Tuesday, 1 July 2025
In the morning, I check on the park dogs and, on the way to the shelter, stop by to see Booboo and Bibi.
Once at the shelter, the first thing I do is move Tanya from the house area to the rear unit of the entry section. She’ll be sharing that space with Jake for now. I keep the door closed to give her time to adjust to the new surroundings.
After that, I clean the house, the house yard, and the double-gate area. Once the meds are distributed, I head out to Baan Amphur.
There, I pick up rice for Ba Baet and drop off another sack of dry food for her to use in feeding the temple and beach dogs. At the temple hall, I’m warmly greeted by Victor, Talib, and Dahn, all in high spirits. During our walk along the beach, I run into Kofi and Toto. They’re doing well, as are the dogs near the fishing boats.
By afternoon, I’m back at the shelter. I feed the dogs, though with smaller portions today, since Pat and Dieter clearly took great care of them yesterday. Then I do another round of cleaning and dispose of the waste.
While I’m still working, we receive a surprise visit from Carl and one of his fellow teachers from Rugby School. They bring with them a generous supply of mats and blankets—always a welcome gift.
Just as I’m seeing them off, I hear frantic barking coming from the large sala area. I rush over and find Tarik being attacked by the dogs there—he had jumped the gate and entered their space. I manage to pull him out and bring him back to his area.
On inspection, he seems to have only minor bite wounds, but he’s clearly in shock. I clean his injuries and sit with him until he starts to calm down. When I leave the shelter, he has tucked himself under one of the salas. I can only hope this experience teaches him not to try another escape anytime soon.
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
In the morning, I start my day by checking on the park dogs. Meefoo is still missing, which continues to worry me. Afterward, I visit Booboo and Bibi. Booboo is holding up fairly well, but the swelling he’s developed doesn’t look promising.
At the shelter, Dieter and Pai are already hard at work. I distribute the medications and check on Tarik. He’s still visibly downcast. Thankfully, the bite wounds he suffered are minor, but he hasn’t fully bounced back yet.
I let Tanya roam freely in the double-gated area. So far, there are no signs of conflict with the others, but it’s clear that full integration will take some more time.
Dieter and Pai have once again done an excellent job caring for the dogs and cleaning up the shelter. All that’s left for me is a final round of cleaning and waste disposal. Unfortunately, the water supply to the tank has stopped working again, and I can’t locate the source of the problem. Luckily, the tank was filled yesterday, so today's cleaning wasn’t affected. I’ll have to troubleshoot it again tomorrow.
Later in the evening, I return to the park dogs. Despite a light drizzle, Michael also shows up as usual to feed them. Still, there’s no sign of Meefoo. Her continued absence is weighing heavily on me.
Thursday, 3 July 2025
I start my morning once again looking out for Meefoo—but no luck today either. On the way to the shelter, I stop by Booboo’s spot, as I do every morning, to give him his eye drops. Despite two visible swellings on his right side, he doesn’t seem to be in any pain.
Outside the shelter gate, Mee, Noona, Soda, and Sahm are already waiting to greet me. Pat is on duty today and has already fed the dogs. That leaves me with distributing medications, doing a final cleaning round, and disposing of the waste.
Although we had heavy rain overnight, the tank is once again struggling to fill properly. Still, the dogs’ drinking water supply should be secured for tomorrow.
Friday, 4 July 2025
Today, Dieter and Pai take care of the bulk of the work at the shelter. They clean the house, the entrance area, and all the outdoor sections. They wash the food bowls and handle the feeding as well.
My first priority is the water supply. Thankfully, it seems to be working again today, even though the flow is still weak. After making another pass through the shelter for a final cleanup, distributing the medications, and spending another two hours sitting with the dogs, the tank is finally full again.
Saturday, 5 July 2025
In the morning, I give Dodo and Booboo their eye drops. Outside the shelter gate, I’m greeted by the usual four suspects—cheerful and in good spirits. All the dogs in the house and double-gate areas are doing well, too. I let Tanya out into the open yard, where she’s moving about with growing confidence. Only Liyyz still occasionally acts up.
Tarik is slowly recovering from the shock and the bite wounds he suffered; I treat them again with antiseptic spray. After doing a round of cleaning, I feed the dogs and leave them as they begin to settle down for the day.
Late at night, I return to Pong Park. Michael is there, feeding the dogs as usual. All are present—except Dodo. He was likely shut in somewhere by mistake. Sadly, Meefoo is still missing.
As I walk home on foot, Toto follows me for quite a distance. In the end, I have to turn back and guide him safely back to the park.
Sunday, 6 July 2025
On the way to the shelter, I stop to check on Dodo and Rico—but both are nowhere to be found. At least I come across Booboo and manage to give him his eye drops.
At the shelter, Pat has already cleaned the front areas and is in the middle of feeding the dogs. I distribute the medications and then clean the back sections.
Tarik is doing better today. I treat a few of his small bite wounds again. Billy, on the other hand, is starting to worry me—he’s becoming frail and might become a target for attacks. For his safety, he’ll spend the night in the closed kitchen. Tanya is also kept safely in the double-gate kennel area along with Jake, Dotty, and Luna.
On my way home, I stop by Pong Park. I spot Daria, and nearby are Sharkey and Toto—who seem completely inseparable now. I take them on a peaceful walk around the park grounds.
Monday, 7 July 2025
As usual, I start my morning by checking on the park dogs, then head over to see Booboo and Bibi. When I arrive at the shelter, Dieter and Pai are already hard at work. They’ve taken care of the dogs outside the gate and in the front areas, and Pai is busy feeding the ones in the back.
I handle the medication rounds and then dispose of the brush that Pai trimmed earlier. Tarik is doing significantly better—though I continue treating a few of his minor wounds, they clearly don’t bother him anymore.
After my two helpers head out, I do one last cleaning round and take care of the waste. The dogs in the back areas are in great spirits too, which always feels like a small but meaningful reward.
Tuesday, 8 July 2025
After checking in on the park dogs and Booboo in the morning, I dive into the shelter work. I distribute the medications, clean the house and all surrounding areas, and then handle the feeding.
Billy seems to be doing fine today, so I let him stay in the kitchen where he feels safe.
Late in the evening, I return to visit the park dogs. Michael is there feeding them. The newly arrived male is still very shy—I had seen him earlier in the day lying near the park workers. Meefoo, unfortunately, is still missing.
Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Early in the morning, Dieter calls to let me know the water isn’t flowing into the tank. I head straight to the shelter and, after an extensive search, manage to locate and fix the issue. While Dieter and Pai continue with their routine tasks, I distribute the medications and return home around midday for a short break.
By early afternoon, I’m back at the shelter. The water supply is running again, but since quite a bit has been used and the flow into the tank remains weak, I’m forced to wait for hours until it fills up again. While I wait, I clean the various areas, dispose of the waste, sit with the dogs, and dig out the roots of young trees that Pai had cut down in the yard.
As night falls, I’m finally able to leave the dogs on their own. I secure Tanya in the kennel area and close the connecting door between the indoor and open sections of the house to prevent Billy from wandering outside. He’s settled in for the night with a few other residents who prefer the comfort of the enclosed space.
Thursday, 10 July 2025
On my way to the shelter, I stop—as always—to check on the park dogs and Booboo. At the shelter, Pat is already hard at work. She’s cleaned the front areas and is in the middle of feeding the dogs.
I take care of distributing the medications, clean the back sections, and dispose of the waste. Fortunately, the water supply is running smoothly again today, and the tank is full.
In the early afternoon, I leave the final tasks to Pat. Later that evening, I return to the park, where Michael is feeding the dogs. The new dog is missing.
Friday, 11 July 2025
As I do every morning, I check on the park dogs first—especially Dodo and Booboo, who both receive eye drops. By the time I arrive at the shelter, Dieter and Pai have already fed the dogs at the front gate and are once again taking care of most of the day’s heavy work.
I administer eye drops to Billy, Kylie, Jake, and Merlin, then clear away some trimmed brush that Pai had cut back earlier. While I’m doing that, Dieter continues working inside the house and Pai takes care of the feeding.
