Sat 6th Aug: The hidden numbers

I’m grateful for many things in my life, and living where I do is one of them.  I’ve been in the same place on Lamma for twenty five years, longer than I’ve lived anywhere else, and I never fail to appreciate how lucky I am.  On a day like today it’s like being on a real holiday, even if the beach is covered in debris and the sea not exactly crystal clear.  Anyway, I had arranged a rare adoption interview in the morning and took a group of puppies to the beach to meet their potential new family, and they had such a great time that  it had me wondering why I don’t do it more often. Taking puppies to Whiskers’n'Paws on Sundays is a great opportunity, of course, but when the sun is shining and the beach is seconds from my house, it’s pretty easy to arrange.   The puppies had the time of their lives, and it didn’t take long for them all to get over their initial trepidation. Within minutes they were chasing each other on the sand, and leaping into the sea for a swim.  Even just watching them was almost as much fun, and the only bad part was having to take them all back to the house when they really wanted to stay where they were.  Pudding was the lucky pup at the end of the play session, and she will be picked up tomorrow.  I’m open to hosting further Saturday adoption interviews, weather permitting, so if you are interested in meeting the puppies next weekend please let me know (adopters only please!)

Pug # 1 has never had any vaccinations or license

I don’t know why but today I received a load of surrender enquiries.  There are two pugs who have been hidden away in a no-pets home for two years, never having been taken outside and with no microchip, license, vaccinations or heartworm prevention.  And a further pair of small-big dogs, just the type I’ve talked about many times, again with no licenses or any kind of disease prevention.  To bring these dogs into direct contact with other dogs, not to mention the normal germ-laden outside environment, is asking for trouble, and in any case it is a legal requirement that all puppies over the age of five moths are microchipped and licensed (and that includes a rabies vaccination).  I can’t tell you how tempted I am to report these people to AFCD so they can be prosecuted.  Getting a surrendered dog that has all of the required up-to-date documentation is very rare, as almost all of them have had absolutely nothing done.

Pug # 2 from the same home. Also no microchip, license, vaccinations or heartworm prevention

A dog without a microchip and license is a dog that isn’t registered with the HKSAR Government, and that means that all of the AFCD statistics on dog ownership are way off the real figure.  Looking at the percentage of dogs that are surrendered to AFCD or directly to HKDR that have no microchip or record, indicates that there must be many thousands of pets that nobody knows about.  That’s a sobering thought.

Big-small dog # 1 has never been licensed or vaccinated

Big-small dog # 2 from the same home. Guess who must also have the non-desexed mother (and maybe father too)