Vaccinate and Sterilise Stray Dogs in Thailand

Dear Supporter, 

Following on from our last report, we are excited to announce that this project is coming to a close. Over the previous years, we have successfully been able to look after the dogs in the village through vet visits, vaccinations and sterilisation projects. It is important to keep our dogs healthy and safe and over the coming years, we will have to keep vaccinating against rabies and other local pests for the animals. The dogs in the village in 2013 all successfully went through a neutering and sterlisation project, however this element of the project has not been sustainable due to villagers constantly bringing in new dogs to the village. This has presented the team with a cultural difficulty. It sounds simple, but first there are local cultural prejudices which must be overcome. The animals, although living on the streets, are often considered pets by the community and are usually fed to some degree by the locals. Many buddists also do not believe in Spaying/neutering animals, which is why they are bringing mor puppies into the village.

As such, we have decided to use the funds to focus on the quality of life for these dogs. Recent donations from you, our supporters, have been used to buy a First Aid emergency kit for the dogs as expanded on in our last report. We are planning to put current donations into a scheme to fund vaccinations over the coming years!

Our field team is compiling a report to summarise this projects achievements thanks to your support and I look forward to bringing this to you soon. 

All the best

Sophie Birkett

Head of Operations, GVI Charitable Trust

Links:

• http://www.gvi.org

Dear Supporter, 

Recent donation have helped us to purchase the necessary first aid supplies for this project, consisting of anti tick and fleas collars, anti tick and fleas spray, mange ointment, skin cream, eye drop, rubber gloves, antibiotic, de-worming tablets, anti heart worm tablets, and first aid spray for wounds. 

On 1^st January 2014, staff started putting anti ticks and fleas collars on 4 dogs. This collar will be effective for 4 months and it will keep our base ticks and fleas free. It was not just improving the quality of their lives but also as control measure which helps creating a controlled hygiene living environment.

Staff and volunteers will go around and treat other dogs in the village i.e. giving them anti ticks and fleas spray, treating their skin problem or simple wound, giving de-worming tablets or antibiotic when necessary. There are many dogs in the village that suffers from skin disease like Mange can be treated easily with Mange ointment we have bought.

Currently GVI work in the village focuses on promoting conservation, community development and more importantly the introducing of an alternative sustainable elephant tourism which focuses on animal welfare and treatment, our ultimate goal is to create a better understanding about this project and create awareness amongst the villager thus our work in treating dogs may appear to be a small scale work but by doing so we hope it will set an example and strengthen GVI core value of this project and highlight the fact that our staff and volunteers place high value on animal welfare and ethical treatment.

Many thanks for your support for this project

Dee Drinya Totrakool

GVI Thailand Country Director

Links:

• http://www.gvi.org