Hong Kong's SPCA

I've always wondered how the SPCA in other countries looked like, and if they are in as bad a condition as the one in Singapore (that's according to HC - luckily I have never been there).

Came across this blog's article written by a famous HongKong actor, Louis Koo. We're not a fan of his cos we hardly watch chinese movies (unless it's free-on-t.v.) , but we enjoyed reading about his dog. This time, I admired him (the actor - not the dog) for reminding the public/his fans that one should think before adopting a pet, as pet is for life. (I don't think he is paid to do this)

Most interestingly, the pictures attached showed the clean and conducive environment of their SPCA. The dogs even got their own bed! If Hong Kong can maintained such a nice environment, why can't ours? Lack of funding or government support?

(HC would like to add that she could never get lost when she visits SPCA cos she can smell the stench from far. )

However, despite the difference in the living conditions of animals in SPCA - one thing remains clear. These dogs need a permanent home and a committed owner.

For those readers who does not have a dog/pet, or those of you who are contemplating having another dog - please think twice. Like what the famous actor said - these pets are not simply a toy or product. Can you provide for them for the next 15-20 years?If the answer is "maybe" then please don't get one.

Xmas came early!

Yesterday, HC pulled out a gift for me from her shopping bag.

It was my dream sleeping bag! .... and it's in blue!















I couldn't stop grinning!

Then, I rubbed my scent all over the bed to tell everyone this sleeping bag belongs to me.












































Sorry for the blurry picture cos I was playing and moving too fast.
















Ahhhhh... I really love this bed.














(HC : for the past month since Jack got his bed, Joey was upset and had refused to sleep on my bed at night. I told him that I didn't buy for him cos it was the last piece at the shop. But yesterday while shopping, I saw it again at the same shop and had to get it since I knew how jealous he was over Jack's new bed. And I've checked with the shop - this blue piece just arrived and it's the only piece for this shipment.)

After a while, HC walked out of the room and I followed her cos I was hoping to get some treats from her. When we came back to the room, guess what we saw!


Jack was rubbing his scent all over my NEW bed!














He laid there as if that's his bed! Grrrrr....















HC then bring down Jack's own girly bed for him to sleep on.
















There are a total of 5 beds for 2 dogs in my house now.

Jack's personalised rectangle bed.
















My personalised round bed.















I think this Xmas present from Auntie W is also another bed.















And my night-time bed that was placed on HC's bed.














I've decided to donate this green bed to my neighbour who is an Old English Sheepdog. I hope he will like it!

(HC : Joey is so happy with his bed that for the first time in weeks, he slept on my bed (where the new blue bed is placed) the entire night. Even though it is a bit expensive and silly for them to have so many beds, I am glad I bought it.)

Nothing for me?

HC came home with a huge bag yesterday and she took this pink-coloured thing out.















She said it's a Pet's Sleeping Bag.

Since it's for pets, I thought it must be for me and settled down happily.















Then HC said, "Joey, it's not for you."















Huh? Not for me??














HC said the sleeping bag is for Jack as he loves to snuggle in bed. And since most of the toys she bought was for me, it's time to get Jack something he loves.

She was right. All HC had to do was to lift up the top flap, and Jack happily went inside to snuggle up.

See how he loves to hide his face while sleeping?































Of course I wasn't happy














And I gave HC 'the look' the entire time.




















Most nights, I like to sleep on HC's bed. To protect her own bed, she had placed a thin bed there for me.















But last night, I wsa too upset and decided that I won't sleep on the bed cos she placed Jack and his new sleeping bag there.
















I went to my own 6-inch thick bed and had my bum facing HC and Jack.














A depressed-looking me















(HC : I bought this new sleeping bag cos I know Jack would loved it. Currently, they are using 6-inch thick customised bed on the floor, so that it would make their 'aged' bones more comfortable. But surprisingly, when I leave this new sleeping bag on the floor, Jack promptly went in to snuggle. It must be so comfortable esp during this wet season.
ok... I know the color is too girlish for them, but i couldn't resist it. And I was sold when the sales assistant told me they had imported two pieces and this is the last piece. The words "last piece" and "exclusive" always works for me)














When the day turns warmer, he slept on top of the sleeping bag instead.















A sad and jealous-looking Joey.

Alone

The humans took up dancing recently. But to our dismay, dogs were not allowed to tag along! The humans said that we will distract them and they cannot concentrate on learning the steps while keeping an eye on us. (haven't they heard of multi-tasking?)

To make us feel better, we were all sent to Scuba's place where poor Auntie Sam (Scuba's caregiver) has to take care of 5 dogs for almost 2.5 hours. Though I loved Auntie Sam alot, I cannot get over the fact that HC had forsaken her evening ritual of playing fetch with me.

Every week, I will follow HC out to the lift landing whenever I see her walk out of the house, hoping to go along with her. Alas, HC said 'no' and Auntie Sam had to coaxed me back to the house.

Usually, this is what happens when we dogs get together.



But with HC gone, I am in no mood to play and sat by the front door waiting for HC to come back.

What took her so long?

