Few have been vaccinated against canine … Not know how to ‘deal with dogs’ is completely and totally irrelevant to the issue - when dogs attack someone nearby for no reason the issue is 100% with dogs which should never be there in the first place. If you would like to learn more about PACS and how you can help the island’s strays, please contact info@pacsthailand.com, we look forward to hearing from you! Soi Dog Foundation has been helping street dogs and cats since 2003, offering treatment, rehoming, rescue and vaccination services. This is a really comprehensive article. An important part of Soi Dog’s work involves campaigning for animal welfare rights across Asia and fighting to end the region’s dog meat trade. Ask locals for help. Some people who live in Thailand carry around a can of pepper spray, a slingshot or a rock they can throw at a stray dog if they need to. Mushy maybe, but a cause close to many of our hearts (#RescueDogOwnerHighFive). How To Volunteer With Stray Dogs in Thailand, Top Places to Volunteer with Stray Dogs in Thailand, Volunteer Opportunities at Lanta Animal Welfare, Phangan Animal Care for Strays Foundation, Check here to compare accommodation options on Koh Lanta, Check here to view accommodation options in Phuket, Check here to see more accommodation options on Koh Phangan, 25 Awesome Things to Do in Braga, Portugal, Check your travel vaccinations are up to date, Be prepared to work in a potentially hot, humid environment, Bring suitable clothes, closed shoes, bug spray and sunscreen, Walking the clinic dogs who are caged while they receive care, Feeding the clinic dogs (some may require hand-feeding and medication), Helping with office tasks or site maintenance. Requirements: unaccompanied volunteers must be at least 16 (those under 18 need written consent from a legal guardian) and have medical insurance. It doesn’t cost much to be a good person. If you are happy to get your hands dirty or even just come and give some love to the animals, you will be welcome at PACS and know that you have made a difference to the lives of our patients. There are plenty of hotels and guesthouses on Koh Chang to suit all budgets. Gently and consistently reinforce a routine — take him for walks, provide meals at regular times, put him on leash for short durations. Many of these dogs wander freely among the elephants, while others live in large outdoor dog runs with pools and play equipment. Each run holds around 25 dogs, all former street animals. Then volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park’s Dog Rescue Project. There’s also an animal hospital with a full-time vet and Thai mahouts who tend to the animals daily. Whether you can use some room in your suitcase to bring old toys, can offer your spare Thai change or a rainy afternoon – it’s easy to bring your inner Crazy Dog/Cat Lady to Thailand and leave with the fuzzy satisfaction you’ve done some good. Phangan Animal Care for Strays Foundation relies on donations and volunteers to run, as there are only three full-time staff members. Volunteers who are willing to come to Thailand and help her with the daily care and management of the project. Notify local veterinary clinics, animal shelters and animal control/police departments that you found a dog. The more dogs you feed, the more will come. Every animal organisation welcomes a one-off donation, a monthly sponsorship of an animal or even your spare Thai baht change. For more information, see the Disclaimer linked above. The first dog they adopted in Koh Kood is Zuika, which is Lithuanian for “baby rabbit.” They also made a short trip back to Lithuania and brought their other dog, Rudis, to Thailand with them, since they knew they were there to stay. Apply to volunteer at the Dog Rescue Project. As much as I love dogs, it’s better to euthanize these stray dogs humanely. It keeps The Koh Samui Guide ad-free, never sponsored and 100% independent. The elephants are given medical treatment and left to roam the valley. Not to mention, if you do not speak the local language, always wondering if you are being ripped off as you try to get your basic essentials in order. In 1999, the municipal government killed more than 50,000 stray dogs. Phone a friend: If you have room in your suitcase – ask your fellow dog- or cat-owning friends or neighbours if they have anything you could bring along for donation. Use Deterrents to Get Rid of Stray Dogs. There’s no cost for this, and the project will arrange everything for you, including check-in at the airport, and at the other end, you’ll be met by the dog’s new owner. The victim is recovering, he said. In Thailand we saw the challenges of dog overpopulation and the mistreatment of owned animals. Over 800 volunteers come to Soi Dog Foundation each year, and their primary role is to spend time with the dogs and cats so that they grow to trust people and are more adoptable. I'm an