Thurs 20th July: Acorn at Kennedy Town again

 We were in a panic at Kennedy Town with the prospect of more dogs arriving while we were still sorting out the recent arrivals and trying to fit them all in.  Two of these are the poodles I included in yesterday's post in the hope that we (Cindy) could find a foster home for each of them, but this holiday period is really challenging.  Happily the proposed intake was able to be delayed until Monday, by which time some of the current dogs will have been adopted, or at least moved out to foster homes.  

If you can help, please complete the foster application at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/volunteer/fostering/, or email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com if you are already a registered foster carer.

The new dogs waiting for their vet check

We had another "home" visit to Kennedy Town North Street from Acorn, this time to check all of the new dogs.  Happily they all passed the heartworm and tick fever tests, and any issues were very minor.  The next step is a good haircut so they can have their before and after photos taken, and then they'll be ready for their new homes.  They're all very sweet and friendly dogs. 

Some more older/larger puppies will also be moving from Kennedy Town to Tai Po, but once again I'm watching the weather forecast with an eye on the potential typhoon that's heading towards Hong Kong.   It's always a worrying time, and a great feeling of relief when the typhoon has passed without too much drama. 

With the weekend coming it will hopefully mean some adoptions, and if interested in any of our dogs or puppies please take the first step by completing the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ with as much detail as you can.

Before I forget, we're always in need of newspaper and towels for our Homing Centres, so if you have any that you're about to throw out, please send them our way.  Thank you! 

Weds 19th July: A new home for Ziggy

Trisha is undeniably gorgeous

 There are lots of enquiries coming in regarding the smaller dogs at our Kennedy Town North Street Centre, which is obviously what we like to see.  However there's a big difference between someone asking, and even coming to meet the dogs, and an actual adoption, so if - for example - Trisha is the most requested that doesn't mean she's off the books until she actually leaves.  We have been caught out in the past by adoption promises, so now we have to keep a strict policy of not holding dogs or puppies.  The three Jack Russell-cross puppies are also popular, but the same obviously applies in all cases. 

I have to also repeat something I've written many times before,  because it comes up time and time again, and it's pretty frustrating.  It's that ALL puppies bite, because they're baby animals with no concept of training or an understanding of the human world.  If you watch adult dogs play, mock biting is essential to their games, with each dog taking turns to "attack" the other.  With puppies they still have to learn about controlling their bites, and their baby teeth are razor sharp and can hurt, so if this is something you don't feel you want to deal with, please don't adopt a young puppy.  Alternatively adopt a pair so they can play to their heart's content without involving tender human flesh.  

We receive surrender requests all the time, and there are usually only a handful of reasons.  One is behaviour issues (commonly corgis and shiba inu), which is all down to incorrect training when the dog was a puppy.   Another is allergy issues, which is something that could be established before adoption simply by being in close contact with a dog or puppy for even a short time, as the reaction happens pretty quickly.  However the worst of all is the "leaving Hong Kong" excuse, with the most recent being incredibly upsetting because it was so unexpected.

Ziggy needs a new home

Wigbert, as I had called him, was adopted as a young puppy in early 2017 during the time when I was always at Whiskers N Paws on Sundays.  The adopters' daughter, then in her late teens, came back regularly on Sundays so I got to see Wigbert (now Ziggy) grow up, and he was always a lovely and very sweet dog.  It never occurred to me that he would be one of those who at seven years of age would be a victim of the "leaving Hong Kong" story, but it seems that it's another case of the puppy being the daughter's responsibility and she herself left Hong Kong a year ago.  In reality this case is no different to all of the others, but it feels more personal because I got to see Ziggy so often and it really hurts me to know that he will soon be losing everything he knew.  He has a couple of months left before being evicted, and I want him to find a new family before that time.  The photos I was sent are unfortunately pretty poor, but you can at least get an idea of what he looks like. 

As with all of our dogs and puppies, please start the adoption process by completing the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/.

If you can't promise to keep a dog for its entire natural life, please foster instead.  We have plenty of dogs and puppies that need temporary homes, whether short or longer term, and you can complete the foster application at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/volunteer/fostering/. 

We have been asked to take yet more small dogs, including poodles that have apparently had a very sad life so far, so please do let us know if you can help.  We don't have any specific information yet, but it would be good to have potential experienced homes or fosters on standby. 

