Waggy Races! Dozens of stray dogs with disabilities use wheelchairs to make their daily walk in the sanctuary in Thailand
- A group of 27 disabled dogs in a shelter in Chonburi, Bangkok, used wheels to support them on their daily walks
- The puppies were photographed smiling from ear to ear as they ventured outside for a daily dose of exercise
- The future of the shelter is now in doubt after donations fell 40 percent due to the Covid pandemic.
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With their tail wagging in a chorus of barks and howls, dozens of disabled dogs attached to wheels that support their hind legs looked ecstatic as they took their daily walk in a sanctuary in Thailand.
Mostly victims of accidents, the 27 dogs are being treated back to health in a shelter in the Thai province of Chonburi, southeast of the capital, Bangkok.
They smiled from ear to ear as they took the rocky trail with their wheels for the daily dose of exercise.
“It’s almost as if they have no idea that they have a disability, and when you put them in the wheelchair for the first time, it’s like there’s no learning curve,” said shelter officer Christopher Chidichimo.
The 27 dogs from a shelter in Chonburi, Thailand, seemed to be smiling from ear to ear while enjoying a walk with their wheel assistants
Thanks to mobility devices, disabled dogs were able to do some much needed exercises outside of Chonburi, Thailand
During the exercise tour at the shelter, the disabled dogs were even accompanied by some stray dogs who decided to join in all the fun
The 27 dogs, mostly victims of accidents, are being treated back to health at the shelter and mainly enjoy their daily walks
Shelter officer Christopher Chidichimo said: ‘It’s almost as if they have no idea that they have a disability’, as dogs are placed in wheelchairs for the first time
The shelter, run by a foundation called The Man That Rescues Dogs, was created by a Swede who moved to Chonburi in 2002 and was so dismayed by the poor condition of the abandoned animals that he started taking care of them after work.
But its future is in doubt, after the coronavirus pandemic led to a 40 percent drop in donations and reduced the number of foreign visitors.
“Donations are very important and volunteers and visitors are equally important, because they come and spread our message,” said Chidichimo, who is the shelter’s sponsorship coordinator.
The shelter spends more than $ 1,300 (£ 946.42) a day to care for more than 600 dogs and to feed 350 more who live on the streets.
The shelter, run by a foundation called The Man That Rescues Dogs, was created by a Swede who moved to Chonburi in 2002
During the visit, the founder of the shelter was so dismayed by the poor condition of the abandoned animals that he started taking care of them after work.
Unfortunately, the shelter’s future is in doubt after the coronavirus pandemic led to a 40% drop in donations and reduced the number of foreign visitors
The shelter spends more than $ 1,300 (£ 946.42) a day to care for more than 600 dogs and feed 350 more who live on the streets
The shelter cares for a variety of dogs from different origins and even offers physiotherapy sessions
Its volunteers also care for paralyzed and disabled dogs, including physiotherapy sessions, but the limited funds have forced them to suspend a monthly campaign to spay and neuter stray animals.
Thailand, estimated to have more than 800,000 stray dogs and cats in 2017, may see its number reach 2 million in 2027 and 5 million in 20 years, unless it takes steps to control the numbers, livestock officials say.
For the time being, dogs with disabilities in Chonburi enjoy their daily walks. “They are anxious for us to tie them up,” said dog trainer Phanuphong Borphuak, referring to canine mobility aids.
‘They run very fast, we humans cannot keep up with them.’
After suffering financially from the pandemic, the shelter was forced to suspend a monthly campaign to sterilize and neuter stray animals
After their brisk walk, the dogs enjoyed boy food after whetting their appetites with their runs