intrepid traveler, vegan foodie and animal lover. One of the few non-profit organizations working to help stray animals on the streets of Bangkok is SCAD, Soi Cats and Dogs – Soi meaning “street”. Donors are willing to support the government in neutering. Requirements: valid passport, insurance and up-to-date vaccinations. Krabi to deal with stray dogs Get to know your closest dog and cat rescue – the following are tireless resources and extremely deserving of any time/money/pet supplies you can offer. T4A2A, Zoe. "More than 68,000 puppies alone are born annually on the streets of Thailand. Happy travels Report inappropriate content To give you an idea of how you can be helpful (with any length of visit)…. Stray dogs in Thailand are often called soi dogs, since soi is the Thai word for street. Quite apart from the animal welfare issues surrounding street dogs, and the environmental problems caused for humans by the presence of stray dogs, there is also the issue of the spread of disease from stray dogs to human beings. Cost: free. The foundation provides excellent hospital care for temple, stray and wild animals, many of whom may have been involved in traffic accidents or sadly, been poisoned. Just because you don’t get convicted for killing a dog doesn’t mean it is okay to kill a dog. Here, he talks about stray dogs in Phuket, the best way to deal with them and what to do if you are attacked by a vicious dog: There are many stray dogs on Phuket because Thai tradition is to be kind to them and feed them. To date, the foundation has also managed to spay and neuter about 80 percent of the stray population in Phuket and also has mobile sterilisation clinics that operate across Thailand. The reason for Thailand's pet problem is simple: Pet owners simply fail to spay and neuter their animals. Soi Dog Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2003, is a legally registered charity in Thailand, the United States, Australia, the UK, France and Holland. The dog almost never gets out of bed. Koh Chang lies just a few hours south of Bangkok, so it’s the perfect volunteer destination if you’re on a short trip to Thailand and can’t travel far. I travel all over the world (117 countries and counting!) Such a good deed to volunteer helping stray dogs when you are traveling – I commend you and great to see this is being done, even more so in an ethical manner. © 2008-2021 THE KOH SAMUI GUIDE All rights reserved Disclaimer. Furthermore, all dogs on the beach must be accompanied by their owners while stray dogs would be captured and brought to a shelter. “By far the best single spot travel guide I’ve seen anywhere”. Founded in 2001 when there was no vet service on the island, the clinic now focuses on reducing the suffering of stray and wild animals. Any/all of the links on thenomadicvegan.com are affiliate links from which I receive a small commission from sales of certain items, at no additional cost to you. They are very apathetic; they don't want to play or do any physical exercise. Between 15 and 25 people each year die in excruciating pain from rabies in Thailand, almost exclusively from dog bites. You must be an enthusiastic adult (16-and-17-year-olds should be accompanied by a legal guardian) who loves animals. Volunteer placements at the Dog Rescue Project run from Sunday to Sunday (lasting up to four weeks), and the 7,000 THB per-week fee covers transport to and from the park, comfy accommodation shared with other volunteers and buffet meals. In case, you find an injured dog, try to help it. Maybe you have a drawer of old collars and leashes. Koh Phangan might be known for its crazy full moon parties on the beach, but the island is also home to this great foundation that helps stray cats and dogs. Stray dogs-dogs that have been abandoned and are homeless or dogs that are running loose without an owner-are a growing problem nationwide. In the warm months, dogs are left out in yards much more frequently than in the colder months, so it’s more likely for someone during the spring or summer to run into a stray dog while outside. It’s definitely important to make sure it’s done ethically, though, as some volunteer placements end up doing more harm than good. Locals have known Lisa for over 16 years now and trust her to provide emergency care, vaccinations and sterilisations for their pets. American Nurse Lisa McAlonie set up the project in 2002 after visiting the island and witnessing the difficult lives street dogs face. The drafting of measures will be completed within 30 days, the governor said. A dog will not randomly threaten or attack you just out of unpredictable viciousness. Stray Dogs in Bangkok This creates problems. An estimated 10-12% of dog bites involve strays. some want collars and some don’t) – check the list specific to your destination. Stray, adopted, or shelter dogs are not damaged goods—they’re just dogs. Help this center get self-supportive. Required fields are marked *. The shelter is busy in high season from November to April, so there’s a greater need for volunteers in low season from May to October. 