owners just wanted rid of their problem.

Due to come on Tuesday

Another surrender is supposed to be arriving on Tuesday morning, not an abuse case but nonetheless an ill-advised choice for a family that simply don't have the time to provide proper exercise for a breed that can run for hours.  I'm talking about a one year-old beagle, imported from the UK at great expense I'm sure, and who has proved to just be too much.

I was asked for some training advice from one of the many (seems like hundreds) of shiba inu puppy buyers that have no idea about dogs, let alone breed characteristics.  They buy a puppy based on current fashion, looks or because their friend has one, not thinking for one minute that this is a life, not a toy.  This particular shiba apparently had a behaviour problem because it barked loudly (yep, that's a shiba trait) and was "angry" with other dogs (again very typical shiba behaviour).  A few questions from me established that the poor dog was left alone all day "because I have to work" resulting in little exercise or socialisation.  Here's the thing, there's no "off" switch that you can flip when you head off to the office for the eight-plus hours you have to be away from home, and what is a dog supposed to do?  Dogs are social animals that need companionship, and not just when you happen to be around for a few hours in the evening.  If you work all day or travel a lot then volunteer or foster, don't subject an intelligent feeling animal to a life of loneliness, boredom and frustration. It's just not fair.

We'll be at WeWork this coming Saturday with small dogs and puppies, but happily not the sweet pair Angel and Beauty who have had their adoption confirmed after meeting at Concordia Pet Care last Saturday.  I'm really very happy that they will be able to stay together as they've been though a lot in their short life and are closely bonded.  As a reminder of who's still waiting for a home, here's another set of photos from Sunday's Whiskers N Paws session, thanks this time to Matt Baker  Puppy Adoption Day 20 October 2019 - Part 3

Rescued after having been abandoned, Angel and Beauty have a home together

We will have some boxes of wine left at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre if you want to buy at a very low price and support HKDR at the same time.  While you're there you can also pick up one (or more) of our new water bottles.

There's also still time to order a very special gift for yourself or friends before the end of the month. These beautiful pots are custom made to order with the deadline being 31st October.

Sun 20th Oct: More Sunday volunteers needed

With all of the regular Sunday volunteers being unable to help out at Whiskers N Paws today I was immensely grateful that I had at least one assistant (thanks Claudia), especially as it turned out to be a very busy three hours.  I made a mental note that we need to reinstate the puppy pen outside too, so we have both small and older puppies on the terrace without having to split time between two areas. Anyway, we managed to home a total of four adoptions, with two leaving immediately and two being picked up during the week.  If anyone would be able to join the regular Sunday volunteer team at Whiskers N Paws please let me know by emailing sallyandersen@hongkongdogrescue.com

Scrumpy's going home 

I'd already mentioned that Scrumpy would be adopted today, and his family turned up early in the afternoon to complete the paperwork and take Scrumpy home.   As he's been staying as a full time guest at Whiskers N Paws there were happy celebrations by the store team too, as you can see on this short video clip  https://www.facebook.com/WhiskersNPaws/videos/545669896194808/UzpfSTU2MDgwNjc3NzoxMDE1NjYyNDEzNzcxMTc3OA/  Zara has now taken Scrumpy's place and has joined big-eared Sugar as resident HKDR Ambassador.

The second adoption was that of Scooter, a very sweet little dog whose puppy days are long past.  Mother and daughter had come "just to look" at the puppies, but it was Scooter who ended up being chosen.  For first time dog families it's often a good idea to adopt an adult, especially with young children in the home.  With adults what you see is what you get and there's no guessing as to final size or temperament.

Scooter's new family were "just looking" at puppies

It was also Chester's lucky day as he ended up being the one who will join another ex-HKDR dog, but we're arranging for him to be desexed first.  Chester has grown up with his foster family and I know his leaving day is going to be a huge wrench, and I'm incredibly grateful for the love and time given to Chester to ensure that he's grown into a sweet and well-balanced doglet.

Carla and Barney are shy puppies

Also making the move to a new home later this week is shy puppy Barney, and he has also been lucky enough to have been in a wonderful foster home with his sister Carla.

Dorothy and Chester played non-stop every Sunday afternoon

With Chester's adoption confirmed we're left with one older puppy who's been a regular at Whiskers N Paws since she was a very young baby pup, and I'm talking about Dorothy.   I think we all understand why Dorothy hasn't been chosen yet despite the fact that she's a perfect medium size and she's also been staying in a great foster home where she's been very happy and well trained.   Dorothy used to stay full time at Whiskers N Paws (until she learned how to climb all the fences) so she feels at home there and behaves as though she still owns the place, so it gives a false impression about Dorothy's real nature which is loving and affectionate.  Her foster parent tells me that Dorothy loves to have visitors in the home and will climb onto anyone's lap for a cuddle.  She's calm and easy, and nothing like the somewhat crazy girl who spends three full hours every Sunday afternoon racing round and playing.  Sadly Dorothy's foster period will have to end soon, so we're desperately hoping that her good friend Chester's luck will rub off on her and she'll find her own forever family soon.  To meet Dorothy please contact our Foster Coordinator Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com

We had three photogaphers donating their time and skills today, and the first album is thanks to Yvonne Chan  Puppy Adoption Day 20 October 2019 - Part 1 with the the second by Laura Ballarin Puppy Adoption Day 20 October 2019 - Part 2 .

