I wanted to share what being a street dog is actually like and I have the perfect example from a litter of puppies I started feeding in January. They were born in the jungle under a little shack. I met Bella and Stella when they were about 6 weeks old and they have both had drastically different lives…
Bella
She had a horrible start to life with a fractured leg and various other open wounds. To be honest the injuries have turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to her. I had to get her off the streets given how serious things were for her as she wasn’t going to survive.
After the vet and staying with me for a couple of weeks she has been in a foster home since. Bella has grown into a big confident dog and has really filled out into her body and ears.
This is her when she fractured her leg in the early days as a little puppy after being hit by a car. It took her a couple of months to fully recover and many vet visits.
You can see from her skin and her body just how healthy she is. She loves playing, beach walks and sleeping on her couch. Bella was one of the very lucky ones.
Stella
Her sister Stella has been on the streets since day 1. She was never able to find a home and has drifted between a couple of packs of dogs.
Stella is also about 8 months old now. Living on the streets has aged her massively…
She had ticks and fleas in her ears today which is uncomfortable for her. She gets medicine for these and they got dusted off with powder but they always a battle to control living out on the streets.
The ticks bring all sorts of illnesses by poisoning the blood. You will find them between the paws and in the ears…
Even though she is so young she is starting to have major skin problems and we can expect other health complications.
Most striking is how her body has not grown in the same way as her sister. She has little short legs and waddles as he bones don’t seem to have grown out as well. We’ve tried calcium tablets and she does get fed daily but things are just harder on the streets.
Life for Stella is a struggle. She is always dodging cars, looking for food and water and trying to make friends to get protection as she is the youngest dog around.
The only saving grace is that because I got her sterilised she isn’t having to worry about having her own puppies now which would 100% be happening around this age (yes it starts at 7-8 months old believe it or not!)
Costs
The leg was expensive to fix but to be honest having a home is way more crucial than the money. The food and preventative medicines are fairly affordable. For the last 4.5 months…
Bella - $1200 Approx
Vet visits for leg
Medicines
Food
Sterilising
Stella - $200 Approx
Sterilising
Food
Ongoing medicine
You can help with their care or other dogs here.
A Loving Home Versus The Streets
Stella actually has a very good life for a street dog. She is well fed, she gets regular medicine and she will survive. Unlike her sister though she won’t thrive. That is because she is always having to look out for cars hitting her, jungle dangers and fight for her place in her pack. Life is a chore.
You can see why she has aged so quickly in 8 months compared to her sister.
Bella’s start in life hasn’t been perfect but for the last 4 months she has been able to lay her head down at night in peace. She gets a bath for skin care. She goes on walks. She has a doggy friend to play with. She knows where her next meals are coming from. Mainly she has love and that has allowed her to grow into the confident and relaxed dog she is.
Bella and Stella are actually both doing better than the vast majority of street dogs. Even Stella still has some fun, she gets food and barring any accidents her health will be looked after.
Their stories show how much dogs rely on humans for love, care and wellbeing and how a home is essential for them. Much as I would love to get her off the streets there are 100s of other dogs exactly like Stella to look after as well. Improving their street lives is the only option for now.
This isn’t the happiest story ever. I normally share upbeat recoveries but I think it is important to understand how hard the life of a street dog actually is and how much help they need on a daily basis. I’ll keep fighting to improve their lives!
Have a great weekend.
Niall
P.S You can help with Stella and Bella’s care here or give me a shout if you ever wanted to adopt any dog you see me posting about.
Yes, sadness in these stories, but the situation is a full 100% better than what they would have faced if you had not gone to Thailand, had not become conscious of the plight of the stray dogs. I thought that Bella and Stella had another sister? In wishful thinking, was hoping that the nice Irish lady in West Ireland who had planned to adopt Minnie before some tourists absconded with her, might consider giving Bella a lovely home instead? Yes, this is a bottomless pit of dogs and puppies, deserving of a much better and healthier life. You have gotten off to a great six months start, Niall. But since you cannot clone yourself, am hoping and praying more helpers come your way, and courageous, trustworthy people who can work for you and earn a salary. It seems the monks care, and perhaps they can provide refuge and safety for recovering dogs. Monks used to keep Lhaso Apso dogs to guard their temples. So maybe there could be some exchange where you offer something to them while they care for some of the dogs. The spaying/neutering is the right thing, even protects dogs against certain cancers, keeps male dogs from fighting as much. Education is essential, even for adults who do not understand dog's nature or embrace dogs. There is a lot of ignorance, even here in L.A. Some people are horrified to earn I allow cats and dogs to sleep on my bed with me but I never get sick from them. I am a better person because of them. We must keep helping the animals, and others will come along to help, too. I would like to see Thai government provide some funding, some land, buildings, but government involvement is sometimes not worth trouble with all its bureaucracy. Then they cloud the vision, rain on one's parade.
As usual, I should have gone to sleep earlier, but I got to read your latest newsletter. Good to know the updates. Prayers from here continue to flow over there for you and yours.
Good night, morning, afternoon.
Barbara Briodin
Such a drastic difference in the sisters. Thanks to you they are having a much better life! We all appreciate the updates on the dogs, and I am telling people here in Colorado about your awesome work and need for donations. You are the best!