Older expats now prohibited from adopting puppies

[elena edwards]

My two beloved former shelter dogs died recently at 15 and 16 years of age, leaving me with Dollie, now a very upset little Shi Tsu without her playmates. I immediately contacted a Chiang Mai group devoted to rehoming puppies, believing two would help her (and me) recover from the loss and be happy again with the new arrivals.

This took a good deal of arranging, but finally I chose two beautiful two-month old female pups. The person who was looking after them was an experienced rescue dog person, and gave excellent descriptions and pics to help me make up my mind which would be best for Dollie. All was arranged for this morning - several weeks after my darlings had died, and the pups arrived as expected. The helper brought the cage with the pups from the car and placed it on the terrace for Dollie to smell the pups. I'd known the expat woman when I first arrived in CM some 15 years ago - she was working with rescued dogs even at that time, so I believed there'd not be any issues.

 

I didn't for a moment expect problems, as we'd covered about everything on social media and by email - so I was appalled when she said she could not allow the adoption. It would now appear that expats of around 70 years or older were no longer considered suitable for puppy adoptions as they might die before the dogs. Given the average life-span of the average rescued soi dog or stray, that seemed strange to me until I realised she was deadly serious. Of course, I argued the point, citing my excellent health, my last illness 40 years ago with not even a cold since then and various other plus points including my will, which is generous to the shelters from which I have adopted six dogs over the past 15 years, It also makes excellent provision for any dogs I may leave behind as I don't have any family to leave the dosh to! 

 

However, she was adamant that this was a rule - first I'd heard of it or I wouldn't have got my hopes up and arranged everything based on my previous experience with dog rescue in CM. After my failed attempts at justification, the helper picked up the cage with the two pups and left, leaving my Shi Tsu whining and me in tears. I couldn't help remembering all the pretty pics of older expats with rescued dogs of all ages in their arms -  if this is some ghastly new rule, many more young dogs and puppies are going to stay un-rescued as a result.

 

Another point is that, due to the present Covid situation in the city, younger and more careless would-be adopters may be a worse risk to the dog-rescue expat workers and their dogs than older expats who're behaving sensibly as regards protection. So - if you're an older retiree - please remember not to set your heart on a furry puppy friend unless you lie like crazy from the get-go! So far, I don't think older dogs are being caught in this trap, but watching this space might well be a good idea.

[scubascuba3]

I was thinking about this yesterday, what happens to dogs when they outlive owners.

 

Anyway, just pick up some soi dog puppies like Thais do

[clivebaxter]

There of millions of the things in the sois, pick some up

[elena edwards]

It might well come to that - but where I live out in the sticks there's a shortage of available puppies as the local shop/bar and petrol station are taking care of what's there and refusing to let them leave! Even the Wat doesn't get the usual number!

[jak2002003]

Forget her and her dog rescue. 

 

Just get a couple of puppies from someone in your village. There are always puppies about for free.  Or if you live in the city take a drive out to some temples in the country ..sure they will have some.

[inThailand]

Picking up girls ok, dogs no. TIT! 

[eddiesdad]

Seven pups just born two weeks ago in my local restaurant. Eyes not open yet.  Pattaya area. PM me if this is of help.  

[Guderian]

Sorry to hear about your loss.

 

The Thais are not very resposible dog owners, so they can't usually be bothered to get their dogs neutered (plus it will probably cost money), and if they've got a bitch then sooner or later she'll end up preggers and sprog a litter of pups (though the father's breed may remain a moot question, lol). They're usually happy to give these away to a good home (or even to a not-so-good home if they're desperate). Ask around, or ask a Thai person you know (like a neighbour, or a motorbike taxi driver) to find out who's got pups they don't want and take it from there. The GF was given this one two years ago, half Shih Tzu and half Chihuahua, and she's a gorgeous little animal, she would have cost a fortune back in the UK but was free here in Pattaya.

 

[elena edwards]

Oddly enough - and I've always wondered about this - in my area of Sannameng Sansai including the back streets there are very few street dogs and I've never seen very young puppies in all the 15 years I've lived here.. As mentioned, the owner of the local garage has several, but he mainly keeps them on his property. The local Wat is just 10 minutes' walk away - again, no sight of the usual group of soi dogs. Maybe the local head man doesn't allow them......seems my only solution is to check out the shelters - but most are a considerable distance from my home as well as being difficult to find due to recent roadworks all over the Hang Dong district.

 

I'm now dealing with an even more upset Dollie Shi Tsu, as she can't understand why the pups in the cage didn't stay after she'd been allowed to sniff and squeak at them on the terrace. She's a very smart little dog, adopted just under three years ago when no-one cared whether I was 90 or 19,  So much for dog rescue...seems like the CM expat Mafia's at work again! I checked this out with Care for Dogs - all my rescued dogs over the years were from there - at least they don't support this stupidity.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

19 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

There of millions of the things in the sois, pick some up

Millions????maybe a slight exaggeration!

[Crazy Noobie]

I just adopted two corgi puppies (7 weeks old) from a local breeder in Chiang Mai. I am 70 years old and had no issues at all. I did a search on Facebook and that is how I found the breeder. But I agree with some of the other posts. If you put the word out to all of the Thais you know, that you want a puppy, someone will have one for you. 

[freedomnow]

21 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

just pick up some soi dog puppies like Thais do

Good for rabies.