Once they finish up the remaining tasks, I head home for a break at midday and return to the shelter later in the afternoon. Most of the essential work has already been done, so all that’s left for me is one final cleaning round and waste disposal. The dogs are well cared for, and by evening, most of them have already settled in for the night.
Saturday, 12 July 2025
I start by caring for Dodo and Booboo, then turn to the day’s shelter work. After thoroughly cleaning the house and all outdoor areas, and disposing of the waste, I feed the dogs.
Once I complete a final round of cleaning, I leave the dogs—already calm and settled in for the night—until tomorrow.
Sunday, 13 July 2025
This morning, Pat once again took the lead with the shelter work and handled the dogs’ feeding. In the early afternoon, I took over after checking in on the park dogs as well as Booboo and Bobo.
Finding the shelter dogs calm and relaxed. I started by distributing the medications, then completed a final round of cleaning and took care of waste disposal. Fortunately, the water supply is working again for now, allowing the tank to be refilled.
I left the shelter in the late afternoon with a good feeling, knowing the dogs were well cared for and everything was in order.
Monday, 14 July 2025
Today, Dieter and Pai once again took care of the essential work at the shelter. I can hardly express how relieved and grateful I am to have finally found two such dedicated and capable helpers—especially after so many years of searching in vain.
All that remained for me today was the usual task of distributing medications and completing a final round of cleaning.
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
This morning began, as usual, with a visit to Bobo and Booboo. After checking on them, I picked up a sack of dry food and made my way to the dogs in Baan Amphur.
I stopped at the temple shop to buy rice and found Pema tucked away in a quiet backyard. At the temple hall, I ran into Victor, Talib, and Dahn, and farther down by the beach, I spotted Kofi and Toto. The dogs near the boats were all accounted for and in good condition—always a reassuring sight.
Following a few errands in town, I arrived at the shelter early in the afternoon. I cleaned the house and surrounding areas and then fed the dogs. They were in good spirits, allowing me to leave them for the evening with peace of mind.
Just before dusk, I visited the dogs at Pong Park. I saw Daria and Randy mingling among the many parkgoers and spent some quiet time sitting with Sharkey and Tito.
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
In the morning, I check on the park dogs and find Sharkey, Randy, Daria, Dodo, and Tito all present. As usual, I give Booboo his eye drops before heading to the shelter.
Dieter and Pai, as always, take care of all the main tasks, leaving me only the medication rounds. Their steady presence continues to be a tremendous relief.
In the afternoon, I return to the shelter. Once again, Dieter and Pai have done an excellent job tending to the dogs. I simply walk through the areas for a final cleaning and dispose of trimmed brush that Pai had cut earlier.
On the way home, I make another stop at Pong Park. I see Sharkey, Randy, and Tito again and take a moment to sit with them before heading home.
Thursday, 17 July 2025
As usual, I start the day by checking on the park dogs and on Booboo. Two days ago, Toto was bitten, and now a swelling has developed on his flank that needs treatment.
The dogs outside the shelter gate and those inside are in good spirits. I begin by cleaning Khiaow’s left ear flap, which is slightly inflamed. He also receives a dose of Prednisolone, a treatment I’ll need to continue over the coming days. After a walk-through inspection of the rear areas, I move on to cleaning and waste disposal. This is followed by feeding and a final check of all zones to make sure everything is in order.
My planned late-evening visit to the Pong Park dogs has to be canceled due to persistent rain. I’m not too worried—they’ve weathered many rainy nights before, and the open-air pavilion provides adequate shelter. Starting tomorrow, I’ll also be giving Prednisolone to Toto. Hopefully, the swelling will go down, and a trip to the vet won’t be necessary.
Friday, 18 July 2025
This morning, I had a few errands to run in the city. While I was out, I also paid a visit to Beppe—it's been a while. He and his dogs are doing well.
Back in Pong, I checked in on the park dogs and spotted a new male who’s recently shown up. He’s been staying close to the park workers and seems to have decided to stick around. I gave Tito a dose of Prednisolone; while his bite wounds don’t look too serious, the swelling on his flank is still noticeable.
At the shelter, Dieter, Pai, and Pat are all working together today. I cleaned Khiaow’s ear again and gave her Prednisolone. Meanwhile, I noticed that Buffy has developed a swelling on her left front leg. Unlike her usual friendly self, she kept running away from me, making it impossible to treat her right then.
Later in the afternoon, I returned to the shelter. The dogs had been well cared for, so I took some time to sit quietly in the sala in Buffy’s area. Eventually, she let me come close enough to give her the Prednisolone she needed.
Before heading home, I did a final cleaning round. With the dogs already settling in for the night, I left the shelter with a sense of calm, knowing they’re safe until morning.
Saturday, 19 July 2025
On my morning walk through the park, I come across Sharkey and Tito lying side by side. I give Tito his dose of Prednisolone. On the way to the shelter, I stop by to administer Booboo’s eye drops. In front of the shelter gate, I’m greeted by the usual suspects—cheerful as always.
Inside the house, the front area, and the double-gate section, the dogs are also in good spirits. After distributing medications, I begin the daily cleaning routine and dispose of the waste. In the back sections, I take a few minutes to sit with the dogs. I wish I had more time to spend with them, but feeding time is approaching—and the sky is darkening fast.
I manage to get everyone fed just in time before the skies open up. The rain is heavy but short-lived.
Thankfully, that gives me a chance to check in on the park dogs once more. While doing so, I notice what seems to be a new arrival—a neutered male in good condition. He’s already made contact with Sharkey and Tito. Let’s see if he decides to stay.
Sunday, 20 July 2025
This morning, as usual, I start my day checking on the park dogs. Among them, I find the recently arrived male curled up beneath a parked car. Since he seems to have decided to stay, I name him Karim. He’s shy, but he allows me to gently pet him—a good sign.
Tito receives another dose of Prednisolone. The swelling on his flank is receding and doesn’t seem to be bothering him anymore. I also give Booboo and Dodo their eye drops. Dodo’s eyes are already looking much clearer. Booboo, on the other hand, continues to worry me. The swellings on his body look quite severe, yet he doesn’t appear to be in pain. He remains affectionate and calm, which is both reassuring and heartbreaking. I wonder how much longer he’ll hold on.
Later in the afternoon, I head to the shelter. Pat has done an excellent job caring for the dogs and cleaning all areas. I distribute the medications and then do one final round of cleaning before wrapping up for the day.
Monday, 21 July 2025
During my morning round through the park, I come across Sharkey and Tito, as well as Bella and Karim, who are resting near the sleeping park workers. Tito receives another dose of Prednisolone.
On the way to the shelter, I stop to give Dodo and Booboo their eye drops. Dieter and Pai have already cleaned the shelter, cleaned all the water bowls, and fed the dogs. I take care of the medications and don’t return to the shelter again until late afternoon.
By then, Dieter and Pai have finished their duties. I do one last cleaning sweep through all the areas and dispose of the waste. Most of the dogs have already settled down for the evening by the time I leave.
Late at night, I head back to the park. Michael is there, feeding the dogs as usual. Bella doesn’t show up.
Tuesday, 22 July 2025
This morning in the park, I find Tito resting alongside Sharkey in the back area of Pong Park. I give him his dose of Prednisolone. On my way to the shelter, I also check in on Booboo.
The shelter work begins, as usual, with cleaning the different areas and distributing medications. After that, I feed the dogs and do one final cleaning round.
All of the dogs are doing well today—including the four who like to hang around just outside the shelter.
Wednesday, 23 July 2025
This morning, I had several errands to run in town, so I didn’t make it to the shelter until early afternoon. As always, Dieter and Pai had taken excellent care of the dogs and had already left by the time I arrived. I handed out the medications and did another round of cleaning through all the areas before leaving the dogs, who were already settling down for the evening.
On my way home, I stopped by to check on the park dogs. All were gathered as usual—except for Karim, who was missing today.
