Thurs 24th Nov: Not just Peak to Fong

Even though we are all focused on Sunday’s Peak to Fong, there are still other events that we have to think about and plan for the following weekend.  AFCD themselves are holding an adoption weekend on the 3rd and 4th of December, and there is another HSBC Family Day at the Peak on the same Saturday.  This time of year is always busy, and we have even cut back on the number of Christmas Fairs that we are attending  just because there aren’t enough volunteers to man the stalls.  This is the sort of work that anyone can do if you are willing, so do let us know if you are able to help (email volunteers@hongkongdogrescue.com)

It’s because of all this hard work by our volunteers that there are times when I am reduced to teeth-grinding anger, and today was one of them.  Many of our volunteers have been with us for years, from the very early days of Pokfulam – or longer – and they dedicate all of their spare time to helping HKDR and the dogs, as well as having full time, and demanding, jobs.  They are paid nothing, and indeed the reverse, as they are the first to put their hands in their pockets to support our fundraising efforts, or buy the dogs special treats (such as days out at Petworld etc).  I will support them as they support me, and when I get the sort of unfounded and pompous complaint that I received today about one of our best and most loyal volunteers,  I see red.  Even an email of apology from me (though actually there was nothing to apologise for) wasn’t good enough,  so that’s the end of that.

Our team are working all hours trying to make sure that Sunday’s event is the best ever, and we are all tired and stressed.  The last days are nerve-wracking as everyone wants to do a good job, and even though none of us are professional events organisers I know it will be an amazing day.  Actually I have been given a back seat since the early days, as the rest of the team are beavering away into the small hours – so criticise at your peril!

I feel a bit better after that vent.  It doesn’t help that one particularly cute litter of my puppies is infected with parvovirus, and with one already dead and three in hospital, “Operation Isolate and Disinfect” is now in full swing.  There’s absolutely nothing that can be done to prevent infection once the virus has shown itself, so it’s just a matter of hoping that at least some, if not most, will pull through, and making sure the other litters stay safe.  It’s easy to forget about these devastating diseases until they come round again, and as they seem to come in waves I shall just have to be extra vigilant.