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This is Pucky - he was found in a dangerously sick condition and nursed back to health. But he never did grow into those huge ears.
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The Dog Rescue Center Samui (DRCS) is located on Koh Samui Island in The Gulf of Thailand. Opened in April of 1999, this desperately needed centre is a very unique facility for Thailand.
The Island of Samui, Thailand is a tourism Mecca of warm water, rainforest, SCUBA, coconuts and all the classics of a tropical haven. The cosmopolitan mix of visitors includes everyone from backpackers to the rich and famous visiting from every corner of the globe. The DRCS visitors, donors, volunteers and people bringing animals to the center come from around the globe - literally!
The staff is German and Thai. The webmaster for the Samui website is American and many of the volunteers are from throughout Europe. Thai beach dogs give travellers joy and win the hearts of the world, but occasionally they need help.
The centre address is: Dog Rescue Center Samui, 9/4 Moo 2 North Chaweng, Samui 84320 Suratthani, Thailand. Phone: Brigitte at 077 413 490 and 01 893 9443 (German/English) or the clinic 077 413 442 (Thai only). E-mail: samuidog@hotmail.com
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Above - This was Leila on the day she was brought in to the centre. She is a pedigree doberman.
Below - after care and attention and good food this is Leila just a few weeks later.
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There was no veterinary surgeon on Koh Samui until the end of March 1999. In other words, there was no control whatsoever of the increasing number of dogs and cats (that goes for the ones with an owner as well). Furthermore, the treatment of animals in case of an accident or sickness was not possible. Innumerable dogs and cats have to perish without any aid. Even small bites can be lethal for dogs here, since flies deposit their eggs in the wounds. The maggots eat their way deeper and deeper into the flesh of the animal and without help these animals have to die a lonely death - being pushed away by everybody. These animals do not look very encouraging and are also very smelly, so everybody simply chases them away. However, it only takes a thorough cleaning of the wound, some powder against the maggots and even large wounds infected with hundreds of maggots heal in a very short period of time.
Many tourists would like to help the animals, but without a veterinary surgeon castration, medical care of bites, medical aid after accidents and mange treatment have not been feasible.
Due to the helpfulness of many animal lovers not being able to bear the misery of the animals on Koh Samui any longer and having pity with the poor dogs and cats it was possible to found the "Dog Rescue Center Samui" in April 1999 and to open a small clinic for homeless animals at the end of the Chaweng Beach Road. This was possible only with the support and the confidence of many animal lovers, since the basic equipment and the running costs are very high. Dr. Somsak and two helpers were employed by the DRCS. As there were no other veterinary surgeon on the island, of course the animals with owners had to be treated as well. Dr. Somsak worked for the DRCS until the end of 1999. In January 2000 he set up his own business and then a private surgery clinic on Chaweng's main street. From January until February 2000 we took all homeless dogs to Dr. Somsak for treatment. In March 2000 two vets were employed by the DRCS. Also, two more helpers were employed. Both vets worked for the DRCS until September 2000 when they both quit.
Dr. Somsak treated more than 100 dogs and cats for the DRCS in the two months of that rainy season on Samui - October and November - and now the DRCS is working together with Dr. Somsak again and the co-operation is excellent. When taking a dog or a cat to Dr. Somsak for treatment we only have to pay for the actual work rendered and this is much cheaper than employing a full-time veterinary surgeon (let alone two!).
The first step in understanding the unusual concept here is to become educated as to the life of many Thai Dogs, which is quite different from a European concept of "pets". Many may define these dogs as `wild animals,' or `strays'. Ultimately, they are as wonderful as our own fully domesticated pets, just lacking one thing - someone to care for there basic medical needs. This is where the DRCS steps in.
While the Thai people do keep dogs as `pets,' many dogs, such as those living on the beaches of Koh Samui, have a life different from pet dogs. They live off the handouts of tourists who often feed them well. They may often make themselves right at home by your beach chair, sometimes in large groups. They sleep on the beach at night and live what can be a decent life, even in this semi-wild state. (I wouldn't mind living on a tropical beach while everyone plied me with munchies.)
The problem with this life lies in population control and health care. Without a designated care giver the only option until now was a slow, miserable death.
Because of their religion, Buddhism, Thais do not kill animals - even when they are suffering.
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| This is a typical beach dog - they will stay close to visitors, often curling up beside a deck chair to sleep and hoping that if there is any food consumed some of it will come their way. |
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| Blindie was brought in to the centre as a pup - she was born with eye sockets but no eyes. The enthusiasm for life of this little blind dog is an inspiration to all. |
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| Lucky - Abandoned at Big Buddha Temple. Lucky and his sister were about eight weeks old and sickly. |
They are very gentle with them. Any creature could be related to them thus, many dogs are walking around more dead than alive. Half-breed dogs are very fertile having litters of around 10 - twice a year. Even if only five live, we have 10,000 more dogs for every 1000 female dogs each year. Wow!
Thais often bring the injured dogs or puppies to the temples and their problem is gone. The monks try to give them rice, or if there become too many dogs, the government steps in and poisons them with strychnine.
As you may imagine, because of the large dog population, the cat population is under control. Felines that are not killed are kept away from the food sources, such as restaurants, by the dogs.
The Thai government has developed its own methods. Every year they kill thousands of dogs with poisoned arrows and toss them still half alive onto trucks and drive off. They also put out poison, believing any dog can decide for itself whether or not to eat the poison. This, of course, can backfire in many ways. For example, the strongest dogs (the ones with owners) can keep the strays at bay and eat more of the poisoned meat themselves.
Many problems also exist with unwanted puppies. Nobody is controlling the population. Thais are mainly poor people and do not think much about controlling breeding. The centre tries to educate everyone around the island about the DRCS.
Since summer 1997, even before the centre came to existence, the two women who initiated the centre had helped actively look after the dogs with worming, mange treatments, contraception and health check-ups.
Right now the centre needs volunteer Web Masters to create, manage, promote and sponsor DRCS sites in other languages!
The rescued dogs frequently win the hearts of people who have found them. The DRCS and a local travel agent have become skilled in helping to arrange adoptions to Germany and are happy to assist anyone wishing to take an animal out of Thailand.
If you choose to adopt a dog while there, please remember you need to find out the requirements of the airline, as well as the inbound country. For example: If your ticket is booked and you are flying home via Hong Kong even very small animals must be checked into cargo hold, but on flights to the USA via Japan they can ride under the seat. Thus small puppies may not be suited to travel some routes.... Also most airlines have fees and some countries may have quarantine regulations or specific documentation requirements.
If you are planning on visiting the DRCS while in Thailand, you may want to look into these requirements ahead of time - just in case someone steals your heart. Also, if you are not going to be in Thailand, but still want to offer a home to one of the many homeless dogs please feel free to contact the rescue for more information and the possibility of arranging transport to you. It may be expensive, but probably not more than some people will pay for a fancy purebred. Most importantly, you will be helping an animal who needs it most.
Please keep the centre updated! If you take a dog home from Thailand we always want to hear about your experiences. Also, please help others by sharing your knowledge. If through experience or your job you know of different requirements for bringing dogs into your home country from Thailand the centre would love to have the information to post on its website and to help others!
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