Fri 22nd June: Froggie out, Smokey in

I was back at AFCD today, not with any intention of taking any dogs but to get those that had been surrendered rabies vaccinated and licensed.  So many of the small dogs that have come to us over the past week had never been licensed, and that included the super-sweet dachshund boy Mr. Brown, the two shih tzus (Sasha and Quebec) and the five-month poodle (in his case he was at least only just at the age when it becomes a legal requirement).  The whole point about having puppies microchipped before being sold is completely irrelevant and a waste of time if the buyers have no obligation to actually register the dogs, and they remain in a legally ownerless limbo.  They are supposed to but very few bother or care, and in fact it’s often a deliberate omission I’m sure, as it means the dogs can never be traced back to them when it’s abandoned.

Of course the inevitable happened while I was there with the dogs, and I was told there was a cocker spaniel ready for re-homing.  It had been secreted away somewhere while the registered owner was being traced, more often than not a futile exercise, after it had been picked up as a stray.  Ironically, while I was at Acorn with the new boy Smokey, someone was at our Ap Lei Chau Centre asking if we had any cocker spaniels for adoption.  How frustrating, because Kathy didn’t know I had just picked one up and said no, we didn’t have any (except long-term resident Joy, but she’s a special case).  If you are that person, Smokey is a very sweet boy and is all set to go to a new home.

Froggie has a new home and a new name

Froggie the young French bulldog was today’s lucky boy, and he will get a new name along with his new home (not surprisingly really).  I also received so many enquiries about Sadie, the eight month-old boxer, that it was hard to keep up with them, and while it’s lovely to know that she’ll soon be in a new home I think of all the equally sweet and beautiful mixed breeds we have that nobody asks about.  If anyone likes the look and character of Sadie, there’s Lulu, also eight months, also tan and white, also with a short coat and the best temperament.  I hope at least one of Sadie’s potential adopters (and there can only be one that actually takes her home) will consider Lulu.

Lovely and sweet Lulu is just as good as any boxer

The same applies to the baby beagle that’s coming to us, and I already know it will be out of the door before anyone has time to say hello while I have so many puppies that I can guarantee will be a lot easier to take care of than a beagle.  It’s one breed that I would really not choose myself, if for no other reason than they are like four-legged eating machines, and to them everything is food.  They are hunting dogs with a keen sense of smell, and if they pick up the scent of  anything even vaguely edible (and again, to them everything is) they will be off in pursuit of it.  They are usually good natured and undoubtedly appealing, but you have to really know what you’re taking on when you get a beagle.

This was Baby Bunny when he first arrived, still half bald

Talking of appealing, the baby rabbit which is still waiting for a home (please, anyone?) is at the stage now where it’s so cute it shouldn’t be allowed.  He’s still sharing a cage (at Acorn) with his mother but is taking less milk now, and mother was even desexed today.  I really can’t leave the three rabbits there for much longer, and they are all lovely.  Please let me know if you can adopt any of them, singly or together. Please!

Look at Baby Bunny now! (with hedgehog friend Cactus)

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