Editor;
Veterinary work aimed at controlling the population and improving the
welfare of Pattaya’s stray dog population came to an abrupt halt in March
following the withdrawal of funding from the Pattaya Animal Welfare
Foundation.
More than 1,150 stray dogs had been neutered, vaccinated
and fully treated for a wide range of health concerns since the project
began in May 2002. Dogs were collected from their home territories and
following surgery each was kept at a purpose-built facility in nearby Huay
Yai district for 10 days and then returned.
The
clinic facility in Huay Yai district
The stray dog project was carried out by the Thai Society
for the Conservation of Wild Animals (TSCWA), a non-governmental
organization with a background in both wild and domestic animal welfare and
conservation that begin in the Forest Department’s Banglamung Wild Animal
Center alongside Wat Yarnsarawarn.
Without a background or infrastructure with which to
begin work, the Pattaya Animal welfare Foundation (PAWS) signed and
agreement with the TSCWA to operate the project in January 2002.
A
stray dog receives pre-medication from TSCWA staff and volunteers.
PAWS had received a donation of Bt2.0 million from the
late John Edwards, a local Pattaya identity and dog lover. The foundation
used this donation to establish itself and then agreed to fund Bt 700 for
each dog’s neutering and treatment. This was in addition to initial
funding of Bt 800,000 for the construction and fit out of a clinic and
temporary holding enclosures along with a suitable vehicle.
“It’s a pity that work has stopped as it was not only
successful but sustainable with good cooperation from all local residents
and the Pattaya City Council,” said the TSCWA’s Gary van Zuylen.
“An average of 50 dogs a month is a lot of dogs and we
were making inroads into minimizing population growth as well as greatly
improving the general level of the welfare of the strays,” he added.
“But neutering must be continuous so the gains we had made are now
lost.”
Other benefits coming from the work included the
comprehensive vaccines given to each dog that stopped the spread of rabies,
a problem that still plagues Thailand and causes many deaths.
Pattaya strays were also included in the joint
TSCWA-Royal Forest Department’s Dog Training Project in Bangkok that
trains and sends dogs to work alongside wildlife rangers in patrolling
national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
TSCWA staff collected and subsequently returned dogs from
eight Pattaya temples and 12 residential areas. Next would have been the
remaining Moo Baans, public areas and fresh food markets. Jomtien local
government officials had also approached the TSCWA to assist them with their
stray dog problem.
During the nearly two years duration of the work more
than 50 foreign volunteers, half of whom were veterinary surgeons, along
with local TSCWA staff, completed and compiled medical records and
identification tattoos on a total of 1,153 stray dogs.
PAWS contributed Bt 1.5 million towards total costs of
Bt2.0 million, leaving the TSCWA paying the balance. Costs per dog were
closer to Bt 900 than the anticipated Bt 700, which was mainly due to the
international-standards, aesthesia and suturing methods used on each dog.
Low rates of mortality ensued. Still, 30 dogs that were not able to be
returned remain at the facility.
For more information the TSCWA can be contacted on
022480405 & 01-4814393 or through its website at www.tscwa.org
Sincerely
Gary van Zuylen,
Director of the Thai Society for the Conservation of Wild Animals
You might have mentioned that unlike in other bands,
bassist Entwhistle kept the time for the Who, because Moon had other fish to
fry. You obviously recognize voices - I don’t - so it would help if you
specified who sang which song.