Fri 30th Dec: End of the year

I will have to restrain myself somewhat in my details of how and why I had to rush to AFCD today to take some smaller dogs out, as my blog isn’t perhaps the best place to negotiate release terms for the internees at Pokfulam.  Suffice it to say that it was necessary to make the trip and there are now four new dogs in our care (at Ap Lei Chau).

Two of these were surrendered to AFCD together (reasons unknown), and they are a Japanese spitz and a pomeranian, both female and both sweet, if pretty traumatised.  There is another schnauzer, a sprightly little guy despite his eleven (or is it twelve) years, and desexing was the first thing on the list of necessaries (plus the inevitable dental).

The last one is a mix of sorts, quite possibly corgi with some shih tzu and maybe a sprinkling of something else, but one thing’s for sure – he’s not a Jack Russell as stated on his license!  There’s another pet shop special and someone fooled into thinking the tan-and-white puppy in the window was something it wasn’t (and not even close).

Bobble will start the new year in a new home

Thankfully there were two adoptions at Ap Lei Chau today, with a third dog going tomorrow, so all we need is one more to make four spaces for the newcomers.  Poodle Scarlet was one of those who left today, and Bobble the Maltese the other.  He’s suddenly become the dog everyone wants, but there are so many more and others arriving all the time, so hopefully potential adopters who missed out on Bobble will choose someone else instead.

Scarlet will get the love and attention she needs in this home!

This is the last blog entry that I’ll be writing in 2011 (today being the 31st December), and it’s appropriate that I not only wish all readers a very Happy New Year, but also say a massive thank you to everyone who adopted, fostered, or walked our dogs, or who supported with time, expertise, energy or money. I don’t get to meet everyone personally, and my trips to Tai Po have become infrequent to say the least, but I am always aware of how much I – HKDR – rely on everyone and anyone who makes running this organisation possible.  You will know that there have been good and not-so-good moments in 2011, but by adding up all the lives that have been saved (and that’s literally) and dogs that have been given new homes, the end result has to be that this has been a very good year.

2012 will bring in the Year of the Dragon, and thankfully there will be no rush to buy dragon babies to celebrate!  But for now I will just wish all of you a year of Success, Happiness and Prosperity, and look forward to sharing more of my life and stories with you in the coming year.