Wednesday, 1 January 2025
I barely slept and was back at the shelter very early. On my first walk through the areas, I was relieved to find that all the fence reinforcements had held, and all the dogs were accounted for and uninjured. I first returned Shaina and then Safo to their respective areas. Both had behaved perfectly in the house.
Afterward, I cleaned the house and the house area, then checked on the dogs in the double-gate section. They, too, had weathered the night’s chaos unharmed.
Once I cleaned the back areas and disposed of the waste, I took Kira and Tarik to the clinic. Both dogs had their bandages changed. Tarik went back to the kennel in the farthest part of the house, while Kira was allowed to stay in the house area.
After ensuring all the dogs were fed and had fresh water, I headed to check on the temple dogs. At Ba Bät’s area, I restocked dry food and rice. At the temple’s front hall, I was greeted cheerfully by Victor, Dahn, and Talib. Down at the beach, I met Kofi and Toto. All five, along with the other beach dogs, were in good condition.
Back at the shelter, I did another round of cleaning through the sections. I found Safo in Kenji and Shaina’s area—he had jumped over the fence. Since the three dogs got along well, I decided to leave him there.
On my way home, I administered eye drops to Booboo and then visited the park dogs. I saw Randy, Sharkey, Daria, Meefoo, and Old Man. I sat with them for a while, finally beginning to relax.
Thursday, 2 January 2025
On the way to the shelter, I manage to catch Booboo again and administer another dose of eye drops. In the house area and the double-gate section, I find all the dogs safe and sound. The dogs in the rear sections are also in their designated spots.
I then pick up Tarik and carry him back to his area, where he will now share space with Nuri and Khiaow. Afterward, I start cleaning the house, work my way through the other sections, and dispose of the waste. Kira is well-integrated into the house group, which should positively impact her recovery process.
Friday, 3 January 2025
Pat is taking care of most of the main work at the shelter again today. I don’t arrive until the afternoon, stopping on the way to treat Booboo’s eyes with drops. I enter the shelter with mild concern but feel relieved during my initial walk-through to find all the dogs in their places. Tarik, Khiaow, and Nuri have gotten along well. Tarik seems back to his old self, happily greeting Venus, Sita, and Buffy in the neighboring area. The wound on his front leg appears to be healing nicely. Shaina is still staying close to Kenji.
Pat has done an excellent job caring for the dogs, leaving me only to distribute medications, clean up, and dispose of waste after a quick round of tidying up. By the time I leave the shelter in the late afternoon, most of the dogs have already settled down to rest.
On my way home, I stop by to check on the Pong Park dogs. Aside from Bella, I see all of them.
Saturday, 4 January 2025
After administering eye drops to Booboo in the morning, I return to the shelter dogs. During a quick walkthrough of the areas, I notice that Nuri is no longer willing to share her space with Khiaow. To prevent any further incidents, I move Khiaow back to her corner sala area. Safo has wandered into Kenji’s area again and seems unable to find his way back, so I return him to his designated space as well.
Next, I handle the medication rounds and then begin cleaning the house and the front areas. Afterward, I move on to the back areas, removing waste. My next task is feeding the dogs and refreshing their drinking water in the house and a few other sections. By late afternoon, the dogs have settled down to rest. Hoping to see them all healthy again, I leave the shelter for the day.
Sunday, 5 January 2025
This morning, I arrived at the shelter very early because Chang Wai had scheduled a visit to repair the damaged metal sheets in various areas. By late morning, all the newly incurred damages were fixed.
Once the workers had left, I started cleaning. I made another attempt to integrate Khiaow with Nuri and Tarik, leaving the connecting door between the two areas open. This provided the dogs with enough space to avoid conflicts. By the afternoon, peace seemed to have settled between Nuri and Khiaow. Tarik, whose wound is healing well, stayed out of any potential disputes. All the other dogs were safe and sound in their respective areas.
After disposing of the waste, I began feeding the dogs and replenishing drinking water in most areas. I then went through the areas again to ensure everything was clean. As nightfall approached, most of the dogs had already settled down to rest, and I decided to call it a day.
Monday, 6 January 2025
This morning, Claudia and Martin are taking care of the dogs. I take Kyra and Jack to Dr. Oi's clinic. Kyra’s stitches are removed, but she still needs to wear a shirt until her next check-up in three days. Blood is drawn from Jack for testing, and I receive the results in the afternoon. Jack is slightly anemic and will be treated with a vitamin B complex and ferric supplements for the next two weeks.
After returning the dogs to the shelter, I leave the remaining tasks to Claudia and Martin and head back to the shelter later in the afternoon. I distribute the medications, go through all the areas for another round of cleaning, and dispose of the waste. The dogs are in a calm mood. I leave the gate to the Pat area open for Khiaow, Tarik, and Nuri. The three dogs have been getting along well and now have more space to roam freely.
On my way home, I stop again at the Pong Park dogs’ area. A visitor is feeding them, but it seems they get plenty to eat during the day since only Old Man is eating heartily. Across the street, I come across Rico and Dodo. Dodo’s left eye is slightly inflamed again, so I administer another dose of eye drops.
Tuesday, 7 January 2025
This morning, I pick up Stefan in Jomtien, and we head to Beppe's place together. Yesterday, Beppe informed me that Rambo, one of the dogs he had taken in, was in poor condition. Beppe had already taken Rambo to a veterinary clinic but wasn’t satisfied with the service provided. Stefan gives Beppe a generous donation, enabling him to seek a second opinion.
We take Rambo to see Dr. Oi, who conducts a blood test and performs an ultrasound on his abdominal area. She discovers that Rambo’s blood values are in a critical range and that his liver is enlarged. Rambo is prescribed Prednisolone and Samarin, with instructions to return for a follow-up in five days.
I bring Beppe and Rambo back home and then head to the shelter. There, I handle the usual cleaning tasks, administer medications, and feed the dogs. Khiaow has gotten along well with Tarik and Nuri, while Shaina has stayed close to Kenji. All the other dogs are in good spirits as well.
On my way home, I administer eye drops to Booboo and Dodo and visit the park dogs, finding them all accounted for.
Wednesday, 8 January 2025
Thursday, 9 January 2025
On the way to the shelter, I administer eye drops to Dodo and Booboo again and feed the dogs in front of the shelter with dry food. Afterward, I distribute medications to Kyra, Jack, and Tarik. Tarik’s wound is now healing quite well.
Next, I clean the front areas and then take Kyra to see Dr. Oi. Kyra’s wound is also healing normally, but she needs to be checked again in four days.
Back at the shelter, I clean the back areas as well and then feed the dogs. I move Khiaow back to the Pat section since she isn’t getting along well with Nuri. However, this separation doesn’t need to be permanent, and I’m hopeful I can leave the door between the two sections open again tomorrow.
Friday, 10 January 2025
I take care of Dodo and Booboo again on my way to the shelter. There's still dry food available for the dogs outside the shelter. I distribute the medication and clean the front areas. Later, I have some errands to run in town and also stop by to visit Beppe. It seems that Rambo is recovering, as he's eating normally again. In the afternoon, I return to the shelter and start by feeding the dogs. Everyone seems to be doing well. After cleaning all the areas and disposing of the waste, I leave the dogs for the night.
Saturday, 11 January 2025
Claudia and Martin are back at the shelter working today. I only distribute the medications before heading back home. In the afternoon, Claudia informs me that the water supply has been interrupted. After several unsuccessful attempts to identify the cause, the pump miraculously starts working again. In the meantime, Claudia and Martin had already taken care of the dogs. While they finish up the final tasks, I head home, stopping along the way to give Dodo and Booboo their eye drops.
Sunday, 12 January 2025
I continue administering eye drops to Booboo and Dodo before heading to the shelter. After the usual round of greetings, I begin distributing medications and then start cleaning the front areas. Next, I feed the dogs, refill their drinking water, clean the back areas, and dispose of the waste. All the dogs are in good spirits, allowing me to leave them for the night with peace of mind.
Monday, 13 January 2025
I have errands to run in the city all day today and won’t be back with the dogs until late afternoon. Before nightfall, I’ll just manage to clean most of the areas. Feeding will be postponed until tomorrow when Pat will take care of the dogs again.
Tuesday, 14 January 2025
This morning, my first stop was at the Takhiantia municipal office to address yesterday’s inspection of local shelters. I had a productive conversation with an official who explained that the inspection was prompted by a noise complaint from distant residents. While it’s true that the dogs in the shelters aren’t always quiet, there haven’t been any complaints in previous years. I suspect the recent complaints are due to the barking of the hundreds of dogs housed in the newly constructed shelter nearby. I invited the official to inspect my shelter as well.
When I arrived at the shelter, Pat was already hard at work. I started cleaning up the waste while Pat fed the dogs. Once I had thoroughly cleaned the front areas, Pat finished her tasks, and we secured the shelter for the night before leaving.
Wednesday, 15 January 2025
On the way to the shelter, I administer eye drops to Booboo once again. Upon arriving at the shelter, I find all five dogs in good condition. I distribute the medications and then clean the house and the front areas.
After inspecting the back areas, I head to Baan Amphur. There, I purchase rice at the pet food store and leave a sack of dry food for Ba Baet. I then take the three front-area dogs—Victor, Dahn, and Talib—for a walk on the beach, where we encounter Kofi and Toto. On the way back, I check on the boat dogs. They are all accounted for and in good health.
Back at the shelter, I feed the dogs and clean all areas thoroughly. All the dogs are in good spirits, allowing me to leave them unattended until tomorrow with peace of mind.
Thursday, 16 January 2025
After administering eye drops to Booboo in the morning, I tend to the five dogs outside the shelter gate. Once the medications are distributed, I start cleaning the front areas and then work my way through the back sections. All the dogs are calm and in good health. After disposing of the waste, I move on to feeding them and refreshing their water bowls.
Late at night, I visit the Pong Park dogs. I find nearly all of them in the parking lot, though Daria is missing. Michael is in Bangkok for a few days, so I’ll be checking on the dogs during the nights ahead.
Friday, 17 January 2025
In the morning, I give Dodo and Booboo their eye drops and then head to the shelter. Pat is already at work. I start with cleaning tasks and refill the drinking water. All the dogs in their designated spots are doing well. After disposing of the waste, I leave the remaining tasks to Pat. On my way home, I check on the Pong Park dogs but only find Sharkey.
In the early evening, I visit Bobo at Chris's place. Bobo's condition has improved further, and his slight remaining impairment doesn’t seem to bother him. Later that night, I search for the Pong Park dogs again and find all of them safe and sound.
Saturday, 18 January 2025
On my first round through the shelter, I find all the dogs in good health. I distribute medications, clean the front areas, and then start feeding the dogs. Once all the dogs are taken care of, I clean the back areas, refill drinking water, and dispose of the waste.
Sunday, 19 January 2025
Today is a routine day with the usual cleaning of the house and all areas, distributing medications, and feeding afterward. All the dogs are doing well and have already settled down by the time I leave in the late afternoon.
