Weds 18th July: A busy day off

I had the busiest day off today.  In fact a day off is really just a day that I don’t leave Lamma and work from home, but I do usually try to take a break from my desk and computer for things like (dog) baths and haircuts.  Not today though, as I was glued to my chair all day sending and receiving emails, mostly to with with potential adoptions but many about requested surrenders too.  It just gets worse on that score and it’s utterly depressing for everyone, especially in the cases where the dog was adopted from HKDR as a puppy and is now being dumped.  It makes me sad and angry that the promise of a home for  life turns out to be just empty words, and really it’s the same for all of them.  Betrayed and let down, none of these cases are anything to do with the dogs or their behaviour, only the whims and circumstances of their owners.

Cheese-now-Cody, still thin but enjoying a soft bed and a new life

One of the cases was that of a dog that I was initially told was a young whippet that had been thrown out of car and had been taken care of for the past few months by some Good Samaritans who had found the poor creature.  He was in a very poor condition, extremely thin and with skin problems and goodness knows what, but he was now ready for adoption.  Coincidentally I had just received an email from someone asking if we had any whippets or greyhounds so it was perfect timing.  After going backwards and forwards between the potential adopter and the go between for the people who actually had the dog, it was agreed that he would be sent to Acorn Vet Hospital for an “interview”, but in the meantime I’d seen the photos and realised it wasn’t a whippet at all but an almost-greyhound and was left wondering what I was going to do if the would-be family didn’t want him.  Apart from his non-breed there was also the question of whether he would be OK with a cat, and luckily there had been cats at the place he was staying so I was able to say yes, he’d be fine. It was a huge relief finally when I got a message to say the potential adopters had met the dog, loved him, and wanted to take him home.

No name until after his interview

Most of the adoption enquiries are for small dogs, poodles especially, or puppies, but I got one today which took me totally by surprise.  It was for one of my established Lamma dogs, none of whom I ever expect to get asked about. When I asked why this particular dog, I was told that they had noticed him and his story when he was still a puppy, but only now were they in a position to be able to adopt.  Obviously I’m thrilled to bits, but also a bit nervous about how the dog will react to leaving Lamma to meet some strangers (men), and how he will adapt to city life if they decide they want to take him home.  I’ll find out on Thursday when we have arranged an interview in Ap Lei Chau.  I haven’t given the dog’s name because I don’t want to jinx his chances.

Our photography volunteer, Kat Kuok, has also  been super busy making her fantastic poster ads for the dogs, and they are getting a lot of great comments and feedback, and deservedly so.  Here are two for newcomers Jack and Russell:

Jack does look quite a bit like a Jack Russell

While Russell really just doesn't at all