The Soi Dog Foundation

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Living in the United States, one hears about the horrors and neglect of abused dogs on a daily basis. However, in places like Thailand, the abuse is so much more. Hundreds of dogs and cats are abused, abandoned or left for dead in the streets. Others, become part of the dog meat trade.

The Soi Dog Foundation

The Soi Dog Foundation was founded in 2003 by a trio of animal rescue activists, Margot Homburg Park and John and Gill Dalley. Jon and Gill had relocated to Phuket and decided to dedicate their lives to rescuing these animals. Their foundation became the first organization of its kind to be certified as a foundation in Thailand.

What They Do

In Thailand, there aren't as many facilities available to help their animals. The veterinarians volunteer their time. They can't perform surgeries there, just give basic care. In addition to the basic care, that's given to these animals, there have been huge strides to spay and neuter them to control the overcrowded pet population. Since the beginning, over 100,000 dogs, averaging about 1,800 a month.

In 2011, they started an initiative to help end the dog meat trade. Many dogs from Thailand are exported to Vietnam to be eaten. It's illegal and the foundation has worked to bring awareness to this by naming it the Trade of Shame. In addition to its Trade of Shame campaign, the organization teaches students in school to become more understanding and tolerant towards dogs. Today, the Soi Dog Foundation is the largest animal rescue foundation in Asia, having over 50 full-time employees and a huge goal of opening a veterinary hospital in Asia.

How You Can Help

There are many ways you can help this foundation. They have a dog sponsor program where one can sponsor a dog or cat for $26USD a month. Another way to help is through adoption. Many of their dogs, mostly adult are shipped to places such as North America and Europe to loving homes. If you find yourself vacationing in Thailand, one of the best ways to help the animals is not to take them into the comfort of your hotel room. Many tourists will do so thinking they're helping and it gives the animal hope they'll have a loving home. When they return to a new tourist who turns them away, they at risk for getting clubbed to death.

Finally, 100% Pure has a special offer going on right now. You can purchase special products from their website and 100% of the profits will go to the Soi Dog Foundation. I picked up their Soi Dog Mangosteen bath package and it's a great feeling to know that even though it was a little costly, the end result is more well worth it. If you'd like to learn more about this please visit 100percentpure.com.

*Note: No payment was offered by 100% pure. I am endorsing them purely for their Soi Dog Program.

To learn more about the Soi Dog Foundation, you can find them at soidog.org.

Let's Discuss!

Are you familiar with Soi Dog Foundation? What animal rescue organization has changed your life?

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Michael Vick Five Years Later

Michael Vick has been reviled (with good reason) by many, including myself, for what he did to pit bulls five years ago. Recently, through a tweet of his, he had posted a picture with a box of Milk Bone dog biscuits in the background. Then, a few days later, it was revealed that he had a dog. When questioned by reporter, he wanted to keep things about football and evaded the dog question. Later, he came clean about it by issuing a statement:

"I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family's decision to care for a pet," Vick said. "As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals. I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God's creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family. This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change."

At first, I was outraged. I was 100% convinced this could be the worst thing ever. I thought that Michael Vick would be banned from owning dogs for the rest of his life. It turns out as part of his probation, there was a time limit that expired in May, and he's now able to own dogs again.

As much as I want to, I can't vilify the guy anymore. If he was living by himself and adopted these dogs, I would find that more of a problem. In a situation as controversial as this one, you have to look at the facts as well as the opinions.

One of the facts is, the judge who sentenced him, did not ban him from having dogs for life. He was given a three-year period. There must have been a good reason that judge didn't ban him from owning dogs for life. Any backlash would fall on the judge's shoulders.

Another fact is that out of all of the dogs found that horrific day, one of the dogs was Michael Vick's pet, who was in excellent health during the Bad Newz Kennel raid. So many dogs die in shelters each day because there aren't enough people out there who can give them a safe forever home. What's worse, giving it to a man who's trying to do the right thing after making a huge error in judgement or euthanizing the dog so he'll become just another statistic?

