That's better - I needed a break

It's been 7 months since I have posted to this blog but I can assure you that I am far from finished in my en devours to make a difference to dogs and help Care for Dogs become more widely known, for the tremendous work they have done for 2 years now & will continue to do so into the brighter future.

I say brighter, as after a few visits recently to the shelter in Hang Dong, the atmosphere is one of hope, direction and positive improvement. The residents (in the region of 80) are well cared for in the newly developed and refurbished areas, with an amazingly practical entrance area in place too.


Most of the faces I saw at the shelter last year have now moved on but there were just a couple of familiar grinning muzzles to be found. ET was there, along with Emma & Kachou Daeng, Sonja, Nak, Paul, to name but a few.

Sadly, Sonja & Nak are back in the shelter only quite recently, due to evidence of ill treatment at Wat Doi Kam, with Nak being slashed with a machete and her brother Nik disappearing.

There are a lot of sad stories arising in the intervening months that may never be told but many, many more happy tales, that create that balance of caring for animals living on the edge of society, who are often at risk of harm but somehow manage to survive. The reward from the stories of those who are rescued by Care for Dogs and find new life and new homes with love and friendship make it all worthwhile.

Having blogged here for the year I was previously active with Care for Dogs, I seem to have found a medium in which I can help the Cfd team announce to the world their achievements, share their grief with like hearted souls and bring the world to the shelter through regular personal updates. Unbeknown to me, as I was not active with Cfd at the time, the team recently decided to pursue the idea of revamping the website ( www.carefordogs.org ) and secondly, consider the regular publication across the internet of a "Newsletter". All brilliant stuff but who would have the time to do it? Enter Ally! Well... how could I resist the opportunity.

So, the reason for this post to the allycfd.blog is to say that "I AM BACK!", feels like I never really left. I will be working with Karin & the growing team of volunteers to bring you a new view of CareforDogs.org and try if I can to put a newsletter together and maybe if you are reading this then you may wish to join that mailing list (available soon) through the new site.

The new site - It will have blog inputs from the whole team, along with the usual pages of information, so the view the world can see of Cfd will be lively & dynamic. When it is up & running I will let you know through this circulation listing.

Regarding the listing you are subscribed to here, if you are content with receiving occasional email about my diary then you need to do nothing. If you wish to unsubscribe, then please respond accordingly.

Great to be writing again and I hope readers of this post are keeping happy and healthy.

Ally
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Paul - Update

Gill & I visited volunteer Sarah's home where we met up with Paul who has been given reprieve from the pressure at the shelter.

I say "pressure" as he would get picked on by other mobile dogs and boys being boys, he would get into everything and that didn't bode well for his dragging limbs, wound sores being scrapped on stone and exacerbated. He would be kept separately & quietly as much as possible but sometimes he would just be in the middle of a fight and could not escape.

We found him in the bushes, keeping cool and a little hesitant at first. Sarahs home will provide him with a quiet refuge and somewhere to rest up, without fear of attack or deprivation of food.

After a few cuddles from Gill, he soon relaxed and settled with the attention from a couple of other guests we had along, a couple of NZ vets on their holidays here. One of them an orthopedic specialist, gave Paul a work over and suggested that all is not lost and that with care and proper physio, he might just be able to use 1 if not both of his back legs.

Gill immediately pledged to attend Paul as much as possible, giving his limbs necessary exercise and massage, to encourage muscle development. Worryingly, Sarah suggested that she would observe his development over the next 2 weeks and if there was no improvement, Cfd would need to reconsider his future. - Did I say no pressure here?

Can you help Paul find a home?

Dear Animal Friends

Today we would like to introduce a very special case and a special dog to you: Paul.

Paul was living around Ratchamanka Road, a handsome looking black-white dog. One night Paul was hit by a motorbike, and couldn’t move any more. The next day caring neighbours called us and we picked him up. Vet checks and an x-ray confirmed that Paul had suffered dislocation of his lumbar vertebrae. The impact of this became more and more apparent; Paul cannot use his back legs any more but can get around by dragging them behind them.
Paul is in good health otherwise and is a gentle natured guy who loves human companionship.

