Saving the Street Dogs of Koh Phangan

I started getting involved with dog rescue several years ago when it was brought to my attention not everyone treats animals the way they are suppose to be. I grew up on a farm and always had many animals around; dogs, horses, cats, you name it, it was just part of life, I was born an animal lover. I was always taught animals were family and they were to be loved and treated that way. It wasn’t until well into my adulthood that I became aware of the extreme animal cruelty and the horridness that went on in the world. I began to learn and become educated on dog fighting rings and the cowards that make money off these poor innocent animals ripping each other to shreds. I was appalled at the things I was reading and seeing, heartbroken beyond belief. As tears streamed down my face, I knew I had to help, I was put on this earth to do so, and I truly believe that.

Shortly after learning of animal welfare issues, I began to work with local rescues to learn how this world of rescue works and in 2011, I started my own non profit organization. I lived in an apartment in Brooklyn, so I didn’t have a facility to house the animals; I rescued and pulled animals from kill shelters based on foster availability and potential adopters that had previously applied and been approved.

Within my non profit, I also started a fundraising project for rescues across the country to participate in, a dog rescue calendar. People from around the country were invited to enter their rescue dog and it’s story to have a chance to be featured as one of the twelve months. After the first year of the project, I started traveling overseas more and wanted to help and be involved with them. By year two, there were 114 rescues participating from 48 states, as well as numerous rescues in Greece, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil and Indonesia. Over the course of the three year project, I was able to donate funding to the participating organizations and be involved in saving countless lives.

As time went on and I started traveling more, getting involved with international rescues, I began to become aware of the problems different countries faced. One thing that stayed engraved in my mind were the street dogs. I would talk to locals and for the most part, the regard of animals was not a high one, they are viewed differently, and not even thought of as companions. I would roam the difference cities admiring them, but saw most in a terrible state. They were flea infested, had open wounds, extreme mange, broken limbs, just to name a few cases. I knew something had to be done, they needed and deserved love and care too, who was helping them? I would always ponder how I could by getting them the medical treatment they needed, as well as what kind of process could be implemented to get them exported to different countries and adopted into loving homes.

In January 2014, I attended an animal welfare conference in Singapore. I learned of the rescue efforts from organizations around the world and met some really amazing people. Those who have left their “normal” lives behind and have followed their passion and listened to their calling.

I have now made a decision, it’s time for me to help, hands on, in the field, every day, I’m moving to Thailand! I will be a full time volunteer on the island of Koh Phangan with an incredible organization, PhaNgan Animal Care (PAC). They are primarily a nursing clinic, providing care for the island’s stray and unwanted animals. They also have a dedicated neutering and vaccination programme, which has made a huge difference in population control on the island, as well as the health of the individual animals. The island of Koh Phangan has a large number of stray dogs and cats. They are regularly injured from accidents with motorbikes, cars. Many animals lack proper care and have open wounds, maggots, severe mange, and suffer from starvation. Local government used to poison hundreds of stray dogs each year, in pursuit to control the population. This government pursuit of control was very inhumane as it often caused dogs to go into powerful seizures, suffering for up to 10 hours before they died. Since PAC has began to sterilize as an alternative, humane way to control the population, mass poisonings do not happen as often.

By joining PAC and their remarkable cause, I will be aiding the street dogs who are disregarded and looked upon in most cases as worthless trash. Our mission is to build a sanctuary to aid and care for the street animals in need. My efforts, together with your charitable donation, will fund the work of others like myself, WE WILL SAVE THE STREET DOGS