PEGASUS.
PEGASUS On one of our visits to Hong Kong we were taken to Cheung Chau Island which is 12 kilometres off the coast of Kowloon in the South China Sea. The island has around 5000 population. There are no motor vehicles on the island except an ambulance and a fire engine. The people either ride bicycles or walk. The island has many small shops with everything the locals need. Our host had lived on the island for awhile and so knows many of the people there, a few of whom are Europeans. Along the wharf where the fishing boats tie up there is a long row of restaurants. This is the reason we were there. The restaurants are set back from the wharf but the tables extend right out to the edge of the water so that one can enjoy the breeze coming in from the sea, which was a welcome release from the hot day. While waiting for our meal to be served I spotted some people not far from where we were sitting, with a dog on a lead. I looked again because the dog was the colour of a clipped off Old English Sheepdog. I couldn't believe my eyes when I realised it was an OES 'My God, I don't believe it'. I said. 'What, what' said John. 'An Old English Sheepdog HERE?' I said in disbelief. Here on this tiny island in the middle of nowhere in the South China Sea, the last thing I expected to see was an OES. I jumped up and went over to the couple, who had the dog, to talk to them. The couple, I think, may have been Australian, New Zealanders or English. I wasn’t listening to their accent because I was more interested in the dog. While talking to them the lady told me that the dog had been owned by the people living next door to them on the island. The dog had been kept chained up all the time and was sometimes beaten. I don’t know why because I didn’t ask. Rebecca couldn’t bear to see this poor animal so distressed so she decided that somehow she had to rescue it. She thought about it for awhile but the only way to get to the dog was through the house, so one day, while the owners were away she broke into the house, went through to the back and took the dog. One of the men in our group, an Englishman who, prior to the takeover by China had been a Chief of Police in the Hong Kong Police Force said that the rescuer shouldn't be made a hero for rescuing the dog because she broke the law, but I was very glad she had and I told her so. I don't know why but she was never charged. Pegasus now has a home with loving owners. Fortunately his spirit wasn’t broken by the harsh treatment he was given. He allowed me to pat him and even stand him so I could have a good look at him. Occasionally I think about him and when I do think I wonder where he originally came from and who bred him. Jess King. |
|
|
| What a great story! Joan and I have run into OESs in many places, but none as far flung as that!
I would be scared to death to do something like that, especially in a PLACE like that. Thanks for sharing. |
| I think I might be too Ron. But you know if we lived next door to someone who was mistreating their dog and you knew it was happening all the time we just might take the law into our own hands too. But then we're not living on an island with no police residing there. And what could the owners say. Perhaps they didn't press charges because they knew they were in the wrong and be charged theselves. |
| I am glad to hear that someone rescued that dog and the story has a happy ending. I just don't get people sometimes....if you hate your dog, why would even get a dog in the first place? |
| Jess,
I felt flip flops in my tummy when reading your story as Panda shown in my avatar is from Hong Kong and originally lived in a small community next to the South China Sea. I wonder if Panda was related to Pegasus?Panda's original owner lived with her grandparents before moving to HongKong when he was a pup. The grandparents were not prepared to look after a pup and eventually Panda's mom brought him to Hong Kong. He spent the first year on the rooftop of an apartment building and eventually ended up back at the breeder which was a horrible puppy mill where he was caged and beaten. Anyhow don't want to highjack your post but I'm glad the woman rescued Pegasus! In my area we have a animal rescue called Animal Advocates Society which also has an "underground" made up of mainly older women whom literally jump fences and crawl into horrible places to rescue chained and abused dogs. I don't see them as doing anything dishonest although some may disagree. They always ask the owner first if they can purchase the dog but if refused they keep tabs and left no other choice but to watch the dog suffer they take the other route. Thanks for posting this story Jess. I can't help but think that perhaps Panda and Pegasus are related as there exist that possibility. How ironic would that be? I just found a photo which was sent to me by those involved in Panda's rescue which I'll post in the next day or so of him taken next to the South China Sea. I'm still astounded at the irony of your story and the possiblility of a relationship between Panda and Pegasus. A woman in Aus telling a woman in Canada about an OES in Hong Kong which in turn may led to the realization that somehow there is a connection between the two dogs. That alone is just mind boggling!! Marianne and the boys |
| Marianne the possibility that these two dogs could be related is definitely mind boggling. To think that two people on different sides of the world could quite possibly have made a connection like this is amazing.