Thursday, 24 July 2025
My morning began with picking up 160 kg of dry dog food. After that, I made my usual round through the park, where I gave Tito his dose of Prednisolone. On the way to the shelter, I stopped to apply eye drops for Booboo.
The shelter dogs were in good spirits today, so I was able to get straight to work—distributing medications and cleaning the house along with the front areas. Once the dry food was stored away, I continued with cleaning the rear sections.
After disposing of the waste, I fed the dogs and did a final round of cleaning. By late afternoon, the dogs had already begun to settle down for the evening, and I left them to rest peacefully until tomorrow.
Friday, 25 July 2025
When I arrived at the shelter early in the afternoon, Pat, Dieter, and Pai had already taken care of the dogs and cleaned both the house and surrounding areas. I noticed that the water tank was only half full and the inflow was minimal, so I set out to find the cause.
It turned out that a pipe on the neighboring property was damaged. I managed to repair it, but it still took until nightfall for the tank to fill sufficiently. In the meantime, I distributed the medications and did a final round of cleaning through the shelter.
For the remainder of the time, I sat quietly with the dogs in the kitchen area, enjoying the calm. Later in the evening, I visited the Pong Park dogs again. As usual, Michael arrived to feed them some specially selected treats.
Saturday, 26 July 2025
As usual, I check on the park dogs in the morning and give Dodo and Booboo their eye drops. The four regular strays greet me cheerfully at the shelter gate. Inside the house area and at the main entrance, the dogs are also in good spirits. I distribute the medications—this time including Beppe, who has some swelling around his mouth. It looks like he may have been stung, though he’s behaving normally.
After a cleaning round, I begin the feeding routine. Cleaning the shelter is becoming increasingly difficult for me. I’ve been overusing my left wrist for years, and now it’s swollen and chronically painful. Even anti-inflammatories no longer help. After fifteen years of nonstop work and the emotional weight that comes with it, I’m pretty burnt out.
What keeps me going is my sense of responsibility toward the dogs. They rely on me, and I can’t let them down. I know I desperately need a break—just a month to rest and recharge—but that feels more like a distant dream than a realistic option.
Sunday, 27 July 2025
Today, Pat once again takes on the main workload at the shelter, handling the house cleaning and feeding. I focus on distributing the medications and cleaning the rear sections. On my way home, I stop to give Booboo and Dodo their eye drops.
Monday, 28 July 2025
This morning, I check in on Booboo and Bibi. Booboo is moving more slowly now, and the cancer is clearly progressing. In addition to the tumors on his back, he has developed a noticeable swelling on his neck. Yet he doesn’t seem to be in pain and patiently lets me administer his eye drops.
When I arrive at the shelter, Dieter and Pai are already hard at work. They’ve fed the dogs outside the gate and are busy feeding the shelter dogs and cleaning the various areas.
I distribute the medications and return later in the afternoon. By then, Dieter and Pai have finished for the day, once again leaving everything in excellent condition. I do a final cleaning round before leaving the resting dogs for the night.
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
On my way to the shelter this morning, I stopped by to check on the park dogs and gave Dodo and Booboo their eye drops. Once at the shelter, I immediately began distributing the medications, followed by cleaning the house and then the surrounding areas. My next task was feeding the dogs and doing one final round of cleaning. All the dogs were in good spirits and seemed to be doing well.
On the way home, I stopped by Pong Park. I found Randy, Sharkey, Bella, Tito—and even Karim, who made an appearance again. The park was lively, with lots of visitors out and about. Among them were Michael and his wife, who were greeted enthusiastically by the dogs.
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
This morning, I stopped by to check on Booboo. He continues to face his illness with remarkable bravery—calm and composed despite everything. At the shelter gate, the strays were in good spirits, greeting me with wagging tails and bright eyes. Inside the house, the energy was equally upbeat.
Dieter and Pai were already hard at work, caring for the dogs with their usual dedication. I got started with the daily medication rounds, followed by a walkthrough to check all areas and make sure everything was clean and in order.
Later in the afternoon, I returned to find the dogs still content and well cared for. I did a final cleaning round, then said goodnight to my four-legged companions—until tomorrow.
Thursday, 31 July 2025
As always, I start my morning by checking on the park dogs. On my way to the shelter, I stop by the beverage shop where Booboo was often seen resting. The owner meets me with sad news—Booboo passed away during the night. He was a gentle soul who bore his illness with quiet endurance until the very end.
At the shelter, I begin my usual routine. After cleaning all the areas, I move on to feeding the dogs. Then, I take a moment for myself—and for them—by sitting quietly with the house dogs for an hour. It's a small act, but one that brings comfort to both them and me, especially on a day like this.
Friday, 1 August 2025
Late in the morning, I first check in on the park dogs, then pick up a supply of dry food before making a quick stop at the shelter. Today, Pat, Dieter, and Pai are working together to care for the dogs. After unloading the food, I head to Baan Amphur.
There, I pick up another batch of rice for Ba Baet and drop off a 20-kg bag of dry food for her dogs. In the front courtyard, I’m greeted by a cheerful Victor, Talib, and Dahn, and further down the beach I come across Kofi and Toto. The dogs near the boats are all present and in good condition.
Back at the shelter later in the day, I find the dogs well cared for. I distribute medications and do another round of cleaning. Then I sit with the dogs in the kitchen area while waiting for the water tank to refill. On my way home, I stop by the Pong Park dogs. They’re doing fine as well, although Toto and Randy are not around this time.
Saturday, 2 August 2025
After checking in on the park dogs this morning, I arrive at the shelter to find the dogs in good spirits. It’s clear they were well cared for yesterday, which means today’s thorough cleaning of the house and surrounding areas takes quite some time.
Once I’ve finished distributing the medications, I begin feeding the dogs in the front areas, then work my way through the back sections—where the mood is just as positive. While the water tank slowly refills, I take care of the four dogs waiting outside the shelter gate and finish up with one last cleaning round before heading out.
Sunday, 3 August 2025
After checking in on the park dogs, I arrive at the shelter to find everyone in high spirits. It's clear the dogs were well cared for yesterday, which makes today’s deep cleaning of the house and surrounding areas a bit more time-consuming.
Once I’ve distributed the medications, I begin feeding the dogs in the front sections and gradually work my way to the back. The good mood continues throughout—tails wagging and energy high.
While the water tank is refilling, I take care of the four dogs waiting patiently outside the shelter gate. Then I finish up with one final cleaning round before calling it a day.
Monday, 4 August 2025
By the time I arrive at the shelter mid-morning, Dieter and Pai are already hard at work. They’ve completed the cleaning and are in the middle of feeding the dogs. I take care of the medication rounds and then join Dieter and some of the dogs in the house area for a short break.
Noticing that Kylie might be at risk in the open house area, I decide to move her into the kitchen, where she’s safe and surrounded by dogs that already know her.
Later in the afternoon, I return to the shelter. Once again, Dieter and Pai have done an outstanding job. I do a final cleaning round and then sit with the kitchen dogs for about an hour while waiting for the water tank to refill.
Tuesday, 5 August 2025
In the morning, I check in on the park dogs, then pick up 160 kg of dry dog food and store the sacks in the kitchen. Pai is already at work—cleaning the enclosures, refilling the drinking water and tubs, and feeding the dogs. Dieter has the day off today.
I return to the shelter in the afternoon. As always, Pai has done an excellent job. I distribute the medications and do a final round of cleaning. After that, I spend two hours sitting with the dogs in the house area while waiting for the water tank to refill.
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
This morning, Pat, Dieter, and Pai handled the shelter work together. I only stopped by briefly and returned later in the afternoon. As always, everything had been done perfectly — all I needed to do was distribute the medications and carry out a final round of cleaning. The dogs were well cared for and were already settling in for the night as I left.
In the evening, I took a walk through Pong Park. A large event with loud live music was underway. After an extended search across the entire park, I finally located Randy, Sharkey, Toto, and Khao. The other dogs remained out of sight, but I’m confident they’ll return sometime tomorrow.
Saturday, 9 August 2025
This morning brought good news: Meefoo, who had been missing from Pong Park for weeks, seems to have found a home. Nick spotted her with her new owner during his morning walk in the park.