Lastly, he has three children who are innocent. How are they supposed to understand that when a person finishes their punishment, why shouldn't they get another chance? Is that what our country is about?

Michael Vick has been lucky enough to have a life most young boys dream about. As much as he's screwed up big time, he's done good in the world too. Before his arrest, he created the Michael Vick Foundation to help at-risk kids and a scholarship foundation to help students who were part of the equally tragic West Virginia shooting.

I see a person trying to do right by his kids. He's tried to make up for what he did by working with animal groups as an advocate. If he didn't care about making things better, he wouldn't have bothered to continue his volunteer work after his probation ended. It shows that he was big enough to admit to his mistakes. Also, what does it say about us that we can't forgive? Granted, I have no desire to ever see him play football or buy one of his jerseys, but if he's going to put a dog into an abusive situation again, it will affect his children and the aftereffects will be too much to bear.

As much as I hate what he did, the truth of the matter is that he has too much to lose, if he ever does anything like this again. For his sake, I hope he only has one dog and keeps that one dog happy and healthy for a long, long time. Everyone is capable of change if they truly want their life to be different. Change isn't easy, but it appears that he's slowly learning his lesson and trying to become a better person than what he was in his dogfighting past.

When it comes down to it, it's about the dogs themselves. We can choose to focus on a criminal who adopted a dog to benefit his children or we can try to save the other dogs out there who are still being used for dog fighting, to make puppy mill owners a quick buck or being senselessly abused for no good reason. I choose the latter. It doesn't mean I've forgotten what Vick has done, but there comes a time where you have to move on. What he does now can't change what he did in the past, but one can hope that he gains wisdom and truly changes for the better as a result.

Let's Discuss!

Please feel free to agree or disagree below.

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The Mutt Strut (In Memory Of Doc)

Photo: Chicago Canine Rescue

Many dog shelters and rescues have a run or a walk as a major fundraiser. The Chicago Canine Rescue's main goal is to help at-risk dogs by finding them forever homes. This fundraiser, The Mutt Strut 2012 will be especially poignant. Earlier this summer, one of the puppies "Doc" was punched in the head by his owner, until he died. Why did this happen? Because the owner, was upset that he had an accident in the house and became even more agitated while he was bathing him.

The irony was the owner's references were thoroughly checked out. The adoptive parent was a schoolteacher with the Chicago Public School system. He was only 25 years old and had a spotless record. This story was so shocking it made national news. Derek Fierro had turned himself in but by then it was too late.

The Mutt Strut

While this years Mutt Strut will be benefitting all dogs from the shelter when it happens on September 29th, there has been a special memorial fund set up in honor of Doc. If you live in Chicago, there's still time to sign up. Doc was one of seven dogs born in a litter who were named after the 7 dwarfs. It's a way to remember this little pup who may be gone but won't be forgotten. You can donate to Doc's Memorial Fund through this webpage.

Let's Discuss!

Did you participate in any shelter/rescue walks this summer? What were they like for you?

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Dogtown

Dogtown is part of the best friends adoption network. It was created in 1987 when so many of the dogs in shelters were being euthanized since they were unadoptable. They have over 500 dogs staying there and the property is over 90 acres. The staff there takes the time to train many of these dogs to become adoptable and for the ones who have been abused to the point of where being adopted is not a reality, the organization gives them a place that they can permanently call home. They are able to accomplish this with a staff and many selfless volunteers. They have taken in dogs from disasters such as hurricane Katrina as well as the thirty dogs who have been declared unadoptable from the Michael Vick dog fighting ring.

National Geographic has a special weekly program documenting the life of the dogs and the staff who loves them. You can catch it on Fridays in the US at 10PM Eastern/9PM Central. If you would like to know more, please visit them at http://www.bestfriends.org/dogtown. Thanks and have a good night.