Monday, 20 January 2025
On the way to the shelter, I once again give Dodo and Booboo their eye drops. Near the shelter, I only see Sahm and Mee. The dogs in the house area are in good spirits. After distributing the medications, I start cleaning the house, the surrounding area, and the double-gate section. Then, I move on to cleaning the back areas and disposing of the waste. Since I obviously overfed the dogs yesterday, they only get half their usual portion today. While distributing the dry food, I also refill the drinking water in all areas.
I go through the areas once more for a final cleaning and then sit with the dogs in the salas. The cleaning tasks always take up so much time and energy that I hardly get to spend quality time with the dogs. They are all so sweet and crave my attention, but I can only sit with them briefly before the next task demands my attention.
Tuesday, 21 January 2025
This morning, Pat took care of the shelter dogs. I administered eye drops to Booboo and then headed to Wat Amparahm. Claudia had informed me that Victor had sustained a wound on his ear. Fortunately, the wound is only superficial, and I treated it. Paula, a female dog that stays near the boats, has injured her right hind leg. However, she’s still moving quite swiftly and doesn’t appear to be in pain. I plan to return to the temple in a week to check on Victor and Paula.
On my way back, I stopped by Beppe’s place and brought him Renavast for Rambo. Beppe is currently treating Rambo with saline solution, as his kidney values are at the upper end of the normal range. According to Beppe, Rambo has been doing well over the past few days.
In the afternoon, I finally made it back to the shelter. Pat had taken good care of the dogs, so I only needed to distribute the medications and go through the areas for a final cleaning.
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
On the way to the shelter, Dodo and Booboo receive their eye drops again. Outside the shelter, Mee, Sahm, Soda, Noona, and Woody greet me. The dogs in the house area and the double-gate section are in good spirits. I distribute the medications and then begin the cleaning tasks. After that, I feed the dogs, clean up again, and dispose of the waste. By the time I leave the shelter in the afternoon, the dogs have already settled down to rest.
Thursday, 23 January 2025
This morning, only Booboo received eye drops, as Dodo's eyes no longer show any signs of inflammation. My first task at the shelter is administering the medications. After that, I clean all areas, dispose of the waste, and start feeding the dogs. Today, my special attention is on Billy, who seems to be getting on in years. I let him stay in the kitchen for a while so he can avoid the hustle and bustle of the main living area. All the other dogs are behaving normally and have already settled down by the time I leave in the late afternoon.
Friday, 24 January 2025
On the way to the shelter, I manage to catch Booboo again and administer his eye drops. Pat is already at the shelter and has taken care of the dogs in the front areas and outside the gate. I distribute the medications and then start cleaning the back areas while Pat feeds the dogs there and refills their drinking water. After disposing of the waste, I leave the remaining tasks to Pat for the day.
In the evening, Claudia informs me that Mona, Lucy, and Tessa—three of my shelter dogs that Jutta had taken in—were poisoned. Jutta, who is preparing to return to Germany, had already made all the necessary arrangements to take them with her.
Saturday, 25 January 2025
Today is another routine day, consisting of cleaning all areas, distributing medications, refreshing the drinking water, and then feeding the dogs. I’m still struggling with the loss of the three dogs I entrusted to Jutta, but I have to focus on the ones still in my care. They are all doing well when I leave them in the early evening.
Sunday, 26 January 2025
Upon arriving at the shelter, Claudia and Martin had already fed the dogs outside the gate and were busy tending to the ones inside. Khiaow's forehead wound was too deep to treat without professional help. Dr. Oi took care of the wound, and I brought Khiaow back to the shelter. With the right medication, the wound will hopefully heal within a few days.
At one o’clock, Martin and Ann visited us again, bringing a generous donation of dog food. They stayed for an hour while Claudia and Martin finished up their tasks. After they left, I went through the areas once more, cleaning up and disposing of the waste. In the late afternoon, I left the well-cared-for dogs, most of whom had already settled down to rest.
Monday, 27 January 2025
This morning, shelter work begins with administering medications, followed by cleaning the house, the surrounding area, and the double-gate section. After also cleaning the back areas and disposing of the waste, I move on to feeding the dogs. I leave them well cared for in the late afternoon.
Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Pat is already hard at work at the shelter when I arrive in the morning. I clean the outdoor areas before heading to a dentist appointment. After running errands in town, I return to the shelter in the afternoon. Pat has taken excellent care of the dogs. I administer their medications, clean all the areas, and dispose of the waste. On my way home, I check on the Pong dogs—they are all doing well. I can only hope the same will be true tomorrow, as tonight’s Chinese New Year fireworks are bound to cause panic among the dogs again.
Wednesday, 29 January 2025
I won’t know until this evening whether the park dogs made it through the fireworks unharmed. At the shelter this morning, I make my way through all areas and am relieved to find that the dogs got through the night without any issues. After distributing their medication, I begin cleaning. While doing so, I notice a slight swelling on Khiaow’s left hind leg and treat it with Prednisolone.
After a short break, I return to the dogs in the afternoon. I feed them and then go through the areas once more to clean up. On my way home, I stop by Pong Park and find all the dogs there safe and well.
Thursday, 30 January 2025
On the way to the shelter, I administer eye drops to Dodo and Booboo again. Once there, I start by cleaning the house and the front areas before working my way through the back sections. After disposing of the waste, I feed the animals and refill drinking water in some areas.
Just as I finish all my tasks in the afternoon, we receive a visit from the Takhiantia District Office. Four of the approximately twenty officials who arrived inspect the house area. I accompany one of them on a walkthrough of all sections. He takes notes and informs me that he will update me soon on the agency’s next steps.
Friday, 31 January 2025
Pat is already at the shelter when I arrive in the morning. While Pat feeds the dogs, I distribute the morning medications and then replace damaged wooden pallets with sturdy plastic ones at three area doors. These pallets serve as visual barriers and help prevent the dogs from damaging the doors.
In the afternoon, I return to the shelter. Pat has taken good care of the dogs. I go through all areas, cleaning as I go, and then dispose of the waste.
Saturday, 1 February 2025
This morning, I clean the entire shelter and refill the drinking water. Then I feed the animals and head to the temple dogs. I order 30 kg of rice and leave a 20-kg bag of dry food for Ba Baet. In the temple area and by the boats, I find all the dogs well cared for. Kofi and Toto also greet me during my walk along the beach. After a brief visit with Rita and Ernest, I return to the shelter in the afternoon. I go through the areas once more, cleaning, and then dispose of the waste. Just before nightfall, I leave the dogs, who have already settled in for the night.
Sunday, 2 February 2025
After giving Dodo and Booboo their eye drops, I start the cleaning work at the shelter once the medications have been administered. While I’m feeding the dogs, Pat arrives and takes over cleaning the front areas. I handle the back sections and dispose of the waste. Pat leaves, and I finish up the remaining tasks. The dogs are well cared for and settle in for the night.
Monday, 3 February 2025
This morning, I give Dodo and Booboo their eye drops again. Their eyes are now clear enough that I’ll pause the treatment for the time being. The shelter dogs are in good spirits, so I get straight to cleaning and distributing medications. After refilling the drinking water and disposing of waste, I start feeding the dogs in the front areas before tending to those in the back.
Late in the evening, I visit the Pong Park dogs and run into Michael, who, as always, treats them to special meals.
Tuesday, 4 February 2025
When I arrive at the shelter, Pat is already at work. She has cleaned the main area and is preparing the feedings. I clean the double-gate section and then work my way through the back areas. After disposing of the waste, I leave the remaining tasks to Pat.
In the late afternoon, I return to the shelter. The dogs are well-fed and content. I do a final round of cleaning through all areas before leaving them for the night.
Wednesday, 5 February 2025
My first task this morning is once again cleaning the house, the house area, and the double-gate section. Billy, who spent the night outside, I bring into the kitchen, where he’s safe. He gets along fine with the household dogs, but he’s quite old and has had a tough life before coming to us—he deserves some extra care.
After distributing the medications and finishing the cleaning of the back areas, I feed the dogs. Then, I go through the areas once more for a final cleanup and waste disposal. In the late afternoon, I leave the dogs.
Thursday, 6 February 2025
Late this morning, I receive an emergency call from Beppe—Rambo has been unwell since yesterday. A month ago, we took Rambo to Dr. Oi, where an ultrasound revealed an enlarged liver. With intensive medication, his condition had stabilized over the following weeks. When I arrive at Beppe’s, I find Rambo weak and lethargic. His symptoms likely stem from impaired liver function, and I advise Beppe to continue treating him with Samarin.
Hardly back home, I get a call from tourists who have found a tiny, four-week-old puppy beside its dead mother. I bring the little one to Dr. Oi and then head to the shelter. After a round of cleaning, I feed the dogs and replenish their drinking water. Later in the afternoon, I return to the clinic. The puppy, whom I name Johnny, has received initial care, and I decide to take him in for now. The next hours and days will determine whether the little guy has the strength to survive.
Friday, 7 February 2025
Johnny made it through the night, but I didn’t get much sleep. The first few days and nights are always the toughest, but so far, I’ve managed to pull every puppy through, and I’m hopeful I can do the same for Johnny. I offer him some goat’s milk, which he drinks a little of. At just 600 grams, he can only digest small amounts. He also gets his second dose of Vibravet.
After finishing my morning tasks, I take Johnny with me to the shelter. For now, I settle him in the kitchen. Pat is already at work and plans to ask around to see if anyone can take him in. But for the next few days, he’ll stay with me. While Pat feeds the dogs, I clean the areas.
Once Pat is done, I take Johnny back home with me. He’s drinking the goat’s milk more easily now and is starting to respond a little when I talk to him. The first few months without a mother or siblings are far from ideal for a puppy, but I try to give Johnny as much closeness as possible so he can develop not just physically but also emotionally in a healthy way.
Saturday, 8 February 2025
Last night, I only had to feed Johnny twice, and then again early in the morning. He’s drinking well now and seems to be developing. As the sole apparent survivor after his mother passed away, he seems to have a strong will to live. He’s still sniffling, but with his daily Vibravet dose, I hope to get his respiratory issues under control.
I’m taking him with me to the shelter again and starting there with cleaning and distributing medications. After that, I feed the dogs and refill their water wherever needed. Once I’ve done another round of cleaning and waste disposal, I leave the dogs and bring Johnny back with me.
Sunday, 9 February 2025
Johnny slept relatively well last night—I only had to feed him milk once over a six-hour period. In the morning, after finishing his portion of milk and receiving another dose of Vibravet, he goes back to sleep for a while.
Claudia calls to tell me that there’s no power at the shelter, but she and Martin are still able to take care of the essential tasks. I arrive at the shelter in the early afternoon, just before they head home. Since the neighbors are also without power, I assume it’s a local issue.
Back in Pong, I run into Lin and her boys, Jake and Steve, at the pet food store. Shortly after, I receive a generous transfer from Will. Then I check on Johnny and feed him.
