ManxSPCA rescue dogs come in all shapes and sizes.

Some are ’fashionable breeds’ and some are not, and some are ’Marmite dogs’ in that they divide opinion - and the Shar Pei breed has to be top of the list.

You either love the Shar Pei for its wrinkles and skin folds, or you really don’t.

Given the breed is centuries old, with records of it in China going back to AD 200, it was clearly favoured by owners for many years, not least because of its versatility - Shar-Peis were originally used as working farm dogs, tracking, hunting, herding and guarding.

But their numbers dwindled in China during the first half of the 20th century, and then the Cultural Revolution took a dim view of pet ownership. They were then officially classified as the world’s rarest dog by the Guinness Book of Records, and so a Hong Kong business man acquired a few dogs in 1973 in order to save the breed.

So, Spud, the 10-month-old Shar Pei who came into our kennels in March, very probably originates from one of this man’s dogs given the relatively small gene pool.

Spud is very true to his breed type. He is active, intelligent, loyal and companionable, as one would expect of a good ’all-rounder’.

However, Spud also has health issues that are commonly associated with his breed as, sadly, ’breed standards’ have encouraged a deepening of the dog’s wrinkles and the stockiness of its build.

Spud has entropion - in-growing eye lashes on his top and bottom lids, which will cause him immense discomfort if left untreated. He also has narrow, folded-over ear flaps and thick ear-canals which mean he is virtually deaf and prone to infection, added to which he also has an overly small nose which may cause him breathing difficulties.

Given Spud is still a puppy, our vets are keen to treat his various conditions in a non-invasive manner if possible, until he is fully grown.

However, his eyes have been treated successfully this week in a surgical procedure under general anaesthetic.

Luckily Spud is living with a foster family who are keen to adopt him in due course. They have been able to give him the pre- and post-operation care he’s needed, but the ManxSPCA is committed to funding the operation on his eyes and any future operations he may require on his nose and ears.

The society launched an appeal on social media last week to help fund Spud’s operations, and it’s been overwhelmed by the public’s response. More than 130 people from as far away as New Zealand and Japan have sent in donations, and local support has been amazing too.

The ManxSPCA has also been delighted with the public’s response to the re-opening of its tearooms, albeit for take-away food only.

It is offering a range of delicious breakfast and lunchtime sandwiches, paninis and baps, all freshly prepared and competitively priced, alongside the tearooms’ usual range of cakes and drinks.

It is currently open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 3.30pm and, thanks to support from the Manx Lottery Trust, there are now several outdoor tables and benches for family groups to use, provided they follow social distancing guidelines.

Ard Jerkyll is not yet open to the public for animal viewing because the corridors in its kennels, cattery and small animals’ unit are very narrow and so visitors would not be able to keep a safe distance apart.

But the society continues to take in animals and to rehome them, making full use of the adoption pages on its website, and to attend to welfare issues as they arise.

Please call ahead if you need to visit to make sure that a member of staff is available to greet you, and that suitable hygiene measures are in place.