When I visited the park, I found only Randy and Karim, who was hanging around with the park workers. Passing by the drink shop, I caught sight of Bibi and couldn’t help but think of dear Booboo.
At the shelter, I got started on my routine tasks. I moved Kylie into the kitchen with Billy and Rocco, as she’d previously been attacked once in the house area.
In the afternoon, I drove to Pong for an hour to run some errands. When I returned to the shelter, I found Kylie lying in the kitchen, badly bitten. Billy and Rocco had never shown aggressive tendencies before and were used to house dogs staying in the kitchen temporarily. I have no idea what could have triggered the attack. I wrapped Kylie’s body and will take her for cremation tomorrow.
After cleaning the kitchen, I began feeding the dogs in the house area and worked my way through all the other sections, finishing with a final round of cleaning.
Later, back at home, Nick told me once again that he’d seen Meefoo — this time on a leash, being walked through the park, confirming she must have a home now. Late in the evening, I returned to the park. After last night’s noisy events, peace had settled in, and Michael was able to feed the dogs without disturbance. I’m a bit concerned about Tito; he’s moving awkwardly. I checked his paws but couldn’t find any foreign object between his pads.
Sunday, 10 August 2025
Late in the morning, I took Kylie to the NPW Clinic for cremation. Afterwards, I headed to Pong Park to check on Tito. His condition hadn’t changed, so I brought him to Dr. Oi. Tito was X-rayed and thoroughly examined, but no injuries were found. Dr. Oi gave him a pain-relief injection and prescribed a four-day course of Meloxicam, an anti-inflammatory.
After returning Tito to the park, I went to the shelter. Pat had just finished her tasks and mentioned that Coco’s gums looked pale — a sign of possible blood parasites. I immediately started her on a long-term Doxycycline treatment.
Once I had cleaned the back areas, I left the shelter dogs and went to check on the Pong Park dogs. I found Tito with Sharkey in the front hall. He was still moving rather stiffly, but I hoped he’d be back to normal soon.
Later that night, I returned to the park. Tito was already moving a little more easily. I’m confident that once he finishes his Meloxicam course, he’ll be walking normally again.
Monday, 11 August 2025
On my morning drive to the shelter, I stopped by Pong Park and spotted Daria, Kyra, Karim, and Sharkey. When I arrived at the shelter, Pai was already hard at work. I handed out the medications, then headed into town to take care of some urgent errands. While there, I took the opportunity to visit Roshi. Years ago, Roshi had taken in Fritzi, a dog who—like so many others—had been abandoned at Wat Amparahm. Fritzi found a loving home with Roshi and, though he’s now getting on in years, he’s still doing well.
Back at the shelter, I did a final cleaning round and checked on Coco again. She was resting in her hut, behaving normally. The effects of her Doxycycline treatment should start to show in about a week.
Later at Pong Park, I found Tito and gave him his first dose of Meloxicam. He’s already moving almost normally again.
Tuesday, 12 August 2025
This morning in the park, the only dog I find is Randy, lying under a parked pickup truck. As I walk through the area, none of the other dogs are in sight.
At the shelter, Pai and Dieter are already hard at work. As always, they're doing an excellent job caring for the dogs. I give Coco her dose of Doxycycline, then head out, not returning to the shelter until the afternoon.
When I get back, I see the dogs have been well cared for, so all that's left for me is a final round of cleaning. By late afternoon, the dogs are already settling down, and I leave them for the evening with a clear conscience.
Later, I make another stop at Pong Park and run into Daria, Tito, and Sharkey. I give Tito his second dose of Meloxicam. Encouragingly, he's moving and behaving just like he did before the incident.
Wednesday, 13 August 2025
In the morning, I head to the park where I find Toto and give him his third dose of Meloxicam. Next, I make my way to the shelter, where my first priority is to check on Coco and administer her Doxycycline. After that, I dive into cleaning tasks, making sure everything is in order.
By early afternoon, it's time for feeding. I offer Coco some canned food in her kennel, and she manages to eat a little bit. Before I leave for the day, I do a final round of cleaning to ensure everything is tidy. Coco stays in the kennel overnight for her comfort and safety.
Thursday, 14 August 2025
When I arrive at the shelter, Pai is already hard at work. I head straight over to check on Coco. She’s still lying in her cage and hasn’t touched her food. Since the doxycycline treatment clearly isn’t helping, I gently pick her up and take her to the clinic.
On the way there, I start to sense that something is wrong. When we arrive, my worst fears are confirmed—Coco has passed away during the drive. I carry her into the clinic, where Dr. Oi officially confirms her passing. Shortly after, I bring Coco to the NPW Clinic for cremation.
Back at the shelter, Pai has just finished the morning tasks. To be safe and rule out any further cases of blood parasites, I check the gums of every dog. Thankfully, all results come back negative.
Pai has taken excellent care of the dogs, and after one final cleaning round, I’m able to leave the shelter feeling relatively at ease.
Friday, 15 August 2025
This morning I spent time with the dogs in Baan Amphur. At the pet shop, I left Ba Bät with a 20-kg sack of dry food and a 30-kg sack of rice. Just outside the temple gate, in a small backyard, I found Pema—well cared for and in good shape. The three dogs at the temple’s entrance, the ones near the boats, as well as Kofi and Toto farther down the beach, were also doing well.
After a long break, I finally visited Ulrich and Ursi again. Years ago, they adopted Puschel and Blanca from me. Since then, they’ve taken in two more dogs who had been abandoned near their home. All four now live a life that can only be described as paradise.
Back at the shelter, the cleaning and feeding had already been completed, and Pai had gone home. The water pump had stopped working, but I managed to fix the problem. I distributed the medications, did one last round of cleaning, and then left the dogs until tomorrow morning.
Saturday, 16 August 2025
On my way to the shelter this morning, I checked on the park dogs and found Randy, Toto, and Sharkey waiting. Once at the shelter, I immediately started distributing the medications. Cleaning the house, however, was only partly possible since we had no electricity—and without power, no water.
Hoping the power supply would be restored later in the day, I took a break and returned to the dogs in the early afternoon. Unfortunately, there was still no electricity. I focused instead on feeding the dogs and clearing waste from the house and surrounding areas. Thankfully, drinking water was still available in all sections. By late afternoon, I left the dogs behind, holding on to the hope that tomorrow will be a brighter, more manageable day.
Sunday, 17 August 2025
This morning, Pat was already busy at the shelter, right in the middle of feeding. I noticed the water tank was only half full, even though the pump was running, so I started looking for the problem. It didn’t take long to discover two breaks in the water line on the neighboring property. After repairing the damage, I was relieved to see the tank filling up again. Pat had already cleaned the house and the house area, so I took care of the remaining sections.
Once I finished clearing the waste, I left the rest of the work to Pat and, on my way home, stopped to check on the park dogs. I found Randy, Toto, and Sharkey, but Daria was nowhere to be seen despite a thorough search.
In the afternoon, I returned to the shelter for a final cleaning round and then sat with the house dogs while waiting for the tank to fill completely. Unfortunately, the hinges of the gate that separates the house area from the entrance have rusted through, and the door has now fallen off its frame. For the time being, we’ll have to be especially careful when entering, so none of the dogs slip out.
On my way back, I passed through Pong Park again and was relieved to see that Daria had reappeared.
Monday, 18 August 2025
This morning, Dieter and Pai were already hard at work by the time I arrived at the shelter. I handed out the medications and then headed over to Pong Park. There, I found only Randy and Toto waiting for me.
In the afternoon, I returned to the shelter. As always, Dieter and Pai had done an excellent job caring for the dogs and completing the cleaning. All that remained for me was a final round of tidying up before the sky began to darken.
When I reached Pong later, the clouds parted, giving me the chance to sit for a while with Randy, Toto, and Daria. But before long, darker clouds rolled in once again.
Tuesday, 19 August 2025
This morning, Pai took care of the shelter dogs on her own. I only stopped by briefly to check in, knowing I can always rely on his careful work. Later in the Pong Park, I came across Sharkey, Randy, Bella, Daria, Tito, and Karim. Near the bike rental stand, I spotted Dodo and Rico. I gave Dodo his eye drops before moving on.
