Mon 21st Nov: A long and phoneless day

With so much going on at the moment and my brain full of things I need to do, as well as my house full of dogs and puppies that need looking after, the last thing I want is to forget my phones (regular mobile and Blackberry)  when I leave home for the afternoon, but that’s just what I did (again) today.  I would normally have photos to post of the new arrivals but not this time, with the Blackberry still sitting on my desk.

Newly arrived from Dog Island, Freddie and Baxter look just like my Inky, also a Dog Island puppy (a long time ago)

There was a mad rush-around first thing in the morning to collect all the puppies that were ready for desexing, and that included little Batty and his brothers.  I can’t believe this little boy, still very small, is already that age because he looks like a three month old (his brothers are much bigger).  Puppies grow so fast, and later in the day even Custer, my shadow, was one of a group I took to AFCD to have their rabies shots and licenses issued.  The others were “Dog Island” pups Baxter and Freddie, and the last of the Whippety litter, Dobby.  They are all now officially in the AFCD system where their lives will be tracked via the microchips until they either leave Hong Kong for another country or the Rainbow Bridge (hopefully a long way off).

While at AFCD, one of the staff told me that a one year-old poodle that had been surrendered previously but then taken back by his owners, had once again been surrendered, so of course I said yes I’d have him.  There was also a “Hong Kong labrador”, a lovely dog (with a black tongue) who had been surrendered “because his owners lived in a place where pets weren’t allowed”.  As the dog was already five years old and the back legs had no muscle at all, I guessed this was another one of those hidden dogs that were never exercised.  In any case, as much as I hate people who dump their faithful dogs, I still believe that this labrador will be much better off in a home where he will get the exercise he needs.  He was bouncing all over the place (with happiness) when I took him out of his kennel, and he would love to be able to run and play ball, I’m sure.

Added to the group in the van going to Acorn was Sandy, to have her drains removed, and Inky, who had a swelling on her hock (back leg).  It’s strange that after so many years of having no health problems at all, both of “my” dogs (Inky officially and Sandy because I would never re-home her now) suddenly need to see a vet.

With so many dogs needing to be seen and treated, desexed and, in Inky’s case, X-rayed, I didn’t leave Acorn until very late, and was so frustrated that instead of being able to work I was just left to kill time.  Being an older dog (eleven and a few months), Inky took quite a long time to come round from the anaesthetic, so new poodle Billy was given a quick haircut (by vet nurse Vivian) because his coat was so long and matted.  It’s one of those things about poodles that a lot of people don’t even think about when they buy a puppy – poodles need a lot of grooming.

When Inky finally woke up (the swelling was diagnosed as a sprain nothing sinister, thank goodness), it was too late to send any of the new dogs to either of the Homing Centres, so the van was piled high with crates (of just-desexed doglets), the new poodle and labrador, Inky, Sandy and Lewis the terrier (having his final check and vaccination before leaving for his new home), plus boxes of very welcome newspaper for the Lamma puppies.  It was just as well that all of the dogs were good natured and had no problem being squashed up together, as any inkling of trouble would have been a disaster.

Toby, such a cutie!

Luckily another small dog left Ap Lei Chau for his new home today when adorable shih tzu Toby was adopted.  Just in time, as we have new little ones due in from Kowloon AFCD tomorrow.

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