Mon 21st May: A step forward against animal cruelty

Cruelty or training?

I’m never sure how much of the local new that is animal-related filters through to the general public, but as this particular story was in Apple Daily which I understand is read by many (even secretly as it’s a bit of a ‘rag’) you may already be aware of it.  It involves a man who was photographed (maybe even filmed) beating his dog, and there were also (unsubstantiated) claims that he was using it as target practice with an airgun.  Of course everyone was horrified and called for justice for the dogs (there turned out to be two of them) but initial reports seemed to say that there was nothing that could be done as the man was simply “training” his dog(s).  Now I’m delighted to be able to confirm that there has been an arrest and that the dogs have been taken into the care of SPCA.  I do honestly believe that public pressure and the media have helped in this case and that there are a lot of people to thank, first of all the neighbour who took the photos in the first place and reported the cruelty, SPCA who followed up and the Yuen Long Police.  This is how it should work and no case of cruelty should be ignored.  There will be a long wait for the case to come to court (it usually takes about a year) during which time the dogs can’t be re-homed, but at least they’ll be safe from further beatings.

I was reminded of the most awful case involving a golden retriever we homed a few years ago and the reports from local villagers about dog screams coming from that particular home.  Several dogs (all golden retrievers) mysteriously disappeared from the same house and I was given information about appalling things being done to the dogs by locals who knew what was happening.  The couple who adopted the dog from us seemed to be a charming couple but they hid dark secrets.  Tragically nothing could ever be proved as the visits from the police and SPCA came to nothing, but I have never forgotten.  Later a maid who worked for the couple gave me details of what went on, and I’m haunted by the knowledge that we unwittingly handed a dog to these evil people.    If it was today I would have had Apple Daily down there like a shot, and maybe put a stop to the torture.

There are levels of cruelty and deceit, of course, but even the lesser of the evils is very upsetting for us when it involves our dogs.  One sweet dog adopted from Tai Po in February is coming back because she is too friendly.  It seems the person who adopted really wanted a guard dog and our girl  is useless for that.  So the adopter got two more puppies from somewhere and will return the HKDR dog (who I believe is currently being tied up outside).  This time I’m not going to mention (dog) names, at least not yet.

As a baby puppy

I think you all know how much I love my puppies and how important it is to me that they go to nice homes.  I also try to make sure that the puppy matches the home it’s going to so that everyone is happy.  Sometimes I get puppies that are so sweet and easy that it’s a no-brainer that they will make great family dogs, but that still doesn’t always work.  I got one such puppy back today in a case that has me totally bemused.  Initial reports of the puppy being absolutely perfect changed overnight into one of an unpredictable snapping monster (the ‘monster’ is my word), and before I barely had time to type a reply a behaviourist had been called in who verified that the puppy was unsafe.  This person also asked the adopter not to tell me her name, and I wonder why?  Why would a ‘professional’ not want to put her name to her work?  Anyway, the next call I got (very soon afterwards) was to tell me that the puppy was seriously ill, and to cut a long story short I said I would take it back and asked that it be taken straight to Acorn.  From the sound of it I suspected the puppy had pneumonia (though the vet that saw her mentioned distemper, which I knew was not even a possibility), and called Acorn to let them know that a very sick puppy was on its way.

In the afternoon, after stopping off at AFCD where I picked up two lovely surrendered dogs, I went to Acorn to have the usual for the new arrivals and to check on the puppy.  It was Dr Andy who saw the new shih tzu and black cocker/retriever cross, and he told me that it was Dr Tony who was dealing with the puppy and he was in the back of the clinic.  I went ask Tony how the poor pup was, and passed a very cute little prick-eared, waggy-tailed pup on the way.  When I asked where the sick one was, Tony pointed to the happy little thing at my feet and said he also thought he must have been mistaken as he was told to expect a near death-bed case.  It’s true there was a bit of a cough but the lungs were clear so there was no pneumonia and only signs of upper respiratory tract infection.  Added to that, the puppy had practically licked all the staff to death and its tail hadn’t stopped wagging.  She’s back on Lamma now with a course of antibiotics and happily running around. I don’t know what to make of this case and I have to say it had me very upset for the entire day.

Such a change in such a short time

The puppy that left me as a soft-eared baby is now still young but has lost that totally baby cuteness, with ears that stick up.  At the time of her adoption I only had a few such puppies but now I have many.  How can she compete and what are her chances of finding another home when youngsters like Panda have taken over the star of the show?

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