Mon 14th May: Happy 1st Anniversary Tarquin

The van was already full when I stopped off at AFCD in Pokfulam just to have a look (in case there were any urgent cases). There weren’t, unless you count the old and very sweet samoyed that had been surrendered to be conveniently dispatched (can anyone take in this lovely dog?).  I had all the new small dogs with me, the ones that had come to our Ap Lei Chau Centre over the weekend, as well as a few puppies from Lamma needing vaccinations etc.

There was the dachshund girl, Coffee, who was booked in for desexing, and Prissy, the adorable and tiny shih tzu girl who was found on the street.  She turned out to be only young, two to three years according to Dr Tony (on checking the teeth) and what a sweetheart!  Once her skin is better and her coat has grown back she’s going to be a real head-turner.

Poor Lily, the schnauzer, had had uncontrollable diarrhoea all night and even when Iris was washing her in the morning, it was still flowing out.  Not nice for anyone, let alone the poor dog who is now in hospital under observation.

We’d taken in a Boston terrier, now called Gazza, who was blind in one eye (so we were told).  It turned out that he is totally blind, and while it’s not a real problem for a dog in a familiar environment (like my Roley), this poor boy was completely terrified to take one step in front of the other.  Reason given for surrender?  New baby.  Actual reason?  Don’t want, don’t care, too much trouble.

Napoleon the peke cross was there to have the stitches taken out following surgery to remove his only remaining eye, so now we have two totally blind dogs.  As said, it’s not a problem once a dog is familiar with its surroundings, but being at Ap Lei Chau in a multi-dog environment isn’t the easiest place to adapt, so please, if you can take in one of these (sweet) dogs, let us know.

Rambo's mug shot

As I was in the waiting room someone (a helper) arrived with a box of puppies who immediately ran amok as soon as the box hit the ground.  Smiling to myself I was grateful that they weren’t mine, not because they weren’t cute or anything, just because I knew we already had a whole stock about to be released onto the adoption market.  Three litters to be precise, the babies who were either born at AFCD or who had arrived as newborns with their mothers.  As I was in the consult room with my collection of patients, one puppy wandered in to have a look and I heard the helper call to him, “Come here Rambo” and out he trotted.

When I got home in the evening and checked my emails, there was one about a group of foster puppies including photos with names.  They were being taken to Acorn for their first vaccinations and yep, there was Rambo.

Tarquin has visited every possible landmark in Hong Kong and goes everywhere with his master

I also had some lovely updates on ex-HKDR dogs.  One of them was from the adopter of what I used to call Black Fluffies but now I know they are Belgian sheepdogs (or shepherds).  Tarquin has to be one of the most travelled of all Hong Kong dogs (within the Territory) as he is taken everywhere and anywhere, with his photo being taken in front of just about every building, statue, exhibit or landmark there is.  Tarquin has grown from a shy puppy into an amazing dog, and although he shared the same mistrust of strangers that all of these Belgian shepherds have, now thanks to his master he is friends with everyone he meets.  It is the first anniversary of his adoption and what a year that’s been for him.  This story is one that makes me very happy.  The following is just one of many accounts of Tarquin’s outings I’m sent and he’s really the best ambassador for dogs that I could hope for:

“Last night at Cyberport , Tarquin and I happened to meet a blind girl about 10 years old. She has a very pretty face and a wonderfully sweet and gentle voice that could melt your heart when she spoke. Her father held her hands high standing behind her to guide her to walk step by step .

When we saw her at a distance and besides her a small wheelchair, I thought she was handicapped . There was a crowd around her with their dogs. She was touching one of them with one hand while the other was held by her father. I walked Tarquin towards them. Up close then did I realize the little girl was blind but her eyes looked normal.
I told Tarquin to get near to her. One of the persons in the crowd who know me and Tarquin said loudly to the girl that Tarquin is friendly . She stretched her hand towards Tarquin to touch her and gave the most sweet exclamation ” he licked my hand”  when Tarquin did that as a gesture of affection. The little girl was so happy and started to talk about the other dogs around her and comparing Tarquin and them to her own small white poodle called Blanco who was held in the arms of the girl’s mother.

Tarquin continued to show affection and gentleness to the girl and let her pat him on the head and neck. Then she asked if Tarquin would enjoy if he is rubbed like having a massage. I said of course. She massaged Tarquin under the chin by feeling Tarquin!s head all over and Tarquin stood still enjoying it fully ! It was quite a sight to see.

Then Tarquin laid down. The father helped the little girl to stoop down to reach Tarquin . All the time the little girl was talking about the other dogs around her and comparing the characteristics of each of them. Quite amazing her observations given that she could not see. Then I asked her father if he knew about a book called Emma & I about a blind girl and her eye- seeing dog. He said no but the little girl interrupted saying she knew about Marley and I , another well known book of Marley , the dog.

All the time I could feel her joy connecting with the dogs around her and her excitement having Tarquin close to her and letting her touch and massage him. I told her Tarquin is all black and she said her Blanco is all white.. Wow a black and a white dog together she said happily. It was a most touching experience for me to see Tarquin made a little blind girl happy. I asked her father to give me his mobile  number so that I can give him details of the book Emma & I and get a copy for him to read to the little girl . In the excitement I did not ask what the name of the little blind girl is but I can tell you she is beautiful and has such a lovely voice , and that she is a very smart girl. My first impression and observation is seldom wrong. I will find out her name when I get the book Emma & I for  her father to read to her. I am one third way through the book now.
It was a most rewarding evening with Tarquin at Cyberport . I am glad I went last night as I was half deciding to take a rest after a long day out with Tarquin to Sai Kung  yesterday.”

Another lovely update was from Tai Tai’s adopter.  Tai Tai and Po Po were the first two new arrivals after we moved from Pokfulam to Tai Po, and they were born to a mother (also now at our Centre) who lived at the waterworks next door and who regularly produced litters of puppies.  Tai Tai is now living in Singapore with another rescue dog (from Spain), and is having a great time. http://youtu.be/vTBcQvOzbxo