THE 2nd STERILIZATION & RABIA VACINE PROGRAM WAS A SUCCES! July 14 th - 17 th (3 ½ days)

Thanks again to SOI DOG FOUNDATION from PHUKET and you that have helped with financial support.

The mobile clinic location was at the same place as last time, at the Passenger ferry Pier in Saladan. This time we tried something different and went out with the dog catchers at 06.00 in the morning in hope to catch more stray dogs on the main road looking for food. The first time we caught 8, and tried to go up in the mountain near a Sea gypsy House, but the road was not accessible.

The second morning was pouring down with rail and even the strays did not want to venture out to try to find food. So not many were caught. We visited several constructions sights again and several resorts. Where stray dogs still hang out remembering in the high season that tourists give them food. Unfortunately there are only a few tourists around now if any. On one resort we picked up 27 cats! Allot of cats were brought in by owners this time which is good, but also uses up money and recourses that could have gone to catching and sterilizing stray dogs. I took 2 dogs home with me that had injuries that need to be looked after. One is still staying here. So I have been without of office for 3 weeks...

Here are the results for the 3 ½ days:
Total animal sterilized and rabie vacined = 119
48 cats all owned
71 dogs; 52 owned and 19 stray (many of the "owned" are actually strays that get a little food now and then)
(+3 own dogs come for only skin treatment)
( +6 dogs and 2 cats come to have only rabies vaccine)
(1 dog has total testicle removal because of wound with maggots)
(1 dog has also stiches from head wound with maggots)
(1 dog has also operation for mouth wound with maggots)
( 5 dogs from PTT station also Ivomec injection for tick treatment)
(+6 dogs and 2 cats come to have only rabies vaccine)

The 3rd program will start August 13th - 16th. There will be two mobile clinics, one in Saladan and one in Old Town. In celebration of the queens birthday there will also be a team from Vet. University in Bangkok that will come for 2 days.

June 16th - 20th (4 1/2 days)
Thanks to SOI DOG FOUNDATION from Phuket and you that have helped with financial support.

Our aim was:
1. To sterilize dogs and cats that are living in the area Saladan (Moo1-5) including owned ones and stray.
2. To treat suffering stray dog there in case of injuries
3. To give rabies vaccine to all animals that went through the clinic. We tattooed also both ears on stray dogs so it will be easier to see who is sterilized in the future.
4. To educate and raise awareness of he benefits of sterilization and vaccination dog and cat for both own and stray animal there.

Here are the results for the 4 ½ days:
Total animals Sterilized and rabies vaccined = 118
Thereof; 99 dogs - 52 female 47 male (72 stray)
Thereof; 19 cats - 11 female 8 male (all owned)
(plus 4 dogs that where where treated for only injuries)
about 18 dogs that where sterilized also got Ivomec injections that treat mange and ticks.

The team arrived Sunday afternoon 6 pm

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June 15th after a tiring 6 hour drive from Phuket. I met them at the ferry as they wanted to check out the location of the mobile clinic. Which was held at the “tourist” Pier in Saladan. The next morning we started catching stray dogs nearest the mobile clinic. The two dog catchers (who also post prepared and gave sedatives) talked with the locals and found out where there where allot of stray dogs. On one construction site we visited there was 20 dogs!
I want to say that I am SO IMPRESSED with SOI DOGS work. I have never seen any kind of team work so well together here in Thailand or in Norway.
I never dreamed that we could have achieved this much. Efficient, professional, patient, animal caring and more.... and every body had good hearts. They where on their feet working from early morning until evening. I have checked on some of the dogs and the ones I have seen are happy and the wounds looks fine. I am very happy and humble to these caring people who have donated their time to help the animals and also Lanta Island.
A little sad that the rabies vaccines we got first from the Governmental Animal Livestock where outdated over 2 years! Hopefully the collaboration with the Government will be more efficient next time.

The next program will start July 14th - 18th, it will also be at Saladan Pier.

I only truly hope the locals, foreigners and businesses that are on Lanta Island, will learn to appreciate this also, and will be of help in the future.

And again I ask humbly for practical help for those who are on the Island, The Team including me had a 66 work hours in these 4,5 days. This is not including all the preparation and after preparation to get this done.

Funding and financial support where ever you are in the world is most welcomed.

Best Regards from stinky Junie Kovacs (due to no time for personal well-being)
organizer of LANTA ANIMAL WELFARE
www.lantaanimalwelfare.com
info@lantaanimalwelfare.com

TIME FOR LIME
- creative thai & fusion cooking workshops
- restaurant, bungalows & beach bar
www.timeforlime.net

tel: International:
+6675684590 mobile +66899675017,
tel: Thailand
075 684590 mobile 089 9675017

Arrive: June 15th, depart June 20th
Operation location: Operation location: Saladan at the pier for passengers
The Team will stay at Time for Lime Kong Dao beach, food will be provided by Time for Lime.

Arrive: July 13h, depart July 18th
Operation location: Sunflower Resort
The Team will stay at Sunflower Resort on long beach, food will be provided by N.C.

Arrive: August 10th, depart August 15th
Operation location: Sangahoo (Chaley village on the east coast)
The Team will stay at N.C, food will be provided by N.C.

Arrive: September 14th, depart September 19th
Operation location: Old-town village on the east coast
The Team will stay at N.C, food will be provided by N.C.

A team from World Wide Veterinary Service will also hopefully come
Arrive: September 14rd, depart September 27th
Operation location: Old-town village on the east coast
And also probably back again to Operation location: Saladan at the pier for passengers As there are many dogs in that area
The Team can stay at Time for Lime, food will be provided by N.C.