By late afternoon, I’m back at the shelter. The power is back on. I make sure everything is in order before leaving the dogs for the night.
Johnny has had a trouble-free day. Pat messages me to say that Josie is willing to take him in next week, provided he tests negative for parvo and distemper. I’ll continue his treatment over the next few days and then take him back to Dr. Oi for a check-up.
Monday, 10 February 2025
Johnny is improving by the day. He's gaining confidence and seems to be enjoying life more and more. I can now leave him alone for several hours without any trouble while I work at the shelter.
The dogs there are also in good spirits, which makes the work easier. I distribute medications, clean, and refill their drinking water. After disposing of the waste, I start feeding them. Once I’ve done another round of cleaning, I leave as night begins to fall.
Back home, a cheerful Johnny greets me. He’s finished his milk, so I give him another serving. He’s becoming braver, and I hope he has now made it through the most critical phase of his early life.
Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Johnny made it through the night well again. He received his milk every four hours and had several more servings in the morning. The daily administration of Vibravet now seems to be helping with his respiratory issues as well. I can leave him alone without worry and head to the shelter at midday.
Pat is already at work, having cleaned the front areas and started feeding the dogs. I distribute the medications, clean the remaining sections, and dispose of the waste. Pat finishes up, and I take care of the rest.
On the way back, I stop by the park dogs. I find some of them, while others are off wandering. Johnny seems to have had a good day. I give him more goat’s milk and, for the first time today, some cooked meat, which he eats eagerly. He’s now at the point where he can also handle solid food in between milk servings.
Wednesday, 12 February 2025
After taking care of Johnny in the morning, I spend the late morning at the shelter. All the dogs are doing well, so I get straight to the cleaning tasks. After distributing medication and refilling the water containers, I feed them. Then, I go through the areas again to clean up and dispose of the waste.
Back at the apartment, I take care of Johnny. He has been with me for a week now, is lively, and seems to be developing normally. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take him to Dr. Oi for another check-up.
Thursday, 13 February 2025
In the morning, I take Johnny to see Dr. Oi again. She deworms him once more and has no concerns about passing him on to Josie. Over the past week, Johnny has gone from 600 grams to 1,000 grams. I bring him back home, take care of him, and then head to the shelter.
There, I go through my usual cleaning routine, administer medications, and feed the dogs. Afterward, I do another round of cleaning and refill the water bowls. All the dogs are doing well and have already settled down for the afternoon.
After checking on the Pong Park dogs, I return to my place at the resort. Johnny has been well-behaved, and I give him goat’s milk again. Later in the evening, he curls up to sleep, and I finally get a moment to relax.
Friday, 14 February 2025
Johnny is getting stronger by the day, so now seems like the right time to introduce him to other puppies around his age to ensure he develops properly. Early in the afternoon, I take him to the shelter. Pat is busy feeding the dogs while I go through all areas, cleaning as I go.
Once Pat finishes up, I drive Johnny over to Josie’s place. For now, he is housed separately in a cage. Among the many dogs Josie cares for, I spot Bee—the dog I entrusted to her over a year ago. Bee is in excellent condition, and we’re both happy to see each other again.
Later in the afternoon, I visit Leo. He recently took in a puppy and is thinking about adopting a second one. We agree to visit Josie together tomorrow—maybe he’ll find the right match at her shelter.
Saturday, 15 February 2025
This morning, I took Leo to Josie’s place. Surprisingly, a spontaneous bond developed between Johnny and Leo, leading Leo to decide to take Johnny in. Over the next few days, we’ll see whether Johnny settles in with Leo and Serafin, the puppy Leo had previously adopted. Their first interaction went very well. Despite Johnny’s limited experience with other dogs, he approaches unfamiliar ones with remarkable courage.
Early in the afternoon, I headed to the shelter. All the dogs were doing well, so after distributing the medications, I started cleaning. Once I finished, I fed the dogs and removed the waste, going through the areas one more time to tidy up.
In the evening, I checked in with Leo to see how Johnny was doing. It looks like he’s adjusting to his new environment and getting along with Serafin.
Sunday, 16 February 2025
After cleaning and distributing medications at the shelter, I leave the dogs there for a while and head to the temple dogs. I drop off another sack of dry food at the pet supply store and buy rice for Ba Baet.
At the temple’s front hall, I run into Victor, Dahn, and Talib. I give Victor goat’s milk mixed with egg yolk—his coat has already improved since his last treatment. Down by the boats, I spot all the beach dogs, and farther along the shore, I find Kofi and Toto. All the dogs appear to be in good condition.
Back at the shelter, I feed the dogs, do another round of cleaning, and dispose of the waste. In the late afternoon, I leave the shelter and stop by Leo’s place. Johnny seems to be settling in well—he’s already playing with Serafin.
Monday, 17 February 2025
Today is a routine day with the usual cleaning of all areas, distributing medications, feeding, and waste disposal. All the dogs are in good spirits, so I feel comfortable leaving them by early afternoon.
Tuesday, 18 February 2025
This morning, I picked up 280 kg of dry food and stored the sacks in the supply room. After that, I distributed the medications and started cleaning. Once I had disposed of the waste, I fed the dogs. I then went through the areas one more time to clean up before leaving them for the night. As usual, Billy made his way back to the kitchen.
Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Pat is taking care of the dogs again today. I only stop by the shelter briefly to distribute medication. After that, I take the pickup to Khun Yao. With the rainy season starting, the leak in the roof urgently needs to be repaired. Khun Yao tells me the repair will take a week.
I take a taxi back and return to the shelter in the afternoon on my motorbike. As always, Pat has done a great job caring for the dogs. I go through the areas once more, cleaning up and disposing of the waste.
Thursday, 20 February 2025
After dropping off my motorbike for a check-up at a nearby workshop in the morning, I head over to Leo’s place. Johnny is full of energy and gets along well with Serafin. Outside the shelter, I run into the usual suspects, all in good spirits. Inside, the dogs are in a good mood as well. I distribute the medications and then get to work on cleaning. Once feeding time is over, I do another round of cleaning and dispose of the waste. Before nightfall, I leave the well-cared-for dogs and make my way home.
Friday, 21 February 2025
This morning, I set out for the shelter on my motorbike again. Pat was already at work and had brought Maria along. Maria has experience handling shelter dogs, so they had no issues with her presence. By the time I arrived, Pat and Maria had already cleaned the front areas, and Pat had started feeding the dogs. I took care of cleaning the back areas, disposed of the waste, and then left the rest of the work for Pat to finish.
Saturday, 22 February 2025
Sahm greets me at the shelter gate, while the other three free-roaming dogs linger nearby. The house dogs are in good spirits. I let Billy out of the kitchen and start cleaning the house before working my way through the rest of the areas.
After disposing of the waste, distributing medications, and refilling the water containers, I begin feeding the dogs. Once they've eaten, I collect the food bowls, do a final round of cleaning, and wrap up my work in the late afternoon.
Sunday, 23 February 2025
It seems that Takhiantia was hit by heavy rain last night, as both the kitchen and the rest area inside the house are flooded. Since the house has no basement, the saturated groundwater is seeping up through the floor, causing the flooding. It takes me quite some time to dry out the rooms. Fortunately, the area where most of the dogs stay has remained dry, and the flooding hasn’t bothered them at all.
After getting the house back into a presentable state and distributing the medications, I move on to cleaning the outdoor areas. The dogs handled the overnight rain well out there too. I refill the water containers and then start feeding them. Once I’ve done a final round of cleaning, I leave the dogs for the night.
Monday, 24 February 2025
The kitchen and rest area stayed dry today, even though it seems to have rained again in the shelter area. I got straight to work cleaning and disposing of waste. After feeding the dogs and refilling their water containers, I went through the areas once more for a final cleanup before leaving the well-cared-for dogs for the night.
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Last night, Titus informed me that he had taken in an injured dog and asked if I could possibly take him in. In the morning, I went to see Titus and found that the dog had already received professional care. Titus explained that he had been looking after the male dog during his walks at the Mabprachan Reservoir for about a year and had found him injured two days ago. He had taken him to the NPW Clinic, where they diagnosed a double fracture in his left front leg. However, Titus had since decided to keep the dog with him temporarily until the fracture healed. That meant one less worry for me—for now.
Later, I met with Leo. He had decided to return Johnny, as caring for him had become too much work. After consulting with Josie, she agreed to take Johnny back, and the handover took place late in the morning.
By midday, I was at the shelter, diving into my routine tasks. After cleaning all areas and refreshing the drinking water, I fed the dogs. Then I went through the areas again, cleaning up and disposing of waste. In the late afternoon, I left the well-cared-for dogs behind.
Wednesday, 26 February 2025
When I arrive at the shelter, I first take care of the four dogs outside before starting to clean all areas. After that, I tend to the dogs in the front sections and then work my way through the back areas. A minor fence repair is needed, and a few palm fronds still need to be disposed of. The dogs are calm, so I can leave them alone until tomorrow with peace of mind.
Thursday, 27 February 2025
Today is another routine day. After taking care of the four dogs outside the shelter gate, I start cleaning the front areas, then work my way through the back sections, disposing of waste. After feeding the dogs and doing another round of cleaning, I refill the water containers. All the dogs are doing well. Billy, as usual, retreats to the kitchen, where he feels safe and can rest undisturbed.
In the late afternoon, I can finally pick up my repaired pickup truck. The repairs were expensive, but I’m relieved that I no longer have to rely on my motorbike for essential trips.
Friday, 28 February 2025
First, I feed the dogs outside the shelter gate and let Billy out. Then, I distribute the medication and start cleaning. After disposing of the waste, I feed the dogs and refill their water bowls. Everyone is healthy and calm. Before I leave, I bring Billy back into the kitchen for the night.
Saturday, 1 March 2025
In the morning, the dogs greet me at the shelter gate, and all the dogs in the house area and double-gate section are healthy and in good spirits. I immediately get to work on cleaning and then feed the dogs after disposing of the waste.
In the early afternoon, I head to Baan Amphur. As I do every two weeks, I buy rice for Ba Baet and leave a sack of dry food for her at the pet supply store. At the front hall, Victor, Dahn, and Talib greet me. The bald patches on Victor’s back have disappeared, but I still give him a mix of egg yolk, Ferric, and vitamin B complex. The three of them, along with the dogs near the boats and Kofi and Toto further down the beach, are all doing well and are in good health.
Sunday, 2 March 2025
Shortly after I start my morning tasks at the shelter, Claudia and Martin arrive and take over responsibility for the dogs. In the late afternoon, I return for a final cleaning round.
Leaving the well-cared-for dogs behind, I head to Chris’s place in the evening. Bobo is unrecognizable—aside from a slight limp, he has fully recovered.
Monday, 3 March 2025
All four dogs in front of the shelter gate greet me in good spirits, and the dogs in the front areas are also doing well. I immediately start cleaning all sections and refilling the drinking water. After that, I distribute medications and supplemental food to Kylie, Navo, Kyra, Billy, and Tashi. Once feeding is done, I go through another round of cleaning and waste disposal before wrapping up the day at the shelter.