Also catching up on Saturday's Concordia Pet Care's adoption afternoon

 Puppy Adoption Day 19 October 2019 — at 康迪亞獸醫 Concordia Pet Care - Happy Valley

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All photos by Shannen Kyle Buxani

Sun 19th Oct: Transforming lives

If anyone has a solution to the ongoing problem of emails ending up in the recipient's spam inbox, please let me know.  Time and again we're told that we didn't reply to an enquiry when the message was sent but diverted to junk mail, and it's often important.  Adoptions and donations are obviously a priority and if we don't seem to be interested of course there are many other organisations only too happy to step in.  If you're waiting for a reply, please do check your spam.

Little Snickers 

It was Concordia Pet Care Day today, and we sent a selection of small adults and puppies to try their luck.  There was almost happy news for two lovely dogs but the landlord's permission was needed first so we're all waiting and hoping it's a yes.

Ruthie, Scooter and Carter, 3 very sweet dogs

We'll be at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday of course, enjoying the cool weather out on the terrace with hopefully no rain.   Once again we'll have a selection of small adults (Ruthie, Scooter, Carter and Snickers), young puppies and older ones, so something for everyone.  We do have the litter of seven baby pups still in foster homes and available for adoption once they're old enough to be separated, and you can contact our Foster Coordinator Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com if you are interested.

April, May, June, July, August, Spring and Winter

Gretel (l), Whitey and the already resident dog are a real family now

We always love hearing from adopters with updates on the dogs that have had their lives transformed.  Today it was about about dachshund-cross Gretel, who'd arrived at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre terrified and still full of milk after having recently had puppies.  She didn't want to be touched so we gave her time to settle before having her desexed, then she was lucky enough to be given a chance by the couple who had also adopted Whitey-now-Gandalf.  He had come from the same place as Gretel and they seemed to know each other, something that no doubt helped with the quick behaviour change in Gretel.  Even after a short time she's asking for cuddles and happy to snuggle, and I can't say thank you enough to her adopters.  I wish other "problem dogs" would be given the same opportunity to show that they can also be lovely once they have bonded.

Ywo very happy little dogs, Sybil and Maud

Two other small dogs whose lives changed completely when they were adopted are mother-and-daughter Maltese Sybil and Maud.  They spent their early lives living on a floating fish farm raft, then waited some time at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre for a home that would take them as a pair.  Seeing the photo of these two beautiful and very contented little dogs as they are now made me very happy.

Fri 18th Oct: A day cut short

This is an old photo of Stardust enjoying a paddle

My day was a short one for two reasons, the first being that I had to leave home early to get my Lamma dog Stardust to Acorn by late morning and I didn't want to send her on her own now that she's blind.  She was having a check-up following the discovery that she has early kidney disease as well as her eye problem, but she's doing much better now she's on the appropriate renal diet.  The seond reason was that leaving early and in a hurry, I left my phone on charge so couldn't do my usual on-the-run emails and had to go straight back home after the vet appointment.

In a way it was just as well as I had so many enquiries about poodle Chase to reply to, and while trying to decide which home would be most suitable for him I was also hoping that the other poodles we have might be lucky as a result.

Honey when first adopted needs a flight volunteer to LA

Then as always things started to happen which needed sorting out, including a case which popped up on Facebook about a puppy-now-dog that had been adopted from HKDR and was now stuck in a pet shop while the family had moved to the USA but the husband was still in Hong Kong.  At first it seemed like a situation that would mean having to take the dog back, but luckily that's not so and the dog will be sent to join the wife and child.  We now need a flight volunteer to accompany the dog to Los Angeles, although the date isn't clear at this point.  Perhaps we can start with finding someone who's going to be flying soon and see if we can work it that way round. Please email me at sallyandersen@hongkongdogrescue.com if you are going to be going to LA soon.

Ruthie, Scooter and Carter will be at Concordia Pet Care on Saturday

We'll be holding our Concordia Adoption Event as usual on Saturday afternoon, 2pm to 5pm, and there'll be a mix of puppies and small adults to meet.  Ruthie, Snickers, Scooter and Carter are going along to try their luck and you can see for yourself how lovely they are.