In the afternoon, I returned to the shelter. Once again, Pai had done an excellent job caring for the dogs. All that remained for me was a final round of cleaning before leaving them comfortably settled until tomorrow.
On my way home, I checked in on the park dogs once more and spent a little time sitting with Daria, Sharkey, and Toto.
Wednesday, 20 August 2025
At the shelter gate, I was greeted by the four free-roaming dogs, all in good spirits. The dogs in the house and entry area were just as cheerful. I started the morning by giving out eye drops, then cleaned the house and the front sections. Once the back areas were tidied and the waste removed, I moved on to feeding—first in the front, then in the back. The dogs everywhere seemed content and lively. Before leaving, I waited until the water tank was fully refilled, then called it a day at the shelter.
On my way home, I checked in on the park dogs. That’s when I noticed that Toto had swelling on his left hind leg. It looks like an insect bite, and he winced when I touched the area. Tomorrow morning, I’ll treat him with Prednisolone.
Thursday, 21 August 2025
This morning I found Toto in the park and gave him his first dose of Prednisolone. At the shelter, Pai was working on his own. While he handled the feeding, I distributed the medications and then left the rest of the responsibilities in his care.
In the afternoon I returned to the shelter. By then, Pai had already fed the dogs, refreshed the drinking water, and washed out the food bowls. All that was left for me was one final cleaning round before leaving the dogs settled for the night.
On my way home, I stopped by Pong Park. At first, I only came across Daria, who accompanied me on a little walk through the park. Along the way we met Randy, Bella, and Karim, but there was no sign of Toto or Sharkey.
Late in the evening I ran into Michael, who—as he does every night—was feeding the park dogs. To my relief, Toto was moving surprisingly well again. Karim kept his distance but quietly accepted the portion I offered him, away from the others.
Friday, 22 August 2025
On my way to the shelter, I stopped once again at Pong Park, where I found Randy, Toto, and Sharkey. I gave Toto another dose of Prednisolone before heading on.
By the time I arrived at the shelter in the early afternoon, Pat and Pai had already finished their work. All that was left for me was to give eye drops to the usual patients and carry out a final round of cleaning. In the late afternoon, I left the dogs behind—well cared for and comfortable until tomorrow.
Saturday, 23 August 2025
This morning I gave Toto another dose of Prednisolone. He’s moving completely normally again, and the swelling in his left hind leg has fully disappeared.
Afterward, I picked up 80 kilograms of dry food and headed to the shelter. Once the bags were stored away, I got to work on the routine cleaning of the house and surrounding areas. When feeding time was done, I went back through each section for a final cleanup. All of the dogs are doing well.
On my way home, I stopped by the park and found Toto, Sharkey, and Daria. They seemed happy and content, enjoying the afternoon bustle around them.
Sunday, 24 August 2025
This morning, Pat took care of the shelter dogs. I didn’t make it to the shelter until early afternoon, when I did a final round of cleaning.
In the evening, during my walk through Pong Park, I came across Sharkey, Randy, Bella, Dodo, Rico, and Tito.
Monday, 25 August 2025
Today, Dieter and Pai were once again at the shelter. They had already fed the dogs and cleaned the areas by the time I arrived. Khiaow no longer seems to get along with Tarik and Nuri, so I decided to separate them for the time being.
I left the remaining tasks in Dieter and Pai’s hands and returned later in the afternoon. By dusk, all the dogs were well cared for and settling down for the night.
Late in the evening, I stopped by Pong Park once more. As usual, Michael was there feeding the dogs, and I was glad to see that every one of them had shown up.
Tuesday, 26 August 2025
When I arrive at the shelter in the late morning, Pai is already at work. As always, he handles the cleaning and feeding with his usual reliability. On my walk through the areas, I find all the dogs well cared for and content.
In the afternoon, I return to the shelter for a final round of cleaning. The dogs seem relaxed and satisfied, and I leave them just before dusk with a good feeling.
Wednesday, 27 August 2025
In front of the shelter gate, I’m greeted by the four familiar strays, all in good spirits. Once inside, the shelter dogs happily circle around me with their usual excitement. I get straight to work, starting with cleaning the front areas and then making my way through the rest of the sections. After feeding time, I top up the water bowls in a few spots. One final round of cleaning completes the day’s routine, and then I leave the dogs settled in until tomorrow.
Thursday, 28 August 2025
When I arrive at the shelter, Pai is already at work. As always, he handles every task with care and reliability, which gives me the rare chance to sit quietly among the dogs. These moments are good for both them and me, as I usually have far too little time just to be present with them.
After Pai leaves, I make another round through all the areas. Once again, I find every dog well cared for thanks to his efforts. I spend some more time sitting with the dogs in the house until the water tank is filled, and then I leave the shelter for the night.
Later in the evening, I stop by the park while Michael is feeding the dogs there. Sharkey and Toto, who not only get along wonderfully but also share a special bond with me, follow me part of the way home. They’ve learned by now not to trail me the whole distance, but to walk with me only for a stretch before turning back.
Friday, 29 August 2025
This morning, after picking up a supply of dry food, I headed to the shelter. While I began cleaning the house and front areas, Pat arrived. By the time I had worked my way through the back sections, Dieter and Pai had also shown up. With Pat, Dieter, and Pai taking over, I left and returned later in the afternoon. As always, the dogs had been well cared for. I made one final round of cleaning through the areas, then sat with the dogs in the house until the water tank was fully refilled.
Saturday, 30 August 2025
I’m always glad when the day starts on a good note. This morning, Mee, Noona, Soda, and Sahm were waiting happily in front of the shelter gate. Even Soda—who used to keep her distance—has grown more trusting. She flopped right onto her back at my feet, clearly asking for belly rubs. The household dogs were in high spirits too, which meant I could begin my work with peace of mind.
Pat mentioned she’s worried about Kenji. I took Kenji in about eight years ago because he was constantly getting into fights with other dogs. Now, at sixteen years old, his energy has slowed. He spends most of his time resting in his sala. Luckily, he’s not alone—Shaina, a young and spirited dog, keeps him company. Despite the age gap, the two get along beautifully. I hope Kenji will be with us for a while longer.
As I continue my rounds, I’m relieved to see that the rest of the dogs are also healthy and cheerful. Nearly a dozen of them are already ten to twelve years old, yet they’re still doing well.
Once I finish cleaning the house and all the enclosures, I move on to feeding and refilling water. While the tank fills, I sit for a while with the household dogs, enjoying their company. Today, I leave the shelter a little earlier than usual, feeling grateful that all is well.
Sunday, 31 August 2025
Monday, 1 September 2025
By the time I arrive at the shelter in the late morning, Dieter and Pai are already hard at work. As always, they're doing an excellent job, which gives me peace of mind to head out to Baan Amphur.
At the temple market, I drop off another sack of dry food for Ba Baet and pick up 30 kilograms of rice. She’ll mix it with meat and feed it to the temple dogs over the next two weeks. I check in on Pema, who I find safe and well cared for in a backyard near the temple gate.
At the temple’s main hall, I’m greeted by the cheerful trio—Victor, Talib, and Dahn. A little further down by the beach, I find Kofi and Toto. All the dogs, even those near the boats, are looking healthy and well-fed.
Back at the shelter, the house dogs welcome me in high spirits. Dieter and Pai have done a fantastic job once again, leaving me with just one final cleaning round to wrap up the day.
Tuesday, 2 September 2025
When I arrive at the shelter in the morning, the first thing I do is check on Kenji. He’s grown quite weak, and I fear his time may soon be coming to an end. All the other dogs seem fine, except for Kylie. She has crawled under the sala in the house area and refuses to come out. Alongside Kenji, she remains my greatest worry.
I set my concerns aside and get to work with the cleaning. Once that’s done, I move on to feeding. Kenji doesn’t touch the wet food I offer him, but at least Kylie eats normally. During my final round of cleaning, I find Kenji resting on his cot. I sit with him for a while, hoping I’ll still find him alive tomorrow.