Tuesday, 4 March 2025
After cleaning all shelter areas and disposing of the waste, I refill the water containers and begin feeding. Once that's done, I go through the areas again for a final cleanup before leaving the dogs, most of whom have already settled down for the night.
Wednesday, 5 March 2025
When I arrive, all the dogs inside the house, in the double-gate area, and the four dogs outside the gate are doing well. As every day, I start by cleaning all areas and distributing medications.
In Kenji’s area, I come across a dead cobra. It looks like Kenji took care of it, as his eyes are swollen. Otherwise, I don’t notice any injuries on him or Shaina. I clean Kenji’s eyes and give him eye drops and Prednisolone.
After disposing of the waste, I feed the dogs. I then do another round to check on Kenji. If his eyes are still badly inflamed tomorrow, I’ll have to take him to Dr. Oi.
Thursday, 6 March 2025
My first stop at the shelter is Kenji. His eyes look better than they did yesterday, and he's behaving normally. I clean his eyes again with eye wash, give him Prednisolone, and apply eye drops.
After that, I move on to cleaning all areas, refilling the drinking water, and then start feeding the dogs in the front sections. Once the dogs in the back areas are also fed, I dispose of the waste and leave them for the night until morning.
Friday, 7 March 2025
Kenji is doing much better this morning. His eyes are clear again, and he's behaving normally. However, I’m repeating yesterday’s treatment just to be safe, and I believe the incident from the day before will soon be forgotten.
While cleaning around the large sala, I find another dead snake. It’s been completely bitten up, making it impossible to tell whether it was another dangerous one. However, it was much smaller than the one Kenji took down.
Today's work is constantly interrupted by passing rain showers, which eventually turn into a steady downpour. I have to take frequent breaks during cleaning and feeding, spending the time surrounded by the dogs. They're all so sweet and affectionate—I just wish I had more time and energy for them.
Saturday, 8 March 2025
Yesterday afternoon, Marcel, who was visiting Koh Larn with his girlfriend Olya, informed me that he had found a young dog in distress. I met Marcel and Olya in the morning at Bali Hai Pier, where they had managed to bring the dog from the island. Together, we took the dog to Dr. Oi’s clinic, but despite all efforts, he sadly did not survive.
Afterward, we headed to the shelter. I gave Marcel and Olya a tour of the facility while cleaning up waste along the way. We then fed the dogs together before I drove our new friends back to the city. On the way, we dropped off the young dog at the NPW clinic for cremation.
Sunday, 9 March 2025
I arrived at the shelter earlier than usual today to catch up on tasks left unfinished yesterday before Claudia and Martin arrived. Once they took over, I didn’t return until the afternoon. They took excellent care of the dogs, so all that was left for me to do was a final round of cleaning. In the late afternoon, I left the shelter as most of the dogs had already settled down to rest.
Monday, 10 March 2025
All the dogs are doing well and in good spirits. Kylie has returned to her favorite spot in the kitchen, where she stays with Billy until the afternoon. I go through my usual routine, feeding the dogs and giving several of them their supplemental food — a mix of raw eggs, goat milk, fish oil, and Ferric.
Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Kylie wants to be outside again in the morning, but Billy feels most comfortable in the kitchen. All the other dogs are doing well, too. I take care of the cleaning and then feed everyone.
Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Claudia takes care of most of the work at the shelter today. She feeds the dogs, cleans most of the areas, and refills the water containers. All I have to do is clean the remaining sections and dispose of the waste.
In the late afternoon, I check on the park dogs. They’re all there and in good spirits. Boby gave Rico a trim, and he’s almost unrecognizable!
Thursday, 13 March 2025
The weather is very rainy today, so I’ve had to pause my work at the shelter several times. The dogs, however, have all stayed dry and are in good spirits. Billy feels most comfortable in the kitchen, and Kylie has started spending time there again as well. Both dogs will be staying there for the night.
Friday, 14 March 2025
It's heavily overcast again today, but thankfully the rain holds off. I pick up dry food and store the sacks in the kitchen after cleaning the front areas. Kylie prefers to be outside again, while Billy feels most comfortable in the kitchen. After finishing the rest of the cleaning, I start feeding the dogs. Once they're done eating, I go through all the areas again to clean up and remove the waste. I leave the well-cared-for dogs in the late afternoon.
Saturday, 15 March 2025
It must have rained overnight in Takhientia because the resting area is flooded. First, I clean up the house, removing all the feces, and then I dry out the resting area. After that, I clean all the outdoor areas, feed the dogs, and do a final round to tidy up again.
Next, I pick up a sack of dry food and head to the temple. The dry food goes to Ba Bät, and I also buy 30 kilograms of rice for her. Since I haven't been able to find Pema the past few times, I go looking for her. With help from some market vendors, I finally find her—safe and sound.
At the temple grounds and near the boats, I also see all the other dogs, including Kofi and Toto, who I spot farther down the beach.
Sunday, 16 March 2025
Claudia and Martin are working at the shelter today and have brought along two friends. Kylie hasn’t been feeling well since yesterday, so I’m taking her to Dr. Oi for an examination. At the clinic, Dr. Oi finds a bite wound on Kylie’s right hind leg. I decide to leave Kylie at the clinic for treatment and return to the shelter. Zaza has a small injury on her left hind leg, but when I try to take her to the clinic as well, she refuses to come with me. I’ll try again tomorrow.
Later in the afternoon, I check on Kylie. She has been treated under anesthesia but should recover soon. Afterward, I head back to the shelter. Thanks to the great work done by Claudia, Martin, and their friends, I only need to do one final cleaning round.
Monday, 17 March 2025
Before heading to the shelter, I stop by the Dr. Oi Clinic to check on Kylie. The swelling on her hind leg has been treated, and I’ll be able to pick her up tomorrow. At the shelter, I clean the areas and then feed the dogs. After that, several dogs get another dose of the mixture of egg yolk, Ferric, and Vitamin B complex. I do one more round of cleaning before leaving the dogs for the night. Late in the evening, I visit the Pong Park dogs. Everyone is there except for Sharkey.
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
After completing a round of cleaning at the shelter, I take Zaza to the clinic. She receives treatment and remains there. Back at the shelter, I feed the animals and clean again. Later, I return to the clinic—Kylie and Zaza will be staying there until tomorrow afternoon.
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
This morning, Claudia and Martin are taking care of the shelter work. In the afternoon, I’ll pick up Zaza and Kylie from the clinic and settle them in the kitchen for now, as they both need to wear cones. I’ll leave the connecting door to the quiet room open so Billy and Kylie still have enough space to move around. After that, I’ll go through all areas again to clean up and dispose of any waste. Claudia and Martin have taken good care of the dogs, so I can leave them for the night without worry.
Thursday, 21 March 2025
Billy, Kylie und Zaza haben die Nacht in der Küche problemlos verbracht, aber Zaza zieht es nach draußen. Ich nehme ihr den Kragen ab, damit sie sich im Hausbereich gefahrlos bewegen kann. Kylie kommt mit dem Kragen gut zurecht und zieht es vor, in der Küche zu bleiben. Mein erster Arbeitsgang besteht in der Reinigung der vorderen Bereiche. Anschließend verteile ich die Medikamente, reinige ich die hinteren Bereiche und entsorge den Kot. Der nächste Arbeitsgang besteht in der Fütterung und einer weiteren Säuberungsrunde. Ich belasse Zaza im Hausbereich, Kyra jedoch zieht es vor, die Küche mit Billy zu teilen.
Friday, 21 March 2025
The first thing I do in the morning is check on Zaza and Kylie. Without her collar, Zaza is calm again, and Kyra is getting along with Billy in the kitchen. All the other dogs are acting normally as well. After distributing the medication, I focus on my cleaning tasks. Once that’s done, I feed the dogs, go through the areas again for a final cleanup, dispose of the waste, and leave the dogs in the late afternoon.
Saturday, 22 March 2025
In the morning, I pick up dry dog food and three plastic pallets — two to secure area entrances and one to use as a base for the dry food sacks. I position the pallets, store the dry food, distribute the medications, and then start cleaning the house and surrounding areas. After disposing of the waste, I begin feeding the dogs in the front areas, followed by those in the back. Before leaving the dogs for the night, several of them receive another portion of the mixture containing goat milk, egg yolk, Ferric, and a vitamin B complex.
Sunday, 23 March 2025
Claudia and Martin are once again handling the main tasks at the shelter today, including feeding, replacing the drinking water, and cleaning the areas. In the afternoon, all I need to do is administer medication to the well-cared-for dogs, do a final walkthrough for cleaning, and dispose of the waste.
Monday, 24 March 2025
I clean the front areas and then take Kyra to see Dr. Oi. Zaza refuses to come with us. Pat is back from Australia and will help me catch Zaza tomorrow morning.
Kyra’s wound is clean but quite extensive. I’ll need to bring her back to Dr. Oi in three days. Zaza stays in the house, while Kyra returns to the kitchen. Both dogs receive their medication.
After that, I clean the back areas as well and dispose of the waste. I also pick up more plastic pallets and place them in front of the gates in the back. Feeding time is followed by another round of cleaning before I call it a day and leave the dogs for the night.
Tuesday, 25 March 2025
This morning, Pat took care of cleaning the house and the front areas and was already in the middle of feeding when I arrived at the shelter. I distribute the medications and then start cleaning the back areas.
In the afternoon, I return to the shelter. Pat has taken good care of the dogs, and they’re in good spirits. I go through another round of cleaning, dispose of the waste, and then get to work dismantling and removing several rotting wooden pallets. More cleanup tasks will follow tomorrow.
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
After distributing the morning medications, I clean all areas and dispose of the waste. The dogs are all well and calm. However, I find Rocco in an unusual spot next to the house, so I bring him into the kitchen. Like Amal, Rocco has never fully integrated into the household pack but is tolerated. I’ll keep an eye on him tomorrow to see if a problem develops.
After feeding the dogs and completing another round of cleaning, I continue with my cleanup work. Rocco stays in the kitchen with Kylie and Billy.
Thursday, 27 March 2025
Friday, 28 March 2025
Pat is already at the shelter when I arrive in the morning. I distribute the medications, clean up, and dispose of the waste while Pat takes care of the dogs. With Pat’s help, I’m able to remove Zaza’s bandage. The small wound on her paw has closed and no longer requires treatment. For now, Zaza stays in the kitchen.
I leave the final tasks to Pat and head over to see Dr. Oi to check on Rocco. The wound on Rocco’s hind leg has been stitched. I’ll be able to pick him up tomorrow.
Saturday, 29 March 2025
In the morning, I carry out my routine tasks at the shelter, cleaning and distributing medications. After that, I head to the clinic to pick up Rocco and bring him to the kitchen, which he shares with Billy and Kyra. Once all dogs are being fed, I continue tidying up around the shelter before calling it a day. By then, most of the dogs have already settled down for the night.
