Rescuing and rehoming abandoned dogs in Hong Kong

Just when you think the day is done and you can stop constantly checking messages, along comes the news that a breeder is giving up a lot of dogs to comply with the numbers restriction that is part of the Animal Trader License requirements.  There are apparently forty-plus dogs being thrown out, which gives you an idea of the current overcrowding situation, and we have been asked to take twenty or so of the larger breeds like labrador, husky, rottweiler, malamute.   We have been told they are aged between nine months and two years, but you have to take into account the fact that breeders are liars, cheats and the lowest of the low, so the dogs may be all ages and in any sort of condition.  I understand they need to be picked up on Monday so we will be asking for help with transport if any of you have cars and are available and willing to drive possibly (probably) smelly large dogs from (I'm guessing) Yuen Long to Tai Po.

Obviously suddenly having to add a large number of dogs to the Tai Po Homing Centre is going to be a challenge, putting it mildly, so we are in really urgent need of foster homes if not adopters.  However this doesn't mean that we will let the dogs got to unsuitable homes, temporary or permanent, and the usual criteria will still apply.  It needs to be remembered that breeder dogs aren't toilet trained, even if they are usually nice dogs with calm temperaments, so they will need to be taken out frequently to get them into the habit of toileting in appropriate places.   If you are able to foster please email Cindy at foster@hongkongdogrescue.com, while for adoptions you will need to complete the adoption questionnaire on our website www.hongkongdogrescue.com (under Adopt).

The rain has been relentless as you all know, and it has certainly affected the adoption numbers at Tai Po even if the overall total for August (thirty five) wasn't at all bad for a traditionally slow period.  Please remember that we are open every single day, rain or sun, and even during typhoons, and the Tai Po dogs needs homes more then ever during this very wet period.

Lucky Hercules was adopted just in time!

From the moment I got up I was sending messages trying to arrange the pick up of the small dogs that had been left outside a house in cages after the death of their owner.  I still don't know how that happened, I mean who did that to the dogs rather than contact a rescue organisation or even AFCD, but as a result one poor dog had already died - presumably from the heat - by the time the rest of them were put in a van and brought to us.  I was incredibly upset that I hadn't been able to get the dogs in time, but I had only found out about the situation on Friday evening and there was nothing I could do until the morning.  We ended up with four dogs, and I'm currently waiting to hear back from AFCD about ages and license status, but they are safe and comfortable with us now.

Apart from that early morning panic, it was a busy day at the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre with the adoption of Pip the miniature pinscher, trial adoption of the two bulldogs, new white poodle Rocket going to a foster home and another poodle being returned to his owner after being claimed as a lost dog. It's often like this at Ap Lei Chau, with a quick turnaound of dogs coming in and going out.

As you will all know, the promised rain that everyone was looking forward to never came so the puppy afternoon at Heal went ahead, with Salty and Carlo being adopted.

Of course I will be at Whiskers N Paws on Sunday along with the other volunteers and the four-legged hopefuls.  If you are interested in fostering a puppy please let Cindy know, as there will be several coming back from their current foster and it would be lovely to have another comfortable place for them to stay.  Please email foster@hongkongdogrescue.com if you can help.