I was coming to Thailand on a 2 week holiday to volunteer at Lanta Animal Welfare Centre whilst mourning the loss of my beloved 15 year old Thai street dog Franky, who I’d adopted from there 7 years prior.
...things didn't quite go as planned...
It all began mid March when my first flight back to the UK was cancelled, the dog shelter closed, & Covid-19 / Lockdown was looming greater on the islands of Thailand.
Quickly moving to Krabi island from Koh Lanta with hopes to wait for the next flight, I began to feed a handful of street dogs that I’d noticed around Ao Nang beach & side streets (whom purely rely on tourism & open restaurants to scavenge from) were starving & searching for food that no longer was to be found from people who were no longer there.
With restaurants now closed, tourism at a halt, my street dog feeding routine became greater and I needed an extra set of hands (and food) so joined facebook and reached out to other locals/ tourists who may of wanted to help.
Fast forward just TWO DAYS and the first volunteer team was created! Myself, Irina from Russia & Renee from Canada, each contributing food, time & care to a small route of 25 dogs per day.
Then came the wonderful gesture from kind ‘Marina at ‘Marina Yoga’ to use her kitchen to help prepare the food... then the incredible soul that is Andrea Rugo from ‘Wat Klong Song Temple Dogs’ with his hands on help & local inside tips & animal connections.
Fast forward just 3 weeks and by the end of April “Robyn Responds” was born with a regular team of 7 Responders (only 5 feeding per time due to restrictions), masked up, gloved and feeding the street dogs of Aonang beach and surrounding streets, supporting them, gaining their trust & offering other treatment if needed.
Today June 12th- We now feed around 120 dogs per day & cats, offer help to other animal volunteer organisations such as hands on manual labour to Angel Angel & have fostered & rehomed 5 puppies separately found along the way plus cat found along the way.
I provide basic medication, dogs are wormed, de tick / flea, mange, anti inflammatory, yeast infections, treat wounds & take them to the vets for further treatment if needed.
“This is 100% voluntary to which I have funded most of the costs. We have a GoFundMe page where donations can be made, t-shirts to be sold for donations & waterproof masks also”
We have seen some amazing transformations since the start of Covid-19 on the streets as well as some heartache on situations out of our control.
No one else is currently doing what my team and I are doing, there is no dog shelter on this island and the main religion here is Muslim... all 3 points aswell as Covid-19 why this care is essential for those without a voice.
We are merely just tourists just trying to support & help where needed..
“Everyone deserves a chance at life”.
Thank you for taking time to read my story & mission & Thank you to all of those who have supported in any way.
All in this together.
Robyn @Robynresponds
