I want muscle! Urgently!

[DawnHRD]

Apologies, as this should probably be on White Board, but I thought more people would view it here.

HHDRC have a problem. We have a very short time (unspecified, but we believe less than a week) to move our dogs from one location in Hua Hin Dog Shelter (the Tessadban run pound nr Elephant Village) to a location over the road. If we do not move in this time, we have been informed the Tessadban will dismantle our facility from around our dogs, not caring if they mix into the Tessadban dogs/run into the road/whatever.

Anyone that has ever seen the condition of these dogs will understand why we would want to keep our well-loved & well-cared for dogs under our care, rather than relinquish them to the pound.

The location we must move to is already built, but has been left to rack & ruin, so needs grass/weeds cutting back & doors & walls put back up. We also need 6 of the pens to be fenced into 3 each (ie making 18 individual pens). We have the materials in our present area, but they will need dismantling & put up again in the new place.

Can anyone help? Do you have a free day this week (or two) that you would be prepared to give up to us & a bit of DIY? We can't afford to pay (it would be illegal anyway, if you're farang), but I promise to buy a beer for anyone that helps out. Please, please, if you can help, post below or call 081 9814406. Thanks.
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"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832

Make a dog's life better, today! Find out how - go to www.headrockdogs.org

[DawnHRD]

This thread may have been a moot point. I arrived at the new location today to find that 2 of the 4 perimeter walls of the "new" location had been removed overnight. It turns out the Tessadban "shelter" management had removed them, and have said that they will take the remaining 2 walls if & when they want them (even if our dogs are already there - they will just let them out to run on the road & in the surrounding area). We now have nowhere safe to put the dogs, as we may just have enough to put up a wall, but then would have no money to feed them, pay labourers or anything.

They are still insisting we move the dogs now (I now believe we have a day or two, only) otherwise they will confiscate them. Once they pass into Tessadban hands, we have been told we & other foreign orgs will be refused admittance to the Shelter, so we will not be able to see the dogs again, never mind care for them.

Why has this happened? Due to forum rules, I cannot post the reason, but it involves us defusing a highly volatile situation to the Shelter's benefit, but because we are foreign, perhaps meaning some face was lost by the management.

We have been led to believe that in the next day or so, the lock will be cut on our compound & our dogs will be released into the main pound. From then on, we will have no contact with them. Unless we can come up with a last ditch temporary solution, it looks like all but the 30 dogs safe in my garden will be beyond our help & care.
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"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832

Make a dog's life better, today! Find out how - go to www.headrockdogs.org

[Vital Spark]

Dawn,

I felt quite distressed when I read your post, but due to work commitments and location, neither P. nor I are in a position to provide muscle.

What has happened? What forum rules disallow you from explaining why you are being evicted from what I thought was a pretty safe and secure location?

You have obviously built up a relationship with the lovely dogs that you have taken into your care, but, if they're released amongst the other rescued dogs will it really be such a bad thing? You have obviously far more experience than I with dogs, but I can't see that they will suffer so much if they are looked after by the Tessadban. I guess that they feed all the dogs, and dogs being dogs (just like humans) will fit in with a pack and survive. They'll obviously not receive the same level of care and attention that you have given them in the past - but as long as they get food, and medical care when needed, they should be OK.

Does the Government (Tessadban) really ban all foreigners from their 'dog rescue centre'? If I turned up with a sack of dog food, would they turn me away?

I'm sorry, too many questions at a difficult time for you. I'm just concerned that nobody else has shown any interest in your plight.

Just remember that these lovely Thai dogs are hugely resilient - they're tough and know how to survive (I have two living with me at the moment who spent the first three years of their lives scavenging).

Good luck Dawn - whatever happens.

V.S. x

[Bamboo Grove]

Anybody up to this challenge? Let´s all go there and help these dogs out. Dawn said anytime after 11.00 is ok, right?
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知彼知己, 胜乃不殆; 知天知地, 胜乃可全
www.bamboogrove.fi

[Rider]

Sorry Dawn, can't help!
I'm still stuck in grim Blighty and the North Sea

These Tessabahn folk sound really evil! Do they have ownership on your domain or something?

Good Luck!
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http://www.divinglore.com

[redzonerocker]

its a sorry from me to dawn
unfortunately,i wont be back in hh until end of november. i hope you get the help you need & wish you good luck.
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when all are one & one is all, to be a rock & not to roll.

[DawnHRD]

VS, Again, I can't say too much, because if we do manage to move, it will be to a Tessadban location, but "yes" they will suffer. The Tessadban dogs are not rescued, they are removed. Thirteen of my current dogs were from there. I took them because their state & suffering was very bad. The strongest of our dogs will probably cope OK there. All of our dogs have the benefit of being neutered & vaccinated, which puts them one step up. The weaker or submissive ones will not do well.

Put it this way, an alternative is to try to release them to temples & that is the alternative we favour.

They don't turn anyone away at the moment. This is what we've been told will happen & I'm not sure how true it is. I think visitors would still be allowed, but 'interfering organisations' not.
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"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832

Make a dog's life better, today! Find out how - go to www.headrockdogs.org

[DawnHRD]

Some good news (at last!). We have had it confirmed that no more walls will be taken & we have the area for a few months. We moved more than half the dogs over today.

A huge, ginormous, heartfelt thank you to the HHAD members who helped out, along with partners & friends. So, Bamboo Grove, Governor, Big Boy, Steve G and your partners & friends - thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm so grateful to all of you guys. Big hug from me to all of you & a sloppy lick from the dogs!
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"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832

Make a dog's life better, today! Find out how - go to www.headrockdogs.org

[redzonerocker]

that is good news dawn :cheers
i will keep a keen eye on developments.
does it mean you are in temporary residence there?

ps well done bg, bb, gov, stevie g & co.
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when all are one & one is all, to be a rock & not to roll.

