Tues 29th May: Small dog fosters needed for 28th June

Pashmina wanted to play throughout the entire sampan trip

I had a late start today because I’d arranged to take Pashmina, the Samoyed puppy, over to Ap Lei Chau for her adoption.  She’d been staying on Lamma as nowhere else was really suitable for this non-stop ball of fluff, and I didn’t want to go over too early or she’d be left at the Homing Centre to cause havoc and there’s enough of that already. I had so many offers of homes for this puppy but virtually all had no idea what a Samoyed is or how full-on Pashmina can be – is – all the time. Frankly she’d drive a saint crazy, and the sampan ride was enough for me. She jumped around for the entire channel crossing wanting to play with the leash or anything else she could reach, and that included my arms. She’s a sweet girl but she has the energy and mischief of a roomful of toddlers put together.

The Homing Centre looked much less crowded than before the weekend, which of course it was thanks to the rush of adoptions on Sunday, and after Pashmina was picked up by her adopters yet another dog left for his new home. This time it was Nobby, an in-and-out poodle, larger than a toy but smaller than a standard. He’s a very nice dog and I’m sure his new family will enjoy having him at home.

Young Nobby will enjoy having more space than he did at Ap Lei Chau

While I was dropping Pashmina off a small dog came back from Acorn having gone there in the morning for “the works”. When he was tipped out of the crate Iris and I both had the same thought: who is that? Iris said she had sent the new shih tzu cross, the one found as a stray on Cheung Chau and who I’d temporarily called Mr Grumpy, but the little dog in front of us looked nothing like him. His face and head had been shaved except for a strip of a Mohican on top (thanks guys!), and where there had previously been no discernible facial features there was now a very distinct nose and two big eyes. We looked and looked, and Iris said she thought she recognised the body but neither of us were convinced this really was Mario (his new name) and had to use the microchip scanner to confirm his identity. It was him of course. He’s got the usual small dog eye issues and his face had been shaved to clear all the hair away and it’s totally changed the

You couldn't see Mario had a proper nose when he came to us like this

way he looks.

It never takes long to fill a void and we have three more small dogs arriving from AFCD very soon, yet another poodle (they’re really a lot more work than most people realise), a Japanese spitz and a new one for me, two Lakeland terriers. I’ve never even seen the breed in Hong Kong and maybe they were imported, but whatever the case they were surrendered to AFCD at nine (female)  and six (male) years of age. They look like mini Airedale terriers and probably have the same sort of temperament. I’m anticipating a short stay for these two despite their (middle) age.

A Lakeland terrier (not a photo of the actual dogs coming)

We opened the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre in September 2010 and the number of small dogs we anticipated having there was around ten at any one time.  We used the two upstairs rooms for storage but later converted them to accomodate more dogs as number increased, and we’ve been adding bit and pieces ever since.  Now the fences are in real need of a paint job and we have a keen team of volunteers from Morgan Stanley lined up to do just that.  The problem is, of course, what to do with the dogs while the painters are busy and the only solution is to ask for day fosters (or preferably, one night and one day).  The date is Thursday 28th June and we will need dogs to be gone by 10am on that morning.  If you can help please let me know.  Email sally@hongkongdogrescue.com