A Heart-worm Miracle Dog: Help get Alfie to the UK

On a rain-swept evening during Typhoon Kompasu, Alfie came to our home as a temporary foster. I remember ordering an Uber from Lantau (where we were trying to do some typhoon surfing), asking the driver to make a stop at Sai Kung Stray Friends to pick up a dog, and returning with Alfie in tow all the way home to Tai Po. By the time we reached home, Alfie had drooled all over the backseat, thrown up three times and effectively ruined the nice driver's car. All in the midst of a T8.

Back at home, Alfie proved himself to be a perfect family dog. All he did was eat, ask for pets and sleep 23 hours of the day. We found out that he loved eating liver, hiking and swimming, but hated monkeys and hard-boiled eggs. He wasn't great with other dogs but he tried his best to keep from snapping at them. He loved a cuddle but wouldn't get onto the bed or even venture into bedrooms.

However, 2 weeks into foster, it all started going horribly wrong - he started peeing blood, dropped over 10kg in weight rapidly, had erratic heartbeat and was panting incessantly. We brought him to see Dr Reece Tam (then at Comfort Veterinary Clinic, now at Tai Wai Exotic Animals) where it was quickly discovered that Alfie's heart was grossly engorged by heart-worm and his body was shutting down as a result. After lengthy discussion with Narelle from SKSF, we agreed to try a risky and novel surgery that involved opening Alfie up at the jugular artery from his neck, reaching wire through the artery and into his heart to fish out the worms. It was his only chance at survival and we knew we had to try.

On 15 November 2021, 40 worms were successfully fished out from Alfie's heart by Dr. Tam. But Alfie's fight was far from over - there were worms still in his heart that we couldn't get out, he had lost a lot of blood, he was painfully thin and weak, his organs were struggling to function - we were prepared for him to die on the surgery table. But to our amazement, he pulled through.

Countless hours were spent with him during and after the surgery - he had to be syringe-fed, force-fed his medication (over 20 pills at a time!), his bedding changed, his wounds disinfected and his condition carefully monitored. We took turns in shifts to care for him round the clock. Slowly, slowly - his condition improved and on 8 December 2021, we took him home to recuperate in comfort.

After that ordeal, we couldn't give him up. On 12 January 2022, we formally adopted him and welcomed him into the family as a permanent member. Although we knew that we would be relocating from Hong Kong to the UK in a matter of months, we had been through so much with Alfie and he had become so dear to us, we simply couldn't bear to leave him behind.

As we all know, pet relocation is costly. Quotes from multiple pet relocation agencies have been in the 6 digits and even the cheapest fare of getting him into cargo and handling all the vet charges and paperwork ourselves would cost us over 50,000HKD.

As much as I'd like to say that money doesn't mean anything in light of Alfie's life and wellbeing, that would be impractical and untrue. Alfie's case is exceptional in light of his miraculous recovery against all odds Giving him up is simply not an option we would entertain - which is why we have come to ask for contribution to give Alfie the golden years he deserves, in the UK.

No contribution is too little and please do only give what you can. Whatever we do receive, we thank you with endless gratitude and we will be sure to pay it forward in whatever way we can in the future.

With our very best regards,

R.