What are Paul’s options for his future? Will he have as much luck as Hannah, another dog with a similar fate? A kind vet in Bangkok donated a wheel chair for her, and a loving lady with a huge heart decided to give Hannah a new life at her home. Today Hannah and her new owner Tameer are enjoying daily walks together and we are convinced Hannah enjoys a wonderful life with Tameer. Read by yourself what Tameer says about living with Hannah ...

“Although living with and caring for a companion such as Hannah requires a little more attention than perhaps another more able bodied dog, the rewards are dramatically greater. With loving care and a small commitment of time in the beginning, Hannah has healed and developed way beyond her apparent initial disability. She has gone from dragging her rear end exclusively to strengthening her remaining back leg enough to be able to stand while eating. She is slowly experimenting with standing to turn around and is currently "figuring out" how to balance her body and move as a 3 legged being. By nature, Hannah is a very happy and joyful little being, accepting of all that life has brought her. She is a genuine pleasure to have as a companion. We share a deep appreciation of each other and Hannah loves that she has a home of her own. We have 2 young cats with whom Hannah plays, she is always sweet and gentle with them and they are great friends! With the help of a 2 wheeled cart that was donated by Dr. Nan in Bangkok, Hannah is able to go for walks much like any other dog .. sniffing, chasing cats and just generally enjoying the pleasures of being an inquisitive dog.”


Can we believe in another miracle – is there another kind soul around who would be willing to give Paul a new life? We would give any assistance needed to adapt to his new home and to arrange a wheel-chair for him to give him a best possible start into a new life.

If you think you can help Paul, please let us know.

Warm regards,
Care for Dogs

Fai & Big getting on fine

Regular readers might appreciate an update of a few residents at the shelter. Its been a little while since Fai & Big smiled like this !

However, Paul is still the same as ever. We are giving him vitamin B complex to aid nerve damage but it seems he will not be able to use his back legs again. But he seems happy.

(When I took this pic, I could here him saying "Where's that Gill got to?" )

Thursday vet run

Thursdays have been TvT days for a while. Last week, so many completed their chemotherapy treatment that this week I only had 2 females along. Once again, I should have brought Phuky to start her treatment but just like the previous weeks, her family / owners did not hang on to her at breakfast and she was not available for the vet trip!

Today Lai came along for her check up and the vet said that no more injections were necessary and she was showing a complete recovery from the tumour. When I returned Lai to her owner family in the village near the shelter they insisted on paying for all the treatment Lai had received and expressed delight at her return.

Lucy came too, she weighed in at a massive 7.25 kilos, the same as last week, so that is great news. Today she had her first injection to deal with her tumour which has now started to bleed more. Back at the shelter, we are having to keep her separate from the other dogs ( males really) as they sniff her vulva and want to lick it, attracted by the moist condition and apparently interesting odour. (Female readers recognise some parallels here ?)

Indeed back at the shelter, Lucy is perking up, she is now howling and making all sorts of whining noises, sometimes we think its a child crying but its actually her moaning & grumbling at being shut in a separate enclosure.

Also visiting the vet today was Paul, the poor guy hit by a motorist 2 weeks ago and apparently paralysed from the middle of his spine backwards. At the shelter he has dragged himself around a bit, mainly keeping out of the way of boisterous Sherry (the dumped Bull Terrier). He does poo and wee but we're not sure if he does this on command or whether it just happens. Anyway, he did a bit more on the journey & when the vet inspected him, so we know things are moving inside ok!!

The vet tested his reflexes and said his legs although not being moved by him, still had nerve response and his tail was actually wagged by him on occasions. So, there is some hope for him and we will continue with his Neurobian (VitB+) and also Vit C&E to increase nerve repair. Later on, I spoke with Gill at the shelter about Paul & she said she would increase the massages she gives him, to try & increase the blood flow to the legs and try to stop the atrophy of the leg muscles. He is just wasting away at the back end.

Back at the shelter, the residents were feeling the heat of the mid-day sun. Noy making the best shade his territory, Big trying out a new smile and a new puppy Bonnie, found dumped at a temple this week, finding relief in the drinking trough! Bonnie is definately from a family environment. She is so affectionate and loves people. How could a people just dump her?!

After having a bite to eat, I made my way north of the city to Mae Rim to meet a lady who was selling a dog cage she no longer used.

She lives in a delightful spot, on top of a small hill, looking out over water and a surrounding of mountains & natural greenery with her very affectionate Rotti.