Sunday, 30 March 2025
This morning, Claudia and Martin are taking care of the shelter work. They brought Pai along, who is a great help with the cleaning tasks. I handle the medication distribution and meet René and Heidi at the Pong pet food shop in the early afternoon. Once again, they have pooled their resources to fund a food donation. Gop and I each receive 160 kg of dry food. After visiting Gop’s shelter, Heidi and René also stop by ours.
Meanwhile, Claudia, Martin, and Pai have fed the dogs, cleaned the food trays, and refilled the drinking water containers and tubs with fresh water. Pat drops by briefly to bathe a few dogs. When it starts to rain, Martin has to call off the remaining planned tasks, and the three of them head out. I do a final walk-through of all areas before saying goodnight to the dogs.
Monday, 31 March 2025
In the morning, I start my day at the shelter by distributing medication. After that, I begin cleaning, refresh the drinking water in some areas, and then move on to feeding. Kyra and Rocco stay with Billy in the kitchen.
In the late afternoon, I visit the Pong Park dogs. Except for Daria, I find all of them there. While searching for her, I’m surprised to discover three new dogs in the back parking lot. They seem to have been brought there together, as they stay close to one another when I approach. There are two males and one female, all in good condition. One of the males is friendly, and I notice that he has been neutered. I spend some time with them before resuming my search for Daria, but I have no luck finding her. When I return, the three dogs have disappeared without a trace.
Later in the evening, I’m back at the park and run into Michael, who, as always, is there feeding the dogs. The three new dogs are still nowhere to be found, but all the others are present.
Tuesday, 1 April 2025
By the time I arrive at the shelter this morning, Pat is already at work. While she starts feeding the animals, I distribute the medications and then head to Baan Amphur. As I do every two weeks, I drop off 20 kg of dry food and 30 kg of rice for Ba Baet. Pema is nowhere to be seen again, but today, I’m not worried about her whereabouts. At the temple, near the boats, and farther down the beach, all the dogs are accounted for.
After running some errands in town and making a quick stop at Beppe’s, I return to the shelter in the afternoon. As always, Pat has taken great care of the dogs, so all that’s left for me to do is a final round of cleaning.
Later, I stop by Pong Park, where I find all the usual suspects. However, my search for the three newcomers is unsuccessful once again—they must have only made a brief stop in the park before moving on.
Wednesday, 2 April 2025
After cleaning the front areas of the shelter, I took Rocco to see Dr. Oi. His stitched wound looks perfect. He gets fresh bandages and then returns to the kitchen. In three days, I’ll be able to remove the sutures myself.
Once I’ve cleaned the back areas as well, I feed the dogs, do another round of cleaning, and refill several water containers. Rocco will spend the night in the kitchen again with Kyra and Billy.
Thursday, 3 April 2025
Kyra and Rocco, who are both still wearing collars, got along well with Billy in the kitchen. My first task is cleaning the house, the main area, and the double-gate section. After that, I distribute the medications and then clean the back areas as well. Once I’ve disposed of the waste, I feed the dogs and do another round of cleaning. All the dogs are doing well and in good spirits.
Friday, 4 April 2025
This morning, Pat, Claudia, Martin, Dieter, and Pai were already hard at work at the shelter when I arrived mid-morning. Today is Claudia and Martin’s last day helping out, as they’re returning to Germany for an extended stay. Dieter and Pai will be stepping in for them and plan to join Pat in handling cleaning and care duties twice a week.
After distributing medication, I hand over the lead to Pat and don’t return to the shelter until late afternoon. By then, all the work has been completed. I just do a final walk-through of the areas. All the dogs have been well cared for, so I can leave them on their own until tomorrow without any worries.
Saturday, 5 April 2025
After distributing medication and cleaning the areas this morning, I get to work clearing out the clutter from the roof covering the kennels in the house section. Over the years, all sorts of materials had piled up there, which the scrap dealer next door kindly agrees to take off my hands. Once that’s done, I feed the dogs, do one last round of cleaning, and leave them in the late afternoon.
Sunday, 6 April 2025
This morning, I start by cleaning the house and the front areas, then distribute the medications. Several dogs receive a mix of goat milk, egg yolk, Ferric, fish oil, and a vitamin B complex. After that, I remove Rocco’s stitches. For now, he stays in the kitchen, along with Kylie and Billy. Next, I clean the back areas and dispose of the waste. This is followed by feeding and a final round of cleaning. By late afternoon, the dogs settle down to rest.
Monday, 7 April 2025
On the way to the shelter, I check on the Pong Park dogs and also on Booboo. In front of the shelter, I’m greeted by the neighbor’s dogs, happily enjoying their freedom. Inside the main area, the dogs welcome me in high spirits, and the three dogs in the kitchen are doing well, too. I start cleaning in the kitchen and then make my way through the main house area, the double-gate section, and finally the back areas. All the dogs are healthy and lively throughout. After that comes feeding time, followed by a final round of cleaning. Rocco, Kylie, and Billy are still staying in the kitchen.
Tuesday, 8 April 2025
Pat called me late in the morning to tell me that Satya had been attacked and killed in the double-gate area. I drove straight to the shelter to retrieve her body. Just yesterday afternoon, there had been no sign of any tension among the dogs near the entrance, and Satya had seemed completely normal.
I had cared for Satya, her mother Alana, and her sister Panya for several months at Pattaya Beach eleven years ago, before they were taken to the holding facility in Phutaluang. I got them out of there and tried to relocate them to the beach by Wat Amparahm in Baan Amphur. Alana disappeared soon after and made her way back to Pattaya Beach. Satya and Panya, however, lived for over eight years in the temple’s front hall until Panya vanished. After that, the other dogs in the area no longer accepted Satya, so I brought her into the shelter in February 2023. She had been living peacefully in the double-gate area ever since.
After dropping Satya off at NPW Clinic for cremation, I returned to the shelter. Pat had already fed the dogs, and Dieter and Pai had taken care of the cleaning. All that remained for me was to distribute the medications and dispose of the waste. By late afternoon, I left the shelter, hoping to find all the dogs healthy and well tomorrow.
Wednesday, 9 April 2025
On the way to the shelter, I check Dodo’s and Booboo’s eyes. Dodo’s eyes look fine, but Booboo’s left eye is still cloudy. I decide to switch his treatment from Poly Oph to Genta Oph.
In front of the shelter, I’m greeted by Woody, Sahm, and Noona. My first look goes to the dogs in the house and double-gate areas—all of them appear unharmed.
I hand out the medications and then get to work cleaning the house and the front sections. After that, I move on to the back areas and dispose of the waste. I then care for the dogs outside the shelter gate, followed by feeding all the dogs inside the shelter. Finally, I refill the drinking water containers and remove the leaves that have collected in the tubs. Billy, Rocco, and Kyra will remain in the kitchen for now.
Thursday, 10 April 2025
All the shelter dogs are in good spirits, so I start right away with distributing the medications, then move on to cleaning all the areas. I clean the tubs and refill the drinking water bowls. Feeding comes next, and once I’ve collected the food bowls, I go through the areas again to tidy up. I leave Billy, Rocco, and Kyra in the kitchen but keep the door to the quiet room open so they can move over there if they like.
Friday, 11 April 2025
At the shelter, Pat, Dieter, and Pai are already hard at work when I arrive in the late morning. Dieter and Pai handle the cleaning, refresh the drinking and bathing water, and Pat takes care of feeding the dogs. I distribute the medications, tidy up a bit, and then leave Pat in charge.
Two hours later, I return to the shelter. The well-cared-for dogs are calm and content. I do one more round of cleaning, pick up the poop, and then leave the dogs for the night, planning to return in the morning.
Saturday, 12 April 2025
In the morning, I check on Bobo and Booboo, and then on the four strays outside the shelter. All six dogs are doing well. Inside the shelter, I’m greeted by cheerful dogs, and after handing out their medication, I get started on the cleaning.
I dispose of the waste and begin feeding them. As I move through the different areas, I also clear fallen leaves from the water troughs.
Late in the afternoon, the landowner asks me for a copy of my ID card — he plans to draft a new contract. That doesn’t sound like good news.
Sunday, 13 April 2025
Songkran is starting, and that’s not exactly good news. Fortunately, the shelter is far enough out that we’re usually spared from unwanted soakings. The trips to and from the shelter, however, are bound to get stressful over the next few days.
On my first round through the areas, I’m relieved to see that all the dogs are healthy and in good spirits. Once I’ve finished the cleaning, I refresh the drinking water containers and start the feeding.
When that’s done, I go through the areas once more to tidy up and dispose of the waste. I leave the connecting door between the kitchen and the rest area open again, so the kitchen dogs can move around freely. Aldo has joined them.
Monday, 14 April 2025
In the morning, I open the kitchen door so the kitchen dogs can move around freely. Rocco is the only one who chooses to stay inside.
Once I’ve made my usual rounds and checked that all the dogs are safe and well, I step outside the gate to check on the dogs there — they’re all present and in good spirits too. Then I start the daily routine: cleaning, picking up waste, and feeding.
In the early afternoon, Martin and Ann stop by for another visit. They’ve brought 15 bags of dry food with them. The two of them stay for about an hour, enjoying the company of the dogs.
After they leave, I do another round of cleaning before heading home, just as a thunderstorm rolls in.
Tuesday, 15 April 2025
This morning, Pat, Dieter, and Pai took care of the shelter work. I only stopped by briefly before heading off to Baan Amphur. There, I bought another 30 kilograms of rice for Ba Baet to feed the temple dogs, and I also gave her a bag of dry food for them.
At the temple hall, I was greeted by Victor, Talib, and Dahn, and in the back area of the temple I met Akria, Rika, Yoko, Taro, and Jingo. Down by the boats, I ran into Sadhu and Taco, and during a walk along the beach I also saw Kofi and Toto. All the dogs were doing well.
Back in town, I had several errands to run and made time for a quick visit with Beppe. By late afternoon, I was back at the shelter. Pat, Dieter, and Pai had done a great job taking care of the dogs, so all that was left for me was to do a bit of follow-up cleaning and dispose of the waste.
As the rain began to fall, I left the dogs, who had already settled down for the night.
Wednesday, 16 April 2025
In the morning, I check on Dodo and Booboo and spot Randy and Daria in Pong Park as well. At the shelter gate, Mee, Noona, Soda, and Sahm are there to greet me. The house dogs are all in good spirits, so I can get started right away cleaning the front areas.
Once I've cleaned the back sections and refilled the drinking water, I begin the feeding routine. The sky is overcast, but since the rain holds off, I’m able to make another round to tidy up the areas before disposing of the waste.
As I leave the shelter, I leave the kitchen door open again. A few of the dogs love to lounge in there, and thankfully they've kept the mess to a minimum.