6. “At the moment, there are 15 adopted stray dogs living with us: 2 blind doggies, 4 … We are committed to a sustainable and humane solution to reduce the population of stray animals. Stray Dogs Can Be Dangerous By Michy Lynn. On Koh Samui, you’ll see small donation boxes for DCRS at many island hotels – an easy way to lighten your wallet of Thai baht coins before you leave. According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are approximately 74.8 million dogs owned in the United States. A very difficult task, because the cost for food alone ads up to US$1,200 per month. Street dogs, commonly soi dogs "สุนัขพันทาง" in Thailand, are ownerless, free-ranging dogs. Want to live among elephants in northern Thailand? How to handle Bangkok Soi Dogs, Tips from Wayne in Bangkok Thailand, Man attacked in video. Tips for Dealing with Street Dogs 1 – Avoid Conflict Dogs are pack animals and as such their social behaviour is mainly about conflict prevention. Quite apart from the animal welfare issues surrounding street dogs, and the environmental problems caused for humans by the presence of stray dogs, there is also the issue of the spread of disease from stray dogs to human beings. Work days run from 8am to 5pm with a 90-minute lunch break, and duties include: Visitors from all over the world also adopt dogs from ENP. The authorities prefer to poison the dogs they capture because it is cheaper and takes less time than putting the animals down in a more humane manner. This includes spaying and neutering to keep the population under control. In 1999, the municipal government killed more than 50,000 stray dogs. Join the Nomadic Vegan Community on Patreon! They are never forced to work or give rides to tourists. Nor can the dogs be “removed”. Past and future. It’s really good work. Read more on my About page. We need help with everything from fundraising to dog-walking, from socializing animals to scrubbing the kennels. Yet, many animal rights activists have raised concerns about how developing countries deal with feral dogs living close to human populations. While Lisa and her vet team provide services for free, supported by private donations, locals pay for the medicines and materials or donate what they can. Hey guys! Just by packing, it’s easy to come to Thailand and leave its animals better off when you depart. The main duties are to walk the dogs so that they get used to being on the lead and can enjoy some quality time outside of their run each day. Since they usually haven't been sterilized, the dogs end up reproducing. In Thailand confrontations with aggressive Soi dogs is an everyday common occurrence. FOUR PAWS is working in many different countries to castrate and provide medical care. Save my name, email, and site URL in my browser for next time I post a comment. Here’s how to earn endless karma on your upcoming Thailand trip. While some owners are able to fly back with their dog, many have to travel ahead while the dog completes his or her vaccinations and travel procedures. Accompanied volunteers eight and over are also welcome. 4. The programme carried out by Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket is an example of what can be achieved when both owned and stray dogs are targeted for vaccination and sterilisation. Just make sure to have a dog-friendly person involved to make the process easier for dogs,” says Amritika Phool, co-opted member, Animal Welfare Board. Soi Dog Foundation also welcomes volunteer vet and vet nurses and is always looking for flight volunteers. In Koh Phangan, it doesn’t take long for paint to flake off, the jungle to take over the garden and the plumbing to fail. Every animal admitted to the hospital is vaccinated for rabies, distemper and parvo. To volunteer, email Lisa directly ([email protected]) and give as much or as little time as you can. Koh Chang Animal Project is a smaller facility, covering 120 square metres, with a clinic, surgery and lab, ICU and four large outdoor dog kennels. The Foundation may be able to offer discounted accommodation for longer volunteer stays. I’m so happy that there are people who take care of the street dogs. Set in a valley an hour from Chiang Mai, the park was established in the ‘90s by a Thai woman named Lek. From Phangan Animal Care for Strays (PACS): PACS always needs help from a wide range of people, not just medical professionals. Call the local radio station to see if a lost dog has been reported or to see if they will mention it on the air. The directive will also apply on other beaches in Krabi. Its a pity that Thailand dont clean up all the stray dogs off the streets instead of cleaning up the stalls and food carts . 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