Wednesday, 3 September 2025
After finishing the feeding, I went through the sections once more to tidy up. Shaina had moved to one of the two salas in her area. She still seems affected by the loss—no longer as lively as she used to be.
When I arrive at the shelter in the morning, Dieter and Pai are already hard at work. After making my usual round through the areas, I give Kylie a bath. She has struggled with skin problems ever since I took her in years ago, and despite various treatments, her condition has never really improved.
I leave the remaining tasks in Dieter and Pai’s capable hands and return in the afternoon. Shaina and the Dodger group remain in their respective areas, with the gate between them still open. The new arrangement seems to be holding steady.
Monday, 8 September 2025
After a quick check inside the house area, I look in on Shaina. She’s resting in her sala, while the Dodger group keeps to their usual spot. I’ve left the gate between the two areas open. Once I’ve walked through the rest of the back sections, I begin the cleaning rounds.
The shelter had been hit by a heavy downpour during the night. Since the house has no basement, strong rains push the groundwater upward, flooding both the kitchen and the rest room. After an hour of hard work, I finally managed to dry both spaces. Luckily, the dogs didn’t mind the flood at all—there are enough raised beds for them to stay comfortable.
With the house area back in order, I move on to the outdoor sections. The dogs there also weathered the storm just fine, thanks to the many salas providing shelter. The water has drained away, but the ground is still soggy, which makes my work a little more challenging. The dogs, however, couldn’t care less.
Once I’ve checked that there’s fresh drinking water everywhere, I begin the feeding. A final round of cleaning follows. Just as I finish, a light rain sets in. I sit with the dogs in the house area, waiting until the water tank has refilled, and then leave them for the night—until tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, 9 September 2025
I woke up this morning to steady rain that lasted well into midday. By the time I reached the shelter, only a light drizzle remained. On my first round through the areas, I was relieved to see that all the dogs had weathered the rain without any problems.
I cleaned the house, which had thankfully stayed mostly dry, and then began the feeding routine. Once the bowls and trays were collected, I moved on to cleaning the outdoor sections and clearing away waste. By late afternoon, with the dogs already settling in for their rest, I left them for the night.
Wednesday, 10 September 2025
In the morning, I pick up some dry food and then stop by to check on the Pong Park dogs. Dieter and Pai have been at the shelter since early morning and are already wrapping up their work. After we store the food, I take my first walk through the different areas, making sure to check in on Shaina—she’s doing well. By the time I return to the house area, Dieter and Pai have already left. I finish up with a final round of cleaning, and with all the dogs well cared for, the day’s tasks are complete.
Thursday, 11 September 2025
This morning I’m greeted at the shelter gate by Mee, Noona, Soda, and Sahm, all looking healthy and lively. The house dogs are also in good spirits. I begin with the usual cleaning routine. The gate between Shaina’s area—where she now lives alone—and the Dodger group remains permanently open. Although the dogs can move freely between the two sections, they still prefer to stay in their familiar spaces.
After clearing away waste and a few fallen palm fronds, I start the feeding rounds. Fresh drinking water is still available in all containers. Once I’ve collected the food trays and bowls, I make one final pass through the shelter. All the dogs are calm and well cared for, allowing me to leave them peacefully for the afternoon.
Friday, 12 September 2025
On my first walk through the shelter, I find all the dogs safe and in good spirits. I get started right away with the usual cleaning tasks, followed by feeding time and a final round of tidying up. Just as I finish, the rain begins to fall. The ground is already quite soft, so the water drains only slowly. The dogs in the outdoor areas don’t seem to mind, though—they have plenty of salas to keep them dry and comfortable.
Saturday, 13 September 2025
After checking on the park dogs, I meet Dieter at the shelter. He has already fed the dogs, so I immediately begin cleaning the house and surrounding areas. Just as I finish, a long-lasting thunderstorm begins. Since the dogs are well cared for, I decide to head home a bit earlier today.
Sunday, 14 September 2025
The weather was unsettled again today, but at least we were spared the rain. In the morning, I met Toto in Pong Park. He had followed me all the way to my lodging last night, but I wasn’t worried—he always knows how to find his way back. Toto is a particularly sharp and lively fellow.
At the shelter, the usual daily chores awaited me. On top of that, I had to clear water that had seeped up through the floors in the kitchen and rest area. With the constant rain, the ground has become so saturated that moisture keeps pressing upward. After an initial round of cleaning, I fed the dogs and then went through all the areas once more to tidy up.
Late in the evening, I stopped by the park dogs again. This time I came across Khao, Randy, Sharkey, Toto, and Daria.
Monday, 15 September 2025
This morning I only spent a short while at the shelter—just enough to check that everything was in order and do a quick round of cleaning. After that, I headed out to see the temple dogs in Baan Amphur.
I stopped first to buy rice for Ba Baet and dropped off a sack of dry food for her. Then I went to look for Pema, but she wasn’t in her usual spot in the backyard. At the temple’s front hall, however, Victor, Talib, and Dahn greeted me warmly. All the dogs were accounted for, including those down by the boats. They seemed well cared for and in good condition. During our walk along the beach, we ran into Toto and Kofi, who were also doing fine.
Back at the shelter, I fed the dogs and gave the house and yard another thorough cleaning. As night fell, I said goodbye to the dogs and left them to settle in for the night.
Tuesday, 16 September 2025
In the morning, I stopped by the Pong Park dogs and found Randy, Sharkey, Toto, and Daria. At the shelter gate, Mee, Noona, Soda, and Sahm were waiting to greet me. The dogs in the house area and in the double-gate section were all in good spirits, so I was able to get right to the cleaning. Once I had cleared away the waste and refilled the water bowls, I began the feeding.
Afterwards, I left the door open between the Dodger section and the area where Shaina now lives on her own. Even with the door open, Shaina didn’t leave her space, and the Dodger group mostly stayed in theirs as well. I see no reason not to keep this passage open permanently. I’ve also decided to leave the doors between the kitchen, the rest area, and the open house section open at all times. This way, the dogs have more freedom to move around and choose their favorite spots.
Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Pai and Dieter are already hard at work in the shelter when I arrive in the late morning. As always, I can rely on their excellent care. During my walkthrough of all the areas, I distribute eye drops and dispose of the waste that Pai has collected. I leave the final tasks to Dieter and Pai and, on my way home, stop by the Pong Park to check on the dogs. Among the park visitors, I find Daria, Toto, Randy, and Sharkey.
Thursday, 18 September 2025
At the shelter, I go about my usual routine today. The sun is shining once again, and all the dogs are doing well, so I can leave with peace of mind already in the early afternoon. By early evening, the rain sets in again, but I still manage to check on the park dogs later on. I run into the usual suspects—and this time, Karim and Bella are among them again.
Friday, 19 September 2025
In the morning, I pick up dry food and eye drops before heading to the shelter. Pai is already busy feeding the dogs and cleaning the areas—and as always, he’s doing an excellent job. As I walk through the sections, I make sure all the dogs are well cared for. In the afternoon, I return to the shelter for a final round of cleaning. By early evening, I’m back with the Pong Park dogs again.
Saturday, 20 September 2025
Not long after I arrive at the shelter, Dieter and Pai show up as well. While they start with the cleaning, I go around giving out eye drops and take a walk through the different areas. All the dogs are in good health and spirits, so I leave the rest of the work to Dieter and Pai. On my way home, I stop by to see the Pong Park dogs and spend a little time with Toto and Sharkey, who are resting in the shade of the trees.
Sunday, 21 September 2025
Today was another routine day at the shelter with cleaning and feeding. All the dogs are doing well. What worries me, though, are the metal sheets on the ground that have started to rust through. I patched up the holes as best as I could for now.
Monday, 22 September 2025
In the morning I first check in on the park dogs before heading over to the shelter. Dieter and Pai are already hard at work, so all that’s left for me is to give out the eye drops. In the afternoon I return to the shelter dogs. As always, Pai and Dieter have taken excellent care of them, so my task is simply to do a final round of cleaning. With everything in order, I leave the dogs for the night, feeling good about their care until tomorrow morning.
