Pratchaya Kerdthong
Chalieow Kamsawat has a lot in common with the stray
dogs in his Soi Khopai neighborhood. Like them, he’s been abandoned by
his family, has little to live on and has a big heart.
Perhaps that’s why the “soi dogs” people shun are so
kind to him. There’s about 10 strays in the area and all come up to the
78-year-old without barking or baring their teeth.
Chalieow recently came to the attention of city
public health volunteers when he approached one seeking 10 free
vaccination kits. Veterinarian Korlap Kangwonkit was visiting Soi Khopai
May 3, offering rabies shots and sterilizations to dog owners when the
elderly dog lover asked him to provide 10 sets of medicine.
Curious why Chalieow needed so many, the vet followed
him home to meet the local dogs.
Living alone with little more than a day’s worth of
food to eat, Chalieow showed Korlap the animals that have lived for
years around the neighborhood. A former village headsman and longtime
resident, Chalieow is familiar to the dogs and they treat him more like
a master than a threat. The dogs even let him administer the donated
shots without biting him.
He told Korlap he wants to take better care of the
dogs and vaccinate them for rabies and treat them for skin diseases and
even mangled limbs. However, he said, he doesn’t have any money for
medicine.
It is unknown where he will go from here, but at least these 10 stray
dogs received their vaccinations.