Thursday, 17 April 2025
In the morning, I check on Dodo and Booboo, and then on the four dogs outside the shelter. All the dogs inside are doing well, except for Darla, who has been coughing on and off for the past two days.
As usual, I start the day by handing out medication before moving on to the cleaning. Once that’s done, I feed the dogs and refill their water.
The house dogs still have access to the indoor areas. Since this arrangement has proven to work well, I’ll keep it in place for now.
Friday, 18 April 2025
In the morning, I pick up medication for Darla and then head to the shelter. Pat has taken over responsibility again, with Dieter and Pai assisting her. All I need to do is hand out the medication, and I won’t be back with the dogs until the afternoon. The dogs are well taken care of, so all that’s left for me is to do a final round of cleaning.
Saturday, 19 April 2025
In the morning, I check on the dogs at the park, as well as on Dodo and Booboo. All the dogs in the house area of the shelter are in good spirits, so I can get started right away with distributing their medications and cleaning up.
Darla’s medication seems to be working, as I no longer hear her coughing, though I’m continuing her treatment for now.
Once the feeding is done, I go over everything again for a second round of cleaning — but a rain shower interrupts me, so I take shelter with Tashi, Coco, and Lilly until it passes.
The house dogs still have access to the indoor areas, which they’re more than happy to take advantage of.
Sunday, 20 April 2025
The dogs behaved well in the house area, so cleaning was fairly manageable. After I finished tidying up the outdoor spaces as well, I handed out the medications and then started feeding them. I left the well-cared-for dogs a bit earlier than usual today, as I had some urgent errands to run in town.
Monday, 21 April 2025
After checking on Dodo and Booboo, as well as the four dogs by the shelter gate, I greet the house dogs and those in the double-gate area. All the dogs are doing well, so I get started right away with a thorough cleaning round. Once I’ve disposed of the waste, I begin feeding them and then make another pass through the areas for a final cleanup. I leave the well-cared-for dogs in the late afternoon.
Tuesday, 22 April 2025
Since Pat, Dieter, and Pai are taking care of the shelter dogs this morning, I have time to handle a minor repair on the pickup truck.
By late morning, I head over to the shelter to distribute the medications. Later in the afternoon, I check on the dogs again. Pat, Dieter, and Pai have done a great job again, so all that’s left for me is a final round of cleaning.
Late in the evening, I run into Michael, who’s feeding the Pong Park dogs. Spending time with the dogs there is always a calming moment that helps me unwind and forget the busyness of the day.
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
In front of the shelter gate, I’m greeted by the usual suspects, all of whom are in good spirits. The dogs in the front sections of the shelter are also in a cheerful mood, so I get right to work cleaning and distributing medication. Once the house and front areas are done, I move on to the back sections. Just as I finish picking up the waste, the sky darkens and a steady rain begins. While it pours, I feed the house dogs, and once the rain eases up, I feed the dogs in the other areas as well. After one final cleaning round, I leave the well-cared-for dogs for the day.
Thursday, 24 April 2025
Today is routine day at the shelter. I clean the areas, distribute medications, feed the dogs, clean again, and dispose of the waste. All the dogs are doing well, and after repairing a gate, I leave them for the night. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.
Friday, 25 April 2025
This morning, Pat, Dieter, and Pai are once again taking care of the shelter dogs. I only stop by the shelter briefly to hand out medication and load a crate onto the truck. Yesterday afternoon, Noo—who looks after the dogs at Wat Amparahm—informed me that she had found an injured dog. Since I couldn't determine whether it was one of mine, I head straight to the temple. There, I meet Noo, who shows me a dog suffering from TVT. To my relief, it’s not one of my rescues, but one of the many dogs that live on the front temple grounds. Since Noo is unable to catch the dog, I advise her to ask the monks to take him to a clinic. In the afternoon, I return to the shelter. Pat, Dieter, and Pai have done a great job caring for the dogs, so all that’s left for me is one final round of cleaning.
Pat arrives shortly afterward, bringing more cooked rice and canned food. After distributing the medications, I leave and return to the shelter later in the afternoon. I go through all areas, cleaning and removing the feces. All the dogs have been well cared for.
Until nightfall, I focus on the tedious task of clearing the cut grass from the double-gate area.
Not long after, it starts to rain—a light drizzle that continues into the early afternoon. Because of this, construction has to pause occasionally. The dogs are familiar with Chang Wai and are used to work being done at the shelter. I only have to correct them once in a while, and I spend most of the time sitting with Shaina and Kenji while the first sala is assembled in their area.
If the weather cooperates, construction on the second sala—If the weather cooperates, construction on the second sala—at the Nina, Bum, and Beppe area—will begin tomorrow.
Tuesday, 13 May 2025
The weather hasn’t improved, so I start work at the shelter early in the morning while it’s still lightly raining. At least the house has stayed dry, and during a walk through the different areas, I can see that all the dogs have made it through the wet night just fine.
Pat arrives and brings more canned food along with a bucket of cooked rice. Chang Wai lets me know that he’ll resume work as soon as the weather permits. Meanwhile, Dieter and Pai have also arrived and begin the cleaning tasks.
By late morning, Chang Wai and his assistant start building the second sala in the area where Nina, Bum, and Beppe stay. I spend some time sitting with the dogs, then clean up the waste.
By the time work on the sala is finished, Pat, Dieter, and Pai have already left the shelter, so all that’s left for me is a final check through the areas. I leave the well-cared-for dogs in the late afternoon.
Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Just as I’m about to head to the shelter in the morning, a heavy thunderstorm rolls in and doesn’t let up until midday. I use the time to go into town, pick up some Genta Oph, and then make my way to the shelter. The dogs weathered the storm well, so I’m able to get right to work distributing medication and cleaning.
After disposing of the waste, I start feeding the dogs in the house area and then make my way through the other sections. The dogs have taken well to the newly built salas.
Thursday, 15 May 2025
Today's routine at the shelter includes the usual medication rounds, cleanings, and feedings. In the early afternoon, I head to Wat Amphur. I order rice for Ba Baet and leave her another sack of dry food. All the dogs at the temple and beach area are accounted for and in good condition—only Taco still needs treatment for his skin issues.
Friday, 16 May 2025
I pick up 100 kg of dry food and head to the shelter. Pat and Pai are already working in the front areas. I distribute the medications and walk through all sections while Pat feeds the dogs in the back. All the dogs are doing well.
In the late afternoon, I'm back at the shelter. The dogs have all been well cared for and are calm and content. I do one final cleaning round, remove the waste, and then leave the dogs for the night.
Saturday, 17 May 2025
It rained heavily throughout the night, so I head to the shelter with mixed feelings. As expected, the ground is quite soft and covered in puddles. The rest area is flooded, but the dogs made it through the storm just fine. After handing out medication and cleaning the areas, it starts pouring again.
I spend an hour sitting with the dogs inside the house—a rare and welcome moment of calm for both them and me, as I usually don’t have the time or peace of mind for that.
As the rain lets up, I begin feeding the dogs in the front areas and then take care of the ones in the back. After another round of cleaning, I leave the shelter, hoping for better weather tomorrow.
Sunday, 18 May 2025
The weather is better today, and I manage to clean the areas, distribute the medication, and feed the dogs in the front sections before the sky darkens again and it starts pouring down in torrents. I'm not too worried, though—I know all the dogs have a dry spot to retreat to.
Once the storm clouds pass, I feed the remaining dogs. After a final round of cleaning, I leave the shelter. Most of the dogs in the house area have already settled down for the night.
Monday, 19 May 2025
The weather is holding up again today. I pick up some dry food and head to the shelter in the morning. When I arrive, Pat, Dieter, and Pai are already hard at work. Pat is feeding the dogs, Dieter is cleaning the water bowls and food trays, and Pai is tidying up the areas. I hand out the medications, dispose of the waste, and then clear cut grass from two more sections.
Tuesday, 20 May 2025
The dogs at the shelter are all doing well, so I can get straight to cleaning the enclosures. After distributing the medications and picking up the waste, I feed them. In the late afternoon, I leave the well-cared-for dogs behind.
Wednesday, 21 May 2025
This morning, Pat, Dieter, and Pai were working at the shelter. For now, it was Pat’s last day—she won’t be able to return until the middle of next month. When I arrive at the shelter in the early afternoon, a light, steady rain is falling. Pat, Dieter, and Pai have already finished their tasks and left. All that remains for me is to distribute the medications, do a final round of cleaning, and dispose of the waste. All the dogs have found dry spots to rest and are settling down for the day.
Thursday, 22 May 2025
This morning, I start by checking on the park dogs and Booboo. Out front at the shelter, I’m greeted by the usual suspects—all of them doing well. The house dogs and those in the entrance area are also in good spirits. As always, I begin with the less pleasant task of cleaning the front areas, then make my way through the back sections as well. All the dogs are accounted for and in good shape. After distributing the medications, I feed everyone, do one last round of cleaning, and then leave the dogs for the night. I’ll be back first thing in the morning.
Friday, 23 May 2025
Dieter and Pai are already at work when I arrive at the shelter. For the time being, they’ll be taking over the routine tasks, including feeding, three times a week. After handing out the medications, I rake up the freshly cut grass in three more areas and dispose of it. Dieter and Pai have taken good care of the dogs, and after one final round through the back sections of the shelter, I leave the dogs in the late afternoon.
Saturday, 24 May 2025
This morning, the first thing I do is check on Billy, who was attacked yesterday and ended up with some minor bite wounds. He’s doing fairly well, though he seems a bit down. For now, he’s staying in the kitchen. I hand out the medications and then get started on the cleaning. After that, I trim back a number of bushes and clear part of the large sala of grass and leaves. Once I’ve disposed of the waste—droppings, grass, and leaves—I feed the dogs. A final round of cleaning follows. I leave the dogs in the late afternoon. The kitchen, where Billy is staying with Kylie and, today, also Hovis, will remain locked overnight.
Sunday, 25 May 2025
In the morning, I let Kylie and Hovis out of the kitchen, but Billy stays there for now—he’s still shaken and hasn’t recovered from the shock. During my walk-through of the different areas, I find all the other dogs in good shape. After handing out the medications, I start the routine cleaning of all sections. Once I’ve cleared another area of cut grass, I begin feeding. After all the dogs have been fed, I do one last round of cleaning before leaving them for the night.
Monday, 26 May 2025
I'm already at the shelter when Dieter and Pai arrive in the morning. The first thing I do is check on Billy, who still seems quite down. During my rounds through the different areas, I find all the other dogs doing well.
Dieter and Pai start cleaning and preparing for feeding. I distribute the medications, then move on to clearing the freshly cut grass and fallen leaves from two more sections. After disposing of four full trash bags, I leave the remaining work to Dieter and Pai.
Later in the afternoon, I return to the shelter to do one final cleaning round and remove the waste. All the dogs are calm, and some have already settled in for the night. I'm a bit concerned about Billy, but he’s resting peacefully on his cot. Kylie and Rocco are spending the night with him in the locked kitchen.
