Man who cared for dogs on the street runs his own shelter for disabled animals in Thailand
Michael Baines had been a chef in Sweden before falling in love with Thailand after a vacation there.
When he decided to move permanently to open a restaurant in Bangsaen, Chonburi in 2002, he found himself sympathizing with the country’s copious street dog population and was surprised at how little attention the dogs got. The dogs were thought of as disease-ridden nuisances for the most part.
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For 10 years he spent over $1000 a month buying the starving dogs food, feeding up to 80 each night. And while he’s still caring for canines, he now runs his own shelter to cater to the neediest among them.
“The Man That Rescues Dogs”
Baines is now known as “The Man That Rescues Dogs,” which is also what he’s named his shelter.
According to Bored Panda, he has already saved over 2,000 dogs (and cats!) and now has a staff as well as an official recognition and permission from the local government.
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The organization’s website claims that the facility currently houses 600 dogs at its Sanctuary while monitoring and feeding another 350 on the streets.
“We treat and rehabilitate disabled dogs, vaccinate, sterilize and rear puppies and tend to the severely sick, injured and abused,” the site explains.
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Wheelchairs for dogs
Among the sanctuary’s population are 45 dogs that are severely disabled. “The Man That Rescues Dogs” provides wheelchairs for these canines to give them back their mobility, and the sight of them playing safely in a place where they’re cared for is really something to behold.
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Many of the dogs have lost their hind legs in accidents, but they manage to adjust easily to the carts they’re given.
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The dogs also get daily walks, play, hydrotherapy, and the kind of concern they would have never received if left on the streets to fend for themselves.
The sanctuary also works hard to socialize their dogs and adopt them out to local families.
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Looking to the future
Like so many donation-dependent organizations around the world, “The Man That Rescues Dogs” has suffered from a decline in support since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But that hasn’t stopped them from making plans to expand and help even more dogs in need.
“The Man That Rescues Dogs Foundation now has its sights set on expanding The Sanctuary to take in more rescues and modernizing its ‘free for all’ Clinic to treat and heal more dogs. There will also be extra effort put into Education through visits to schools and public spaces as well as allowing graduate vets to join our team in The Clinic as interns for short or long periods.”
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Anyone in the world can help them out, either by donating from afar or acting as a foster, or adopting a dog if you’re in Thailand.
You can also sponsor a dog by providing funds for specific items like food, medicine, wheelchairs, toys, and leashes. Their sponsor packages start at just $30 a month.
A desire to help
If you feel moved to help this important project, we recommend visiting one of their sites to learn more:
Be sure to scroll down below to see a YouTube video on the hard work Baines and his partners are doing for dogs in Thailand.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Source: Bored Panda, Instagram – @themanthatrescuesdogs, Facebook – The Man That Rescues Dogs, tmtrd.org