We will need volunteers for helping catching dogs, getting food and feeding female dogs that need extra time to recover. Help wash cloths that are used in the operations, bring tools for sterilization in Autoclave at the Health clinic in Saladan. Putting up cages, and a lot more!

We do not have enough money to do all 4 places as per day, so we need money support also!
Wish us luck!

APRIL 13th and 14th

Vet. Mr. Narin from Trang and his assistants will sterilize dogs and cats, also give vaccines on these 2 days.
Can also treat sick and injured animals.
Location: Time for Lime.
Free sterilization (for poor local people).
1500 THB (for those you can pay which will help support the people who cannot afford this).
Please call for making appointments in advance
089 967 5017
Volunteers needed!

• LANTA ANIMAL WELFARE WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE OR BOR TOR AND SOI DOG FOUNDATION, WILL ARRANGE TO HAVE MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE DOG POPULATION STERILIZED (MINIMUM 85% REQUIRED).
  
  
• INITIALLY IT WILL FOCUS ON FEMALE DOGS.
  
  
• WE WILL TRY TO START THE TASK IN MAY 2008 AND COMPLETE BEFORE THE START OF HIGH SEASON.
  
  
• SOI DOG FOUNDATION (WHO ARE VERY EXPERIENCED AND HAVE STERILIZED OVER 18,000 CATS AND DOGS ON PHUKET ALONE IN THE PAST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS), WILL PROVIDE A VET, ASSISTANT, TRAINED DOG CATCHER AND VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE TO PERFORM THE STERILIZATION'S. THEY WILL COME 1 WEEK PER MONTH. IF VOLUNTEER VETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME THEY WILL BRING ADDITIONAL STAFF TO COMPLETE THE OPERATION IN A SHORTER TIME FRAME.
  
  
• THE OR BOR TOR WILL LOOK TO PROVIDE A SUITABLE SITE FOR THE CLINICS TO TAKE PLACE.
  
  
• LANTA ANIMAL WELFARE WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE HOLDING CAGES, SURGICAL MATERIALS (ANAESTHESIA DRUGS, DRUGS FOR DARTING UNFRIENDLY DOGS, SUTURE MATERIAL. ANTI BIOTICS, RABIES VACCINES ETC.) TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOR GETTING SOI DOG FOUNDATION STAFF TO KOH LANTA AND ACCOMMODATION FOR THEIR STAFF WHILST WORKING.
  
  
• THE APPROXIMATE COST IN SURGICAL MATERIALS PER DOG IS AROUND 300/400THB. WE ESTIMATE THAT THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 500 DOGS ON THE ISLAND, THOUGH COULD BE MORE OR LESS. CAGES, COSTS OF SURGICAL MATERIALS AND TRANSPORTATION ETC.. APPROXIMATELY 250,000THB.
  
  
• SO THIS MEANS WE NEED FOUNDING NOW! LAW WILL APPROACH HOTELS AND BUSINESSES ON THE ISLAND TO ASK FOR FUNDING

We made and distributed flyers as much as we could (but not enough people to work) that Narin the the vet. was coming to Lanta. Junie talked to the police and to the head monk at the temple, for advice and to inform the day before the vet. came.
Big news - since there is no vet. on the Island. The staff at Time for Lime, did not really understand if this was a good thing or not. "Not nice to do this at our cooking school" but most of the staff and Junie washed and cleaned until late at night after the operations where finished. I think the staff was actually proud what we did.
Although one the bungalow guests at Time for Lime complained that the restaurant was not opened and wanted a discount on their room..... Which they got from a very tired Junie. Very heart warming indeed.

Narin and his gang, arrived mid-day on the 10th. After a small relaxation and some food, they wanted to get started. They sterilized 3 dogs that night on the balcony of one of the bungalows. PICTURE! One female and male that Time for Lime houses, and one female beach-dog, that Time for Lime feeds on the beach.
We had by then tried to make a list of dogs, and a time table for people to meet up.
The next day Narin and Co. sterilized total 13 female, 2 male dogs and 3 female cats. He was a little stressed of the wind and sand so we tried to barricade for the wind as much as could. All the people who brought in animals received antibiotics for the amount of 5 days to give after the operation. The local KTV also popped by and has been sending a summary of the day on the cable net for Lanta and Krabi.

The people who brought in animals was 50/50 % thai and foreigners. It was positive that a couple of Tourists who has been staying several weeks on the Island and has been feeding dogs brought in two. The one female dog had a serious infection in her uterus, so she was lucky to get operated. She has had some complications afterwards, we hope she will survive. Otherwise we have had only good news from the operations, no other complications. Dr. Narin from Trang did a very good job. I sincerely hope that he will continue to work with us.
This time people had to pay since their has not come in donations. 900 THB for a female dog to be sterilized is allot of money for a Thai person who receives a normal salary which runs to approx. 4 days salary, so we sincerely hope, that donations will be coming soon. So Lanta Animal welfare can pay at-least most of the cost.
Also we need more volunteers and experience, so we can start taking care of the "really" homeless dogs. There is approxemantly 500 homeless on the Island as per day.
PICTUREs!

10.12.07

The Veterinarian Mr. Narin from Trang is coming to Lanta Island to sterilize dogs and cats for those who bring them in. This will be done at Time for Lime. We hope many will come!
Unfortunately this is not for free yet, we are waiting, to buy equipment and get more funding. LAW will pay for petrol and ferry, Accommodation is provided for him and his helpers for free at
Time for Lime.

Update coming as soon as he has been here.