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Today's work at the shelter was abruptly interrupted by a heavy downpour that partially flooded the house area. Even the rest area wasn’t spared—I had to remove rainwater several times as it seeped up through the floor. Thankfully, all the dogs, even those in the back areas, stayed dry. They have numerous salas available to take cover.
Once the ground had dried out a bit, I got to work cleaning. As a light drizzle set in, I began feeding the dogs and finished up with one last round of tidying.
On the way home, I stopped by Pong Park. The sky had cleared by then, and I took the chance to sit down with some of the dogs. Randy, Sharkey, Meefoo, Bella, and Daria came over to join me. I also ran into Dodo and Rico—Dodo’s eyes need another round of treatment.
Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Thursday, 29 May 2025
This morning, I helped Leo take his two young dogs to the Dr. Oi Clinic. They were there for checkups and vaccinations. Afterward, I brought Leo and the dogs back home, which meant I didn’t arrive at the shelter until around noon.
On my first walkthrough, I was relieved to find all the dogs doing well. Billy, however, still isn't quite back to his old self and is staying in the kitchen for now.
Once I had distributed the medications, cleaned the areas, and disposed of the waste, I started feeding the dogs in the front sections, then continued with those in the back.
Later, I raked up freshly cut grass in one of the sections and cleared out several bags of it. By late afternoon, with the dogs already settling in for the night, I wrapped up and left—ready to return first thing in the morning.
Friday, 30 May 2025
This morning, the sky over Pong was pitch black, and one heavy downpour followed another. During a short break in the rain, I made my way to the shelter. Dieter and Pai were already there, hard at work, and fortunately, the dark clouds had started to clear.
On my first walk through the different sections, I noticed that a metal sheet in Kenji’s area had been damaged. Luckily, the chain-link fence securing the metal sheets was still intact. I did my best to patch up the damage for now, but I’ll likely have to replace the sheet entirely tomorrow. Thankfully, none of the dogs were injured. The fences in the other areas are holding up more or less okay, though some definitely need repairs.
The feeding routine, which Dieter and Pai now handle on their own, is running smoothly. I also no longer have to worry about the regular cleaning tasks on three days of the week, which is a huge help. That means on those days, I can focus on distributing medications and spending more time sitting with the dogs.
Saturday, 31 May 2025
The weather isn’t an obstacle today, so I’m able to get through my tasks without interruption. After cleaning all areas thoroughly, I feed the dogs, distribute medications, clean once more, and dispose of the waste. Then I replace the torn metal sheet in Kenji’s area before saying goodbye to the dogs until tomorrow morning.
Sunday, 1 June 2025
On my way to the shelter, I stop to pick up a bag of dry food, stash it in the kitchen, and then get started with the cleaning. After disposing of the waste, I hand out medications and move on to feeding the dogs. Once everyone’s been fed and I’ve done a final sweep through the areas, I head over to the temple in Baan Amphur.
At the pet supply shop, another sack of dry food goes to Ba Bät, and I also order thirty kilos of rice for her. Pema finds me, and we’re both happy to see each other again. A cremation ceremony is taking place in the front hall, and despite the many visitors today, Victor, Talib, and Dahn are just as cheerful as ever.
The boat dogs are well-fed, and a few of them tag along with me on a walk along the beach, where we run into Toto and Kofi—both are doing well. Back in Pong, I check on the park dogs and take a moment to sit with them. This afternoon there are plenty of visitors, many of them with dogs, but the park dogs are used to the hustle and bustle—no incidents at all.
It looks like a new dog has shown up. He’s in good condition and seems approachable. We’ll see if he manages to integrate into the established group of regulars.
Monday, 2 June 2025
Today, Dieter and Pai take the lead at the shelter, handling feeding, cleaning the enclosures, and washing the food trays. That leaves me with just the medication rounds and enough time to rake up cut grass in two of the areas. By the time I leave the shelter, most of the dogs are already resting.
Later, I return to Pong Park and look for the new male dog, but I don’t spot him at first. It’s not until later in the evening, while Michael is feeding the park dogs, that I find him lying under a parked car.
It’s never easy for new dogs to find their place within an established pack, although one recently managed to do just that. I’ve since built a good connection with him as well.
Tuesday, 3 June 2025
Wednesday, 4 June 2025
On my way to the shelter, I stop to check on the park dogs, as well as Booboo and Bibi. In the park, I spot Randy, Sharkey, and Daria. Booboo gets his eye drops as usual.
Outside the shelter, I see all five dogs hanging around. The house dogs greet me excitedly as I arrive. Kyra's coat seems to be showing some signs of improvement, though her eyes still need ongoing treatment. Khiaow continues to receive her daily dose of doxycycline.
Once I’ve finished the cleaning routine, I move on to feeding time. After the dogs are fed, it’s time for another quick round of cleaning and refilling some of the water containers. I leave the dogs in the late afternoon, tired but content that they’re all doing okay today.
Friday, 6 June 2025
This morning, I was jolted out of sleep by the pitiful howling of a dog. After some searching, I found him lying in an empty lot nearby—unable to stand and clearly in severe pain. I rushed him to the clinic, where Dr. Oi gave him emergency treatment. A blood test revealed he was suffering from a concerning level of anemia. Thankfully, my initial suspicion that he had been poisoned turned out to be unfounded.
While still at the clinic, I discovered I had picked up a nail in one of my tires. Luckily, I was able to make it to a nearby repair shop before it went completely flat, and they patched it up without issue.
By early afternoon, I finally arrived at the shelter. Dieter and Pai had nearly finished their work—the dogs were well cared for, the house and areas cleaned. I handed out the medications, then took a walk through the different areas, sitting down with the dogs for a while. Just being with them always brings a sense of peace after another sorrowful day.
Saturday, 7 June 2025
This morning, the first thing I do is go looking for the dog I spotted yesterday while searching for the other sick dog. He clearly has health issues of his own. Unlike yesterday’s dog, I’ve known this one for about two months, but I’ve never been able to get close to him.
Eventually, I find that male dog again — and he's in a heartbreaking state. He’s so weak he can’t even stand, yet he still tries to bite me. I wrap him in a blanket, gently muzzle him, and take him to Dr. Oi.
In this case, Dr. Oi doesn’t rule out the possibility of rabies. Meanwhile, the dog from yesterday is still in terrible condition as well.
After finishing my duties at the shelter, I return to the clinic in the late afternoon. Dr. Oi tells me the prognosis for both dogs is extremely poor. We agree that the most compassionate option is to let them go. A mandatory rabies test will be performed on the aggressive dog.
Early in the evening, I bring both dogs to the NPW Clinic for cremation.
Sunday, 8 June 2025
During my morning visit to the dogs at Pong Park, I noticed a new male dog who seems to be getting along well with Sharkey. Back at the shelter, I gave out the medications and then started cleaning up. After disposing of the waste, I fed the dogs and did another round to tidy up the areas.
All the dogs are in good health and behaving well, so I can leave them with peace of mind until tomorrow morning.
Monday, 9 June 2025
When I arrive at the shelter, Pai and Dieter are already hard at work. They've fed the dogs and cleaned the living areas. After distributing the medications, I take a moment to sit with the house dogs while Dieter washes out the food bowls.
Once the two of them head off, I do a final round of cleaning—picking up waste and making sure everything is in order. With the dogs already settling down for the night, I quietly leave the shelter, knowing they’ll be waiting for me again in the morning.
Tuesday, 10 June 2025
This morning, I took the pickup truck in for its annual inspection, tended to the park dogs, and stocked up on dry food. All five dogs greeted me enthusiastically at the shelter gate.
As I entered the house area, I was once again welcomed with excited barks and wagging tails. The dogs are all in good spirits. I’m a bit concerned about Tanya, who’s lying under the sala in the house section and doesn’t want to come out. Thankfully, she seems to be doing okay.
Today is the final day of Khiaow’s Doxycycline treatment. I still need to continue administering eye drops to a few of the dogs.
I clean the house and all surrounding areas, disposing of the waste. Since I found quite a bit of loose stool, I decided to cut today’s food portions in half. There’s still enough drinking water available. After a final cleaning round, I wrap things up and leave the dogs for the day.
Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Today, Dieter and Pai are back at the shelter. They’re hard at work cleaning the house and surrounding areas, feeding the dogs, refreshing their drinking water and the large water tubs, and scrubbing the feeding trays and bowls.
I only stop by for a short time in the morning to administer eye drops to a few of the dogs. While I’m there, the atmosphere is strikingly calm. It’s clear that Dieter and Pai have a soothing effect on the dogs—everyone seems relaxed and at ease.
In the afternoon, I return to check on the dogs. Many of them have already settled down, full and content. I do one final round of cleaning before saying goodnight and leaving them to rest until morning.
Thursday, 12 June 2025
Today is routine day at the shelter. After cleaning the main areas, I feed the dogs and also take care of the five who live outside the gate. Edith and Billy get their monthly dose of Heartgard.
Once everything is cleaned again and the waste is properly disposed of, I quietly leave the now-settled dogs to rest until tomorrow.
Friday, 13 June 2025
I pick up a load of dry dog food and, on the way to the shelter, stop by Pong Park to check on the dogs there, as well as Booboo and Bibi. Just outside the shelter gate, I’m greeted by the five free-roaming dogs who always seem to be waiting.
By the time I arrive, Dieter and Pai have already taken care of the main tasks. I store the food, apply eye drops, and once they’ve headed out, I make my rounds through every area of the shelter.
While the water tank is refilling, I sit with the house dogs for a while. Everyone’s well-fed and relaxed. The house and enclosures are clean. With everything in order, I can leave the dogs for the night feeling calm and reassured — they’re safe, and they’re content.
Saturday, 14 June 2025
Pat is back and has taken over feeding duties at the shelter today. While she handles the meals, I focus on cleaning the house and outdoor areas, including waste removal.
All the dogs are in good shape, which is always a relief. Even Kylie, who has struggled with skin issues ever since I took her in years ago, is showing signs of improvement—her coat has recently started to look better. It’s the little victories like this that remind me why the daily effort is worth it.
Sunday, 15 June 2025
This morning, I started my day at Pong Park, where I was glad to find all the dogs present and doing well. Booboo and Bibi were also at their usual spots, looking content. The five dogs hanging around in front of the shelter gate were in good shape too.
After checking on everyone’s well-being, I turned my attention to the shelter itself. I began by cleaning the house and surrounding areas, followed by waste disposal. Once that was done, I started the feeding rounds—beginning inside the house and working my way through the remaining sections of the shelter.
In the early afternoon, I made my way to Baan Amphur. I picked up a sack of rice for Ba Baet and dropped off a bag of dry food for her as well. At the temple's front hall, I was greeted by a cheerful Victor, Talib, and Dahn. During our walk, we also ran into Kofi and Toto. They, along with the dogs near the boats, were all doing well and seemed happy.
