Weds 25th July: Hilton, hoping for the best

I’m glad I decided to forego my Wednesday off to take Hilton to see the vet because it seems the enlarged lymph nodes could indicate something very serious, as in lymphoma (cancer).  I had to leave Hilton there for surgery to remove the glands so they can be sent away for testing, and I hope it turns out to be some sort of infection rather than anything worse.  If its turns out that it is lymphoma, chemotherapy is available but as in all of these cases it’s a case of having to decide on not just the cost, but the feasibility of taking care a very sick dog in a kennel-type situation.  Although Hilton lives with me on Lamma it’s not a regular home environment by any means, and in any case the treatment may not be successful.  My philosophy in life is to cross bridges when I come to them and not to worry about what may not ever happen, so for now I’ll just hope that I don’t have to make the choice and Hilton will come home with just needing antibiotics and some rest.

It’s a funny thing with my Lamma dogs.  They seem to be able to cope with everything so well, but when it comes to being taken away from the only home they have ever known, even just to go to the vet, they become clingy babies, just wanting to stick to my legs or even climb on my lap.  I realise at these times that I am everything to them, and all dogs feel this way about their families.  That’s what makes it impossible for me to understand the ease at which they are given up, surrendered or simply tossed out somewhere where they can’t find their way back home.

I got an email from someone telling me about two such dogs that were out in Deepwater Bay during the typhoon, both of them wearing collars but clearly completely disorientated and terrified.  I saw them at AFCD today, still shaking with fear and unable to be touched.  I suspect whoever owned them before didn’t treat them well, but I’m also willing to bet that the dogs would be ecstatic to go back to that home, however bad it was.  Dogs are faithful whatever the circumstances, and that’s why it’s heartbreaking that their trust is so easily betrayed.

I know what words I'd put in that empty bubble

Someone sent me a surrender request for a ten year old pom, telling me that she had got married and her new family didn’t like the dog.  She was sure someone would want to adopt it because it was such a “cutie”, so cute in fact that she didn’t want it any more.

Julian, had his time in a home and now no longer wanted

Yet another person wants to hand back a dog adopted as a puppy a few years ago (not Panda, this is another case).  I remember the puppy very well as he was a very sweet boy.  Well not sweet enough obviously as there is now a pressing reason why she has to “hand him back”.

While I was at AFCD today I was told a chihuahua cross that had been waiting for the vet’s assessment was now available for homing.  She’s been there a while and was quite scared, as is normal in these cases, and she refused point blank to travel in a crate.  The only way I could get her into the van was to carry her, which is fine except that all dogs that have been at AFCD for a while have a distinctive and pungent aroma (of pee mostly), and on top of that the dog was soaking wet (having made a break for it  while being rabies vaccinated, and it was raining at the time).  So by the time I got to Acorn I too was wet and stinking, and I had to face the now-frequent embarrassment of going to the supermarket for supplies smelling as though I had been living underground for a few weeks.

I was eager to get home so I could take my wet and smelly clothes off, but I had arranged (through Maria) to meet a foster who was returning two puppies.  The agreed time and place was four thirty at Acorn, but after an hour had passed and there was no sign of the puppies, I decided to call it a day.  Chasing the chihuahua cross at AFCD had got my phone wet and it had died, so I had no contact number for the foster and Maria is currently out of town.  Luckily just as I was a few minutes from the sampan point I got a call from Cactus telling me that the foster had been waiting for me at Whiskers’n'Paws instead of Acorn, so I was able to make a quick diversion and meet up.  (Luckily someone sent me a spare mobile phone last week so normal service can be resumed).

Viva Paws Vegas! Let your HKDR dog be a star for the night

I’ve been talking about our first ever black tie event in September, and although it’s been difficult trying to contact people thanks to so many being away for the summer, arrangements are moving ahead nicely.  Of course the event is for and about the dogs and raising  vital funds for HKDR, but we want it to be a fun evening and different from the usual more formal charity galas.  Our dogs will be promoted and highlighted as much as possible, and to this end we are offering HKDR adopters a chance to let everyone know about their special dogs by having each table dedicated to one (or two) of them.  So if you have adopted a Scruffy, for example, there will be a ‘Scruffy’ table with a photo and a short story for all to see.  There are twenty five tables on offer, and we are asking $3000 as a donation to have your dog made a star for the night.  If you would like to take up this opportunity, please email Linda at events@hongkongdogrescue.com.  I’m sure I would like a “Sandy, Inky and Murphy” table!

(Of course tickets and tables are also available too).