And.. I found out the most annoying part - the class was supposed to be an hour, yet they were gone for 2.5 hrs! And I overheard the humans happily discussing which food places they can check out every week!

(HC : I think most responsible owners would feel the same way. We spent most of our time with our dogs, but sometimes we were happy to have a little bit of time to ourselves.)

Begging Trio

Nothing much happening these days as it was rain rain rain everywhere!

As usual, we holed up at Scuba's place and spent our evenings practicing our begging skills.

And where were we? Tommy, Jack and I decided to beg from someone else as you can see from the pic that the space is full.

Unfortunately, Jack and I were the least successful. We didn't get a single thing cos our HC wanted us to stay 'pure' (read : no preservatives, no sugar, no salt.... blah blah blah *roll eyes*).

Falling Sky

The sky is falling!

The last few days, I heard terrible roaring sounds from the sky. When this happens, I will sit close to HC so that she can protect me from the falling sky.

Late at night, when she is asleep, I will try to snuggle as close to her for protection and comfort.

What is happening to the sky?

I'll better hide under the sheets ...
And pretend I'm asleep so that HC won't push me off


Why is Jack still sleeping so peacefully? Did he not hear the terrible sounds?

Too active?

HC is very frustrated with my hyper-activeness these few days.

Every day, I would get to play ball-fetching about an hour in the evening. Usually, by then, I would be satisfied and rest at home quietly. But recently, HC is very frustrated as I would need only a 20 mins rest before asking HC to play with me again.
(HC : during this nap of 20 mins, I would only have enough time to take a shower. By the time I was ready to rest, Joey is already awake and wants to play!)

HC complained that I was a very irritating dog. I would push my plush ball in her palm and whined if she doesn't throw it for me. Sometimes, I would sit in front of THE CUPBOARD (where HC puts my rubber balls) and stare - willing the rubber ball to fall out of the cupboard....

She is puzzled at my hyper activeness... and then she remembered this....

She has been feeding us 1/2 a capsule of colostrum 2-3 times a week. And some benefits of colostrum includes : better immune system, improved athletic performance, anti-aging.

So, it is not my fault for being so hyper active, right?

Don't I look good for a middle age dog?

Purchases

HC bought us some stuff recently.


First, she ordered another new bed cover for us. This one is army-inspired print - definitely more macho than the red/gold strip one.

See how girly this bed cover is?

Even Jack is happy with the new macho covers.

Our bed and the covers are custom-made by Auntie Meena. Check out the various designs here.

She also spent a bomb on supplements for us. Usually, she will try not to over-supplement us as we are already on a high quality natural diet. But as we aged, she decided to add in supplements but on a much lower dosage.

Then, she got some huge strawberries. This strawberries are so huge that we hardly get to see these in the supermarket.

Size of strawberry in comparison to HC's mobile phone.

Can you stop teasing me with the strawberry? Just feed me!

Finally, after much begging, HC gave us some to try. And, the strawberry tasted as good as it looks! Yummy....

Massage Sessions

Thanks to my generous girlfriend (Alfie)'s mum, we were given a massage session each as our (past/coming) birthday present.

HC decided to make an appointment last week and Auntie S (Herbie and Helios' M) was kind enough to drive us there.


On the ride there.....


I started the massage sesssion first.

The therapist - Aunt Zoe started touching my paws

She then proceeded to massage my back muscles.

Aunt Zoe said I had very tense back muscles, common in dogs esp terriers who like to run and jump alot. I don't jump that much, but definitely do alot of running.



I keep moving away cos I was interested in what the other canines are doing (see later pictures). HC had to hold my head so that I can't run away.


Aunt Zoe said I had perfect teeth *beams*
Caught yawning on camera!

Jack yawned too!


(HC : I think Jack and Joey yawned not because they are sleepy, but rather due to 'stress'. They have not had any massage session with a stranger before, and furthermore, this is an entire new place. It doesn't help that while 1 dog is being massaged, the others are playing happily nearby. I can tell Joey was dying to join in the playing, or rather humping.
As for Jack, as expected, he tried to nip on the therapist a few times. Jack doesn't allow anyone else to carry him, and does not like to be handled too much by others. Initially, I tried to talk nicely to him to calm him down, but it didn't work. He was still nipping and jumping. Finally, I scolded him fiercely, and after that he gave up and let Zoe do her massage work.... thank god Zoe is patient!)

Aunt Zoe massaging Jack's right front limb (He has arthritis on front right limb and a cruciate ligament surgery on back right limb, and Aunt Zoe can feel that Jack's right limbs are not as flexible as the left limbs)




After about 20 mins of struggling, and the latter 10 mins of proper massaging, Jack finally relaxed a little. Auntie S said that he looked like a little baby in HC's arm.



Helios chewing a galileo chew toy, while Benny (the resident dog at the massage place) is drooling all over the place.


While Jack was being massaged, here's what we were doing.



On the way home, I was grinning as I had a fun time!


And Jack was snoozing on the car floor board (He prefers to snooze on the hard floor board than to squeeze with the other dogs, just goes to show how he avoids touching others).