Waggy race! Dozens of disabled stray dogs use wheelchairs to make their daily walk in the sanctuary in Thailand
- A group of 27 disabled dogs in a shelter in Chonburi, Bangkok, used wheels to support them during their daily walk
- In the photo, the little ones appear to be smiling from ear to ear as they venture outside for a daily dose of exercise.
- The future of the shelter is now in doubt after donations fell by 40 percent due to Covid pandemic
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With tails wagging to a chorus of barking and howling, dozens of disabled dogs supporting wheels supporting their disabled hind legs look ecstatic as they make their daily walk in a sanctuary in Thailand.
The 27 dogs, who are mostly victims of accidents, are being re-nursed in a shelter in Thailand’s province of Chonburi, southeast of the capital Bangkok.
They radiate from ear to ear as they drive their wheels to the rocky track for their dose of exercise for the day.
“It’s almost like they have no idea they’re disabled and once you put them in a wheelchair for the first time, it’s like there’s no learning curve,” said shelter official Christopher Chidichimo.
The 27 dogs from a shelter in Chonburi, Thailand, apparently shone from ear to ear while hanging out with their wheeled supporters.
Thanks to mobility devices, disabled dogs could get much-needed exercise outside in Chonburi, Thailand
During their training outing at the shelter, the disabled dogs were even accompanied by a few walkers who decided to be with all the fun
The 27 dogs, who are mostly victims of accidents, are nursed healthy again in the shelter and especially enjoy their daily outings.
Shelter officer Christopher Chidichimo said: “It’s almost as if they have no idea they’re disabled ‘as soon as the dogs are put in wheelchairs for the first time
The shelter, run by a foundation called The Man That Rescues Dogs, was founded by a Swede who moved to Chonburi in 2002 and was so dismayed by the plight of wandering people that he began to look after work.
But its future is now in doubt, after the coronavirus pandemic led to 40 percent in donations and reduced the number of foreign visitors.
“The donations are very important and the volunteers and visitors are equally important because they come to spread our message,” said Chidichimo, a sponsor coordinator at the shelter.
The shelter spends more than $ 1,300 (£ 946.42) every day caring for more than 600 dogs and providing 350 more food that lives on the streets.
The shelter, run by a foundation called The Man That Rescues Dogs, was founded by a Swede who moved to Chonburi in 2002.
During their visit, the founder of the shelter was so appalled at the plight of wanderers that he began to look after them after work.
Unfortunately, the future of the shelter is in doubt after the coronavirus pandemic led to 40 percent of donations and reduced the number of foreign visitors
The shelter spends more than $ 1,300 (£ 946.42) each day caring for more than 600 dogs and feeding 350 more on the street.
The shelter caters to a range of dogs from different backgrounds and even offers physiotherapy sessions
His volunteers also care for paralyzed and disabled dogs, including physiotherapy sessions, but scarce funds have forced him to suspend a monthly campaign to sterilize strays.
Thailand, which has an estimated more than 800,000 stray cats and dogs in 2017, could reach 2 million by 2027 and 5 million in 20 years, unless it takes a few steps to control those numbers, livestock authorities say.
For the time being, the disabled dogs in Chonburi are enjoying their daily bustle. “They are eager for us to tie them up,” said Phanuphong Borphuak, dog handler, referring to dog aids.
“They run very fast, our people can’t keep up.”
After the shelter suffered financially as a result of the pandemic, it was forced to launch a monthly campaign to suspend stray defenses.
After their energetic walk, the dogs enjoy a boy’s food after they have had enough of running around.