Since we have been living in Thailand, we have been permanently socially committed to people and animals. We think back to the many meals of the needy during Corona times and various food deliveries to animal shelters. Ye-Soon and her musical partner have become an integral part of the music culture in Hua Hin. With their consistently successful performances, they regularly generate donations for local aid organizations and leave behind enthusiastic listeners.
As you may have already read further down in the blogs, I am also regularly on the road as a volunteer for Jungle Aid. However, these are only daily assignments, and so I still had plenty of room for improvement to make myself useful somehow. For more than 3 years we have been supporting a veterinary clinic in Pattaya, which belongs to the organization "Animal Army" Thailand. Attached to the clinic is a dog sanctuary, where operated and treatment-intensive street dogs can recover in peace and wait for possible adoptions. The Animal Army is financed purely privately and can only guarantee ongoing operations with the help of volunteers. However, the clinic management around Dr. Kwanchai is well networked, so that usually a handful of young people from all over the world come to Pattaya for a few weeks to help free of charge and make new experiences.
The rainy season in Thailand naturally attracts fewer volunteers to work in a veterinary clinic. So I jumped into the breach for a week in August and was allowed to lend a hand as an oldie among all the young helpers. I will never forget this week.
On the first day, I was greeted very warmly and was allowed to take a tour of the clinic and nursing area. In total, about 40 dogs are currently housed in the various stations. Many were injured in traffic accidents and dropped off at the clinic. Some are fighting for their lives with dog-specific cancer variants (DVT) and some look really bad. Nevertheless, small miracles happen here again and again. Dr. Kwanchai is one of the top veterinarians in Thailand and enjoys a great reputation nationally. There is also a puppy station where motherless or abandoned puppies are spiced up and placed with loving families. The little rascals immediately took over me - and conquered my heart!
Just outside the clinic there is a rented Thai house, which is reserved for dogs that can no longer be placed. Here, those who no longer want are cared for - until their death. These dogs have broken spines from accidents, need a lot of care and can only move forward with the help of special dog wheelchairs. One of them, named Sebastian, immediately hopped up to me, rubbed his head against my legs, and then didn't leave my side. It was love at first sight. And yet it was only later that I learned that Sebastian hardly ever gets along well with people. He never barked at me or avoided me, always came hopping up immediately and lay down next to me to be petted. Such a wonderful soul-and no human being who would adopt him. His big heart makes up for his broken legs a thousand times over! I still get photos of him sent today, so that I really come back as promised.
The special wheelchairs for dogs are imported from the USA and cost several hundred dollars each. Unfortunately, all self-made variants are not much good, so that many dogs have to wait a long time for such a wheelchair. What a zest for life such devices give back to the dogs, we were able to experience during a visit of the "Wheelchair Mafia" to a friendly dog rescuer just outside Pattaya. Take a look at this video I shot there:
But, of course, I was here primarily to work. And every morning at 8 o'clock I was already greeted by the barking and howling of the dogs in the clinic. They know very well that their cages are now being cleaned and, if possible, some exit. Afterwards there will be food for everyone and medical tour. They know the processes exactly, and their anticipation made known with loud barking is motivation enough to put on the rubber gloves again and again and scrub the cages for 3 hours, even with back pain from the day before.
After feeding in the late morning, it suddenly becomes quiet. All dogs are satisfied and doze off at noon. Unless a new roommate arrives or a family comes by for adoption. In the week of my volunteering, seven dogs were actually adopted - a great success. Unfortunately, 13 + 4 new dogs were added in the same time. The 13 dogs are puppies that we found and rescued by chance in Pattaya City because of another emergency. In the middle of the city in a slum, we pulled the 13 little guys out from under a corrugated iron shed. We found the two dog mothers, anesthetized them with the blowpipe and also brought them to the clinic. After a short examination, it was clear that all of them were contaminated with blood parasites and heartworms. In addition, they were all weakened by countless ticks and sometimes literally sucked out. Despite all efforts, one of the little ones could not be saved. He died that same night in the arms of a rescuer. Joy and sorrow go hand in hand here - every day, every minute.
No two days are the same, no hour can really be planned. A routine day quickly turns into an action-packed rescue day that demands everything from us. Not only the animals, but also the people involved sometimes pose a great challenge for the team. It is not uncommon for us to be threatened or even to pay for taking the poor creatures with us. This often requires tact and a large portion of diplomacy. Fortunately, I cast a long shadow and therefore had no problems when it came to money demands.
I could write a separate blog here for every day, I have taken so many experiences and impressions with me. I was able to meet great young people who gave me back some hope in humanity. Put your own needs aside, function in a team and simply put your ego on the back burner for some time. A healing experience that I can only recommend to everyone - and that I will soon do again myself. Soon I will be back at the clinic in Pattaya.... with new dogs, new people and new stories.
Thank you for your interest and greetings from Thailand!
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