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My name is Thomas.
I never had an animal as a child and it therefore was my first
experience when our beloved Nicky joined the family during our
stay in China. This relationship however changed my view towards
animals in a most profound way. More than all the fun our Nicky
gave us every day and more than her love and affection we were
so lucky to feel, there was a deep bond which is still hard to
describe. She followed us to Bangkok and we all spent the
following years together. During this time I had the chance to
see more than a dog but a true friend with feelings and a soul.
The day she left us was one of the hardest.
She is the real mother of all Khlongdogs since she brought up
our deep felt respect and the commitment to help animals in
need. During the last years of her life other dogs already
joined us and ever since the number is growing. There often was
the point when I said that we are overbooked but once you open
your eyes you also meet the cruelty, suffering and the endless
pain in the streets. I have never seen so many animals in such
poor condition and at the same time such a high level of
indifference on the human side. There are animals deliberately
beaten to death or left handicapped for ever. There are those
who are disfigured because people poured acid over their face
and there is the army of animals suffering from chronic
malnutrition, severe skin infections and open wounds. The list
is long and one really must look down in shame.
I decided to dedicate most of my time to the care of our members
here at Khlongdogs. The driving force behind this effort is to
provide former street dogs and cats with a home and a place
where they have a chance to fully recover from their illnesses
or psychic and often severe trauma and finally become healthy
and happy animals again. Once they come here they are not street
dogs or street cats any more. If I can undo some of the
suffering and pain inflicted on my friends it will not change
the great extent of cruelty but it will at least help a little.
This also is the reason why animals are not kept in cages but
walk freely and associate with each other as far as the rules of
dog or cat society allows that.
All this corresponds with my idea that these animals must have
the chance to be what they are. There is no formal training but
we talk a lot and we have established rules to live with each
other. It is most impessive how animals who lived on the streets
of Bangkok respond to love and affection, how they can still
bond with humans and how considerate they are in all matters of
our common life here.
I certainly cannot undo what happened to most of them but I can
be here to help them to overcome the worst fears and to return
to a normal live. The reward is obvious once you see them
playing, standing proud and confident and expressing their deep
felt appreciation. That's enough for me. |
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