By Athit Perawongmetha
CHONBURI, Thailand (Reuters) – With its tail wagging to the sound of barking and howling, more than two dozen dogs attached to wheels that support their weakened hind legs struggle down a rocky path, doing their daily exercises.
Mostly victims of accidents, the 27 dogs are being cared for and recovered in a shelter in the Thai province of Chonburi, southeast of the capital, Bangkok.
“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 is no learning curve,” said shelter worker Christopher Chidichimo.
The shelter, run by a foundation called The Man That Rescues Dogs, was founded by a Swede who moved to Chonburi in 2002 and was so appalled by the poor condition of the abandoned animals that he started to care for them after work.
But its future is in doubt, after the coronavirus pandemic led to a 40% 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 a day to care for more than 600 dogs and feed an additional 350 who live on the streets.
Their volunteers also care for paralyzed and physically handicapped dogs, including physiotherapy sessions, but scarce 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 now, disabled dogs in Chonburi enjoy their daily walks.
“They are anxious for us to tie them up,” said dog trainer Phanuphong Borphuak, referring to aid for canine mobility.
“They run very fast, we humans cannot keep up with them.”
(Written by Ed Davies; Editing by Karishma Singh)