Monday, 16 June 2025
This morning, Dieter and Pai were back at the shelter. They cleaned the house and surrounding areas, fed the dogs, refilled the drinking stations and large water containers, and scrubbed all the food trays and bowls. That left me with a simple round through the enclosures to hand out medications. All the dogs were well cared for and in a peaceful mood.
Of course, no day ever passes entirely without issues. Today, the water tank refill system stopped working, and I couldn’t figure out the cause. Pat is back on duty at the shelter tomorrow morning, and I’ll take another stab at troubleshooting it then.
Later in the evening, I visited the park dogs. In the parking lot, I found only Toto, Meefoo, and Daria. Dodo, Rico, and Blacky were hanging out across the street. As I walked to the back of the park, I ran into Sharkey, Randy, and Bella. The dry food I offered wasn’t met with much enthusiasm—Michael’s gourmet treats have clearly spoiled their appetite.
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Pat and I arrived at the shelter at the same time this morning. Once again, the water supply isn’t fully functioning. The pump is running, but the water is coming in slowly—likely due to a drop in the groundwater level. While Pat feeds the dogs, I start cleaning the areas.
In the early afternoon, I leave Pat to finish up and return later in the day. I do a final round of cleaning and dispose of the waste. Despite the weak inflow, the tank manages to fill up enough for now. Still, we desperately need a good downpour to help raise the groundwater level.
As night falls, most of the dogs have already settled down, and I leave them in peace.
Later in the evening, I head over to the Pong Park dogs. Unfortunately, except for Daria, none of them are interested in the dry food I bring. Sadly, I don’t have anything tastier to offer them tonight.
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
When I arrive at the shelter late in the morning, Dieter and Pai are already hard at work. They’ve cleaned all areas, washed the bowls and feeding trays, and taken care of feeding the dogs. All that’s left for me is to administer eye drops and dispose of the waste. That gives me a rare chance to sit down with Dieter and some of the dogs inside the house.
The water flow into the tank remains frustratingly low, and eventually, the pump shuts off completely. Thankfully, the tank has filled just enough to ensure we’ll have water for tomorrow morning.
Late in the evening, I visit the dogs at Pong Park once more. It’s the last time for now, as Michael will return tomorrow and resume spoiling them with their favorite treats. Tonight, it’s dry food again—nothing fancy, but they’ll be in for something better very soon.
Thursday, 19 June 2025
This morning, I picked up a new supply of dry food and checked in on Booboo. The dogs—both outside the shelter gate and inside—greeted me in high spirits. I checked the water system to make sure the tank was being refilled. Fortunately, the inflow was working, though still very slow. By late afternoon, the tank had filled up again.
I went through my usual routine—cleaning, feeding, and making sure everything was in order. I also took a little time to sit with the dogs. They’re all so sweet and truly deserve more attention than I’m able to give.
Later in the evening, I headed over to see the Pong Park dogs again. Michael was supposed to feed them tonight, but we waited until 11 p.m. with no sign of him. Thankfully, it’s not a major issue for the dogs. They were all present and accounted for, and they manage to find plenty of food in the park during the day.
Friday, 20 June 2025
Today, Pat, Dieter, and Pai took full charge at the shelter. That left me with just a few simple tasks—administering the usual eye drops and doing a final walkthrough of the areas. The water supply is finally back to normal. It rained overnight, and that seems to have made a real difference. With the dogs well cared for and everything in order, I left the shelter in the afternoon feeling reassured.
I had planned to visit the park dogs later in the evening, but just as I was about to head out, the rain started again. Michael has returned from his short trip, so I’m hoping he’ll be able to feed them during a break in the weather.
Sunday, 22 June 2025
On my way to the shelter this morning, I stopped by to check on Booboo. It's been a year since he underwent cancer treatment, and up until recently, he had been living a normal, happy life. Back then, Dr. Oi had warned me that the development of metastases couldn't be ruled out.
Lately, I’ve noticed a hard swelling forming on his flank. Today, I also discovered an inflamed growth near his genital area. I fear the cancer may have returned and spread. It’s likely that I’ll have to say goodbye to Booboo soon. He’s the sweetest soul—a truly gentle dog—and I know I’ll miss him deeply.
Outside the shelter gate, I’m greeted by Soda and Noona. As I enter, the dogs in the house area welcome me with their usual excited energy. I get straight to work—cleaning up and then starting the feeding routine after disposing of the waste. The dogs in the rear sections are doing well, too, and all seem to be in great spirits. Thankfully, the water system is functioning again, so tomorrow's supply is secured.
Later that night, I head back to visit the park dogs. They’re all gathered around Michael, who’s feeding them well as always. Someone even put collars on Sharkey and Randy—small gestures that show they’re not forgotten.
Monday, 23 June 2025
When I arrive at the shelter this morning, Dieter and Pai are already hard at work. After administering the usual eye drops, I turn my attention to a task I’ve been considering for a few days: relocating Taya and Tanya from the house section to the area where Khiaow mainly stays, which is also connected to Nuri and Tarik’s space.
Taya and Tanya have been living in the house section ever since I took them in. But lately, especially Tanya, have been acting withdrawn—Tanya hasn’t left her hiding spot under the house sala in days. I suspect both dogs no longer feel comfortable in their familiar surroundings, so I decide it’s time to move them.
The transition goes smoothly with Taya, but getting Tanya out from under the sala proves more difficult. With Dieter’s help, I finally manage to reunite her with her sister in the new area. I close the gate to Nuri and Tarik’s space for now, leaving Khiaow together with the two newcomers.
To my surprise, Taya and Tanya respond positively to their new environment. Khiaow, too, shows no objections to the new arrivals. I sit with the three of them for a while, observing their interactions, before continuing with other shelter tasks.
About half an hour later, I return to check on them and feel a wave of relief. Taya and Tanya seem to have fully embraced their new surroundings. Dieter and Pai have wrapped up their duties for the day, and I take a break for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, I’m back at the shelter. Naturally, I head straight to the area where I hope Taya and Tanya will now feel safe and secure. Both dogs are completely relaxed, and they’re getting along just fine with Khiaow. The gate to Nuri and Tarik’s section remains closed for now, but I’m hopeful that all five dogs will soon be able to share the common space peacefully.
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Pat is back on duty at the shelter today. She takes care of cleaning the house and all the surrounding areas before moving on to feeding the dogs.
My first task is to check on Taya, Tanya, and Khiaow. The three are getting along well, and the two newcomers still seem comfortable in their new environment. While observing them, I notice that Khiaow’s left ear is inflamed. I gently clean the ear and disinfect the ear canal to prevent further infection.
Once Pat finishes her chores, I do a final round to tidy up the areas and collect any remaining waste. All the dogs are well cared for, and most of them are already resting peacefully.
Wednesday, 25 June 2025
I wasn't feeling well this morning and didn’t make it to the shelter until early afternoon. By the time I arrived, Dieter and Pai had already finished their tasks—once again, everything done to the highest standard.
My first stop was the Khiaow area to check on Taya and Tanya. The dogs were getting along well, but Taya clearly seemed uncomfortable in her new surroundings. She appeared anxious and unsettled, so I decided to move her back to the house area and set her up in the quiet room. Dieter had already mentioned that something seemed off with her and that she wasn’t eating. Unfortunately, she still wouldn’t touch the food I offered her.
A second issue I couldn’t resolve today was the water supply, which had been interrupted once again. The pump on the neighboring property isn’t working, which is the source of the problem. Thankfully, Dieter and Pai had enough water left to complete all essential tasks.
That left me with just a few duties: administering medications, doing a final cleanup round, and disposing of the waste. Khiaow and Tanya seem to be getting along just fine, and Taya has settled into the quiet room. I gave her a dose of Ferric and hope she’ll be feeling better tomorrow.
Thursday, 26 June 2025
My first glance this morning is for Taya. She's lying on one of the benches in the quiet room, and it’s clear she’s not doing well. Her breathing is labored and raspy, and it feels as though every ounce of energy has drained from her body. I set aside my usual morning tasks and sit with her. After about half an hour, Taya passes away peacefully. She was only four years and three months old.
Once I’ve cleaned the house and the front areas, I gently wrap Taya and place her in the entry room. Then I continue with the rest of the cleaning. As I move through the shelter, I notice that several dogs have had diarrhea, so I decide to cut today’s food portions in half. With the drinking water supply secured, I wrap up my work for the day and take Taya to the NPW Clinic for cremation.
Friday, 27 June 2025
When I arrive at the shelter late in the morning, Pai is already hard at work. He’s feeding the dogs and cleaning the various areas, which means I only need to take care of distributing the medications and disposing of the remaining waste.
The water supply is still giving us trouble, but after doing some investigating, I finally manage to get the tank slowly refilling again. It’s a small success, but a much-needed one.
While I wait, I spend some quiet time with the dogs in the back areas, sitting with them for a while before joining the house dogs for about two hours. A light rain begins to fall during this time—very welcome since it didn't for quite a while. I can only hope we’ll be blessed with more showers soon so that the groundwater levels can start to recover.
Saturday, 28 June 2025
I pick up 120 kilograms of dry dog food before heading to the shelter. There, I start the day by cleaning the front sections first. Once the food is unloaded and stored away, I move on to clean the back areas.
All the dogs seem to be doing well—except for Billy, who gives me a bit of concern today. I decide to leave him in the kitchen with a few other dogs, where he feels safe and comfortable. The rest of the pack is in good shape. Water supply remains a challenge again today, but the tank still holds enough for tomorrow.
I begin feeding the dogs in the house and front sections, then work my way toward the back. After a final round of cleaning, I leave the now-settled dogs for the night and head home, knowing I’ll be back again in the morning.
Sunday, 29 June 2025
Pat is back at the shelter today. She feeds the dogs and takes care of cleaning the front areas, while I focus on the house and the remaining sections. After that, I distribute the medication.
To my great joy, I notice that Tanya has returned to the house. She’s resting in one of the kennels and looks content and at ease—such a relief to see her this way.
The water supply is still an issue, but the tank is filled enough to get us through tomorrow.
In the afternoon, Michael lets me know that Meefoo appears to have developed an infection on her lower abdomen. I go looking for her but can’t find her anywhere.
Later in the evening, I return to the park. Michael is there feeding the dogs. All of them show up—except Meefoo.
Monday, 30 June 2025
This morning, I check again for Meefoo, but she remains out of sight.
By the time I arrive at the shelter, Pat and Dieter are already hard at work—cleaning the areas, washing the food bowls and trays, and feeding the dogs. My only tasks are administering eye drops to several dogs and giving Doxy to Khiaow.
Thankfully, the water supply to the tank is working again, though the cause of the earlier interruptions remains a mystery.
Tanya is still lying quietly in one of the house kennels. As a precaution, I move her into the bathroom, where she’ll be safe and undisturbed.
On my way back, I search again for Meefoo but spot neither her nor any of the other park dogs.
Later in the evening, I return to the park. Michael is there, feeding the dogs as usual. They’re all gathered—except Meefoo.