Little Snickers

Thurs 17th Oct: One of life's great mysteries

Google is a small poodle and very sweet natured

One of life's great mysteries is why some dogs attract a huge amount of interest when they're posted on Facebook and/or Instagram, while others have little or none.  So many people have asked about poodle Chase after his photo was shared, yet we have other poodles and always have at least one waiting for adoption.  One thing that was missing from Chase's profile is that he's a large size for a toy poodle, and after asking his current family for his exact weight it turns our he's 14 kilos, even though he's admittedly overweight and should be 12 kilos.  Still that's large for a poodle that isn't a Standard size, so perhaps sweet little Google would be more suitable for most of the potential homes.

Ruthie has only one eye, but why does that matter? 

Another small dog that initially had quite a lot of interest is Ruthie, the shih tzu cross who jumped off the sampan when I was taking her over from Lamma to Ap Lei Chau.  Ruthie is a fantastic dog, combining a sweet and affectionate nature with loads of happy energy, yet every time someone has come to meet her they've been put off by the fact that she only has one eye.  To all of us at the Homing Centre we don't even notice and Ruthie certainly doesn't let it bother her, but it obviously matters to many.  It makes me sad that such a minor issue should make a difference between Ruthie having a home or not, as she's lovely however many eyes she has.

Snickers is a fully grown mini mutt

Nobody has asked about another small dog, Snickers, despite the fact that she's young, super-friendly and would make a perfect family member for any home.  The reason is that she looks as though she should be a large dog even though she isn't.

Finally I think Wesley needs an introduction now that he's settled and is enjoying life at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.  He's such a cute little guy with a whiskery face and a tightly curled tail, and although he wasn't happy when he first came to us that has all changed now. 

Cute little Wesley is 9 years old

If you are interested in adopting any of the many dogs on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com please start by completing the Adoption Questionnaire, also on the website under Adopt.

Weds 16th Oct: We have 600+ dogs waiting for homes

There was a Facebook enquiry today asking if we had any dogs available for adoption, and of course I replied that yes, we have over six hundred dogs waiting for homes at any given time.  Admittedly some of these are very old, or perhaps too nervous to make suitable family members, but the majority are those that have just been unlucky in life.

Like these 7 babies, many of our dogs don't come from AFCD

There is no way of knowing exactly how many stray and abandoned dogs there are in Hong Kong but everywhere you go you will see them, and twice a year the females will give birth to yet another litter.  Many won't survive, dying from starvation, disease or being eaten by snakes or wild boar, but enough make it to adulthood to repeat the never-ending cycle of unwanted puppies being born, and every day on Facebook you'll see pleas for homes or fosters for such babies.  It's a hard and short life for these homeless dogs, their only hope being that they are caught by volunteers and desexed before being returned to where they came from, or if they're suitable for homing taken in by a rescue group.

Fuzzy came as an older puppy via a TNR group

One of our current Ap Lei Chau residents, Fuzzy,  was such a dog, one of a family group that are living in a certain area where TNR (Trap, Neuter and Return) volunteers are actively trying to control the stray dog population.  These volunteers are self-funded, doing what they can to help, and they have my full support wherever they are operating.  Fuzzy was very shy at first but she's adapted well and is happy and playful with the dogs and puppies she shares her life with.

In the past almost all of the dogs and puppies at HKDR came to us from AFCD, but these days with so many rescue groups and individual volunteers taking in strays and unwanted litters the situation has changed.  Official AFCD figures show a big reduction in the number of dogs and puppies at their Animal Management Centres, but that's not a true reflection of the problem which is as bad as it always was.  The difference is only that unwanted dogs and puppies are now ending up in private shelters (often under-funded) or animal charities.

This was a terrible case of cruelty with many animals found dead

One of those shelters was back in the news the other day when the case finally came to court after many months of waiting, which meant all of the surviving dogs having to be kept as evidence at AFCD and SPCA.   What will happen to those dogs now remains to be seen, but I suspect most wil be considered unsuitable for re-homing.

"This was a case involving the death of 28 dogs and 8 cats. The judge today sentenced the accused to 10 months in prison, and ordered the 74 dogs and 36 cats who survived to be handed over to AFCD. 

Zheng Cheng admitted 14 counts of charges, including cruelty to animals and raising dogs without a dog license. The Defense lawyer described the accused as he was old, and raised so many cats and dogs only because of love, and that many people sent the dog outside his door.

The judge described in court as the most brutal and worst case of animal abuse ever. Defense lawyers have proposed not to consider dead cats as evidence, but the judge questioned that the dead cats were inside Cheng's dog and the dog he managed.

The judge finally sentenced him to 15 months in prison and reduced by five months for a guilty plea."

Rolo has a family to love and care for him now

Now for the good news, another lucky Tai Po dog's dreams came true when he was chosen to go home.  Rolo is a lovely boy who like many others has waited far too long for this day to come, but better late than never.  Thank you to his adopters who have given Rolo a chance to enjoy life as a real family member, and as "brother" to ex-HKDR Teresa.