Hong Kong Dog Rescue (HKDR) is a charity which, with the support of many volunteers, looks after and tries to find homes for unwanted, abandoned and stray dogs. Want to find out more? Read our responses to some FAQs below.

Where do the dogs at the HKDR kennels come from?

Most stray and abandoned dogs are picked up off the streets or in country parks by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) dog-catchers. They are taken to the AFCD kennels where, if not claimed by an owner within 4 days, they will be destroyed. This is where we step in. We take selected dogs from AFCD kennels to our own Pokfulam kennels, have them health checked and desexed, and begin the process of finding a home for them. We also accept dogs directly from their owners if we feel we can find them a new home. However, our priority and the reason HKDR was started, are the dogs at AFCD that have only a short time to live.

Why do people abandon their pet dogs?

Dogs are very social animals. If they’re left alone all day, especially in cages, they can develop behaviour problems. They might bark a lot, causing neighbours to complain, or start to destroy things in the flat. When this happens, some owners decide that the best, or the only, solution is to abandon the dog. This is why it’s so important that people just don’t get dogs if they can’t give them enough care and attention. Many people buy a puppy not thinking about the future and that the cute little bundle of fluff will grow into a dog. Golden retrievers and huskies are two breeds that are very often abandoned for this reason. Many people get a certain breed because they like the look of it, and don’t take into consideration the dog’s needs in terms of space and exercise. All dogs, regardless of size, need exercise, and without an outlet for their energy, dogs develop behaviour problems. Many puppies are abandoned simply because they are unwanted. If you don’t de-sex your dog, you can expect it to have puppies. De-sexing not only prevents more unwanted puppies being born, but it also helps with many behaviour and health problems such as mounting, inappropriate urination, aggression, and mammary and prostate tumours. Sadly, many people abandon their dogs when they develop such health problems, or when they get old. Of all the reason to abandon a pet, age is the saddest of all.

Why would anyone want a mongrel?

It’s true that a lot of our dogs are mixed breed, or mongrel, dogs. Often it’s the case that too few people want to adopt these dogs. However, purebreds are often weak and unhealthy with inherited problems because they come from puppy farms where the mothers are kept in poor conditions and the pups taken from them at far too young an age. Mongrels tend to be stronger and have fewer health problems than purebreds. We believe that a dog’s health and personality are far more important than its breed.

For people who are looking for a new pet dog, what are the advantages in coming to HKDR?

At our Pokfulam kennels, the dogs are cleaned, fed and walked every day. They’re taken to vets for check-ups and vaccinations, and they benefit, too, from training and socialisation. All of this is done with the aim of preparing the dog to be a wonderful pet for a responsible owner. Above all, you’ll be helping to save a dog’s life.

How do I adopt a dog from HKDR?

The first thing you will be asked to do is to complete our adoption questionnaire. We can then recommend dogs that we feel will suit your circumstances and lifestyle. We know our dogs and their personalities and we try our best to match the dog to the home so that both sides are happy. Once you have met the dogs and decided which one you would like to take home, you will be asked to sign an Adoption Agreement in which you commit to taking full responsibility for the dog, and to cover the basic vet costs of vaccination, de-sex etc. If you adopt a puppy, you must agree to having the puppy de-sexed at 6 months.

What about training and follow-up advice?

At HKDR we follow the training methods of international dog trainers such as Jan Fennell (the “Dog Listener”), and Cesar Millan, (the “Dog Whisperer”). By using the positive reinforcement and reward methods, we see dogs that have even severe behaviour problems such as aggression and biting, change into friendly and well behaved pets. We never, under any circumstances, punish dogs by hitting them, as fear of being hit will only make aggression worse. We are always happy to give follow-up advice on any dog-related matter but ask every adopter to understand that all dogs need time to settle and adjust to their new environment and new people. This can take anything from a day to a month depending on the dog’s age and personality.

How can I support HKDR?

You can adopt a dog or become a volunteer. We always need reliable volunteers who can help at the kennels and/or walk the dogs. We can also always use items for bedding such as old towels and blankets, kennels and crates, or dog beds. We welcome donations of healthy dog treats (like dried chicken strips, not sweets), food (Hills Science Diet preferred), and other products such as Frontline etc. Donations are also, of course, always very welcome.

Dealing with Allergies

Being a pet owner is never easy. While pets bring us joy and companionship on a daily basis, they also require training, veterinary care, time, love, attention, and even tolerance. Tolerance is especially necessary when a pet owner is allergic to his or her companion animal.

