Fri 17th Feb: Help needed at Ap Lei Chau

Our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre opened in September 2010

Is there anyone reading this blog who really loves cleaning and tidying?  I know such people exist, and we need you at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre.  Although we do have a cleaner who comes every morning to do the heavy duty work, for some strange reason our volunteers prefer to walk and play with the dogs while there is a kitchen that needs a scrub and shelves full of merchandise that need keeping in order.

In fact today I was doing something a bit different from my normal routine, as I was trying to figure out how to create more space at the Ap Lei Chau Centre when there isn’t any.  Maybe apart from enthusiastic cleaners/tidiers, there’s someone out there who has a talent for interior design making the most of small apartments.  There must be a need for them in Hong Kong where so many homes are really tiny and every inch of space counts.

Ap Lei Chau upstairs sleeping area, all shiny and new

When the Homing Centre was first designed it was more of a concept than a reality, and there have already been many subsequent alterations and additions made, but now it’s time for a real overhaul and renovation.  Anyone with any sort of talent in this field is more than welcome to offer opinions on what we can do to make life better and more comfortable for both humans and the dogs.

The easiest way to improve the situation is to get more dogs into homes, and I’m happy to say that both of the newcomers from yesterday will have left by Saturday.  That’s the way we like it.

I was just about to leave Lamma with plans for a visit to both Ap Lei Chau and our warehouse to see what furniture we had there that could be exchanged, when I heard a loud screaming coming from the puppy area.  This isn’t unusual as puppies tend to scream a lot even if they’re mildly hurt or bullied, and it’s their way of protecting themselves (as it makes the one doing the bullying stop), and of alerting a mother to come and rescue them.  In these cases I play the mother, running to their aid to see if they’re OK and to stop any rough play.  This protective role is one of the ways that bonds are created and why the dogs that have been with me since puppyhood regard me as the head of the household.  I am the one who will be there for them and keep them safe, and they know this.  They trust me, and trust is the most important thing for a dog.  It’s the reason why my dogs would never bite me, or even attempt to, and why I know that when I get reports of a family dog snapping, or even growling, there must be an underlying lack of trust or a feeling of safety.  I have seen so many dogs returned for biting that have no problem in another home or situation that I know this to be true.

Back to the screaming puppy, who is one of a pair of very cute fluffy babies who already have a home to go to but not until next week.  I could see that the poor little thing had been clamped on the head by a big dog (who had jumped the fence) because of the wet saliva left behind, and it must have been a very scary – and painful – experience because the pup just kept on screaming.  So there I was, trying to get ready to leave and with a lot of things still to do and trying to do them with a puppy tucked under my arm and wondering if this was an emergency vet situation or if there was a bit of dramatic overkill going on.  I was already running late and had to do something, so in the end I put the puppy in the bathroom with some food and a nice soft bed to lie on, added his brother for some company, and left, hoping for the best.  I’m happy to say that the patient is doing well and will live to tell the tale, and now all I have to do is make sure both brothers stay safe and well until it’s time for them to go to their new home.