In the evening I stop by the Pong Park dogs. Since Michael is away for a few days, I’m in charge of their nightly feeding. I find Randy, Sharkey, Toto, and Daria waiting. Only Daria touches the dry food I set out, a clear sign the dogs are being well fed during the day.
Tuesday, 23 September 2025
At the shelter gate, I’m greeted by the usual suspects. Just inside, in the entryway behind the house gate, Jake seems to have claimed his spot. Once I’ve made sure all the other house dogs are in their places, I get started with the clean-up.
When that’s done, I feed the dogs in the house area first, followed by those in the double-gate section. Afterward, I take care of the dogs in the back areas. With another round of cleaning finished, I leave the dogs for the afternoon.
Wednesday, 24 September 2025
In the morning I check on the Pong Park dogs, then outside the shelter gate I’m greeted by the usual four strays. Dieter and Pai are already busy at work. On my first round through the areas, I find all the dogs well cared for. After my two helpers head out, I take care of a bit of tidying up before leaving the dogs until tomorrow morning.
Late in the evening I return to the Pong Park dogs. Just like the past two nights, they’re not particularly thrilled with what I bring them. Even Daria—the only one who had eaten the last two nights—turns down her portion this time. Still, I’m not worried about their condition. They’re all in good shape and in excellent spirits.
Thursday, 25 September 2025
It’s always a joy to find the four strays in front of the shelter gate looking healthy and in good spirits. Inside the house area and the double-gate section, too, all the dogs greet me cheerfully. My special attention always goes to Jake, who usually rests in the enclosed part of the double-gate section. Jake is now twelve years old but still holding up quite well.
As always, I begin my work with cleaning the house and the front areas. Once the back sections are tidied and the waste is removed, I move on to feeding.
The dogs in the rear sections are doing well, too. Shaina always stays in her own area, even though the door to the Dodger section is open. The Dodger dogs, for their part, prefer to remain in their usual space and only follow me into Shaina’s area when I’m cleaning there.
Later in the evening, I stop by to see the Pong Park dogs. Just as in the past few days, they seem well cared for and show little interest in the dry food I bring along.
Friday, 26 September 2025
On my morning walk to the shelter, I stopped by Pong Park and found Daria, Sharkey, and Toto waiting there. At the shelter, Pai was already at work, and on my round through the areas I found all the dogs well cared for.
Late in the evening, I returned to the park dogs. They were all gathered together but once again showed little interest in the dry food I offered them.
Saturday, 27 September 2025
In the morning, I stop by to check on the Pong Park dogs before heading to the shelter, where the cheerful strays are already waiting at the gate. The mood among the dogs in the front areas is equally good, so I can get right to the cleaning. Once all the sections are tidied up, I start feeding the dogs in the front areas and then work my way through the back as well. Only in the house and a few sections do I need to top up drinking water.
By late afternoon, I leave the well-cared-for dogs behind. Later in the evening, I return to visit the park dogs. Michael is back from his trip and has taken up caring for them as usual.
Sunday, 28 September 2025
On my morning round through Pong Park, I spot Karim again, though the other dogs remain out of sight. In front of the shelter gate, the cheerful strays greet me, and inside the house and double-gate areas, the dogs are also in good spirits.
After a first walkthrough of the back sections, where I find all the dogs safe and well, I begin cleaning the house and outdoor areas. I then feed the dogs in the house, those in the double-gate section, as well as the four dogs outside the gate. Once the dogs in the back areas are also fed, I make another cleaning round, refill the water containers where needed, and finally leave the resting dogs until tomorrow.
This morning I first stopped by the temple dogs in Baan Amphur. At the feed shop, I ordered another thirty kilos of rice for Ba Baet and left her twenty kilos of dry food. I looked around the neighborhood for Pema but couldn’t find her. She’s the last survivor of all the dogs I cared for over the years at the temple entrance. All the others have passed away. I haven’t built any connection with the newer dogs that have since arrived. I also looked for Kofi and Toto, who had found a place at a seaside property, but saw no sign of them today. At the temple porch, I met Victor, Talib, and Dahn. The dogs down by the boats were also all present and in good shape.
Back in Takhiantia, the usual shelter routine awaited me. On my first walk through the areas, the dogs greeted me in high spirits. After finishing the initial cleaning, I started feeding and refilling the water containers. Following another round of cleaning, I left the dogs in the late afternoon.
On my way home, I stopped again at Pong Park. Toto and Sharkey were already waiting in the parking lot. As I walked through the park with them, the shy Karim and another male dog—one I only rarely see—joined us.
Thursday, 2 October 2025
Before heading to the shelter, I stopped by to check on the Pong Park dogs. This time, I only found Toto and Sharkey resting in their usual spots. After that, I picked up 100 kilos of dry food and continued on to the shelter.
When I arrived in the rainy weather, Dieter and Pai were already at work. After greeting the four strays at the gate, I stored away the food. Dieter and Pai had already cleaned the areas, refreshed the water bowls and tubs, and fed the dogs in the house and the double-gate section. Pai was in the middle of feeding the dogs in the back areas as well.
During my walk through the grounds, I noticed that Shaina has now started spending time in the Dodger section, where she is welcomed. The door between the two areas remains open, giving the dogs the freedom to choose where they want to stay.
Despite the unsettled weather, the dogs in the other areas were also in good spirits. With plenty of salas available, they always have sheltered spots to retreat to.
Friday, 3 October 2025
In the morning, I made a round through the park but found only Sharkey. In front of the shelter gate, however, all the dogs were present. After a first walk through the grounds, I started cleaning the house and the front sections, then worked my way through the back areas. All of the dogs were in good health. Once I had refilled the water containers, I began feeding the house dogs and then moved on to the others in the remaining areas. I left the dogs in the late afternoon.
Saturday, 4 October 2025
Pai was on duty at the shelter today, cleaning the areas and feeding the dogs. My only tasks were distributing the eye drops and removing the waste. During my walk through the grounds, I found the time to sit for a while with the dogs in the back sections. In the early afternoon, I left the finishing tasks to Pai, who, as always, handled them reliably.
Sunday, 5 October 2025
On my walk through Pong Park, I’m greeted by Sharkey and Toto, who are lying in their usual spot beneath the trees. A short while later, Daria appears as well. In front of the shelter gate, Noona and Soda have gathered. Pai must have taken excellent care of the shelter dogs yesterday, as it takes me quite some time to clean the house and the double-gate area. Once both sections are back in good shape, I move on to the cleaning of the rear areas. Feeding follows, though today the dogs receive only half portions. After another round of cleaning and refilling some of the water containers, I leave the dogs, who are already settling down for rest.
On my way back, I set out to look for Naree. Several years ago, I had to take Naree to Dr. Oi’s clinic for several weeks of treatment after she suffered a complicated bone fracture. She eventually made a full recovery and went on to live with two other dogs at the home of a poor family in a nearby slum area not far from the shelter. In the meantime, Naree’s owners had moved away, and I had lost touch with them. But I never forgot her, so today I went looking—and eventually found her new home. The two other dogs had since passed away, but Naree hadn’t forgotten me, and our reunion was joyful on both sides. I handed her owners a sack of dry food and plan to check in on Naree more often again in the near future.
Monday, 6 October 2025
This morning, Dieter and Pai are back at work in the shelter, taking care of the routine tasks. Dieter also repairs the broken floor in one of the kennels in the house section. After making my rounds through the areas, I stop by Khun Lek’s shelter to ask Khun Nut if he could mow the tall grass that has grown up around the place. He’ll take care of it as soon as he finds the time.
When I return to our shelter, Dieter and Pai have just about finished their work. The areas are clean, and all the dogs have been fed.
Late in the evening, I visit the Pong Park dogs again. Michael is there feeding them as usual, and they’re all gathered together, looking content.
Tuesday, 7 October 2025
This morning, Khun Nut came by as planned to mow the grass. He arrived shortly after I had finished cleaning the areas. In Merlin and Oscar’s section, I came across a dead cobra — fortunately, both dogs were unharmed.
