Soi Dog Foundation Phuket Thailand

Website now available in the languages above courtesy of Google Translate

Soi Dog Foundation is a not-for-profit, legally registered charitable organization, based in Phuket, Thailand, with the aim of setting an example to the rest of the Asian region on how to humanely reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats through sterilzation, and to better the lives and living conditions of the remaining stray dogs and feral cats.

There are about 50 temples on the island, most have an average of about 30 dogs, it is estimated that Soi Dog look after about 600 dogs in temples alone, not counting other street dogs, and the 200 + dogs at the Shelter and stray cats around the island

Residents of Phuket SDF needs your help again, in the last 2 weeks SDF has received an unprecedented amount of puppies and now has 30 in its care, SDF is looking for homes urgently for the puppies and will be holding an adoption day soon, in the mean time please visit the shelter at Mai Khao to veiw available puppies or please call John on 0870508688 or Khun Toom on 081 788 4222

Click on picture for larger image

Silver Flash in a Dash,

Slow Down and Prevent a Crash.

Next time you’re driving along in your car or on your bike at night, and you see a silver flash of light a few hundred meters in front of you, slow down. What you are seeing is one of the 2500 reflective dog collars  shortly to be distributed by the Soi Dog Foundation to owners of dogs who live by many of Phuket’s main roads.

In an attempt to protect drivers of motorbikes and of cars from being involved in accidents and collisions with dogs that are allowed to run loose by their owners, a norm in Phuket, SDF contacted 3M Thailand and asked if they would be prepared to become involved in a pilot project that incorporated road safety and animal welfare. They said Yes!!

There are many accidents each year involving dogs. If a car is involved then the most that is likely to happen to you is some superficial damage to your fender, unless of course you brake suddenly, a normal reaction when you see something suddenly move out in front of you, which could then result in a nasty shunt from behind. For motorcyclists however, a collision with a dog inevitably leads to rider and machine parting company, and at best some nasty cuts and grazes, at worst death.

As part of a clever use of a product already used to protect millions of people worldwide in aspects of high visibility , and making sure people can be seen in night situations , a volunteer at SDF thought why not for dogs as well? The concept would be the same, make sure people can see the dog well in advance, and take action to slow down and avoid hitting the dog, preventing injury to the dog and the driver, and damage to the vehicle. The reflective collar was born.

After a generous donation of 2500 meters of reflective webbing by Khun Pavinee and her management team of 3M Thailand, Soi Dog Foundation set to work , cutting , gluing and threading buckles, making the reflective collars. A long and hard effort, but well worth it, as anything to protect people and dogs at the same time has to be a good thing.

3M Thailand were very excited about participating in such a project and are keen to see the results. Should the project prove to be successful, it may be rolled out to other areas and the participation of car insurance companies will be asked, as any accident avoided will not only be a benefit for the dog and the driver, but  also of course a direct benefit on insurance claims for damage.

Initially SDF are fitting the collars to dogs coming in for sterilization at its mobile clinics in Kao Lak and on Koh Lanta, where it is currently sterilizing all the dogs on that island. However SDF will be distributing the collars, which are fully adjustable, free of charge or for small donation over the next few weeks on Phuket, and at the same time will be educating people on the benefits of neutering their dogs and cats, to prevent them adding to the number of strays on the island. Stray dogs that have participated in the Spay Neuter program run by SDF, will also receive a free collar when being released back to where they were picked up, helping SDF and local authorities to identify stray dogs that have been neutered, and do not pose any addition to the current problem.

So if you see a silver flash at night, slow down and watch where it goes, hopefully you will now have the advance notice you need to take avoidance measures, and help protect yourselves and the pets of Phuket.

SDF will also be holding its annual fundraiser at the fabulous newly completed “Into the beach venue” at the  Evason Phuket & six Senses Spa on Saturday September 13th 2008.  It promises to be a great party and is being sponsored by the Evason and Six Senses spa and the Phuket Gazette. 

For tickets please contact cristy@soidog-foundation.org or telephone her on 085 4734646.
Another way in which you can support SDF is to have your pet neutered free of charge at the new SDF shelter in Mai Khao, or adopt one of the many lovely dogs and puppies there.

One of the SDF shelter dogs models the new reflective collar being given away by the charity.
The flash used despite it being daylight, clearly shows the reflective properties of 3M’s fabric.

Featured Dog of the month

Matilda

Featured Cat of the month

Isa

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