Animal News

Lantau pets for Lantau people.

"Fido's Story"

This young dog first appeared wandering around in the general area of Tai Tei Tong a few months ago. At present his owner is unknown.

At approximately 6:45am on Saturday 11th April 2009, he was spotted in great distress, lying beside a village house in Tai Tei Tong. Horrendously another dog thudded down beside him! Subsequent police investigation has concluded that the dogs jumped or fell from the 3rd floor roof.

Upon rescue it was discovered that Fido, as he has been nicknamed, had two badly broken legs. The 2nd dog was never recovered. Fido will require a bone plate costing $3000 in each leg, which PALS has agreed to cover if his owner cannot be identified.

Contact: Okka Scherer 9544-9181 Jacqui Green 9197-4371

"Molly's Story"

On the morning of the 10th of August, in Ma Po Tsuen, Lantau Island, a construction worker noticed a black bundle shivering and bedraggled beside a nearby stream. Curious, he took a closer look and was shocked to discover that it was a young puppy with three of its legs severely chopped; one hung by a single piece of skin.

He ran, shouting, to the nearest village house for help where, luckily, there lived two local ladies with a dog of their own. While one called the police the other ran to assist. When she saw the horrendous injuries she went to the house of two other village residents who she knew to be volunteers with Protection of Animals Lantau South (P.A.L.S.). One went to the stream where the police had already arrived.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, with the helpless puppy facing death from heavy blood loss, she called an officer of P.A.L.S. in Discovery Bay (on the other side of the island) who told her to immediately transport the puppy there via the next available ferry. The local veterinary surgeon would be standing by to provide treatment.

There was a ferry due within 40 minutes but when told of the plan to seek immediate medical attention, the police officers initially rejected the idea insisting that procedure was for the animal to be taken to the local police station. This was followed by an objection to the likely cost of treatment in Discovery Bay. They insisted that they had to confer with a superior. By now it seemed impossible that anyone could get the stricken pup from the isolated village to the ferry the next one wouldn't run for another four hours.

At this stage no one had wanted to move the puppy, its injuries being sickening to behold. Finally, with time running short, and the threat that if the puppy died it would be their fault, the police officers agreed to drive it to the ferry. It fell to one of the P.A.L.S. volunteers to pick up the puppy while trying to cause the least amount of suffering. On her second attempt, and with the poor creature howling in pain, the puppy was safely cradled in a box and with one volunteer and a police escort, transported to Discovery Bay and the Island Veterinary Clinic.

Upon arrival the puppy, now known to be a girl, was given painkillers, antibiotics and put on a drip. Discussions were held as to whether she should be humanely put to sleep and, if not, what were the chances of saving the almost completely severed lower leg.

That evening the vet and his assistant performed intricate surgery to insert two steel pins in each back leg and sew together the front leg. The operation took over three hours and the results are a testament to the skill and experience, to say nothing of the dedication of the veterinary surgeon.

Named Buena by the vet, there followed several very anxious days while all those concerned, waited with bated breath to see how she would respond. Her will to live proved amazing and far from fearing human contact she is responsive and affectionate and has captivated all who come in contact with her. Ongoing treatment included removal of bone fragments and dead skin and daily dressing changes. She coped with all this marvellously.

After a week's stay in the clinic, she was allowed to go to her new home with one of the P.A.L.S. volunteers who rushed to her aid upon arrival in Discovery Bay. Over the following weeks, her committed new carers catered to her every need including a regime of antibiotics, vitamins, painkillers and bandage changes. Today, renamed Molly, she enjoys the company of two other dogs and is happy to play and run, all be it with a pronounced limp.

We at P.A.L.S are so grateful to everyone who has helped save Molly, sent their heart felt wishes and contributed toward her medical treatment. We hope she will continue to go from strength to strength and that the memory of the atrocious torture and injuries she endured will fade to nothing.

Her plight and subsequent recovery generated a lot of media interest. It also generated much needed debate on the larger topic of animal cruelty and the penalties for it in Hong Kong. The person responsible for Molly's suffering has not been identified and no prosecution is likely. We wish that everyone would stop a minute and think and then have respect for life - all life - animal life too.

***NEW DEVELOPMENT***

Molly is one of many canine stars and their carers featured in a new Hong Kong made documentary called This Darling life. A study of the relationship between dogs and their owners in Hong Kong, This Darling Life will be screened from 8th May at UA cinemas. Please visit the supporting website for more information about this innovative piece of Hong Kong cinema that explores the deep bond of love that can develop between people and animals.