Soi Dog 2005 Round Up

[Phuket Post]

Soi Dog 2005 Round Up

YEAR IN FOCUS

2005 has been a momentous and also very hectic year for SOI DOG FOUNDATION in the wake of the Tsunami of December 26, 2004. Between January and April, over 50 volunteers -- vets, nurses, and people just wanting to help -- came from all over the world to assist in treating, vaccinating and sterilising hundreds of animals, not only on Phuket but also in Khao Lak and on Koh Phi Phi.

In May, thanks to the generosity of hundreds of individuals and the support of some international organisations, SDF was able to open its own centre in Phuket City and employ 2 full-time Thai vets, assistants and dogcatchers. This has enabled SDF to accelerate its sterilisation and treatment programs. At the end of 2005, close to 8,000 animals were sterilised and vaccinated against rabies -- many more treated for injury and disease.

In June SDF was awarded two prestigious recognitions for its post-tsunami work at the International Animals for Asia Conference held in Singapore – the Elisabeth Lewyt Award and one from the Humane Society International (HSI). In addition, two of its volunteers were honoured for their services to animals, Leone Cosens, who lost her life in the Tsunami and Gill Dalley who lost both of her lower legs due to septicemia caught while helping animals.

In the same month the Leone Cosens Feeding Program was started, named after the late Leone Cosens. This involves the feeding of hundreds of abandoned animals in temples, on beaches and in the streets of Phuket, supporting many local and foreign volunteers spread all over the island. A huge number of animals were abandoned as a direct result of the tsunami as the economic downturn forced countless people to leave the island and return to their hometowns and countries or could simply not afford to feed them anymore.

In July, SDF’s new website – www.soidog.org was launched

In October SDF was granted foundation status in Thailand; we believe the first such organisation set up by foreigners of its type to receive such status.

December sees SDF actively commencing work to establish a permanent shelter on the island of Phuket in order to house the many dogs dumped and those not being able to return to their original habitat – an incredibly sad by-product of the amount of work SDF has done and will continue to do.

SDF extends to all its benefactors a heartfelt thank you for being there when the need was the greatest. Additionally, SDF wishes everyone a very happy and healthy 2006, together with ALL our animals.

SDF hopes you will stay the course – together we can turn Phuket into a great place for people and animals alike! Donations can be made to Siam Commercial Bank: 706-2 28385-8 (Soi Dog Foundation); or by credit card via Paypal on website: www.soidog.org

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