Khun Nut started mowing in the house and double-gate areas, then gradually worked his way toward the back sections. I accompanied him to keep an eye on the dogs. They know Khun Nut well and are used to the sound of the mower, so everything went smoothly without incident.
Once Khun Nut had finished his work, I began feeding the dogs and refilling their water containers. Early in the afternoon, I left the shelter and, on my way back, stopped once more to check on Naree, whom I found outside her shelter.
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Pat is back from Australia and takes care of the shelter dogs today together with Dieter and Pai. I start the laborious task of raking up the cut grass. I don’t get very far, but at least the area directly in front of the shelter gate, the double-gate section, and the house area are once again in a presentable state. I dispose of the grass on a vacant lot near the shelter. By late afternoon, I leave the well-cared-for dogs to rest.
Thursday, 9 October 2025
In the morning, I check on the dogs in Pong Park but find only Daria, who joins me as I search in vain for the other park dogs. In front of the shelter gate, I’m greeted by the four cheerful wanderers. The dogs in the house area are also in great spirits. They were clearly well fed yesterday, and thorough cleaning is now in order. After removing the waste, I feed everyone and continue my work, raking up the cut grass in the front areas. I leave the dogs in the late afternoon.
Friday, 10 October 2025
Dieter und Pai arbeiten heute Morgen im Shelter und versorgen die Hunde wie gewohnt sehr gut. Ich harke das restliche Gras im Hausbereich zusammen und verteile Augentropfen. Anschließend entsorge ich das gemähte Gras. Bei beginnendem Regen verlasse ich das Shelter, während Dieter und Pai die Arbeiten abschließen.
Saturday, 11 October 2025
In the morning, the four cheerful strays greet me in front of the shelter gate. They clearly enjoy their freedom while still being well cared for. The dogs in the house and double-gate areas are also in good spirits, allowing me to start my work without concern.
To my pleasant surprise, I find Shaina in the Dodger group’s area. She has evidently been accepted by the other dogs there. All of them still have access to the adjoining section that Shaina once shared with Kenji.
In the fence separating Nina’s area from Elly’s, I discover a hole, which I patch up temporarily. Fortunately, none of the six dogs from either side have crossed over. After confirming that all the dogs are safe and content, I collect the waste, then move on to feeding and refilling the water containers. By late afternoon, the dogs have settled down, and I leave them for the night.
Sunday, 12 October 2025
When I arrive at the shelter in the morning, Pai is already hard at work. He has cleaned the house and front areas and is now feeding the dogs. Just as I finish cleaning the back sections, a heavy thunderstorm rolls in, flooding parts of the shelter.
While Pai continues working inside, I sit with the dogs. They’re used to such storms, but my presence seems to reassure them that everything is all right. Once the storm has passed, I leave Pai to finish up the remaining tasks.
Monday, 13 October 2025
By early afternoon, one heavy rain shower follows another, and the forecast for the week doesn’t promise much improvement. When the sky finally begins to clear, I pick up some dry food and head to the shelter. The rest area inside the house is flooded, and the outdoor areas are covered with puddles. Fortunately, the dogs have weathered the downpours well. After cleaning the areas as best I can, I feed them. Then I make another round to tidy up and remove the waste. The dogs aren’t too fond of the weather either, and by the time I leave in the late afternoon, they’ve already settled down to rest.
Tuesday, 14 October 2025
The weather is once again unsettled this morning, but eventually the sky clears, and I head to the shelter. After cleaning the house and surrounding areas, I dispose of the waste and begin feeding the dogs. No sooner have I finished feeding those in the back areas than the rain starts again—this time for good. I sit with the house dogs for a while and decide to call it a day in the early afternoon.
Wednesday, 15 October 2025
The weather remains unstable this morning, but eventually the sky clears and I head to the shelter. After cleaning the house and surrounding areas, I dispose of the waste and begin feeding the dogs. Just as I finish feeding those in the back areas, the rain starts again—this time for good. I sit with the house dogs for a while and decide to call it a day in the early afternoon.
In the morning, I make my way back to the shelter. Dieter and Pai are already at work there. I drop off a bag of dry food and then continue on to the temple dogs in Baan Amphur. At the pet supply shop, I leave another bag of dry food and order 30 kilograms of rice for Ba Baet. I then go to check on Pema and find her in the neighboring building. In front of the temple hall, I’m greeted by the cheerful trio—Victor, Talib, and Dahn—and as I walk along the beach, Kofi and Toto soon join me. The dogs resting by the boats are all present and well, too.
On the way back, I stop by Pong Park and find Daria, Toto, Randy, and Sharkey there. When a thunderstorm rolls in, we take shelter in the hall next to the parking area. Knowing that the park dogs are safe and cared for, I finally head home.
Thursday, 16 October 2025
I have some errands to run in town this morning and take the opportunity to visit Beppe again. He and his dogs are doing well. By early afternoon, I finally make it to the shelter. To my surprise, Pai is there too, working an extra shift.
As I walk through the areas, I’m horrified to find a dead dog lying in one of the salas in the Dodger section. In the first wave of shock, I can’t even tell who it is—since all the dogs in Dodger’s area, as well as Shaina, seem fine. Eventually, I realize that Amy is missing from the pen next to Shaina’s. How she managed to get into the Dodger section is a mystery to me. She must have somehow crossed through Shaina’s area and slipped in from there.
I took Amy in seven years ago along with her four puppies. She had shared an enclosure with her three daughters—Demi, Jade, and Pearl—and there had never been any trouble among them. Demi was an exceptionally gentle and affectionate dog who lived peacefully with her family and never gave me any problems.
I leave the remaining work to Pai and take Amy to the NPW clinic for cremation. By late afternoon, I’m back at the shelter. Pai has already left—he raked up the cut grass in several areas and packed it into plastic bags. I make another round to tidy up and then carry the bags to the house area. With a heavy heart, I leave the resting dogs as darkness begins to fall.
Friday, 17 October 2025
This morning I meet Pat at the shelter, together with Dieter and Pai. Pat is in charge of feeding, Dieter takes care of the house area, and Pai cleans the enclosures. He has also raked up the cut grass in several of the back sections again and packed it into plastic bags. Together we load the bags onto the pickup, and I take them to a nearby vacant lot to dispose of the grass.
Even though the work isn’t exactly strenuous, it still takes a toll on me — and that worries me. But I shouldn’t be surprised. In a month I’ll be turning seventy-seven, and I’ve been taking care of stray dogs every single day for sixteen years now. This work isn’t only time-consuming and physically demanding; it’s emotionally draining as well. When I have to cope with the loss of one of the dogs, as I did yesterday, it saps the last bit of strength I have left. Still, I’ve always managed to recover from these setbacks — and I hope I will again this time.
Saturday, 18 October 2025
On my way to the shelter in the morning, I pick up a supply of dry food and, once there, store the sacks in the kitchen. During my first walk through the areas, I’m relieved to see that all the dogs are accounted for and in good spirits. I start a Doxy treatment with Dotty and Chip. I’m especially worried about Dotty—she’s already ten years old and seems to be going blind. Jake, who stays in the kennel next to hers and is twelve now, is still doing quite well in comparison.
I then begin cleaning the house and all the outdoor areas, followed by feeding the dogs and refilling their water containers. Once all the essential chores are done, I sit with the house dogs for a while until the water tank is full again.
On my way home, I stop by Pong Park. Daria and Sharkey join me for a walk through the park, and we don’t encounter any other park dogs today.
Sunday, 19 October 2025
When I arrive at the shelter in the morning, Pai is already at work. I start the day by giving Doxycycline to Dotty and Chip, then begin cleaning the back areas while Pai takes care of the house and the front sections before starting the feeding round. Once the feeding is done, he continues working in the back. He has brought along a motor mower so the grass can be kept short.
In the early afternoon, I leave the shelter and check on the Pong Park dogs. I find Sharkey and Toto there, and Dodo is resting in his usual spot. I give him his eye drops before heading home.