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The year is racing by and so many exciting developments continue to take place for animals in Asia. I just want to take a few minutes out of another busy day to send you a brief update on everything you continue to make possible. |
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| Soi Dog’s mobile sterilisation and vaccination clinics are busier than ever, covering more of the country than ever before. We currently have 3 separate teams operating in Bangkok, a city that is home to hundreds of thousands of street dogs. Funds permitting, Soi Dog hopes to eventually have 10 teams working across Bangkok provinces in a project that will take many years to complete. |
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In addition to mobile clinics in Bangkok, Soi Dog Foundation is now conducting a large-scale mobile sterilisation and vaccination project on the island of Koh Samui and its neighbouring islands including Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Located off the east coast of Thailand and approximately a seven-hour journey from our base on Phuket, off Thailand’s west coast, the island of Samui is home to approximately 10,000 unsterilised street and beach dogs.
This is a situation that is all too familiar to us of course, as it was similar but worse on Phuket when we got started in 2003. Soi Dog Foundation has now launched a series of mobile sterilisation clinics that will cover 7 districts across the island of Samui and neighbouring islands and take nearly a year to complete. |
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| Spaying and neutering is the only truly effective and humane method of preventing pups like Capybara being born into a lifetime of suffering on the streets. This gorgeous little girl was only about 8 weeks old when she was found dumped at a temple. She was suffering with shocking skin conditions – most of her fur had fallen out and she was covered in painful, itchy sores. She was the tiniest, most vulnerable little thing. |
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| Today, after months of medical treatment funded by people like you, Capybara is simply unrecognisable. Admittedly, it is 7 months on from when she arrived, so she has grown a lot. But it is the difference in her health and therefore her personality that is the most heart-warming. No longer the sick, frightened girl she once was, Capybara has simply blossomed and has now found her forever home in France. None of this is possible without people like you and we look forward to saving many more animals like Capybara with your support. |
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| In other news, we recently welcomed a contingent of Vietnamese vets to the Soi Dog shelter for training in animal handling, vaccination, and sheltering. Sadly, the standards for veterinary training in Vietnam can be quite poor, and even qualified veterinarians often lack the skills to administer vaccines correctly. |
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Four veterinarians from the Department of Animal Health in Vinh City, Vietnam, spent a week at our shelter, during which they rotated through all areas of the shelter, including both the dog and cat hospitals, the enclosures housing survivors of the dog meat trade, and our sterilisation suite.
They learnt to process the intake of new patients, administer IV anaesthetics, and place IV catheters, as well as administering routine injections. Considerable progress was observed in their skills as the week went on. |
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Similarly, in my last newsletter, I told you how Soi Dog Foundation has partnered with Animal Rescue Cambodia (ARC), based in the Cambodia capital Phnom Penh. The partnership focuses on three key areas, which are capacity building, technical support, and programmatic support.
As part of that partnership, we recently welcomed two staff members from ARC to the Soi Dog shelter where they underwent intensive training to improve their knowledge of animal handling and shelter medicine. Their training included learning about shelter protocols, running spay/neuter clinics, and delivering high-quality medical care to cats and dogs. |
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| With your support,Soi Dog Foundation hopes to have more opportunities to contribute to improving veterinary standards and animal care in both Vietnam and Cambodia. |
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| Further afield, Soi Dog Foundation continues to provide financial assistance to hundreds of dogs rescued from the meat trade in China and being cared for by our partners on the ground, No Dogs Left Behind. Improvements have been made to the shelter facilities so that the animals could be better cared for but funds are still needed for their ongoing medical care and food while our partners work hard to find homes for each of them. |
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| In other news, I must share with you the story of Moe, as I am sure it will warm your heart to see the difference your support makes. Moe arrived at our shelter in shocking condition. He had a terrible case of mange and what was left of his fur was matted and filthy. His little body was covered in painful sores and it was clear this poor boy had been suffering for some time. |
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| I’m so happy to tell you that thanks to support from people like you, Moe’s whole world has changed and he is now living the most wonderful life in Canada. I urge you to click on his picture below to watch his story as it will fill you with joy. And once you’ve watched it, please share it with your friends and family so that they too can see the difference they can make with a small monthly gift. |
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| Moe was fortunate in that he only spent about 3 months with us before finding his forever home. Sadly, I can’t say the same for our beloved Na Tong, who has now been living at Soi Dog for over 7 years. Given that he is now 8½ years old, he has spent the vast majority of his life in a shelter, having been found abandoned on the streets all those years ago. |
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| It breaks my heart to think Na Tong might never know the love and security of his own home and family. It is simply too sad to think that he might live out the rest of his life in a shelter with hundreds of other dogs. He deserves so much more. |
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A short film of Na Tong, who has lived in our shelter for over 7 years
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| Na Tong is a high-energy dog who would make a wonderful companion for someone out there. If you lead an active lifestyle and would like a walking, running or swimming companion (Na Tong simply loves the water!) then please get in touch. You can find out more about adopting this special boy by emailing nayomi@soidog.org. |
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There you have all the latest news from Soi Dog Foundation for now. I do hope you have enjoyed reading about all the incredible work you make possible through your regular support.
I look forward to updating you further in the coming months. Meanwhile, thank you for caring for homeless animals that have nobody else.
John Dalley
Co-Founder
Soi Dog Foundation |
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