Saving One Animal Does Not Change The World, But It Does Change The World For That Animal

 http://www.gofundme.com/jessiessoidogs 

I wasn't able to go to the shelter yesterday after suffering a bit of dehydration - I needed rest & gallons of water. Its happened to a few of us, we're out with the dogs in the sun all day long, dripping in sweat, and its easy to forget to drink enough! I was fine by the evening and was looking forward to walking the Hotel runs today.

Again, the dog meat trade pups were as sweet as pie. The street dog runs do love attention, but as a lot of the dog meat trade dogs are stolen former pets - they seem to grasp the concept of a cuddle more understandably. Me and Thomas, who also volunteers in these runs, managed to walk all the dogs in all 3 hotel runs today. I had to carry a couple nervous wrecks past other confident dogs and by the loud hospital construction site a few times but they all walked brilliantly so it was a great day.

What I have realised by being here, and by talking to a few people who have worked for other animal welfare charities across the world, is that the work Soi Dog do undoubtedly turn the lives of these animals around. I know I have mentioned this before, but by actually taking the time to realise how many dogs are here, how many have been happily rehomed in the past and how many cases of abuse have existed, I realise that without Soi Dog these thousands upon thousands of animals would have been tortured their entire life. The title is totally true. By even saving one life, and now, by even walking one dog a day - that day has been an accomplishment.

See below a few before and afters from the Soi Dog website.

Dam Dam After

Dam Dam Before

Rawai Before 

Rawai After

The frustrating thing about this country, is that a lot of the abuse is ignored. Last week there was the case of the dog which had been run over and was left (perhaps for days) suffering, without anyone taking it in. Even if people have pet dogs, the veterinary care is not an important issue, and a lot of the time religion plays a part in this, what will be will be etc. Intentional attacks from humans are more than common, we have seen small cases of this out on the streets (dogs in restaurants) and more serious cases of mistreatment in the shelter, machete attacks, dogs tied up and used as shooting targets, burn victims - all disgusting and all unbelievable to imagine carrying out.

I mentioned on one of my earlier blogs that the signs of abuse are clear while walking around the shelter. I prepared myself for this before I came, and luckily I can handle seeing and dealing with the stories very well. I always remind myself that what matters now is that the abuse has stopped, they have been saved, and it is up to us to help make the rest of their life the best it could be. It does get emotional when hearing about the past of an animal you have become attached to. This happened today when we were watching a couple of the videos about the dogs. The volunteers who now know these dogs and work with them each day became emotional. While I was in A1, the two volunteers in A2 next door both set each other off crying when they found out that the reason one of their dogs had an amputated leg is because it was cut off with a machete. We also hear a lot of horrible noises coming out of the hospital rooms, but again, I remind myself that they are in great hands. The staff and volunteer vets work extremely hard.

This little one has lost the nerves in his feet so can't walk on them properly - He is still taken out for walks and always looks happy!

Like Kapi, almost every dog has scars. Although some are a result from scrapping in their run!

The dogs here need to be adopted, and while they stay here there needs to be enough kind donations to help the organisation grow (for example - funds for the new hospital) and be able to cater for the amount of dogs they have (here in Phuket and the dogs still in the other shelter in Buriram near Bangkok - who all need the love, attention and care this shelter provides). Please donate at http://www.gofundme.com/jessiessoidogs :)

On a more personal level, I am over halfway through my time here. I knew this would be a great trip but I am so happy with how my perspective on the way I see things have changed, realising what is important, and also having clarity what I want to do with my life - all with the help of being surrounded with such adventurous, understanding and open minded people. Obviously, every penny donated so far will go such a long way, but I would be over the moon to reach my target and give Soi Dog something back for what I have been taught while here!

Anna in the Cat Hospital

Not forgetting...

Soi Dog also have facilities to care for the cats in Thailand who would otherwise suffer disease, malnutrition, cruelty inflicted by humans and road accidents. The cat hospital treats the animals that come in, then provides a great in and outside area for the cats to live in before they are adopted. A lot of Thai people come in and adopt the cats here and they seem to leave quite quickly which is brilliant.



A lot of the cats here are caught up with the cruelty against the dogs. If poison is put down to kill dogs, this can also be unintentionally eaten by cats, for example. It is just another frustrating result from the stupidity and cruel nature of certain humans. Hopefully one day this will stop, but until then, luckily Soi Dog have this great facility.

It is great seeing this wall updated so often!

The inside area for some of the cats housed here