How old is Panda. I don't know how old Pegasus was at the time but he was an adult dog. I was surprised too that he still had a lovely temperament. I know I shouldn't say this but I sometimes wish that those who are cruel to these precious animals could have a taste of their own treatment of them. It surely is ironic that you have a similar story to tell though. Life has many unexpected turns. |
| Jess, I say BLESS those people for saving that poor dog! It seems we live in a valueless society and most of the time the laws don't help. I don't get why some people even have a dog, maybe so they can feel "superior"? |
| That's a great story, Jess, and how ironically similar to Panda's story. Thank God the woman had the fortitude to follow her convictions and rescue the poor boy.
I agree, those who treat animals that way should be subjected to the same treatment themselves. Tie them to a tree and leave them there with no shelter, food or water in all kinds of weather and then go out occassionally and beat them.  |
| That is a wonderful story. I am glad that the lady wasnt charged with anything either!
It really does make you think though, like Elissa said...why own a dog if youre not going to give it a loving home?! |
| Hi Jess,
Panda is five. I first heard about his plight when he was three years old, March 27th 2004 on this forum. He's been with me since, after being flown from Hong Kong to Vancouver April 3th, 2004. The rescue happened quickly as originally the two posters that wrote about him were willing to pay his flight anywhere in the world in order to save him. It was very expensive..around 2 thousand as he would be labled "cargo". Next came another angel whom said they were flying from Hong Kong to Vancouver the following Saturday and could accompany him. The price then dropped to 200 dollars as he was now going to be labled "extra baggage". Eventually Cathay Pacific heard about it and flew him for free! I found out later the day he was flown was his scheduled day of being put down as he was considered useless to the mill as he had been neutered somewhere along the way. His original owner still keeps in contact with me and we often send emails back and forth. There is no doubt in my mind she truly loved him. It was only after her and her boyfriend broke up when Panda was a year old did life take a turn of horrible events for him. He was shuffled back and forth to numerous homes and from what I gathered at one point he even roamed the streets of Hong Kong with some feral dogs for a short period. Ending back at the breeder/puppy mill they charged the original owner 500 monthy to keep him!!! She searched for alternative places for his care but sadly there are not many rescue places for dogs in HK. He had bitten some kennel people and was labled vicious. The original posters saw three of them beating him with sticks in order to get him back into his cage. When they loaded him on the plane they said who ever agreed to take him is &%&^% nuts! Well...I never claimed to be sane! ha ha! He was kept in the 4 by 4 metal cage for six months prior to coming home with me. The only time he was let out was when Roy and Elby visited him and of course he didn't want to go back in the cage. Despite his hardships from age one to three years he has never ceased to amaze me with his loving nature. Yes, he does still have "issues" with being restrained so grooming is a big stressor for him, and I continue to have him sedated at the vets to have it done. Anyhow I'm rambling and didn't want to take away from your story. I would love to hear more about Pegasus and his age. Panda's birthday is sometime in June so he'll be approaching six years. http://members.home.nl/sourcerer/Panda/ Thanks so much for sharing your story Jess! Marianne and the boys If you click on my camera thingie you'll see Panda in many of the photos (I have two pages) He's also the one in my avatar photo. Please note ...he often looks messy and dirty as unlike his original photo my boy loves dirt and mud. I live in the rainy Pacific Northwest! Tough when he has grooming issues.  |
| Jess what a story!
I would have had no proublem going into the house to get the dog ( poor baby) I did something like it a few yrs back, and took a dog that was left with out water and food in winter. The dog warden was called and took the dog. When his owner returned he was fined and had to pay lots of money to make improvments at home for him. Needless to say he did not like us (to bad) but the dog was much better taken care of. |
| Marianne, that particular trip to Hong Kong was in 2000. Pegasus would have to have been at least one year old probably more but there is a distinct possibility that the dogs could be related. Unfortunately cruelty to animals isn't restricted to only one place. It happens all over the world.
I am so glad you found your lovely boy. If he gets messy, so what  my dogs can get very messy too. After all they are dogs and we have to allow them to be. I have a picture of Bridie after she and Brogan had been outside playing one day. It had been raining during the night and I had forgotten to put up the baracade to the lawn and when I looked out of the window there they were, both covered in mud. 
I am glad you all enjoyed reading my story. It was a sad one but with a happy ending - just the same as yours Marianne. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|