Studies show that approximately 15% of the population is allergic to dogs or cats. An estimated one-third of Americans who are allergic to cats (about two million people) live with at least one cat in their household anyway. In a study of 341 adults who were allergic to cats or dogs and had been advised by their doctors to give up their pets, only one out of five did. What's more, 122 of them obtained another pet after a previous one had died. It's clear the benefits of pet companionship outweigh the drawbacks of pet allergies for many owners. Living comfortably with a companion animal despite being allergic to him requires a good understanding of the allergic condition and an adherence to a few rules.

All cats and dogs are allergenic (allergy-causing) to people who are allergic to animals. Cats tend to be more allergenic than dogs for allergic people, although some people are more sensitive to dogs than cats. Contrary to popular belief, there are no "non-allergenic" breeds of dogs or cats; even hairless breeds may be highly allergenic.
Dogs with soft, constantly-growing hair—the Poodle or the Bichon Frise, for example—may be less irritating to some individuals, although this may be because they are bathed and groomed more frequently. One dog or cat of a particular breed may be more irritating to an individual allergy sufferer than another animal of that same breed.

The source of irritation to pet-allergic humans? Glands in the animal's skin secrete tiny allergy-triggering proteins, called allergens, that linger in the animal's fur but also float easily in the air. Allergens are present in the animal's saliva and urine, too, and may become airborne when saliva dries on the fur. The severity of reaction to these allergens varies from one person to the next, ranging from mild sniffling and sneezing to life-threatening asthma, and can be complicated by simultaneous allergies to other irritants in the environment.
If your or a family member's allergies are simply miserable, but not life-threatening, take these steps to reduce the symptoms:

Create an "allergy free" zone in the home—preferably the bedroom—and strictly prohibit the pet's access to it. Use a high-efficiency air cleaner in the bedroom. Consider using impermeable covers for the mattress and pillows because allergen particles brought into the room on clothes and other objects can accumulate in them.

Use air cleaners throughout the rest of the home, and avoid dust-and-dander-catching furnishings such as cloth curtains and blinds and carpeted floors. Clean frequently and thoroughly to remove dust and dander, washing articles such as couch covers and pillows, curtains, and pet beds. Use a "microfilter" bag in the vacuum cleaner to effectively catch all the allergens.

Bathing your pet on a weekly basis can reduce the level of allergens on fur by as much as 84%. Although products are available that claim to reduce pet allergens when sprayed on the animal's fur, studies show they are less effective than a weekly bath. Even cats can become accustomed to being bathed; check with your veterinarian's staff or a good book on pet care for directions about how to do this properly, and use whatever shampoo your veterinarian recommends.

Don't be quick to blame the family pet for allergies. Ask your allergist to specifically test for allergies to pet dander, rather than making an assumption. And understand that allergies are cumulative. Many allergy sufferers are sensitive to more than one allergen. So if you're allergic to dust, insecticides, pollen, cigarette smoke, and cat dander, you'll need to reduce the overall allergen level in your environment by concentrating on all of the causes, not just the pet allergy. For example, you may need to step up measures to remove cat dander from your home and carefully avoid cigarette smoke during spring, when it is difficult to avoid exposure to pollen.

Immunotherapy (allergy shots) can improve symptoms but cannot eliminate them entirely. They work by gradually desensitizing a person's immune system to the pet allergens. Allergy-causing proteins are injected under the person's skin, triggering the body to produce antibodies (protective proteins) which block the pet allergen from causing a reaction. Patients are usually given one dose per week for a few weeks to months (depending on the severity of the allergy) and then can often manage with one injection per month.

Additional treatments for allergies to pets are symptomatic, including steroidal and antihistamine nose sprays and antihistamine pills. For asthma, there are multiple medications, sprays, and inhalers available. It is important to find an allergist who understands your commitment to living with your pet. A combination of approaches—medical control of symptoms, good housecleaning methods, and immunotherapy—is most likely to succeed in allowing an allergic person to live with pets.

Of course, if you do not currently have a pet and are considering one, and know you are pet-allergic, be sure to consider carefully whether you can live with the allergy before you bring a new pet home. Except in the case of children, who sometimes outgrow allergies, few allergy sufferers become accustomed to pets to whom they are allergic. Too many allergic owners obtain pets without thinking through the difficulties of living with them. And too often, they end up relinquishing pets, a decision that is difficult for the owner and can be life-threatening for the pet.
(Source: Denver Dumb Friends League Website)

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