Tues 18th July: Another new intake

 We had been expecting heavy rain for the day, delaying the move of the three "J" doglets to Tai Po until the weather cleared. However when I got the message that nine new dogs were on their way to Kennedy Town and there was still no rain, I suggested Joey, Jack and Jimmy were sent to the big Homing Centre immediately, because we really needed the extra space.  Photos sent later in the day showed them happily exploring their new surroundings, and I hope they will soon find their new forever homes. 

Joey exploring at Tai Po 

It didn't help that we'd been warned that one of the new arrivals couldn't mix with other dogs, because then we were left with the question of what to do with her.  We weren't even sure of the size before the dogs arrived, so Cindy, our Foster Coordinator, couldn't arrange any temporary home until we knew whether the dog was small, medium or large.  

Sasha was too heavy for the weighing scales 

In the end it turned out that now-Sasha wasn't a large dog as far as height was concerned, but she was seriously overweight, in fact she was too heavy for the scales to even register what she weighed. Sadly we see this a lot with dogs that have behaviour issues, because rather than try to deal with source of the problem in a sensible way, the owners just stop everything except feeding.  The good news was that Sasha is very sweet with humans, and even better, Cindy had secured a foster home so the dilemma of where to put her was temporarily solved.  Incidentally, Sasha looks like a Japanese spitz, or that kind of dog anyway, just in case there is interest in adopting. 

Tabby in foster 

The rest of today's new arrivals were mostly terrier types, all very friendly even if they're urgently in need of a good wash and haircut.  That's a minor problem, as seen with the before-and-after photos of the Havanese, most of whom have settled really well and are ready for adoption.  Tiny Tabby is also looking absolutely lovely following a visit to the groomers, and she's also in a foster home waiting for her lame back leg to be checked by Dr Tony when he gets back from his summer holiday. 

A reminder of Ticket's transformation 

Mon 17th July: Doglets on the move again

 Thankfully the typhoon wasn't a serious one, but of course nothing happened today with the T8 signal being up until the afternoon.  That meant no potential adopters visiting and no regular dog food delivery for Lamma, but I'm just happy that there was no damage or injury.  I dread the arrival of another really huge typhoon like Manghut in 2018, and the total devastation that caused. 

Joey

Jimmy 

At least a day "off" allows for some sorting and assessment of the dog situation at Kennedy Town, and it's time for the next consignment of large older puppies to be sent to Tai Po to free up some space, and to give the doglets a new opportunity to find homes.  At the big Homing Centre they become the youngest residents, so the perspective for potential adopters changes.  This time round it's the "J" crew of Jack, Jimmy and Joey who'll be making the move as soon as the rain eases off.   Usko, who is currently staying at Whiskers N Paws, may also be heading up to Tai Po to free up his slot for another puppy.  He's a big softy just like the "J" boys, but sadly this is just the wrong time of year for adoptions. 

Usko (L) and Gabby are staying full time at WNP for now

Jack

We have another group of hairy terrier types due to arrive at Kennedy Town, in fact they were first scheduled for today but the typhoon delayed delivery.  

For all adoption enquiries, please start by completing the adoption questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ 

Sun 16th July: Weren't we lucky?!

Odette is now Cookie 

Saturday's adoption photo

 Weren't we lucky to have been able to hold our Puppy Party at Whiskers N Paws before the bad weather arrived!  Laura Nie was there too to capture the youngsters as they played on the terrace, although one of the regulars was missing Puppy Adoption Day 16th July 2023.   Ava was picked up from her foster home for a trial with the resident ex-HKDR dog so she bypassed Horizon Plaza, while now-Cookie had her adoption photo taken for a second time. 

Ava's off for a trial adoption

It wouldn't be a normal day at Kennedy Town these day if we didn't receive a new intake of dogs, and today was no different as four little terrier types arrived.  Three of these are only 4+ kilos, with the largest still being under 10 kilos.  Two of the newcomers are young adults, with two others being somewhat older, so even if they're the size of regular puppies, they're not that young. 

Meanwhile the real puppies, the Jack Russell crosses (assumed) have settled in and are all very sweet.  They're four to five months old, not babies, and a good age for adoption now.  Please remember that just because a dog is small that doesn't mean it doesn't need and want proper exercise, and Jack Russells have ten times the energy and stamina of a regular large dog. 

Hudson, Holly and Hannah

There are yet more dogs in the pipeline to come to us, in fact it was going to be Monday before the T8 came along.  We obviously need homes and fosters, but at the same time we don't change our adoption requirements depending on the number of dogs we have waiting.  A dog's life, especially for the small ones, can be fifteen-plus years, while our over-full situation is temporary.  If you're genuinely interested in adopting a dog or puppy, please complete the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/, thank you. 

