It’s unfortunate that dogs, which are some of the purest animals on Earth, often end up homeless or born in the streets. Stray dogs pose a significant problem in our modern world, particularly in Thailand where abandoned animals are often associated with diseases and conflicts between people due to the lack of sympathy towards them in Thai culture. Despite this, one man has taken it upon himself to address the issue of abandoned animals in Thailand. Michael J. Baines, a Swedish chef who relocated to Thailand, established an animal shelter called “The Man That Rescues Dogs”. As the founder and president of the shelter, Baines has rescued more than 2,000 dogs and cats that were left on the streets to fend for themselves. We previously wrote about Baines four years ago, when he did not yet have a complete and advanced shelter, but he still managed to save over 80 lives by feeding animals on the street. Today, Baines runs the shelter with the help of his 30-member staff, which includes assistant Chris Chidichimo.
The popular website Bored Panda recently contacted “The Man That Rescues Dogs” and spoke with Chris Chidichimo, the shelter’s main assistant. With so many animals to take care of, running such a large dog rescue operation can’t possibly be an easy task. The interview started by asking about the biggest difficulty he faces in caring for these animals every day.
According to Chidichimo, unexpected situations are the most challenging. While they have a routine for feeding, walking, cleaning, physiotherapy, and hydrotherapy for their special needs dogs, the rescue organization deals with severe emergency cases regularly. As a result, they need to remain flexible, even though it is undeniably challenging.
The shelter known as “The Man That Rescues Dogs” is quite an impressive establishment, taking care of 600 dogs every day. We were curious to know what a typical day at the shelter looks like, and according to Michael, their routine is quite packed. They start their day at 5 am by cleaning and preparing for the day ahead. At 6 am, the dogs go for a walk, including those with disabilities who use wheelchairs. Afterward, they serve breakfast to all the dogs at the shelter before heading out at 7 am to feed 350 street dogs in their community. Of course, there’s always cleaning to be done since 600 dogs can produce quite a bit of waste.
At 10 am, they provide hydro and physiotherapy to their disabled dogs to give them additional exercise. Then at 2 pm, they take all the dogs for another walk, feed them again, and clean some more. In addition to running the shelter, they also operate a free clinic that’s always busy. They have two full-time veterinarians and one assistant who work tirelessly to ensure that every animal that comes into their care is healthy, vaccinated, and sterilized. They don’t charge for their services as long as they can spay or neuter the pet because their priority is to have healthy animals in the community rather than making a profit.
“The Man That Rescues Dogs” has been operating since 2011, and Michael, one of the co-founders, is dedicated to making sure that they continue to strive for more.
Caring for a multitude of sick, injured, or abandoned dogs can be a challenging task both physically and mentally. However, there are some positive aspects to the process, despite the daily difficulties that the shelter faces. Inquiring about the rewards of rescuing so many animals, Chris shared an uplifting sentiment. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to give the ill-treated, neglected, and abused street dogs in Thailand a second chance at life. Witnessing a paralyzed dog running freely with a big smile on its face, thanks to their wheelchair, is definitely one of the most rewarding parts of the process.”
The ongoing global pandemic has undoubtedly impacted non-profit organizations like animal shelters. As such, we asked Chris to elaborate on the current situation in their shelter. He explained, “Unfortunately, the 40% decrease in donations has had a significant impact on us. We’ve had to temporarily suspend our monthly spay and neuter campaigns, and our clinic is only operating five days a week instead of seven. With fewer visitors, donations of food and supplies have dwindled too. Volunteers play a crucial role in assisting with daily tasks and sharing their experiences. Without them, the staff’s workload has increased, and our presence on social media has decreased.”
The shelter staff works tirelessly every day to care for the dogs, so we asked Chris how they handle the stress and pressure that comes with the job. His response was simple yet profound: when you love what you do, you focus on the goal of improving the lives of the dogs in your care. Though the work can be intense and emotional, the staff knows that there are always more dogs who need their help. When their hearts are broken, they take a moment to cry and then continue on with their mission. In 2019, Chris opened a veterinary and rehabilitation clinic that has already helped hundreds of dogs.
We had a chance to chat with Chris and inquire about how vital donations are to the shelter’s operations. In his response, he emphasized that they rely solely on contributions, as their expenses amount to a staggering 40,000 baht ($1,350 USD) every day. To witness the impact of donations firsthand, people can follow the shelter’s Facebook and Instagram pages under “themanthatrescuesdogs.” Chris also stressed that their work is crucial, but they cannot achieve it without the support of kind-hearted individuals.
The shelter at present accommodates a grand total of 600 furry friends. The majority of the canines that come their way appear to be in dire straits – suffering from sickness, injury, or paralysis. Credits for the heart-warming image go to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The photo credits belong to the Instagram account named “themanthatrescuesdogs”.
Image attribution: themanthatrescuesdogs
Michael and his team at the shelter are working tirelessly to provide these dogs with an opportunity for a brighter future.
The photo credit goes to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The shelter, which goes by the name of “themanthatrescuesdogs”, can be found in the eastern province of Chon Buri in Thailand. They provide care and support for around 45 dogs who suffer from disabilities, most notably around 30 paralyzed pups, as well as some who are visually impaired and a few who have survived distemper.
Reworded:
Credits for the image go to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The dogs at the shelter are given a chance to regain their mobility thanks to specialized technical support. This enables them to move around freely and improve their quality of life. Credit for the accompanying image goes to themanthatrescuesdogs.
Attribution: Photo by themanthatrescuesdogs on Instagram
Reworded: Credits for the image go to themanthatrescuesdogs on Instagram.
The animals rescued by themanthatrescuesdogs have a chance to regain some of their lost mobility at the veterinary clinic, which ultimately enhances their overall quality of life.
Reworded: The photo credits go to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The dogs featured in the picture, which is attributed to themanthatrescuesdogs, may have suffered from hind leg injuries due to accidents. However, they are still able to quickly adjust to the carts that volunteers provide for them, allowing them to walk and run again.
Check out these incredible transformations of dogs rescued by the “The Man That Rescues Dogs” shelter. These before-and-after pictures will tug at your heartstrings.
Attribution for the image used goes to themanthatrescuesdogs.
Attribution for the image goes to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The credits for the pictures go to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The photo attribution goes to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The credits for the image go to themanthatrescuesdogs.
Attribution for the pictures goes to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The photo credits go to the individual known as “themanthatrescuesdogs”.
The credit for the image goes to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The credit for the images goes to themanthatrescuesdogs.
The shelter has had a positive impact on the animals it houses, which has led to support from the community. Residents have shown their support by volunteering, adopting furry friends, and generously donating to the project.
The credits for the image go out to themanthatrescuesdogs.