[Vital Spark]

Certainly good news Dawn.

A sloppy lick from a dog is not to everyone's liking, but I'm sure a big hug from you is.

Well done to all those who helped Dawn out - you did a sterling job.

VS
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'Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana' -Groucho Marx

[DawnHRD]

Big thank you again to Steve G and Bamboo Grove's friend who turned in to help again today & were terrific. Thank you, guys!

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"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832

Make a dog's life better, today! Find out how - go to www.headrockdogs.org

[Big Boy]

Having read so much on HHAD about the Dog Rescue Centre, and being an avid dog lover myself, I had already planned to visit the centre to see it for myself.

It was coincidence that the day my son and I had decided to visit the centre Dawn was going to be busy evacuating her current premises for the new area being offered by the Tessadban. Not being very practical, I wasn't sure how we would be able to help, but having read Dawn's plea we turned up anyway.

Our Tuk Tuk driver delivered us straight to the new area (knowing already that this was the 'Farang' pound). We knew we were in the right area when we saw Dawn and her helper coming over a small hill, each with a dog in their arms. We followed her in the new area, and saw BG and a few others making the new pound habitable for the dogs.

We asked Dawn how we could help, and she said that they needed help in transporting the dogs to the new pound. We followed her back to the Tessadban pound - this was our first sight of this pound. Dawn entered first, and my son & I entered about 20 seconds behind her. I've encountered some pretty mean looking soi dogs walking home after a night on the beer in the past, but this was that experience 20 fold! To get to Dawn's old pound, we had to run the gauntlet of about 100 growling, barking dogs - my son was convinced he was going to be bitten (I just had my size 14 right boot ready).

We got to the old pound safely. Once inside, first impressions were that it was a bit ramshackle, but sufficient. It was at that point that Dawn said that we would have to carry the dogs across to the new pound (about 200 yards I would guess). The dogs weren't that big, so although the heat was quite intense I thought that it was do-able (after all, we'd just seen Dawn and her small helper doing it). Dawn said that she would take a remaining dog from a small pen first, and then we would all start on a mass evacuation of the less timid dogs.

Dawn disappeared with the dog, leaving my son and I to get acquainted with the other dogs. The first thing that I have to say is that there was no comparison with monsters in the Tessadban pound and Dawn's dogs. I remember saying to my son how these dogs were like English dogs - clean, well looked after, friendly and quite well behaved. I would say that 90% of the dogs we petted were fit for anybody to take as a house pet - they were in a condition equal to or better than any other dogs I had ever seen in Thailand.

Having enjoyed ourselves for some time petting the dogs, my son and I had a sudden realisation that although we were both quite happy to carry any of these dogs to the new pound, we would have to run the gauntlet of the Tessadban dogs first. We were wondering how they would react to 2 humans walking across their territory with another dog in our arms - despite our fears, we were ready to do it.

When Dawn returned, a pick up truck followed her through the Tessadban pound. Steve G had turned up with with his pick up truck like a knight in shining armour. 2 cages were quickly loaded on to Steve's truck, and he was able to transport all of the dogs to their new home. Suddenly, my son and I were reprieved of running the Tessadban gauntlet, and although willing, we did very little that day, but enjoy ourselves with the dogs.

We walked over to the new pound to see how the dogs were settling in. Despite Dawn's fears in her earlier postings, IMHO the new pounds were purpose built. They were more spacious, and the dogs actually seemed to be happy in their new environment. They were running around, playing happily - I hope this turns out to be a move for the better.

I would just like to say that although we turned up willing to give up part of our holiday to help, Steve G's timely intervention negated my son and I doing very much at all apart from enjoying ourselves with those great dogs.

Anybody who is looking for a pet, there are some great dogs up there looking for a good home - I'm sure that those dogs would repay your love 10 fold.
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Green Army position 10 2007/08
Who said, "I've dumped PAFC for Eutopia at Liecester?"
Ian Holloway (job seeker extrordanair)

[redzonerocker]

nice story bb
it just proves that even the tessadban/soi dogs aren't as stupid as we think! size 14 boot
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when all are one & one is all, to be a rock & not to roll.

[DawnHRD]

Thanks for that, BB. And thanks again to everyone that helped. We'll have to meet up for that beer I promised - have to post yours & your son's BB!!

Still about 20 dogs to be transferred (the problem ones that can't be put together, but need individual pens - great with humans, terrors with other dogs!!), but hopefully in a matter of a couple of days it will all be finished.


A very sad note today. One of our dogs managed to hang herself last night in the new area. She tried to get from the large area she was in to the next one through a small gap between a framed fence & the wall (the way it was originally built) & must have slipped, lodging her neck in a place that she couldn't get out of. As there is no-one there at night, she hung there until either her neck broke or she suffocated. We found her body this morning & had to slide her up above our heads to free her - there's no way she could have freed herself. All gaps (however small) have now been blocked, but too late for her. RIP, Sparrit, sweetie.
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"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832

Make a dog's life better, today! Find out how - go to www.headrockdogs.org

[pfotoguy369]

I'll probably get flamed for this. First let me say I am a animal lover and I guess that's why it bothers me. I go up soi 56 going home and in one spot there must be 20 to 30 dogs laying on and around the street. a lot of them have mange and are crippled. they look to be starving. and malnourished.

My opinion is they would be better off being put down than made to suffer an existence than that.

If people really wanted to help these dogs they'd have them neutered and spayed.

I'd love to have a dog or a cat but I travel to much. It would be unfair to the animal.

People often ask "what is it you miss about the States?" MY CAT!!

it's really the only thing I miss. that stupid lump of orange fur named Nub
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Foto

If you really didn't want to know the answer, why the hell did you ask me the question!!!