Sat 15th July: Second chances mean so much

 With all eyes on the weather, I just want to remind everyone that yes, we're open for business as usual, just as we are every other day of the year regardless of holidays, typhoons and whatever else is thrown at us.  The dogs still have to be cared for and fed, medications given and their spaces cleaned, so there's no such thing as a "Sorry, we're closed" at HKDR. 

This time it's forever for Theo 

We had a very busy day today, and I'm going to start with the best adoption first.  Not only is Theo a Tai Po dog, black, and an adult, but he had already been adopted from us once before as a puppy.  We ended up taking him back as the life he had been promised and the reality of how he was living weren't the same, but now we know for sure that this is his forever home.  Seeing Theo being given another chance is doubly wonderful, but he is just one of the many, many lovely dogs at our Tai Po Homing Centre waiting for a moment like this.  

Baby Theo 

We had the pleasure of a visit from Acorn's Dr Joe to our North Street, Kennedy Town Centre today, to check the many new dogs in situ rather than the clinic.  Of course it's much more convenient for us, although the space is small and the staff were also trying to deal with adopters, but in the end Dr Joe was able to check eighteen dogs in one hour (thanks to our efficient team who had prepared the nervous dogs in advance). 

Poodle Chester will have a wonderful life

Cara and Coby will grow up together 

A few dogs found their forever homes today, including the popular pair of Cara and Corby, adopted together.  

Recent arrival Chester was also one of the lucky ones, while little Tabby was taken for fostering so she can have her back leg checked and hopefully treated.

Tiny Tabby has a problem with one back leg

We'll just be able to make the Whiskers N Paws Puppy Party at Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau, before the bad weather closes in, and I know for sure that I'll have at least one adoption to share because it's already taken place, I was just saving the photo.  In fact Cookie, as she is now called, has been enjoying her home for some time as a foster guest, so the paperwork was just a formality really.  Check back here tomorrow to see what Cookie's previous name was, and her big photo moment. 

Fri 14th July: New faces and transformations

 I'm watching the weather closely and wondering if I should make a dash over to Hong Kong on Saturday for provisions, in case I get stuck on Lamma for a few days next week.   

I always worry about the Tai Po dogs during typhoons too, so if you can take in a dog for the duration of the heavy rain, or worse, please let us know.  For the sake of expediency, we prefer that already-registered fosters who have helped out before just come to our Tai Po Homing Centre to pick up a dog, but if you think you would like to join this group of special short-term bad weather fosters, please email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com.  If you planning on visiting with adoption in mind, I suggest Saturday rather than Sunday, assuming the weather forecast is correct.

Be happy Bo

To begin with I'll share this happy photo of adorable little Bo saying goodbye to HKDR and Kennedy Town as he begins his new life as a family member.  I think he's going to have a great time from now on. 

Bilbo and Bailey are a pair

Halo is a year old

While Bo was leaving, some more new dogs arrived at Kennedy Town, two poodles from AFCD, and only four this time from our regular "suppliers". Only one looked anything like the photos I'd been sent, and apparently those dogs are coming next week.  Today it was a litter of three, and a scruffy terrier type who was wearing a cone because she'd recently been desexed. 

These puppies look like Jack Russell crosses

Ticket is a sweet girl and ready for adoption 

Iris was also busy with her super-grooming skills,  transforming the matted dreadlocks of a couple of the Havanese family into something completely different.  What's amazing and really lovely too, is the fact that you can see from the dogs' faces how happy they are to be free of the heavy lumps that they've been dragging around.   

Look at Theo's big smile!

For all adoption enquiries please start by completing the questionnaire at www.hongkongdogrescue.com/adopt/adoption-questionnaire/ 

Not an adoption yet, but sharpei girl Sharlene has been promised a home if the planned surgery on her jaw is successful.  The potential adopter, who has already given a wonderful home to many of our dogs over the years, sent Sharlene's CT scan images to a Professor of Maxillofacial Surgery who visits Hong Kong from time to time, and he feels optimistic that he can carry out what will probably be a five hour surgery to fix the jaw, followed by several post-operative days in hospital.  Once we have the full cost of everything we'll be asking for donations to help cover the cost, and I hope you will agree that it will be worth every dollar to see Sharlene able to live and normal life and to be able to open her mouth to eat.  You can see from the video that she's currently able to enjoy a squeezy paste treat, and doesn't appear to be in any discomfort.