[connda]

There are literally hundreds of thousands of dogs in Thailand in need of a loving home.  Contact your local temples and tell them you are interested in puppies should any of the temple's bitches have a litter.  It's sad to hear that farangs working with adopted animals are now gatekeepers. Or just look online in Chiang Mai Facebook groups.  Then you are dealing with the dog's owners and not some middle-man.  One of our bitches had a litter this time last year.  When looking for potential adoptees all we were concerned with was that they'd have a loving home and be well cared for. 

[RJRS1301]

2 hours ago, elena edwards said:

Oddly enough - and I've always wondered about this - in my area of Sannameng Sansai including the back streets there are very few street dogs and I've never seen very young puppies in all the 15 years I've lived here.. As mentioned, the owner of the local garage has several, but he mainly keeps them on his property. The local Wat is just 10 minutes' walk away - again, no sight of the usual group of soi dogs. Maybe the local head man doesn't allow them......seems my only solution is to check out the shelters - but most are a considerable distance from my home as well as being difficult to find due to recent roadworks all over the Hang Dong district.

 

I'm now dealing with an even more upset Dollie Shi Tsu, as she can't understand why the pups in the cage didn't stay after she'd been allowed to sniff and squeak at them on the terrace. She's a very smart little dog, adopted just under three years ago when no-one cared whether I was 90 or 19,  So much for dog rescue...seems like the CM expat Mafia's at work again! I checked this out with Care for Dogs - all my rescued dogs over the years were from there - at least they don't support this stupidity.

The incredible cruelty of the worker astounds me.

Led you to believe that you could adopt, brought the pups around , then reneged.

Why did she not tell you about this long before allowing you to become hopeful, and bring the pups to you?

 

[Anant72]

Did you ask what was the rule and where you could check it?

[Rimmer]

A troll post has been removed

[Colabamumbai]

Soi Dog Foundation if your serious. 

[Will B Good]

8.6 million soi dogs to choose from.

[elena edwards]

Thanks for the pic Gudarien - she's so, so beautiful! Motorbike taxi info is a good idea - I'll give it a try. My Thai language is simply awful - can't cope with the 'grammar' - but I'll work something out. There's no help at all in this very small moo baan - my next-door neighbour even complained about the noises my adored Ban Kaew Ellie was making at night before she died just over a week ago. Had to stop myself being very, very uncool at that point. The expat community in this area most certainly isn't what it was.

[Bundooman]

4 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Millions????maybe a slight exaggeration!

Really?

Just how many Sois do you think there are, thousands?

In less than a square Kilometers of where I live the are hundreds of Sois, small, medium and large, interconnecting, adjoining - leading to others.

I don't think 'millions' across the whole of Thailand is an unreasonable guesstimate.

Certainly millions of the filthy, vicious little s**t mongrels that live in them.

I mean the dogs of course.......

 

[Scott Tracy]

I find it irresponsible and down right cruel, what the centre did, and what the lady did. Why the <deleted> could they have not mentioned this up front, before he even looked at pictures, never mind choosing and letting him see and meet the dogs.

 

cruel, so cruel. 

[Scott Tracy]

1 hour ago, Colabamumbai said:

Soi Dog Foundation if your serious. 

Forget it if you are over 70.

[Adumbration]

Don't "adopt" just leave that option for those that qualify.

 

Just search for your new doggos on the thai website Kaidee.  There of dozens of chihuahua and toy breeders located in the Chang Mai - Chang Rai area.  That is where the bulk of puppy factories are that supply Bangkok.

 

The cost of a nice chihuahua puppy is about 3,500 baht.  You can get exactly what you want.

[Adumbration]

Here are 1439 puppies looking for a home:

 

https://www.kaidee.com/c220a4067-pet-dog-เล็ก

 

Here is a cute little long hair chihuahua for 2500 baht:

 

https://www.kaidee.com/product-363809158

 

You can use google translate to convert kaidee pages to English.

 

 

 

[BritManToo]

On 10/29/2021 at 6:24 PM, elena edwards said:

if you're an older retiree - please remember not to set your heart on a furry puppy friend unless you lie like crazy from the get-go!

You could just buy a puppy.

Don't forget to write that 'ageist' foundation out of your will.

[Adumbration]

Here is a gorgeous shih tzu chihuhua mix for 1700 baht:

 

https://www.kaidee.com/product-363799399

 

Delivery by air is less than 1000 baht for most breeders and it includes a carry box and drink bottle that would cost you 400-500 baht to buy anyway.

 

Breeder will send at dropoff at airport and then email you the carrier receipt with flight and arrival details.  You just need to go to airport to collect.  Make sure you request a copy of the sellers ID card before you proceed.

[Adumbration]

Here are all of the toy breed listings for Chang Mai:

 

https://www.kaidee.com/c220a4067p1-pet-dog-เล็ก/chiangmai

 

And here are some puppies for free in Chang Mai right now. Problem solved:

 

https://www.kaidee.com/product-363701419

 

[Adumbration]

What about this little cutie at Doi Lor:

 

https://www.kaidee.com/product-363739288

 

[Adumbration]

Here is a pom puppy in town for 900 baht:

 

https://www.kaidee.com/product-363723316

 

[wpcoe]

I wonder what the person with the puppies in the OP uses as a life expectancy target for expats?  Would she allow adoption of an older dog, say a 5-10 year old abandoned dog, rather than a puppy?