By Athit Perawongmetha
CHONBURI, Thailand (Reuters) – With tails swinging to a chorus of barking and screaming, more than two dozen dogs are scrambling to wheels supporting their disabled hind legs, along a rocky path, taking their daily exercise.
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.
“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 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 caring for work.
But its future is now in doubt, after the coronavirus pandemic led to 40% 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, who is a sponsor coordinator at the shelter.
The shelter spends more than $ 1,300 every day caring for more than 600 dogs and feeding 350 more people living on the streets.
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 not keep up with them.”
(Written by Ed Davies; Edited by Karishma Singh)