Sun 13th May: Blast from the past

I was melting at Whiskers’n'Paws in the afternoon and so were the puppies.  In fact little Panda, who has the be one of the most beautiful (and sweet) puppies ever, seemed so hot I dunked him in the bucket of water which is there for drinking and I think it was because he was fast asleep and soaking wet that was the reason he wasn’t adopted.  I have to say I was absolutely convinced that he would be the first to be chosen – after the Japanese spitz puppy, Pearl, of course – as there’s nothing that isn’t appealing about him.  Pearl went within minutes, and it’s always a relief because having a small-sized purebreed puppy available usually means the others don’t get a look-in.

While Panda came home with me at the end of the afternoon (but anyone interested can contact me to meet him during the week), pup Oliver was the one who left for his new home in Shek O.  Lucky pup has a built-in older sister ready to show him where the beach is (on the doorstep) and how everything works.  I was really happy (well, of course) that Oliver was adopted because just before leaving for Ap Lei Chau one of the older dogs (I suspect) gave him a nasty bite on his neck.  Oliver had started to explore, had wandered into forbidden territory and paid the price.  There are places that puppies aren’t allowed (Dog Rules not mine) and not all older dogs will tolerate puppies in their space.  The old saying “Once bitten twice shy” applies quite literally in these cases as the puppies learn very quickly who not to approach and where to stay away from.

There was another sad piece of news from the foster of old Maltese Jingo that he had had a medical emergency which was serious enough that I said he should be enthanised immediately.  No dog should suffer when it’s their time to go and there is no hope of a recovery.  From all the postings on Facebook you can see how much Jingo was loved, and it’s why I will never leave an old dog in AFCD which has been abandoned just because of age.  Unless they are sick and unable to live a happy life, then they deserve the comfort of a home for their final months or years.  Many old dogs are adopted or fostered, and I’m sorry that too many (that I don’t get to see or know about) are never given that chance.

Peke Duffy’s passing was good news not only for Camille, a foster dog until she was adopted today because there was now room for one more, but also the new shih tzu cross who arrived yesterday with bad skin and curly nails, an almost certain sign that she’s been kept in a cage and never walked.  It was a lucky day for her when her ex-owners dumped her because now not only will she be free from her prison, she will be moving into Camille’s home (which is also home to a few other little HKDR rescues) replacing Camille as the “spare”.  What brilliant news for a little dog that will finally, and probably for the first time in her life, know what a real home means.

I wrote about Gobi in my blog the other day and can you believe it, he was adopted today!  I’m so happy that this unique and very special boy has finally left for his own home, and now I can set my sights on another hidden treasure who needs some extra PR.

For my own puppies it has to be Griffin, the most gorgeous, funny, sweet and handsome boy whose head is next to mine every morning when I wake, snuggled between myself and Sandy, his second favourite “person” (I’m making the assumption here that I’m his Number One).  I often meet others from his family, whether the previous litter or even earlier ones, at Whiskers’n'Paws, and today it was a brown version I called Shanti (now Samantha) that came to visit.  These German pointer/Whippety dogs all look the same and have the same personality traits too and I love them.  Griffin’s sisters are Opal and Lima, and while they have more German pointer in them, Griffin is more Whippety but they’re all wonderful (older) puppies.

One more schnauzer (Dawson) left Ap Lei Chau today to be immediately replaced by another! New girl Lily has been in a lovely home and was surrendered due to her owner’s serious health problems which meant having to move from Saikung Country Park to a more accessible city apartment.  This is one case where I know there was no option, so there will be no rude comments from me other than to say Lily needs a new home please! (Larger mongrel Chica is from the same home and we are trying our best to avoid having to have her at Tai Po).

I got a big surprise when I checked my email this morning.  There was one from one of our very first adopters, with photos attached, and the usual “Do you remember?”  I remember every dog, although it’s harder for puppies that are with us for such a short time and change so much as they grow, but Dusty and Blanche were from the days before even Pokfulam and when the only place the dogs had to stay was at my little house.  It must have been 2003 when I took little peke Blanche and schnauzer Dusty from AFCD, and in those days HKDR consisted of me and Kirsten (now an independent dog and cat rescuer), with Julie doing “accounts”.  So to get an update about these two little dogs, now living in Ireland, was a real thrill. (Both of these photos were taken by Carolyn O’Neill, our fantastic volunteer photographer at the time www.carolynoneill.com)

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