Thurs 28th June: Ap Lei Chau dogs day out

Big thanks to the Morgan Stanley volunteer team

It was the Big Day at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, the one that’s been the focus of many emails and arrangements over the past couple of weeks as we planned what to do with all of the dogs when the Morgan Stanley team came in to paint.  As many dogs as possible went into day fosters, with another group going to Whiskers’n'Paws and a third having a day out in Stanley.  Some dogs stayed behind, in Ap Lei Chau not actually in the Centre, so the painting team could have a break and spend some time walking.  A lot depended on the weather, and as it turned out to be a scorcher of a day I suspect much of the time was spent finding shade and trying to stay cool.  At least the Stanley group got to have a splash in the sea, and I bet they loved it.

Momo and Moko had a great time at Stanley

You know it’s very difficult to fully appreciate the dogs living in a kennel situation, whether it’s at Tai Po, Ap Lei Chau or even Lamma.  Dogs will adapt their behaviour and their “real” self to suit their environment, and for a multi-dog space that could come out as aggression, shyness, food/toy guarding or many other “bad” things.  But take a dog out of that stressful situation and they can change completely.

Tibet was very well behaved today

Tibet is a Tibetan spaniel who doesn’t do well with a lot of dogs around, and his way of showing it is through aggressive behaviour.  He was one of the dogs chosen to go to Stanley today with the more difficult dogs and experienced volunteers, and he behaved impeccably.  Not only didn’t he attempt to bite anyone, he was actively affectionate and loving.  That’s why we appreciate foster homes and the chance to assess dogs in a stress-free home, making it much easier to move them on into a permanent home once we have a true idea of the dog’s temperament.  Some dogs are very happy having a lot of other dogs to play with, but those that can’t tolerate it really need to be away from all of that.

We have some dogs in foster at the moment who urgently need to move on to new fosters (or forever homes of course).  This being the holiday season, it means a lot of dogs losing their temporary homes and they are usually those who really can’t be sent to any of the places like Tai Po or Lamma.  Misty the old samoyed is one of them, a very easy dog who really needs very little except a comfortable resting place with some gentle walks.  Baxter is a young dog who had to have surgery on both hips, and he is a lovely, sweet and affectionate boy.  He hasn’t fully recovered from the second operation and shouldn’t be knocked around by other dogs.  He will have to leave him foster on Sunday, so please consider him.  Let Maria know at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com if you can help.  This is the last video taken of Baxter just before he had his second round of surgery: http://youtu.be/RFSLO-Fic5Q

Dolly looking comfortable in her overnight foster

Meanwhile I was doing my usual thing, and today that meant transporting a whole bunch of puppies to Acorn for their due vaccinations.  A couple of them had lost their microchips so we had to make a detour to AFCD to have new chips inserted and, guess what, I left with a new addition, a teacup Yorkie that had been picked up from the street as a stray.  A teacup Yorkie on the street!  She’s so small I was afraid to put her down in case she got stepped on (actually many very small dogs do get injured in this way), but true to her typical Yorkie self she showed no fear, and despite her twelve years was very happy to tootle around the forecourt area while I waited for her paperwork.  These tiny dogs seem to last for ever, and apart from the fact that she has no teeth and her knees are a bit loose at the back, Dolly is as good as any large dog half her age.

I had a meeting to go to in Central later in the afternoon (regarding the September Gala, ‘Viva Paws Vegas’), so the puppies went back to Lamma on their own and Dolly was sent over to meet up with the Whiskers’n'Paws group.  Luckily for her she was immediately offered a foster for the night, and quite honestly you’d hardly notice that there was a dog around.

Although the details won’t be ready to send out until next week, we’re looking for sponsors for ‘Viva Paws Vegas’ if you or your company are able to help.  There are so many sponsorship options, bearing in mind the fact that as many overheads as possible in every fundraising event should be covered, and it could be donations in kind (as prizes) or paying for one of the many “props” we’ll need for the evening’s entertainment.  All sponsors will get good coverage in the programme, and on the many PR and promotional sites that are in the pipeline.  If you’re interested to know more and would like to be sent the Sponsorship details, please email Linda at events@hongkongdogrescue.com.

All eyes in Hong Kong are on the latest typhoon news and wondering how badly it will affect us, and none more than the Tai Po crew, and me too, with Sunday’s Whiskers’n'Paws puppy afternoon in mind.  We have standby “stock” of puppies at Tai Po if it turns out I can’t get over on the sampan, but I need to get my lot out and adopted.  The situation at Tai Po is pretty dire when the weather is really bad, and like the Ap Lei Chau dogs that needed very short-term shelter today, we are always happy for our outdoor dogs to be offered a bad weather foster.  We do still need to know that the homes are suitable, even for a couple of days, so please contact Maria at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com if you think you can help out.