Help Suffering Animals Get Medical Treatment

The end of the summer, here on Koh Lanta, is a time to look back and get ready for the busy tourist season ahead. One rescue does stand out, not just because a precious life was saved, but because it tells the story of so many animals that are forgotten.

I want to tell you about Primrose, but I’m going to tell it backwards. Reading it knowing it has a happy ending, makes a difficult story easier to read.

Primrose Today

Primrose is receiving medical treatment and is almost healed from her infection and anemia. She has gained a lot of weight and her coat is starting to shine. The trauma of her past still haunts her, but she’s getting braver by the day and learning to trust humans once more.

Primrose was found cowering in a corner

Our rescue team went to a government facility where street dogs were kept to rid the streets of the strays. It was not a shelter, nor a temporary placement. There were no future plans for any of these dogs.

Primrose was crammed into a tiny prison, just 1½ meters by 1½ meters, with two other dogs. She avoided eye contact and was extremely nervous. She was  trembled in the corner, too frightened to move in case they attacked her.

This was not surprising, as being forced to share such a tiny space with other dogs had broken her spirit.

The dogs were standing on cold, metal wire, in cages that didn’t have a solid floor. These cages were only designed for temporary use. Confused and scared, these dogs were competing for food, and many were desperately ill. Primrose was living in truly horrendous conditions. 

Primrose was very ill, too weak to fight for food

Primrose had contracted a blood parasite infection and was severely anemic. She was hungry and weak, too scared to fight for what little food there was. Without urgent medical treatment, she simply wasn’t going to survive.

Our rescue team immediately removed her from this facility, and started treating her as they rushed her to our clinic.

This story motivates us to keep going

This story, while difficult to read, tells the story of our mission and why our continuing work is so critical. As you are reading this, another dog is suffering, scared, hungry, and sick. And another dog is fighting for survival, alone and unloved.

Our work continues…

Links:

• Lanta Animal Welfare Website

Koh Lanta is relatively quiet now that the busy tourist season is over. We can focus more on our outreach during these quiet summer months as there are relatively few tourists. The sea is rough and the nights are stormy due to the monsoon winds that blow towards us until they turn away in the Fall. 

Due to your support and generosity, we can make plans, ensure we have adequate medical supplies, and schedule our outreach to the local community. 

Mobile Sterilization Clinic on Koh Lanta Noi

In May we had a very successful mobile sterilization clinic on Koh Lanta Noi, the island between our island and the mainland. To distinguish the islands, we are called Lanta Yai (Long), and the small island is called Lanta Noi (Small). 

This small island is home to many of the Thais that work the businesses on Koh Lanta. It is not a tourist island, as it has no resorts, restaurants nor bars. It is truly homestgead and a drive-thru island, joining the ferry to the mainland, with the bridge to Koh Lanta, where Lanta Animal Welfare is located. 

The locals on Lanta Noi had been telling us about many cats in desperate situations on their island. We had our Mobile Clinic Manager spend time there investigating the situation. In addition to assessing the cat population’s needs, meetings were held with government representatives and members of the various community groups. These meetings planed and scheduled the mobile clinic location and dates, as well as informing the community through the many mosques and local news announcements.

Our 3 day clinic sterilized 72 cats and provided medical care and vaccinations to dozens more. The participation of the locals was excellent, with so many bringing their cats for sterilization and medical care. We also had our team of catchers in the villages and the jungle bringing the stray cats to the clinic site. The clinic was open from dawn til dusk with continuous activities through the long days.

The math here is mind-boggling.  Since every cat has the potential for 80 offspring, the clinic prevented the birth of approximately 5,700 kittens who would have been unwanted, subjected to starvation, disease, and suffering.

It was a busy few days, with great results.

I am providing a short video made during this clinic that I hope you enjoy.

Openings at Lanta Animal Welfare

Similar to any organization we have staff turnover.  This year we see a few of our long-time and cherished staff retiring. This gave us the opportunity to take a good look inwards and do a bit of restructuring.  We are now better positioned to continue our rescue and medical services well into the future.

We have 3 openings that I want to tell you about.  While we would love to have you, our supporters, come to Koh Lanta in one of these roles, we know that this is probably not going to happen.  

It is very difficult to find qualified resources, so we are looking everywhere we can to spread the word. I would like you to ask you to share this newsletter/information with your family and friends. Maybe someone in your circle would be interested, or know someone who would be.

• Centre Director – This role is responsible for the general daily operations and program management of Lanta Animal Welfare, reporting to the Board. The focus is to oversee the Centre staff to carry out their goals, policies and objectives, including job performance, conflict resolution, and payroll. The resource will also represent the organisation in the community.
• Fundraising-Marketing Manager – The role is responsible for the development, delivery and reporting, of all fundraising and marketing activities across all online channels, including MailChimp, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and so on. Using the stories of the sick and injured animals, the volunteers, and day to day life at the centre, LAW will come to life online, engage readers, grow the donor base and source donations.
• Dog Behaviorist/Trainer – This role focuses on dog training, behavioural assessments, practical implementations, and staff dog training. Many of our rescue dog are suffering from PTSD from their situations pre-rescue and need special attention and care as they recover from their trauma.

I have provided a link to our Website so you can get more information and application details for these vacancies.

The summer is around the corner and I wish you all a peaceful and happy time. 

I do hope you have enjoyed your current glimpse into Lanta Animal Welfare. 

Until the next report…

Links:

• Mobile Sterilization Clinic on Koh Lanta Noi, May 2024