SOI DOG

Jessie Crawley
Apr 30, 2015
3 min read

MARCH 2015.

I think it takes time until you find a cause that you are truly passionate about. Since first hearing of the Soi Dog Foundation, their stories struck a cord with me and I have been determined to experience what they do first hand, fund raise, volunteer and spread awareness. Throughout my journey at the shelter, I plan to blog about the organisation, the animals, the people and the work they carry out.

APRIL 2015.

From the offset it is obvious that every dog has experienced the dark side of human nature, if not missing limbs then multiple scar wounds are visible on nearly every dog. I met the survivors of the dog meat trade along with victims of abuse or neglect. Most are up for adoption but some unfortunately are either too ill, old or mentally wounded to ever be rehomed or chance living back on the streets.

We started walking the dogs on Wednesday, two out of the run at a time around the shelter, in contact with other dogs from other runs. For the best chance of adoption, learning to walk on a lead is a huge advantage and this also allows us to spend some quality time with the dog, especially the shyer ones who get picked on if we show them too much attention in the run.

On Thursday afternoon we experienced a huge thunderstorm. Without enough time to run inside, we stayed in our run in one of the little shelters. As it was so loud and jumpy, the dogs were frightened and the storm turned into a perfect way to bond. We were able to sit with them and comfort them, even the shy ones came out of hiding. The moments of calm, even throughout a storm are what I have learnt to appreciate. Building trust is a massive factor and this has helped us to gain some control within the run, the dogs have started seeing us as a safety barrier.

On Saturday I realised I was excited for Monday. I'm not a planner but I tend to have 10384 life goals and finally feel I am on the right track to achieving some of them. From feeling like I don't make much of an impact in any job, I now feel that I'm being taught more everyday while making a positive difference. Voluntary work definitely holds more value than being paid money. The appreciation from the dogs is better than any pay packet ive received from a whole number of different jobs. Even though they are not perfect, each and every dog manages to melt my heart at least once a day. They crave attention, love and care. On their own, you can see the sides of them that would make a perfectly loyal pet. Soi Dog, although brilliant, do not want their dogs to stay in the shelter until they die. They all deserve a home and adoptions are a celebration.

The Dog Meat Trade itself is barbaric, inhumane and illegal in Thailand. My choice to come and volunteer at the shelter was hugely shaped by my interest in the efforts against the trade. I have been educated as time has went on and feel that nobody should turn a blind eye to this. It is shocking that so many tourists visit Thailand and have no idea of the abuse which goes on out of their sight. Strays as well as stolen pets are taken from the streets of Thailand. They are crammed into small cages however many will fit - which often breaks their bones and suffocates them. Without food and water they make their way on packed lorries to the border headed for Vietnam, sometimes taking days. Those that survive the trip are then considerably tortured before they are butchered. Practices such as boiling and skinning alive are unthinkably believed to result in a higher quality of meat. Reports of cruelty have been found at all stages of the trade; sourcing, transportation, sale and slaughter.